Goblin Heavy Dependence

Chapter 174 "The Leaky Filter"

The next day, early in the morning.

Perhaps it was because of Xia Nan's behavior at dinner these past two days that he noticed his preference.

Mrs. Daisy got up a little earlier today to cook him a small pot of cream of mushroom soup.

They even thoughtfully added extra ginger powder and squeezed a few drops of lemon juice into the soup.

This adds a refreshing touch to the already sweet and thick mushroom soup, making it very invigorating to drink.

Living at Jeff's house, eating and drinking for free, and having the hostess go to so much trouble, made Xia Nan feel a little embarrassed.

However, Jeff and Daisy didn't seem to care, as if it were only natural.

They were just an ordinary family who made a living with the savings they had accumulated during their racing career and the income from their tailor shop. They were grateful to the benefactor who stepped forward in their time of crisis and saved the pillar of their family.

They even felt that they had wronged the other party by giving them such a return.

It's no wonder that Jeff, at only forty or fifty years old, was able to save up a three-story house and a well-located tailor shop on a relatively decent street in Newme.

Given the other person's personality and way of doing things, if Xia Nan didn't have any attribute panel or combat skills, and was just an ordinary person like everyone else in this world, he would actually be quite willing to follow the other person in his sports car and do some small business.

As long as you can make money, you'll definitely need your subordinates.

After enjoying the breakfast prepared by Mrs. Daisy, Xia Nan said goodbye to the people in the house and left.

Yesterday, I made an appointment with "Eight Fingers," the leader of the Badger Gang, in the sewers. This morning, he would send someone to lead me to "Spoon" Ben's residence.

As Buck's friend and fellow adventurer, and with Buck's entire family gone, Ben is the most likely person he can find to know Buck's location.

It didn't take long to get there.

After walking for about two or three streets, at the entrance of Yujin Street, a burly figure with a shiny bald head came into his view.

"Mr. Xia Nan, you've arrived very early! I thought I'd have to wait a while longer."

In the biting autumn wind, Tie Tou stood alone by the roadside, rubbing his hands. When he saw Xia Nan, his eyes lit up and he quickly went up to greet him.

Xia Nan nodded slightly in greeting, then glanced at the other person with a strange expression.

Unlike when we first met a few days ago, when he was dressed like a thug in a coarse cloth shirt with his tattoos half-open at the chest.

Iron Head is now dressed in a linen belted long shirt, loose trousers, and leather ankle boots.

Although it didn't look very good and gave the impression of being hastily put together for going out, it was undoubtedly much more presentable than the previous thug-like, arrogant look.

"Let's go." Sensing something was amiss with the other person, Xia Nan didn't ask any further questions and simply asked them to lead the way.

Just like yesterday when he took Xia Nan and Wood to the Grey Badger Gang's lair in the sewers, this bald, burly man with a face full of scars was extremely familiar with the streets in the city, at least from the West End to the slums.

The main road is fine; nothing's noticeable.

But as the originally wide streets on both sides became narrower and more and more alleyways appeared, his footsteps, which meandered through them without getting lost, gradually became more noticeable.

"You seem to know this place well. Do you frequent this area?"

Xia Nan followed behind the other person, and asked casually with some curiosity.

"Hey, you're joking." Iron Head turned his head halfway, grinning to reveal his yellowish-brown rotten teeth. "Most of the brothers in the gang grew up in the slums."

"I've been wandering through these alleys since I was a child. If I could still get lost in them, people would laugh at me for half a year."

Xia Nan did not reply. His eyes shifted slightly as he scanned the streets on both sides, taking in his surroundings.

The two of them have now truly entered the lower-town slums of Newme.

The narrow, muddy streets were filled with puddles of all sizes. In some sections, you had to tiptoe over the protruding stones or planks. Otherwise, if you weren't careful, you would leave a deep footprint on the muddy surface below, which was made up of blood, excrement, and rotten vegetable leaves.

The two sides were crowded with dilapidated huts made of thatch, moldy planks and rammed earth, with crooked walls, as if a slight push would cause the entire block of houses to collapse like dominoes.

