novelraw Chapter 32: Open Up, Water Meter Inspection
Chapter 32: Open Up, Water Meter Inspection
Perhaps in this world that values appearance, good-looking people always find it easier to gain others' favor.
After some conversation, Berengar and Kiriman had basically gotten to know each other. The initial mutual wariness was gone, replaced by the most basic level of trust.
However, the two didn't have time for extended chatting. After hurriedly cutting off the old priest's head and burying his body, they took advantage of the remaining darkness before dawn to head toward the Salamander Gang's hideout location.
This was, after all, the outskirts of the capital, still within the jurisdiction of the kingdom's laws. Many things could only be done under the cover of night.
If they killed people openly during daytime, especially within towns, they might accidentally cause massive chaos or even accidentally harm bystanders, becoming wanted criminals by the kingdom—which would only bring more trouble.
"By the way, Berengar, what's the reward for this contract of yours?"
While traveling, with nothing else to do, Kiriman suddenly thought of this question.
Since he never had much reference, although he knew his own fees were quite high, he didn't know exactly how much higher they were compared to others.
Understanding more about his colleagues' financial situations would help him negotiate prices with employers more effectively in the future.
Unexpectedly, when Berengar heard this question, he sighed as if struck in a sore spot.His weathered, peasant-like face showed a helpless expression as he said:
"Only forty-two Orens total."
"That couple said this was all their wealth."
"I've been investigating this matter for over three days, and now I still have to fight the Salamander Gang members. Sigh, I wonder if this money will even be enough to repair my equipment."
Forty-two Orens, with odd change and all.
After hearing Berengar's complaint, Kiriman chuckled inwardly.
The fee he planned to charge would be over ten times this amount. Although he might not actually charge that much, it definitely wouldn't be too little either.
Still, this reward was actually quite decent. Converted into ordinary adult labor value, it was more than enough to cover three months' wages.
This was especially true since they were in the kingdom's capital, where even ordinary people could relatively easily find work if they were willing to labor hard.
If this were in rural countryside areas, many people wouldn't even have opportunities to earn money, let alone accumulate any savings.
But there was no helping it—this was the medieval era with high prices, low rewards, and poor goods circulation.
That couple had probably done their best to save their child.
………………
Traveling quickly along the way took about an hour.
They finally reached the crossroads the old priest had mentioned and found the target location nearby.
This was an abandoned village—perhaps due to plague, perhaps due to war—but in any case, the villagers had long since died or moved away.
Only dilapidated houses, overgrown graves, ancient trees, and abandoned farmland remained, looking both eerie and terrifying.
If ordinary people were in such spooky ruins, they might feel afraid.
But both Kiriman and Berengar were Witchers, capable of slaying even wraiths and various supernatural entities, let alone ordinary darkness.
They briefly discussed combat tactics, then lightened their footsteps, holding their breath and concentrating as they began searching the area around the abandoned buildings for the Salamander Gang's hideout location.
It had to be said—their luck was fairly good.
After all, Salamander Gang members were just rogue thugs, ordinary people. In such darkness, they needed to light candles to move around without hindrance.
Using their Witchers' keen vision, the two quickly found a house with faint light among the ruins.
Cautiously approaching, they indeed discovered inside a group of people covered in various tattoos, wearing leather armor, with weapons placed nearby—looking quite dangerous.
They chatted quietly while making unrestrained jokes. Some were eating food, some were playing Gwent, and others were sniffing narcotic powder.
However, more notably, many of them carried hand crossbows.
These were extremely dangerous weapons. Even veteran Witchers would find it difficult to guard against hand crossbow ambushes during combat.
If hit by a crossbow bolt, one could easily die instantly.
Seeing these people, Berengar's breathing noticeably became heavier. His fingers moved toward his weapon as if considering a surprise attack.
But Kiriman shook his head at him, then pulled him aside. Reaching behind his back—actually accessing his storage space—he took out four potion bottles, giving two to each of them.
"Thunderbolt potion and Cat potion." Thɪs chapter is updated by noveⅼfire.net
"This hideout probably has more people than just these. There are likely secret passages inside the house."
"Drink these potions first to avoid struggling in combat if we get surrounded later."
Berengar hesitated for a few seconds.
Perhaps somewhat worried that these two potions might have been tampered with.
However, when Kiriman showed a completely open expression and drank his potions in front of him, Berengar no longer hesitated and quickly consumed both elixirs.
The first was Thunderbolt potion.
It could significantly increase a person's strength and agility for a short time, with enhancement effects reaching up to 1.5 times that of an ordinary person's strength and agility.
The latter was Cat potion.
It allowed people to see in the dark, granting night vision. If fighting ordinary people in complete darkness, it could even produce miraculous effects, making it possible to defeat several times or even dozens of times one's number of enemies.
After drinking the two powerful potions, Berengar's confidence noticeably increased, and he was no longer as tense as before.
However, Kiriman didn't give him much opportunity to show off next, instead first demonstrating what a pay-to-win Witcher's combat style looked like.
He brought this poor Wolf School Witcher back to the window outside the Salamander Gang hideout.
Then directly produced a massive Beehive Bomb from behind his back out of thin air.
Such a Beehive Bomb cost nearly ten Orens to make and was quite troublesome to manufacture, so few Witchers used them in ordinary combat.
Yet Kiriman didn't even blink. With his left hand, he made a silent snapping gesture, using Igni to ignite the Beehive Bomb, while his right hand threw it directly through the broken window into the house.
The country bumpkin thugs of the Salamander Gang had clearly never seen bombs before.
Looking at this clay pot with its burning fuse and emitting black smoke, some looked wary and wanted to run to the window to check the situation, while others looked curious and wanted to pick up the bomb to examine it.
But most hadn't yet realized what was happening from their activities, just staring blankly.
However, the Beehive Bomb wouldn't give them time to think.
With a tremendous "BOOM," the Beehive Bomb exploded violently.
Orange flames accompanied by thick smoke blew the nearest Salamander Gang members into pieces, while thugs further away were severely burned by the flames ignited by the Beehive Bomb.
Even the Salamander Gang members farthest away, outside the explosion range, were stunned by the tremendous blast, losing their ability to react.
The two Witchers waiting outside the door certainly wouldn't give the thugs time to recover.
They directly kicked the door open, then drew their sharp swords and began cutting down these Salamander Gang scum.