Chapter 1297: Rime and Ice Trees (Part 2)

Hiss—

From the large nostrils, a gush of warm air spurted out, congealing into a column of dispersing water vapor in the air.

Seeing the old man in front of him not directly respond, Half-orc Gangke immediately gritted his teeth and glared, the veins bulging under the skin of his arm as he reached for the iron hammer on his back.

“Alright, Gangke.” As the temporary captain of the “Sulfur Dragon Breath” team, Minstrel Uriah timely reached out and placed a hand on the half-orc’s shoulder.

“Don’t rush, we still have plenty of time, let’s go inside first.”

Somewhat dissatisfied with this temporary leader of the team, the green-skinned half-orc impatiently shrugged his shoulder, shaking off the hand from him.

But after all, considering they had fought alongside each other for many years, since the other had said so, he refrained from making things difficult for the old man before him.

He merely snorted coldly, crossed his arms, and turned his head to look elsewhere.

…

To entertain these suddenly visiting adventurers, they were accommodated in the largest and most decent wooden house located in the center of Ice Tree Village.

Simplistically arranged, with a clean environment, it was clear that it was often cleaned.

The blazing fire in the fireplace dispelled the cold in the air, while the villagers who had originally welcomed them at the village entrance were left outside with the cold.

This left only the team and the village chief inside.

Leaning against the window, the pitch-black eyes reflected the villagers gradually moving away outside, their footsteps slightly hurried as they whispered among themselves.

Xia Nan’s mind was full of thoughts.

In the room, Uriah had already started communicating their intentions with the village chief of Ice Tree Village.

“Rest assured, we will do nothing to harm your village.”

“If everything goes smoothly, we should be able to leave before sunset today, not even needing to stay overnight.”

Compared to Half-orc Gangke earlier, Minstrel Uriah, although still carrying an aloof tone, managed to relatively gently and completely convey their position.

Indicating that, barring any accidents, they would not harm the residents of Ice Tree Village without cause.

“Of course, that… requires your cooperation.”

He slightly intensified his tone.

Seeing the old man in front of him nodding cautiously and fearfully, a satisfied smile finally formed at the corner of his mouth as he opened his mouth to explain:

“We are an adventurer team from Bloodforge Fortress, the reason we came to your village is due to an assignment from the fortress.”

“Half a month ago, a professional adventurer team, returning from completing a mission, was attacked by a banshee near your village, and very few survived.”

“And our target is precisely this dangerous monster.”

“A Banshee!?” As soon as Ilya finished speaking, the elderly village chief sitting across the table could not help but exclaim in shock, “Right near the village? How, how can it be!?”

Perhaps unaware of the specific challenge level of the banshee or other detailed information related to it.

But obviously, the village chief knew the deadly danger it posed to ordinary people.

“Precisely!” Apparently very satisfied with the elder’s shocked reaction, Uriah smiled as he picked up the teacup steaming with heat on the table and sipped it.

“Your village seems rather fortunate, with so many people, if that monster really found you, I fear not a single one would survive.”

“However…”

Seeing the village chief’s expression growing more fearful, Uriah deliberately drew out his tone before continuing.

“Rest assured, we are here to help you resolve this monster.”

“We don’t need any compensation…”

“Food!” Half-orc Gangke suddenly interrupted upon hearing this, “Prepare some food for me, and a few big-…”

The words were only halfway out when Uriah shot him a glare, stopping him with a low voice:

“Mind your manners! Our mission is not yet over, don’t forget Captain Gretchen’s rules!”

Knowing that he probably couldn’t hold him down alone, the minstrel had no choice but to bring up their missing captain.

It was quite effective.

As soon as the name “Gretchen” was mentioned, the half-orc Gangke, who was originally eager at the village outside the window, suddenly wilted.

With his head lowered, muttering something about “stop using the captain as an excuse” but no longer mentioning his earlier request.

Ahem—

Deliberately clearing his throat.

Uriah, with a serious and earnest expression, inquired about the intelligence related to their mission from the elder ahead:

“Tell us, what do you know about that adventurer team, and the banshee near your village?”

Upon hearing this, the village chief swallowed saliva, the loose folds of his neck fluttered, he slightly raised his head, his gaze swept over Minstrel Uriah, the half-orc Gangke with a lowered head full of complaints beside him, the half-elf wanderer in the corner shadows, the bald ranger near the door, and Xia Nan by the window, along with the winter wolf at his feet.

His eyes flickered for a moment, it’s unclear what he was thinking.

Then, in a cautious and respectful tone, he recalled:

“Uh… if I remember correctly, the adventurer team you mentioned should have been six people in total, four humans, plus a half-orc and a dwarf in heavy armor, right?”

“Correct!” Cross-checking information from Bloodforge Fortress’s task, Uriah slightly nodded, “But the only one who made it back alive to the fortress was the dwarf among them.”

Confirming they were referring to the same team, the village chief slightly breathed a sigh of relief.

“That makes sense.” He chose his words carefully, “They did pass by here at that time, but it’s also because our village is remote and doesn’t have much to offer in terms of hospitality.”

“Those adventurers only stayed one night before leaving the next day.”

With no significant intelligence, Uriah couldn’t help but fall into silence, pondering.

And it was at this moment that Xia Nan, who hadn’t spoken much since entering the room, suddenly spoke up:

“Hospitality?”

“Didn’t that adventurer team make any extra requests back then?”

Upon hearing this, the village chief’s face suddenly changed, even though it returned to its original state the next second, that moment of stiffness did not escape Xia Nan’s attention.

Forcing a polite smile onto his face, the village chief replied:

“Just some supplies that might be needed on the road, the adults helped handle the dangerous monsters in the forest, it’s what we should do.”

“Well… in addition, as you know, the Frost Forest is full of monotonous crystalline trees and ice-white snowfields, without familiarizing oneself with the local environment, it’s easy to get lost inside.”

“So before those adventurers left, they specifically hired a hunter from our village as a guide.”

“Oh?” A spark lit in Minstrel Uriah’s eyes, “So there was not only them but also one of your village’s hunters present at the time?”

The village chief nodded heavily.

“And where is he, is he still alive?”

“Yes, still alive, sir.”

“Then what are we waiting for, go get him!”

Upon hearing this, watching the bard in front of him with inexplicably excited emotions due to discovering a clue, the village chief appropriately showed a regretful expression, spreading his hands toward the bard:

“I’m truly sorry, sir.”

“You’ve come at an inopportune moment, that hunter just left the village the day before yesterday to hunt outside, so… “

With disappointment tinged with suspicion, Uriah scrutinized the village chief and his tone gradually became unkind:

“Left just the day before yesterday? Do you know when he might be back?”

“Rest assured.” The village chief lowered his eyelids, “As per his usual routine, he should return to the village by tomorrow afternoon, before sunset at the latest.”

Snort—

Across the table, knowing their plan to immediately go back upon resolving the target had failed, Half-orc Gangke let out a heavy snort.

Without saying a word, he just coldly glanced at Uriah beside him.

“Alright.”

Feeling the pressure from his teammate, the expression on the bard’s face was not very natural, he just maintained a slightly awkward stance as he spoke to the village chief:

“Then we will stay in your village for one more day.”

“Tonight, whatever fresh meat, wine, for entertaining… put it all on the table!”