Chapter 146 Silence

Following Hunting Day, Rivervale Town was noticeably quieter compared to its former bustling state.

The travel-worn young and middle-aged adventurers who once bustled between the Adventurers' Association and the cheap general stores in their crude gear had unknowingly vanished into the deepening autumn chill.

Naturally, they had not disappeared because they had earned enough to happily retire.

As for where they went... the newly enriched soil in the Misty Forest might hold the answer.

Replacing them were fresh faces wandering the streets, a sudden spike in equipment sales at the blacksmith shop, and copies of the [Adventure Manual] nearly selling out in no time.

They were drawn by the myths of the trade: working for two years to save up enough for a lifetime of comfort, returning home to make the arrogant village sheriff cower, or even achieving a complete leap in status by becoming a "Class Holder."

The adventurer profession never lacked fresh recruits, at least not on the Aifala Continent.

The White Chickadee Tavern remained as lively as ever.

Its prime location, combined with prices far steeper than any other tavern in town, made it a year-round gathering spot for veteran adventurers who had money to spend and the willingness to spend it.

For these "old hands" who had spent years in the adventurer trade, the so-called Hunting Day really was just a once-a-year "happy festival" where their incomes skyrocketed.

Casualties happened, of course, but they were rare.

No matter how quiet or full of "youthful vigor" the streets outside became, the tavern's tables were packed with veterans drinking their lives away, using alcohol to release the pressure and numb their nerves after grueling quests.

In fact, having earned gold coins during Hunting Day, the atmosphere was even more raucous than usual.

"I'm bleeding my wallet dry today, but I'm bringing you here to expand your horizons!"

An adventurer with bloodstains lingering on his leather armor pushed open the tavern doors, wearing a boastful expression.

Behind him trailed a curious youth with a brand-new one-handed sword hanging at his waist.

"The White Titmouse is practically the highest-class tavern in all of Rivervale Town."

"Even staying for a single night costs an entire silver coin."

"Normally, even your older cousin only comes here to dine with the squad after finishing a quest."

"You're a lucky brat. You haven't even run a single quest, and you're already enjoying it."

Hearing his older cousin speak, Jimmy nodded in a daze, wearing the constrained smile unique to newcomers.

It didn't feel entirely real to him. Only when his older cousin mentioned the one-silver-coin nightly rate did Jimmy subconsciously clutch the coin pouch at his waist, mentally calculating how many days his entire net worth could pay for here.

Subconsciously, he even looked upon the waiter mopping the floor nearby with reverence, treating him like a big shot he could not afford to offend.

As he carefully surveyed his surroundings, his older cousin marched up to the bar counter. Jimmy quickly hurried to catch up.

Contrary to the suave, experienced demeanor Jimmy had imagined, his older cousin appeared surprisingly hesitant while ordering. He kept pausing to mull things over, seemingly calculating the exact cost of their meal.

Jimmy felt a bit puzzled. After all, his family back home said his older cousin had earned quite a lot as an adventurer in Rivervale Town over the last two years. Given his personality, he shouldn't be so stingy about treating someone to a meal.

But when he watched his older cousin casually rattle off a few dishes and then fish exactly three silver coins and five coppers from his pocket, Jimmy finally understood the pained look on his face.

'Good lord, that much money could buy two whole sacks of bread...'

While secretly marveling at the cost, his expectations for the adventurer profession and his own future soared even higher.

Seeing the sheer envy radiating from the younger cousin he had brought from their hometown, the older cousin's previously pained expression—brought on by the massive expense—was replaced by a swell of smug pride.

Feigning a bold air, he threw an arm over Jimmy's shoulders and led him toward an empty table in the main hall.

"I might not have achieved anything world-shaking over the last two years, but your older cousin has still carved out a decent little reputation in town."

"Don't worry. I promised our aunt and uncle I'd look after you, so I definitely won't let you suffer any losses."

"Stick with me from now on, and I guarantee I'll take you..."

Spurred on by the sweet talk ringing in his ears, Jimmy gradually lost himself in his daydreams, imagining the glorious adventurer career that awaited him.

However, for some unknown reason...

His older cousin's loud and boastful voice suddenly dropped to a whisper.

His body also froze in place.

His expression turned stiff. He stared straight ahead, yet his gaze lacked any real focus, as if he were deliberately pretending not to notice something in a specific direction.

Unfamiliar with the unwritten rules of the trade, Jimmy felt puzzled and subconsciously glanced over at the nearby tables of patrons.

'Is it this dwarf? But he's already passed out on the table. There's nothing special about him.'

'Or is it that table of half-orcs? I heard from the bards who passed by the village before that their tempers aren't very good. If they get drunk, it really is quite troublesome.'

'It can't be this table, can it? That black-haired adventurer looks barely older than me. He's probably a newcomer who just entered the trade too. Those two in front of him, on the other hand...'

As he pondered, Jimmy suddenly felt the fingers resting on his shoulder dig in. His older cousin forcibly wrenched him around, stopping him from looking any further.

He practically shoved Jimmy backward, his expression tense as he lowered his voice. "Stop looking!"

"We're changing seats. We aren't sitting here."

"For your very first lesson as an adventurer, I'm going to teach you how to recognize people!"

His older cousin's sudden shift in attitude left Jimmy stunned. He blurted out, "Recognize people? Who? That guy with the black hair..."

"Silence!" his older cousin hissed, raising his left index finger to his lips.

As he spoke, he threw a guilty, furtive glance backward. Seeing that the other party did not seem to have noticed them, he finally breathed a sigh of relief.

He rubbed his faintly chilling neck and scolded, "From now on, keep your eyes to yourself. And unless you have my permission, you aren't allowed to speak, either!"

"Since you plan on making a living in Rivervale Town, there are a few people you can avoid interacting with, but you absolutely must recognize them!"

"Otherwise, if you anger a big shot, you won't even survive a single quest!"

Seeing his older cousin's dead-serious expression, Jimmy shrank his shoulders like a child caught making a mistake and sensibly shut his mouth.

"I'll explain the rest to you in detail later."

"Since we ran into this one today, I'll take the chance to give you a pointer. That way, if your head ever gets chopped off, you'll at least know who you offended!"

"First of all, the most obvious trait—which is also the source of his nickname—is something you should have already noticed."

Hearing his older cousin say this, Jimmy subconsciously recalled the brief glimpse he had caught earlier. "That... gray longsword?"

"Right!"

"'Greysword'!"