Chapter 9: The Local Gang is Truly Polite
...[Adventure Card: "Tungsten Steel Mechanical Factory"]
[Card Lineage: "the fool"]
[Adventure Difficulty: Level 1+]
[Card Description: Gain 1 draw chance after starting the journey, an additional draw chance after completing a room. Settlement can be performed after completing at least half of the rooms.]
[Death Penalty: Soul Weakness (one natural day)]
[Adventure Reward: Class Experience, omninet disaster coins, Crafting Materials, Random Cards]
...Whether it was the rewards or the drawing mechanism, the part of this Adventure Card that Luo Yi cared about most was actually its name.
"If I remember correctly, 'tungsten steel Machinery' is content from a certain Terraria mod."
"This is getting interesting..."
At the thought of what powerful opportunities and challenges that mod named "Calamity" would bring, Luo Yi couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement in his heart.
However, he was in no hurry to set out on a new journey.
Extrapolating from his last trip to the Bandit Cave, even if an Adventure Card was used within the Terraria World, time in the outside world would still pass normally.
He had other things to do today; it wouldn't be too late to investigate further after they were resolved.
About half an hour later, a somewhat hurried knocking sounded at the door.
"They're here... the people from the Death Scythe Gang."
Li Xue was a bit out of breath, her flushed little face making it obvious she had run all the way here.
"Come in." Luo Yi nodded slightly. "Tell me where those people are, I'll go meet them."
"Ah? Lord, they are going house to house collecting debts right now."
Seeing that Luo Yi intended to meet the Death Scythe Gang members, the girl's eyes suddenly widened, her emerald orbs filled with curiosity.
"Can I go with you?"
"...Stay in the Lords Mansion, don't wander around."
Hearing this, Luo Yi glanced at the girl with some surprise and immediately shook his head.
He was more than capable of protecting himself now, but it was hard to say if he had to bring a tagalong.
After Luo Yi left, Li Xue obediently stayed in the living room of the Lords Mansion, looking around.
Because there was no order from Luo Yi, she didn't dare go to other rooms and could only stay where she was.
However, this didn't stop the girl's thoughts from wandering wildly.
"The new Lord... seems quite easy to talk to."
"And he's very young, seemingly only a few years older than me, unlike those round-bellied noble Lords who are so repulsive."
The only tavern in town was not open to the public today.
Because a group of uninvited guests had taken over the entire place.
"Brothers, have a drink!"
"Free Ale, might as well drink up!"
Several Gang members were raising their glasses and drinking in the empty tavern, while the proprietress could only serve them drinks with a grim face.
On the other side, Li Xue's father was waiting nervously for the debt collector's response.
The person in charge of collecting the arrears was a leader of the Death Scythe Gang, lean in build, wearing black short clothes, with a fierce gaze.
"Not enough."
Hearing those two words, Li Xue's father felt a chill all over. Meeting the Gang leader's gaze, he hurriedly explained.
"You know the situation in Moonstone Town. The tavern's business gets worse every day... this is already everything we own."
"Heh..." The Death Scythe Gang leader sneered. "You have money to find someone to send your daughter to a Church School, but no money to pay your debts?"
"But it's just as well. A literate slave should fetch a higher price."
"Wait! We'll pay! This has nothing to do with Li Xue..."
"You don't get a say." The Death Scythe Gang leader produced a fairly well-maintained Scimitar and said in a low voice, "The money isn't enough for the quota this time. According to the rules, I have to cut off one of your arms."
"I'm a kind-hearted man; you can choose which one to keep."
Li Xue's father's face turned pale. The Scimitar in the leader's hand reflected a bone-chilling light that made his eyes sting.
"I... I choose..."
Just then, the Death Scythe Gang leader suddenly shuddered and dove into a roll.
Though the movement was somewhat clumsy, he successfully dodged a blue-white ray emitting a grim chill that shot from afar.
Even if he couldn't identify what kind of spell it was, the leader realized this was a power belonging to a Transcendent!
"What's going on? How can there be a Transcendent in this dump of a town?!"
