The Adventurer's Mission Log

Chapter 36 Neglect of Duty

Tenor removed the shield and burning sword from his back, his eyes flashing with a fierce light.

His weapons and shield were secured to his back with long straps, and the action of taking them off was difficult and slow, but the guards would not laugh at the comical scene.

The guards didn't know Tenor's rank, but just by looking at that big club, they knew he was not someone to mess with—someone else would have to use both hands to wield it, but he held it firmly with one hand.

"Alright, you can stay here."

...

"Go to hell!" The dwarf's roar echoed across the square, drawing the attention of the crowd. In the twilight, Tenor's expression turned slightly cold.

"Three gold coins." Gottlieb chewed the words with a grating sound. "The life of a dark wizard, news of an entire army of beastmen, worth only three gold coins?"

Tenor glanced deeply at the governor's mansion behind him, having lost all hope for the city.

"I expected the reward wouldn't be much, but I didn't expect that we wouldn't even get to see the governor. A mere lieutenant was enough to dismiss us."

Hearing Tenor's words, the dwarf's short, dry voice squeezed out from beneath his beard: "I'm at a disadvantage in this battle! What we did should be recorded, should be publicly announced in the clan hall! Someone should be pouring us wine instead of treating us like a nuisance and sending us away!"

Tenor, unusually, echoed the dwarf, "I'd like to see where that thousand-man unit came from if it wasn't the legion of Lagetia. It couldn't possibly be some heroic warriors summoned by the Winter God, could it?"

"Theodore who raised ewes!" The dwarf spat fiercely at the governor's mansion as he was about to leave the square.

"Who gave you permission to curse the deputy general like that? Don't you know how to swear?"

He's a complete bastard, impotent, brain-dead, pretentious idiot!

Even if that large contingent wasn't Laghetti's legion, it was still the Empire's army!

"A thousand-man Imperial unit was wiped out in the woods, just because it didn't come from Laghettia, so it can be let off lightly?" Tenor sneered. He knew that the lieutenant was afraid of causing trouble and was unwilling to make a big fuss.

According to the scouts' reconnaissance over half a day, the thousand-man unit was wiped out by the Beastmen at the border between the garrison fortress and Laghettia... to be precise, at the border of the garrison fortress. In other words, their losses were a problem for the local general of the garrison fortress.

Lieutenant Theodore is a despicable, cowardly scoundrel! He's practically a useless, lazy bum who lives off the government's paycheck!

He clearly did not want to cause any more trouble and get the Laghetti Military District involved during his supervision.

A guard privately explained to Ternor:

"It is a major taboo in officialdom to handle matters outside one's jurisdiction. It can easily lead to conflicts with colleagues, and if the operation fails, all responsibility will fall on the deputy general who made the decision without authorization."

In contrast, inaction and waiting for the general to return and make a decision is the least risky option.

Theodore would, of course, report to the governor and let the governor make the decision, rather than making the decision himself and performing the duties of an adjutant—doing nothing is never wrong, but doing something wrong will definitely result in someone losing their head.

But the governor's decision was none of Tenor's business—the soldiers had also said that the governor had previously led his legions to the northern forests to hunt down the "big trouble."

Looking back at the actions of these guards: informing the adjutant was a way of shifting the blame to him; the adjutant's perfunctory response was an attempt to smooth things over; they showed absolutely no spirit of the Imperial border troops!

"By the time the governor returns, the cucumbers will be cold!" Tenor cursed angrily. This was the angrier he had been since he transmigrated.

Tenor began to wonder what big trouble was brewing in the northern forest.

It can't be Heinrich, can it? How long would they have to fight then?

Even if the "victor" Clothos is a legendary warrior, how can a high-ranking vampire resolve the "trouble" in a short period of time if he wants to hide?

Damn it! I need to figure out how to survive until the governor leads the army back to defend the city while its defenses are so weak!

Gotley strode down the street, each step making a sound as if he were crushing the cobblestones.

"The forest is teeming with a bunch of little beasts, and there's a raider warband on the other side of the river." The dwarf puffed out his beard and glared, his eyes burning with a dark rage. "You humans are truly useless! The trouble is piling up at the foot of the city walls and they're still fast asleep. If the Beastmen were to smash down the gates, they wouldn't even have time to raise their swords before they're torn to shreds."

