Big G, Coffee Machine and Goblin

Chapter 51 An unexpected gain
Barney never imagined that the lizardman bandits who had driven them to the brink of destruction not long ago would be killed so easily.

Moreover, although he witnessed the entire battle, he was still completely baffled as to how the other person had won.

He only heard a few claps of thunder and saw white smoke billowing from the iron pipe before the lizardmen collapsed to the ground, lifeless.

He couldn't even be sure if the person who made the move was human.

After all, Ma Li was wearing a full set of SWAT gear and goggles to prevent his eyes from being scratched by shrapnel. This outfit was still a bit too advanced for the people of the Revatres continent, not to mention that he had just come down from a steel behemoth that was taller than the two of them.

However, Barney still recognized Charles next to Mario. After the battle ended, he cautiously approached and bowed to express his gratitude to everyone, especially Mario.

Ma Li asked, "How much did you lose?"

Upon hearing this, Barney was overcome with grief again and tears streamed down his face. "Alas, we set out with seven people, and now only the three of us remain. Those damned lizardmen killed my nephew, my cousin, and two of my fellow countrymen... Seven years ago, my eldest son was also eaten by them."

“From then on, I swore I would never take dangerous trade routes again, and just make a little money peacefully around Eagle’s Beak City. But who knew, who knew… I was still targeted by these cold-blooded bandits. It’s all my fault. I should have hired a few more guards, so Vigo wouldn’t have died.”

Compared to his rambling, Marcus, who also escaped death, was much more silent.

He simply drew a small knife from his waist, squatted down, and skillfully began cutting up the lizardmen's corpses, stuffing them into a sack, and then bringing it to Ma Li.

“What is this?” Ma Li asked.

"The tail of a lizardman, a relatively common alchemical material."

The one who answered him was Levi, who had just gotten out of the car. The old alchemist stretched and loosened his limbs, explaining, "They have a strong regenerative ability. If a lizardman loses its tail for some reason, it can grow back in seven to fourteen days."

"So their tails are often used by alchemists to make basic recovery potions. These potions are very popular with adventurers and have almost no trouble selling. Oh, and hair growth potions and half-body enhancement potions also use lizardmen's tails."

Marcus added, “In Eagle’s Beak, a pound of lizardman tail can easily fetch the price of a golden eagle, and even the smallest lizardman tail in this sack weighs a pound and a half.”

"And the largest one, from the last one you killed riding a wild boar, had a tail that weighed a full three pounds. All of these together are worth at least thirteen or fourteen gold eagles."

"Thank you." Ma Li took the sack.

Marcus shook his head and said, "No need to thank me. You saved us. If you hadn't appeared, no one in the caravan would have survived. Compared to that, cutting off the tail was just a piece of cake."

After saying that, he handed over a string of lizard-man eyeballs strung together with straw rope.

"Uh... is this also an alchemical material?"

"No, do you play Monster cards?"

"Monster cards?"

“It’s a popular mini-game on the continent of Revatres. You can get a monster’s left eye and ten silver coins to make a corresponding monster card at the Alchemist’s Guild, and then you can use that card to play against other people,” Marcus explained.

"Of course, you can also take these eyeballs to the market and sell them. People who like to play cards will come to buy them. But remember, don't keep them for more than seven days. Otherwise, once these eyeballs have completely lost their vitality, they won't be able to be used to make cards."

Ma Li recalled the card players he had seen at the Golden Carp Casino, who were completely focused and unmoved by external things.

Well, it seems that no world is without its share of strange pastimes. According to the unwritten rules of the continent of Revatres, if a caravan encounters a monster in the wild, the loot from killing it belongs to the guards.

This time, Will and the others didn't even have time to make a move. Mali took care of the monster all by himself, so both the tails in the sack and the bloody eyeball belonged to him.

After handing the items to Marcus, Marcus went back to help Berlion clean up the bodies on the ground.

They collected the severed heads and scattered limbs one by one, but some parts had already been swallowed by the lizardmen and could not be pieced back together.

Barney had already wiped away his tears. He bent down and pulled up his left trouser leg, revealing a well-hidden money bag.

He looked somewhat pained as he took off the money pouch, but he still handed it to Ma Li with both hands.

"This is a gift from the caravan to express our gratitude. It contains four golden eagles and thirty-seven silver shields. Compared to the life you saved, this amount of money is nothing. Please accept it."

As he spoke, he took off the brass brooch from his chest again. “If you happen to be in Eagle’s Beak City and run into any trouble, show them this brooch and tell them that you are the benefactor of cowardly Barney. It might come in handy.”

“I’m not a successful businessman, but I do have some friends. Alternatively, you can find me in Pig Tail Alley. Just ask around for Barney the garbage collector, and they’ll tell you where I live. I’ll also have my wife prepare a feast for you and your companions.”

Ma Li took the money bag and copper brooch, glanced at Barney and his two companions, the dilapidated donkey cart behind them, and the goods scattered on the ground.

Apart from a few animal pelts, almost everything else was worthless.

Are you planning to go back to Eaglebeak City?

Barney nodded. "I need to take the goods I received to the market to sell and notify the deceased's family to discuss subsequent compensation matters."

“There are only three of you left, and it’s probably not safe to travel on the road. We were just planning to go to Eagle Beak City anyway, so why don’t we go together?” Ma Li said.

Barney was overjoyed. "We would be delighted if you would accompany us. I will do my best to drive and keep up with you."

“No, you can’t keep up,” Ma Li said. “You should get in my car and come with me.”

"But, but I also have a donkey."

Barney was in a dilemma. He was completely terrified by those lizardmen and wished he could travel with Mali and the others, at least he wouldn't have to worry about safety anymore. However, he couldn't bear to part with his donkey.

A donkey is worth at least several dozen silver shields. For Barney, who has already suffered heavy losses, losing the donkey is like cutting flesh off his body.

Ma Li said, "Your goods and donkeys can also be loaded onto the vehicle."

The heavy truck he was driving this time had a large warehouse space in the back, more than enough to carry three people and a donkey.

Horton and the others then went to help, lifting the goods on the ground, along with the deceased's body, onto the truck and securing them with nylon ropes.

Once Barney, his two companions, and the old donkey were all on the truck, Ma Li returned to the driver's seat, started the engine again, and drove the truck back towards Eagle's Beak City.

(End of this chapter)