Using a table for cover, the Death Scythe Gang leader quickly scanned the source of the ray and discovered a black-haired young man.
"Your Excellency."
The leader gave a look to his subordinates, who had dropped their glasses and were preparing to fight, then stood up and walked forward.
"We are from the Death Scythe Gang. We should have no grievances with you."
Judging by this person's clothing, he likely wasn't one of those paladins who shouted about punishing evil and promoting good all day, nor a capricious forest ranger.
If the other party was just passing through, then there was still a chance to turn things around, or at least avoid casualties.
"I am the new Lord of Moonstone Town."
Luo Yi silently counted the number of Gang members while speaking.
"This is my territory, and the residents here are under my protection. If you harm my people, it will be seen as a provocation against me."
"...Lord?!"
The Death Scythe Gang leader's heart skipped a beat. If the opponent had noble status, he was bound to be a tough nut to crack—at most, they just dealt in usury, forced prostitution, and other shady black-market businesses.
Those noble Lords truly devoured people without leaving a trace, and it wasn't even illegal!
Furthermore, he was a noble with Transcendent power, making him even harder to provoke.
In the entire Death Scythe Gang, only the Gang leader was a low-level Transcendent. As a mere small-time leader, he naturally didn't dare make an enemy of another Transcendent.
"My deepest apologies. It seems our information is outdated. I will take my men and leave immediately."
The Death Scythe Gang leader gestured to his subordinates, who were facing a great enemy, signaling them to follow him and leave.
Such a straightforward and clean admission of defeat and retreat actually left Luo Yi, who was prepared for a big fight, somewhat baffled.
Is the local Gang... a bit too polite?
Little did he know that in the eyes of these people, he was an even more terrifying dark force than the Gang—a Transcendent Lord with suspected noble status; these terms combined were enough to stop a child from crying at night.
If the Death Scythe Gang had known of Luo Yi's existence, they probably wouldn't have even come today.
Anyway, not much profit could be squeezed out of these paupers in Moonstone Town; there was no need to risk their lives.
"Wait..." Luo Yi suddenly spoke, thoughtfully saying: "You're leaving just like that? Did you forget something?"
Hearing this, the leader's heart jolted, and a bitter expression of "as I expected" appeared on his face.
"I understand. As the price for offending you... I will cut off one of my own arms!"
As he spoke, before Luo Yi could react, he saw the leader suddenly go mad, grab his blade with a low roar, and hack off his own left arm.
A bloody severed arm fell to the ground, blood gushing out continuously, and the air was filled with a thick, metallic scent of blood.
"No... I just wanted to ask how much debt you've issued in the town."
Luo Yi had intended to say this, but the current atmosphere made it impossible for him to speak.
Seeing his hesitant manner, the leader's heart sank, and he gritted his teeth as he ordered the surrounding subordinates.
"Everyone, cut off one of your own arms as an apology to the Lord!"
Seeing that the tavern was about to turn into a wholesale market for severed limbs, Luo Yi finally couldn't help but call a halt.
"Enough. While I'm in a good mood, get out of here."
Upon hearing this, the Gang members felt as if they had been granted a general amnesty and scrambled out of the tavern one after another.
"Am I really that scary?"
Luo Yi turned around rather gloomily, only to find Li Xue's parents—the tavern owner and proprietress—hurriedly looking away, their eyes filled with fear and avoidance.
At this moment, Luo Yi deeply felt the sad, thick barrier known as status and class.
"Forget it... let it be."
Shaking his head, Luo Yi realized that this world was not as equal as the environment he originally came from, and he could only pace away.
"I wonder if the Death Scythe Gang will double back or secretly sabotage the town."
"It's still necessary to guard against them... although that leader has already left an arm behind."
Returning to the Lords Mansion, Luo Yi was surprised to find a guest visiting at the door.
And it was an "acquaintance" he had met once before.
"This really is your territory!"
The young Itinerant Merchant, his eyes full of curiosity, greeted Luo Yi stiffly.
"Lord, Itinerant Merchant Faye Er sends his regards."