Faerun: The arcane mage is still too imprisoned.

"No... I'm not going!" Ivan shouted the first word, then his voice grew softer and softer.

The few vendors around had all quietly disappeared without a trace.

"Tsk tsk tsk," Scarface said without any sign of anger, "Look at that pitiful little thing!"

"If I remember correctly, your grandmother was seriously ill?"

Scarface put Ivan on the ground. "You've earned a few copper coins from selling these tattered books. Can you really scrape together enough money to buy medicine for your grandmother?"

Even if you don't think about yourself, shouldn't you think about your elderly grandmother?

"Your grandmother raised you with great difficulty, and you wouldn't want your grandmother... well, you know what I mean, right?"

"I...I...I answer..." Ivan slumped to the ground, seemingly beginning to waver.

"Poor boy, you seem to need help now?"

Lance's gentle voice suddenly rang out.

Scarface turned his head, saw Lance and Cielsa, paused for a moment, then grinned even wider.

Lance and his companion were facing away from Scarface, and Scarface didn't even notice them.

"There are two stunning beauties here, and they're both half-elves!" Scarface's eyes lit up instantly.

"Hey, half-elf pretty boy trying to play the hero?" One of Scarface's henchmen barked wildly as he approached Lance. "Do you know who we are? We're the Blood Wolf Gang—"

His words came to an abrupt end.

Because they saw Lance's eyes.

The sky-blue pupils were eerily calm, and the way they looked at me was as if I were an insect.

The three thugs suddenly froze, almost unable to breathe—

The charm attribute of the Forgotten Realms represents the degree to which it is favored by the multiverse.

Specific external manifestations include, but are not limited to: personal charisma, persuasiveness, leadership, intimidation, physical attractiveness, and the power to communicate with beings from other worlds.

It can be used for: persuasion, deception, intimidation, performance, and negotiation. It is also the ability to resonate with deities, natural forces, or inner magic.

In some cases, the outward expression of charm can be transformed to a certain extent according to the owner's wishes.

For example, right now.

Lance's current Charisma attribute is 18 points.

It's hard to say for professionals.

However, among ordinary people, apart from a very few with strong mental fortitude, the chances of the rest succeeding in resisting are almost zero.

These thugs didn't seem like mentally strong people at all, so it's no wonder that their intimidation effect was so outstanding.

Lance ignored them for the time being.

He walked up to Ivan, who was still slumped on the ground, trembling all over.

"Can you get up?" Lance reached out his hand.

Ivan stared blankly at the hand, hesitated for a few seconds, and then tremblingly grasped it.

Lance pulled him up.

"Th-thank you..." Ivan's voice trembled with tears, "But...but they'll come again..."

"What's your name?" Lance asked.

"Ivan...Ivan Novak."

"Is your grandmother sick?"

Ivan lowered his head, twisting the hem of his clothes with his fingers. "Grandma is sick and needs medicine, very expensive medicine... it costs one gold coin. I... I don't have any money. Almost all the income from my stall has been taken by the Blood Wolf Gang..."

As he spoke, tears streamed down his face, leaving two streaks on his dirty cheeks.

"Then your parents... never mind, I don't need to ask."

Lance remained silent for a moment.

He took a gold coin out of his purse and placed it in Ivan's hand.

[A magical trick!]

Lance used magic to clean Ivan up, then patted his head.

He froze, his eyes wide with shock.

"You...you are a monk!"

Seeing Lance cast the spell and he himself become truly clean, Ivan couldn't help but exclaim.

"Master, this is too much... I can't—"

"Take it," Lance interrupted him. "This isn't for you, it's for your grandma."

"Also, my name is Lance."

"Please wait here for a while."

[Consuming 100 experience points, you have learned a first-level spell – Charm!]

A charm rating of 18 points can instill fear in these thugs, make them lose their senses, and temporarily halt their actions, but that's about it.

To get them to reveal the information Lance wants, we'll have to use magic.

A pink glint flashed in Scarface's eyes.

Scarface's tense expression gradually relaxed, the fear in his eyes faded, and was replaced by an almost foolish obedience.

He rubbed his hands together and gave Lance a fawning smile: "This... sir, what are your orders?"

The two henchmen beside him also snapped out of their daze and shuddered.

One of the skinny, monkey-like thugs couldn't help but tug at the scarred man's sleeve: "Boss, what's wrong? Have you been controlled by this evil sorcerer's evil magic?!"

"Evil mage, quickly dispel the evil spell you cast on my elder brother!"

Skinny Monkey stepped forward, shielding Scarface behind him, pointed his right finger at Lance, and yelled at him.

Scarface slapped him on the back of the head and cursed, "What nonsense are you spouting! This gentleman is clearly someone of importance, a truly kind person. Why would he stoop to our level?"

"Big brother, you, you hit me?!" Skinny Monkey turned his head, looked at his big brother, and said incredulously.

"roll!"

Scarface kicked Skinny Monkey aside with a powerful flying kick.

He stepped forward and smiled obsequiously at Lance, "My lord, please don't lower yourself to the level of this fool. Whatever you wish to ask, I will answer to the best of my knowledge!"

Lance leaned against the alley wall, arms crossed, his sky-blue eyes calm and unwavering: "How many people are in your Blood Wolf Gang?"

"Twenty-three! A full twenty-three brothers!" Scarface patted his chest, his tone as proud as if he were talking about something glorious. "Our leader, 'Scar Wolf,' is a legitimate warrior!"

"What level?"

"...It should be level 1."

Are there any other professions?

"……there is none left."

"Where is the base?" Lance pressed.

"It's just three blocks away, in that abandoned leather workshop!" Scarface answered without hesitation. "That place is sturdy, with a cellar; it's super convenient for hiding things!"

Sielsa stood to the side, her brow furrowed, and couldn't help but interject, "Besides collecting protection money, what else do you do?"

Scarface glanced at Sielsa, a hint of amazement flashing in his eyes, and quickly replied, "That's a good question, beautiful lady! We've been doing something for a very important person lately!"

"An important person?" Lance's interest was piqued. "What important person? What do they want?"

Scarface scratched his head, a puzzled look on his face. "I don't know exactly who it is. I've only seen his men; they're well-dressed and generous. They want us to find children, saying the more the better."

"But we can't let anyone find out, or we'll be in big trouble!"

Lance's eyes turned cold, and the spell's effect quietly dissipated.

As the charm effect wore off, Scarface snapped back to reality. Looking into Lance's icy gaze, he instantly remembered what he had just said, his face turning deathly pale: "You evil mage! You... what evil magic did you use?!"

Just as he was about to reach for the dagger at his waist, Lance stepped forward and slammed his elbow into his stomach.

Scarface grunted and bent over like a shrimp.

[Shaking electric shock!] ×3

[Killed 3 level 0 humans! Gained 65 experience points!]