The sounds of snoring, cursing, and the cries of livestock, mixed with the stench of decay in the air, made Xia Nan, who had just arrived in the slum, feel as if the air around him was even colder.

Not far ahead, a thin woman dressed in tattered clothes was carelessly emptying the bucket of excrement in her hand by the roadside. She glanced at the two people expressionlessly, a hint of fear and apprehension flashing across her numb face. She turned and retreated into the house, slamming the door shut. Through the crack in the door, one could vaguely hear the sound of a baby crying inside.

As Xia Nan walked along the road, he could feel the malicious gazes coming from the shadows of the alleys on both sides.

Attracted by his youthful face, she paused briefly on the meticulously maintained surface of his exquisite chainmail, before finally stopping abruptly at the two longswords behind him.

Occasionally, when people look in the direction his gaze is coming from, no one dares to meet his eyes in the face of his dark and cold gaze.

Fully armed, he looked incredibly intimidating to ordinary residents as a seasoned adventurer; after obtaining his professional rank, he exuded confidence due to his superhuman physical abilities and combat skills; black hair, black eyes, and cold, sharp facial features…

This ensured that Xia Nan did not encounter any particular trouble along the way.

Having managed to survive in such a harsh environment, these unfortunate people know all too well who to mess with and who to stay away from.

but……

"Does that Ben Affleck really live here?"

With his eyes reflecting the surrounding thatched huts and earthen houses, Xia Nan asked Tie Tou, who was leading the way, with a hint of doubt in his voice.

Based on the information he has gathered so far, although "Spoon" Ben has not obtained a professional rank, he should be a fairly experienced adventurer.

He has a regular job and a stable source of income – after all, his nickname "Loop Toad" comes from his past as a cook at the Iron Bucket Toad Tavern.

In his mind, these semi-retired adventurers, even if they couldn't have a happy family like Jeff and Buck, shouldn't be doing too badly.

Even at the point in time when they had just finished their day of hunting and were returning to Newme from Riverdale to earn extra money.

Even if someone is extravagant on a regular basis, they can still afford to indulge in a few days at a pub.

As if he knew some inside information, Tie Tou kept walking, his tone calm but revealing nothing of his true thoughts:

"Mr. Ben Affleck had a rather... uh, carefree life when he was young."

"When I retired from the adventurer group, I hadn't saved much money. Although I had a nice house, I sold it a long time ago."

"They're not particularly wealthy; I heard they sometimes need help from former teammates to make ends meet."

"However, it was precisely because of this that I had the opportunity to get to know him, wouldn't you agree?"

Just as they turned the corner, Tie Tou turned around and smiled at Xia Nan behind him, spreading his hands.

For the vast majority of adventurers in this world, obtaining a job rank is a watershed moment in their career.

Just like the athletes who were active on the field in their previous lives, age and injuries greatly limit the adventurers' development.

The former may bring them richer experience and skills, but physical aging and declining physical fitness will increase the risk factor of the entire adventure process exponentially.

As for the latter, for injuries sustained during missions, a healing potion costs 50 gold, which can be afforded after saving up for a while. However, hidden injuries accumulated in various parts of the body due to years of unhealthy lifestyle habits, high-pressure environments, overexertion, and other factors cannot be cured by a potion that costs less than three digits.

Many adventurers, though they retire in their thirties or forties, are still full of energy and vigor, as if their lives have just begun.

In reality, his body was already on the verge of collapse due to his high-intensity adventure career.

If he does not receive sufficient care, he will age very quickly, and within a few years, a sudden and unexpected serious illness will take his life.

Only by mastering combat skills to "proficiency" and gaining physical enhancements upon advancement can one fundamentally reverse the decline caused by age and injuries in all aspects.

Even for adventurers who are in good health after retirement and have become accustomed to the safe and stable life in towns, picking up their swords, which are covered in a thick layer of dust in the warehouse, is not an easy task.

"We've arrived, Mr. Xia Nan."

"Ben's residence is just ahead."

After wandering through the intricate alleyways for a while, Tie Tou led Xia Nan to a small brick house.

All I can say is that the environment was better than he had imagined.

