Chapter 69: The Captain and the Medical Fund

Faced with such an odd girl, the faces of the adventurers had darkened. If they hadn't seen that EeDeChi's metal badge was of rare orichalcum level, while they were merely mithril level, they would have lost their tempers long ago.

EeDeChi was examining others with an intensity that was exactly like a middle-aged woman meticulously selecting ingredients at a market. Before she could annoy even more people, Barrett quickly grabbed her and asked, "What are you looking for?"

"Aren't we at a High-tier adventurer meeting? Why isn't there a single adamantite-level adventurer here? It's all mithril-level and orichalcum-level ones," EeDeChi replied, looking dejected. It seemed she really hadn't found the right "ingredients."

"Adamantite-level adventurers are like chosen ones; it's not easy to meet them. They wouldn't bother with such meetings," Barrett explained. "In the entire Re-Estize Kingdom, there are only three adamantite-level adventurer teams! Besides, the Adventurer's Guild has no authority to enforce attendance; even some mithril-level and orichalcum-level ones haven't shown up."

EeDeChi shook her head repeatedly. "These adventurers are so disorganized, undisciplined, and laid-back. What a mess! You say there are three adamantite-level adventurer teams. What are their names? And which one is the strongest?"

"The three adamantite-level teams are named 'Red Drop,' 'Blue Roses,' and 'Darkness,'" Barrett pondered for a moment before answering. "The strongest among them should be 'Darkness.'

"As far as I know, the 'Darkness' team consists of only two people, a man and a woman, while the other teams have several members. The fewer members a team has, the stronger each member's combat ability is.

"And 'Darkness' is a newly risen adventurer team in recent years. They've gone from being unknown to getting an Adamantite badge just as quickly as you rose to Orichalcum," Barrett noted.

Barrett had secretly inquired about EeDeChi's background and knew that she had suddenly appeared in the adventurers' field of view and quickly leveled up to Orichalcum, rising faster than a goat with its butt on fire.

EeDeChi nodded thoughtfully. "Interesting. A two-person adamantite-level team like 'Darkness' must have a strong sense of justice. Maybe we can recruit them to fight against Ainz Ooal Gown. I should find a chance to talk to them."

"Stop obsessing over that big demon lord. Isn't living a good life enough?" Barrett said as he pulled out a chair and they both sat down in a corner of the tavern.

"You wouldn't understand. This is my mission." EeDeChi gazed out of the tavern window, the glow from the magical candelabrum casting a faint golden hue on her face.

They chatted idly for a while, while the adventurers in the 'Golden Harbor' tavern continued their noisy revelry. Along one side of the tavern, there was a wooden stage that usually featured a band playing elegant music.

However, at the moment, all the instruments, including the cello and timpani, had been removed, leaving only the empty wooden platform. It seemed the guildmaster was about to make an appearance.

Soon, a boy about fourteen or fifteen years old, with a few freckles on his face, ran up to the stage. From his golden-embroidered black robe, it was clear he was a mage apprentice.

Standing on the stage, the boy used a magically amplified voice to shout at the adventurers below, "Quiet! Quiet! The Adventurer's guildmaster is about to appear!"

But the adventurers continued their conversations, drinking, and boasting, completely ignoring him. The noise in the tavern did not diminish.

The boy, feeling quite frustrated, pulled out his wand and cast a sonic boom spell. A white sphere of light exploded at the tip of his wand with a thunderous crash, nearly shaking the crystal chandelier off the ceiling.

The adventurers were stunned for half a second by the sudden loud noise, and then they all turned their attention to the mage apprentice on the stage.

After the brief silence, the noise in the tavern grew even louder, directed at the boy on the stage.

"Looking for trouble, huh…", "Little brat!" "Ungrateful little punk!" "What's a mage apprentice making a fuss at an adventurer's meeting?" "Little mage, get down here! I'll give your head a red magical aura with this bottle of tequila…"

The adventurers' voices were full of curses, but among them were also several attractive and mature female adventurers who threw flirtatious glances at the boy on the stage. "Come over here and play with big sister~"

The boy had successfully drawn everyone's attention, but he had never faced such a situation before. He hurriedly shouted, "Please be quiet, the Adventurer's guildmaster is about to take the stage." With a blushing face, he ran down from the platform.

