Outpost Ruins camp, Wild Boar Tavern.
Rough wooden tables were packed with adventurers of all kinds.
"This damn weather finally cooled off, I'm suffocating," a burly man with a face full of meat gulped a mouthful of cloudy ale and complained in a coarse voice.
The man beside him lowered his tone and said, "Have you heard? The news those Rusty Key rats brought back the day before yesterday — that 'miracle' Yano isn't any kind of tough guy. At best he's on the level of a knight squire, all propped up by expensive magic scrolls."
"Oh? You mean that newcomer from Ironboot Town who's been getting all the attention lately?"
Another middle-aged mercenary in half-worn leather armor, who looked seasoned, raised an eyebrow.
"Miracles from some backwater town are mostly hot air. Now he's hit a wall, pissed off the Rusty Key bunch who settle scores, heard he tucked tail and ran to the big city to hide, hahahaha!"
His laughter carried undisguised contempt.
"Those Ironboot Town greenhorns haven't seen the world. They don't know what real adventurers are. They're just cowards flaunting a little fake fame."
They seemed to think that putting down this "miracle" would raise their own worth.
Just then—
Creak—
The tavern's heavy door was slammed open and crashed against the rough stone wall, producing a grating sound.
The noisy tavern fell silent in an instant.
The light at the doorway outlined a tall, upright figure.
He wore old leather armor, a plain longsword hung at his waist, he was travel-stained and calm-faced — it was Yano.
Dozens of gazes immediately pinned on him, full of scrutiny and curiosity, more of it open inspection.
Yano seemed not to notice those looks;
he strode straight for the bar.
Heavy boots thudded on the floorboards with a dull "thud thud," unusually distinct in the suddenly quiet tavern.
"One ale."
Behind the bar, the burly barkeep with a wild boar tattoo on his arm silently poured a muddied drink and pushed it over.
The brief silence shattered, whispers spreading like tidewater.
"Who is that? So arrogant?"
"Never seen him before... a newcomer?"
"Wait... look at that sword... and that build..."
A man in the shadowed corner squinted, voice laced with suppressed excitement and greed, "It's him, that 'miracle' Yano — the one on the Rusty Key bounty list!"
"What?!"
"He actually dares come here and swagger into the Wild Boar Tavern?!"
Instantly, several gaze-sharp, greed-tinged and malicious looks, like snake fangs, locked onto Yano’s back.
The air seemed to congeal, full of invisible gunpowder.
Yano picked up the mug but didn't drink immediately.
He turned and faced the whole tavern, his eyes calmly sweeping over faces, some shocked, some greedy, some mocking.
Then he raised his mug.
"Everyone." His voice carried clearly through the tavern. "I, 'Miracle' Yano."
"Will be heading to Gray Mist Lake Dungeon. To explore a treasure left behind by a 'legendary adventurer.'"
"I am leaving a recruitment notice here. Those with guts, those who are not afraid to die, come to the entrance of Gray Mist Lake Dungeon, look for me."
He set down his mug and turned his gaze to the barkeep behind the bar, his tone still steady: "Their drinks tonight are on me."
A short, stunned silence.
Then—
"Hahaha! Nice! Brother Yano, how generous!"
"Legendary treasure? Gray Mist Lake Dungeon? Interesting! Count me in!"
"Generous! Another round!"
The tavern erupted into deafening cheers, whistles, and fake flattery.
Smiles filled the adventurers' faces, but their eyes shone with even more greed.
Legendary treasure?
They had heard that hollow bait countless times.
This "miracle" Yano, a fat lamb carrying cash but with middling ability... that was the tangible "treasure."
As for recruiting members?
To them it was just the fat lamb picking his own coffin companions.
A faint smile played on Yano's face, as if he relished the center-of-attention atmosphere.
Only he knew sweat had already soaked his palm around the mug, and his back clung to his armor with dampness.
"Boss, isn't this going to attract too much hatred?"
He felt like a sheep surrounded by wolves...
ready to be swallowed whole at any moment.
Inside his cuirass, a round, plump Slime blinked.
"Don't worry, I've got this."
Chen Yu had already checked things out. In this place, the number of adventurers — not to mention legendary figures — was small;
even Official Professionals were few.
Only teams composed of Official Professionals were somewhat formidable, the sort who dared hunt Silver-tier magical creatures.
Chen Yu's voice poured like a clear spring into the anxious heart;
Yano's taut nerves relaxed noticeably.
Right, the Boss was right here.
As long as the Boss was around, these greedy looks and hidden threats... suddenly seemed less frightening.
"By the way, remember to pack me a bottle of ale and a few of the signature desserts. I want to taste them."
"Ah? Oh, sure."
He almost forgot: the Boss was a demon who liked sweets.
After packing the order, Yano drained the ale, nodded slightly to everyone in the tavern, then, under countless stares, turned and walked steadily out the Wild Boar Tavern's door.
The door shut behind him, cutting off the noise inside. But the storm he stirred up had only just begun.
"'Miracle' Yano is going to Gray Mist Lake Dungeon to find a legendary treasure!"
"He's recruiting members! He’s even paying the Wild Boar Tavern's tab tonight!"
"The bounty target for the Rusty Key basically delivered himself!"
The news was like stones thrown into a still pool, and the Outpost Ruins camp exploded.
Adventurers ran to spread the word, gossiping.
Greed, curiosity, schadenfreude... emotions spread across the camp, countless eyes turning toward Gray Mist Lake's direction.
Deep in the camp, a narrow alley piled with debris and reeking of rot.
Two figures, almost blending into the shadows, spoke in low tones — the two Rusty Key thieves who had ambushed Yano earlier.
"Tsk, didn't expect this kid to dare come back and cause such a scene."
"Gray Mist Lake Dungeon? Legendary treasure? Heh, sounds convincing."
The other thief replied, "Could be bluffing, or... trying to lure snakes out into the open."
"Too bad he's dumb enough to expose himself to everyone's eyes. That just speeds up his death."
"Who cares about his motive."
The first thief licked his lips, eyes glittering with greed and cruelty, "He's delivered himself to us, saves us the trouble of searching. Last time we let him get away;
this time... heh heh."
"Don't be careless, other 'locksmiths' in the guild have probably caught wind of this too."
"Right! Move!" The first thief's gaze hardened, "Everyone wants a bite of the fat lamb;
if we're late, there won't even be bones left."
They exchanged looks and nodded in tacit agreement, then their silhouettes vanished deeper into the alley without a sound.
Across corners of the camp — behind noisy taverns, in dim mercenary hangouts, even outside the unremarkable Rusty Key contact point — similar conversations and movements were replaying.
Greedy adventurers, mercenaries who smelled blood, and more Rusty Key members drawn by the bounty, all like hyenas sensing carrion, began converging toward Gray Mist Lake Dungeon.
A storm was quietly turning toward that mist-shrouded, danger-laden underground maze.
At the eye of the storm, the one who seemed to place himself in danger, "miracle" Yano, was walking the path to Gray Mist Lake.
He hadn't fled;
instead he had the leisure to feed the little Slime in his arms.