"Don't throw a tantrum at me. I'm not human, at least not entirely." Tenor stared directly at the food stall behind the dwarf—excuse his rudeness, but the dwarf could only see that when he looked directly at it.

He has no intention of accepting unfounded accusations; his race has always been flexible—he is human when praising humanity, and not human when insulting humanity.

"Previously, there was trouble caused by the Demon Worshippers in the city, and now there are Beastmen and Raiders. I suspect they are in cahoots. When the time is right, the city will be in chaos, and there may even be traitors who open the gates for the Beastmen."

Tenor's unsettling idea made finding shapeshifters and demons and achieving his advancement even more urgent.

Without sufficient ability, one cannot even escape Laghettia.

However, before that, he had to pay for the dwarf's drinks so that he could ask the dwarf for favors later.

He led the dwarf into the tavern outside the city, his tone more relaxed, "Drink whatever you like, it's on me."

The drinks here are cheap, so he certainly dared to treat himself.

"Hmph, you mean you still remember that bill? Ha!" The dwarf slammed his fist on the bar, and the tavern owner shrank back in fright. "I thought your memory was worse than a goblin's.

"Bring me the big barrel! Anyone who dares to try to fool me with watered-down stuff, I'll smash their head and the barrel together!" Then the dwarf slumped heavily into a low stool, which let out a pitiful groan.

Tenor shrugged helplessly and gestured to the boss, "You heard that."

Just then, another soldier slammed his fist on the table, a menacing grin on his face, and made a bet with his comrade: "If they serve watered-down Lycra, I'll smash the place up!"

Tenor couldn't help but turn his head. Anyone who came would smash up the shop.

No wonder they've managed to stay open for so long; they've got some skills to back it up.

Then Tenor noticed that the tavern owner had a waiter bring out an exquisitely packaged wine jar, and the aroma of the wine filled the air as it was poured.

It turns out they've survived this long because of their sincerity.

As long as you don't encounter unreasonable people, if you honestly provide good service and pay enough protection money to the local gangs, no one will really cause you trouble.

As Tenor sat down at the dwarves' table, the warrior who received a whole bowl of Lycaron white wine changed his expression.

His companion across from him burst into laughter, while the man, feeling humiliated, looked angry.

"I don't drink white wine!" He abruptly overturned the table, grabbed the bartender, and shoved the terrified young man to the ground.

The enthusiasm in the outer city is as strong as ever.

In an instant, the boss was terrified and was about to beg for mercy.

But then the tall and short newcomers made their moves almost simultaneously.

Tenor grabbed his burning sword and swung it at the fool, while the dwarf tried to kick the man's buttocks, but because of his short legs, Tenor hit the man first and gave up.

The man appeared to be a professional, drawing his sword with extraordinary speed to block Tenor's blow.

It was clear that he had entered a state of "awakened will". The power that the man suddenly unleashed was actually on par with Tenor's human form. As the power continued to erupt, he gradually gained the upper hand and soon climbed to the level of Gotley. It looked like he was about to put Tenor at a disadvantage.

Kotenor hasn't really gotten serious yet.

This fool is probably not of high rank; he's likely just graduated from apprenticeship and become a full-fledged professional, and he's just putting on airs.

There are many such "superhumans" who are narrow-minded and ignorant. Many people only understand the dangers of society, but they don't know that there are always mountains beyond mountains, and one should keep a low profile when going out.

I was already in a bad mood today, but I was lucky enough to run into someone to vent my anger on while having a drink.

Tenor entered a mutated state, his cold, beastly eyes fixed on the terrified man, and he suddenly exerted force in his hand.

The man's sword fell from his hand, and he screamed as he was knocked to the ground, his fate unknown.

His "companion," who was originally sitting opposite him, ran far away, looking like a spectator, showing no intention of standing up for his companion.

Are you kidding me? Adventurers have no shortage of companions. He'd have to be a fool to provoke a powerful professional who is clearly of a higher rank than them.

Ternor finished his transformation, glanced disdainfully at the maggots on the ground and the silent customers, and said slowly, "I drink white wine."

After saying that, he untied his pocket, took out a few silver coins, and threw them to the boss and the affected employees.