After the apprentice left, a figure in a light blue mage robe stepped up to the stage. He had a bushy, trembling goatee and a gleaming Orichalcum badge on his chest.

Barrett and EeDeChi looked closely and were both taken aback to see that the guildmaster was old Tony. Barrett finally understood the meaning behind old Tony's comment, "The drinks are on me."

Since the guildmaster rarely made public appearances, not many people knew Tony was the guildmaster , and many adventurers were as surprised as Barrett and EeDeChi.

Some adventurers who knew Tony well started to tease him, "Old Tony, did you poison the previous guildmaster with magic potions so you could take over? Hahaha!"

An adventurer in studded leather armor stood up and shouted, "If you can be the guildmaster , then my pet goose can become a lord!"

"Hahaha!" Laughter erupted, and the tavern was filled with a cheerful atmosphere, sweeping away any lingering discomfort from the mage apprentice's sonic boom spell.

Old Tony feigned anger. "Stop making jokes. I have something to say. Please be quiet and listen carefully."

The adventurers in the tavern quieted down, their noise fading away.

Even though they had been joking around, Tony's authority was respected. As a mage, an elder, and a well-known orichalcum-level high-tier elite adventurer, few questioned his position as the Adventurer's Guild guildmaster.

Old Tony scanned the room, standing straight with a dignified posture and a serious expression.

Clearing his throat, he began, "As you all know, we adventurers are like a sharp sword that promotes good and punishes evil, always hiding a passionate heart beneath a stern exterior, walking a unique path.

"Adventurers risk their lives, fighting dangerous monsters and beasts, defending the human world from their sharp claws and fangs, protecting the lives and property of ordinary people..."

"BULL SHIT! Save that crap for outsiders. We all know we do this for the gold, don't we?"

"Cut the fluff! Just get to the point already!"

The adventurers started to stir again, and Tony coughed, having to get straight to the matter. "The 'Golden Princess' Renner recently contacted me, seeking to unite several major and minor nobles within the kingdom to provide a medical fund for adventurers in the Re-Estize Kingdom with the money she has."

The mention of the highly regarded Princess Renner got all the adventurers' attention. They fell silent, watching old Tony intently, waiting for him to continue.

Old Tony went on, "As you all know, adventurers have high incomes but also high risks. One careless moment could lead to severe injuries—losing arms or legs, or even having one's... well, let's just say, manhood bitten off!"

Barrett shrank in his seat, certain that old Tony had glanced his way when he mentioned the latter.

"Whose... cock got bitten off?" an adventurer below asked impatiently.

Old Tony smiled. "It's a long story, and we can discuss it another time. For now, let's get back to Princess Renner's proposal.

"Sometimes, when we get seriously injured during an adventure, the cost of magic potions is astronomical. Our meager rewards can't possibly cover the medical expenses. Are we just supposed to become cripples or worse for the rest of our lives? Wouldn't it be great if someone was willing to lend a hand?

"I'm sure you've all seen many capable adventurers who had to leave us forever because of a single mistake. The Golden Princess Renner, true to her name, has understood our plight. She has voluntarily offered to unite with several major and minor nobles to provide a medical fund.

"As long as an adventurer maintains their registration with the Adventurer's Guild, they can receive free medical assistance and a nearly interest-free loan to help them through tough times…"

Tony's words were persuasive, and the adventurers below began to murmur among themselves. It was undeniable that Princess Renner's proposal was appealing. If they could get financial aid with minimal interest in a crisis, they wouldn't have to deal with unscrupulous loan sharks.

"What's the catch? Does Princess Renner have any demands?" a composed adventurer stood up and asked Tony.

Adventurers knew that nothing came without a price. There was no such thing as free food or free gold. You pay, I slay the monsters. Equivalent Exchange was the fundamental rule of this world.

Princess Renner was known for her wisdom, but she wasn't a royal with money to burn. Now that Princess Renner had offered compensation, what monsters would she want them to hunt?

"There's no catch! Princess Renner has made no demands!" Old Tony clapped his hands.

The questioning adventurer snorted. "That's impossible!"

Tony nodded with a smile, his goatee quivering slightly. "Princess Renner isn't a fool, and neither are we."

"We all know there's a natural law—Equivalent Exchange. I understand what she truly wants, and we adventurers can contribute to that. That's also why I called everyone here. Tonight's high-tier adventurer meeting is about to get to the real point."