In total, he had killed twelve Goblins in Loran Forest with Larry and his group.
Five had already been submitted to the Adventurer's Association as proof of qualification, leaving him with seven.
When the seven Goblin left ears were lined up neatly on the desk, the staff member couldn't help but click his tongue in amazement.
Even an Adventurer Squad of three or four wouldn't necessarily be able to kill seven Goblins on a single outing.
'One person, seven Goblins, and not a scratch on him...'
He was inwardly relieved that he had changed his tune so quickly, managing to avoid offending this young Adventurer, who was clearly quite formidable.
"Please wait a moment..."
As he spoke, he inspected the seven ears. After confirming there were no issues, he opened a cabinet by his left foot, took out seven Silver Coins, and handed them to Lin Mo.
"This is your reward. Thank you for your contribution to Roland Town."
His attitude was now clearly more respectful than before, but the young Adventurer before him showed no sign of leaving after taking the Silver Coins.
"Is there anything else I can..."
His words came to an abrupt halt as his eyes widened, staring at what the young man was pulling from his pack.
"SHHH—"
Lin Mo raised a finger to his lips. The other man understood at once and nodded, composing his breathing and quickly taking the much larger Goblin ear from his hand.
As a public official responsible for this sort of thing, he considered himself well-versed when it came to Demon trophies.
Without a doubt, this was the ear of a Mutated Goblin!
He slowly let out a breath, his gaze toward Lin Mo now filled with shock and gravity.
'A Mutated Goblin... That's a monster even an official Professional couldn't guarantee they could defeat unscathed.'
He counted out 40 Silver Coins from the nearby cabinet, placed them in a cloth pouch, and handed it to Lin Mo.
"This is your bounty. Please take it."
Lin Mo opened the pouch for a look. Out of the corner of his eye, he glanced at the staff member. The man's expression was perfectly normal; he likely hadn't tried anything.
So he nodded, took the pouch, and turned to leave.
Only after rounding a corner did he duck into a small alley, open his pack, and count the Silver Coins.
'It's actually worth a lot...'
The bounty for one Mutated Goblin was equal to that of 40 Ordinary Goblins!
Now, his total assets were 1 gold, 51 silver, and 88 copper.
For an ordinary civilian, this was already a fortune. But in the world of Adventurers, it was a different story.
Lin Mo leaned against a wall, took out the *Roland Town Map Guide*, and began to flip through it.
[Blacksmith Shops and Weapon Maintenance]......17-21
For an Adventurer, a sturdy, reliable weapon is essential. It drastically improves your combat ability and survivability, ensuring you won't face a crisis just because your blade failed you at a critical moment.
If you're fabulously wealthy and money is no object, then the Association's shop, with its guaranteed quality, is your best bet. Head to the second floor of the Association, where the sales associates will enthusiastically walk you through the weapon types and prices. Weapons bought at the Association are typically free of defects and come with after-sales guarantees—for instance, one free comprehensive weapon maintenance session per month, plus subsequent polishing and refurbishment at a 30% discount.
However, if your funds are a bit tighter, we recommend you head to 21 Copper Hammer Street. The young Dwarf Blacksmith, Edgar, is more than willing to sell his meticulously crafted weapons at a lower price in the hopes of building a reputation among the Adventurer community. Of course, Edgar is still young, so his craftsmanship can be inconsistent. He produces both truly high-quality, nearly flawless pieces, as well as seemingly fine but actually shoddy, defective products. You will have to judge the quality for yourself.
For a safer bet, you can also choose the shop not far from his, at 25 Copper Hammer Street. The 150-year-old Old Riel is a highly experienced veteran Blacksmith. His prices are a bit steeper than Edgar's, and while his weapons won't blow you away, they will, in most cases, never disappoint.
...
The guide was quite thorough, carefully explaining the pros and cons of the five blacksmith shops in town.
After careful comparison, Lin Mo decided to focus on the first two.
He headed to Old Riel's forge first.
Just as the guide described, Old Riel was a short old man with a salt-and-pepper beard. He stood about four feet tall, with a rugged face and a sturdy build—the very picture of a stereotypical Dwarf.
"If you're after a weapon, look for yourself."
Old Riel clearly had little interest in doing business. At his age, he had already earned more than enough money; blacksmithing and running the shop were now just hobbies, so he naturally lacked the drive of his youth.
However, just as the guide stated, the weapons he produced were of excellent and consistent quality. Of course, their prices weren't nearly as attractive.
Lin Mo's eyes were drawn to a bright silver One-Handed Sword. It was about four feet long, its razor-sharp blade glinting with a cold light. Compared to the piece of junk he had wrapped in cloth on his back, this was in another league entirely.
But a single glance at the price tag was enough to extinguish his hopes.
3 gold and 70 silver coins.
He couldn't afford it even if he went completely broke.
'Is there anything cheaper...?'
Lin Mo kept looking. Any weapon that was even remotely decent cost at least 1 gold and 20 silver coins.