CHAPTER 428: CHAPTER 222: RETURN, SUBTLE TRANSFORMATION (PART 2)

Then, through the association’s channels, he searched for methods to remove the Beastification Curse. Whether it was Gold Coins or points, he was prepared for his small treasury to significantly decrease.

It is worth mentioning that the wound on his lower right arm, scratched by Mint, healed at a speed far beyond expectations after several days of intense treatment with the "Secondary Healing Technique" of Tear of Spring Breath, leaving no scar.

The potentially contagious beastification also showed no signs of manifesting.

Xia Nan felt this very attentively and confirmed that he did not experience the strange whispers or special urges towards humans or raw food as he had learned about the "signs of beastification infection" prior.

Of course, this did not mean he had completed his defense against beastification.

It’s like those diseases with long incubation periods from his previous life; if he held a careless attitude now, it might be too late when it really manifests in the future.

To be safe, necessary measures must be taken because one cannot be too cautious with such an ancient and terrifying disease.

Following this was dealing with the various spoils obtained during this task.

Including but not limited to: the broken Purple Fir Magic Staff from Mint, Cash’s Tide Rod, Vireis’s two daggers, poison, and eye tool.

The types were varied, and he needed to visit every shop in town, which was rather time-consuming.

Finally, he had to go to Rock Hammer Blacksmith Shop to ask Barn if the plate chain composite armor he was wearing could still be repaired, and discuss with them about upgrading the Snake Scale Arm Shield.

There were a lot of things to handle, and Xia Nan finished off the cream mushroom soup in his hand in one gulp.

He greeted Chapton, who was wiping glasses behind the counter, and left the White Sparrow Tavern, carrying two longswords on his back.

...

...

River Valley Town adventurer association branch.

Lately, the unrest of beasts in Mist Forest had become just a minor episode that adventurers in the town encountered a few times every year.

After all, with such a large area where demons gathered, occasional special situations were quite normal.

They also knew that these beasts did not have the reproductive ability of goblins, and though maybe individually stronger, with beast pelts and claws fetching a good price on the market...

Under the lure of money, it was only a matter of time before adventurers would push these beasts back into the depths of the forest.

And as expected, albeit even faster, the number of beasts appearing on the fringes of the forest had drastically reduced recently, leaving hardly any related commissions left on the association’s mission wall.

Oftentimes, they were quickly snatched up by sharp-eyed adventurers as soon as they were posted.

There was no longer the grand occasion of half the board being full of commissions.

This left many less experienced adventurers, who prepared many corresponding supplies hoping to make a fortune, going home empty-handed.

"Hello, the association does not offer any bounty for the ’Blue-striped Leopard.’ You might want to try asking at the general store across the street; they may offer a good price."

With her golden short hair gently swaying as she spoke, Moli, dressed in an adventurer association staff uniform, leaned weakly on the front desk and said.

Standing before her was a large half orc covered in blood stains, reeking with the strong smell of having not bathed in who-knows-how-many days.

Despite Moli having explained three times, he simply spread out the pelt, still with bits of flesh and with faint blue stripes, with force, like a vendor promoting merchandise to customers, saying in choppy Universal Language brimming with a tribal accent:

"Leopard skin... good... three Gold Coins... make clothes... warm..."

Possibly because he had been hogging the counter for too long, making the adventurers waiting in line behind him impatient.

A hot-tempered dwarf, with his braided beard hanging to his chest and holding an iron hammer, shouted angrily:

"Where’d this greenskin come from, not knowing the rules?"

"Stop wasting my time and take your worthless junk and scram, Gro-lak!"

Initially, the half orc had little reaction to the dwarf’s yelling.

Though he could feel the emotion in the dwarf’s tone and words, having just left the tribe, he really didn’t understand such a fast-paced string of Universal Language.

Until the dwarf spat out those last words:

——Gro-lak.

In Beastman Language, it can be directly translated as "maggot excrement."

Adventurers who frequent taverns, regardless of their professional ability, are definitely well-versed in insulting terms across races.

Faced with this half orc who was wasting time hogging the spot, the dwarf naturally had that term ready.

And what happened next went just as all present onlookers anticipated.

Mutual swearing in their respective languages—shoving—falling to the ground and brawling—thrown out by association security staff.

Sitting at the front desk, Moli remained unfazed, long used to such trivialities.

From beneath the counter, she took a rag to clean up the few droplets of blood on the countertop.

She silently sighed, reaching her arm out to a bell nearby, just about to ring it.

A familiar figure suddenly appeared in her sight.

The golden-haired girl’s eyes lit up, instantly becoming spirited.

"Lina, cover for me for half a day, I’ll make it up to you all at once later!"

Saying that, she jumped up, pushed open the door behind the counter, and walked out in small strides.

...

An empty and quiet small conference room.

With a "thud," Moli closed the document in her hands, then seriously and solemnly spoke to Xia Nan, seated in front of her:

"Once again, thank you for your contribution to the association, Mr. Xia Nan!"

"Regarding the results of your investigation on task number ’E-20279,’ I have recorded everything in the archive. If you need, you can verify and review it anytime."

"Once confirmed by the association, the corresponding rewards will be credited to your account, and the physical rewards can be collected directly from me."

Saying so, she packaged a small cloth bag from the table, marked with the task number, into a wooden box and placed it on the document.

——Inside was Mint’s left ear.

Xia Nan didn’t know how the association would verify his investigation results, considering the remains on the scene would likely have been consumed by forest beasts in these few days.

He also had no idea about the method the other party would use to determine if he lied.

He just told the opposite party everything about his experiences with the Sea Thorn Squad, omitting any information that might involve himself, along with some subjective guesses, all in one go.

"Approximately how many days will it take?" Xia Nan asked Moli opposite him.

"Just three days, Mr. Xia Nan."

The waiting time wasn’t long.

Xia Nan pondered in his heart.

Regardless, having confirmed and eliminated the identity of the "Beastman" in the investigation task, he ought to have fulfilled the task completion requirements to the greatest extent.

As for the rewards, not to mention reaching full potential, the materials for upgrading the arm shield should be sufficient.

Of course, if there were additional Gold Coins or points rewards, he would definitely not refuse.

"Is there anything else I can do for you?"

"The headquarters recently sent a batch of good materials, they’re on the second floor. Would you like me to introduce them to you?"

"Also, the second floor’s professional tasks have been updated recently, with several rewarding ones available. If you’re looking for a team, I can assist you with that."

Moli’s performance was very proactive, showing her strong desire for achievements.

"No rush for now." Xia Nan shook his head, looking at the short-haired girl sitting across the table.

"There’s something I need you to help look into."

"I wonder if the association has any Purification Potion for curses like beastification, or Magic Scrolls with a ’Curse Removal’ spell."

"Hmm, it would be best to have their approximate prices and specific usage methods."

"Okay, Mr. Xia Nan, I will inquire about this right now!"