Although both lived in slums, Ben's house and the street in front of it were noticeably cleaner, clearly indicating that someone cleaned them regularly.

This house itself may not be anything special in the West District, but compared to the thatched huts and mud shacks on both sides, it stands out like a crane among chickens.

Instead of letting Xia Nan do it himself, Tie Tou very perceptively stepped forward and knocked on the door for him.

Tuk-tuk-tuk——

"Who?"

A slightly sleepy, hoarse voice, as if the person had just woken up, came from inside the door.

Then came another series of slow, approaching footsteps.

Xia Nan remained vigilant, glancing out of the corner of his eye at the densely packed buildings and slightly cramped environment. He gently raised his right hand, ready to draw his wooden sword, "Green Pine," and engage in battle.

At the same time, focus your attention on the doorway. If the other party makes the slightest move, the immense pressure from [Gravity Control] will be unleashed in an instant.

"Crench."

The door hinges rubbed and twisted, producing a noisy sound.

Through the crack in the door, a scruffy, wary face was visible.

Seeing Iron Head standing in front of the door, Ben's tense expression eased slightly, and he waved his hand:

"I've been a bit busy lately, no work, so I'll leave it to your boss..."

He had only spoken halfway when, as the crack in the door gradually widened, he saw the fully armed and imposing figure standing behind Tie Tou.

His expression suddenly changed, and he exerted force with his right hand gripping the doorknob, about to slam the door shut.

But the next second, an invisible force appeared out of nowhere and pressed him firmly to the spot.

The door, which I had intended to close tightly, was somehow drawn by the wall beside me by some unknown force, broke free from my grasp, and suddenly opened, slamming into the wall with a loud bang.

[Gravity Control] took effect silently. Xia Nan patted Tie Tou on the shoulder and walked past him.

The chainmail rings clashed, producing a soft, crisp sound, and the cold shadow cast by the sunlight enveloped the face of the middle-aged man in front of him.

"Big Ben, right?"

"The association sent me here to find out some information from you."

……

……

The living room was cramped and shabby, filled with clutter.

Ben sat on the sofa, his back ramrod straight, with an awkward and stiff smile on his face.

"I'm so sorry, Mr. Xia Nan."

"Well... the association didn't notify me, I really didn't know it was you who came."

As an adventurer active in the lower city and often helping gangs, he has offended countless people and clashed with numerous factions over the years since his retirement, to the point that he himself has lost count.

Upon first seeing Xia Nan, Da Ben naturally assumed that he had been betrayed by the Badger Gang and had brought over assassins sent by his enemies. He instinctively had the idea of ​​closing the door and running away.

That's why I did what I did just now.

Only after Xia Nan explained did he realize that he had misunderstood the other party.

As for whether he was deceiving himself to lower his guard...

The bizarre scene of being frozen in place, the door in my hand moving uncontrollably, involuntarily flashed back into my mind.

He didn't think any power would be rich enough to hire such a high-ranking figure, who had clearly already achieved a professional level, to deal with someone as insignificant as himself.

"You've come here to..."

On the table in front of him, steaming hot tea was rising.

Xia Nan leaned forward slightly.

"What do you know about Buck?"

"Buck?" Ben paused, then lowered his voice and said cautiously, "Isn't he... already dead?"

"If he were still alive, what places might he have gone?"

"Hmm, as for where to go..." Da Ben frowned and pondered, muttering to himself.

“He grew up in the slums. His parents died before he could remember, and he was raised by his grandfather, but that old man also passed away six years ago.”

"I used to have some connections with the owner of the Iron Bucket Toad restaurant. I often went there alone for drinks, maybe..."

He looked up and glanced at Xia Nan's expression.
"Well, it seems you've already been there."

After pondering for a while, I still couldn't come up with a clear answer.

Seeing that the other party couldn't remember for the time being, Xia Nan decided to start from other angles to see if he could find any useful clues.

Thinking back to what Buck's neighbor, a girl named Harriet, had once mentioned, Buck had returned to Newm injured midway through a hunting day, clearly having encountered an accident during his adventure.

And the big guy in front of him was Buck's teammate back then, so he should know something.

(End of this chapter)