Chapter 176 - 175: Mudfoot Hom

Chapter 176: Chapter 175: Mudfoot Hom

"Hey! Esteemed Adventurers! Please wait!"

Hayley and the others stopped at the sound of his voice. They turned, looking with some confusion at the short, stocky man who had chased after them from the tavern.

Hom came to a stop in front of them, trying to catch his breath. He forced a smile he hoped was sincere, though it just scrunched the wrinkles on his face together.

"Um... excuse me, I couldn’t help but overhear in the tavern that you’re looking for a guide?" He rubbed his hands together, his gaze quickly sweeping over the group before landing on Hayley, who seemed to be the leader.

"And what if we are?" Grek crossed his arms, his tone scrutinizing.

’When the tavern keeper mentioned finding a guide earlier, he’d wanted to bring up how he got screwed over by one the last time he was here.’

’The guy took their money and led them right into a giant leech nest. If they hadn’t been fast runners, they’d have been sucked dry.’

’Not to mention that nine out of ten locals who approached you like this were scammers looking to cheat you out of your money.’

Hom hurriedly bowed and scraped. "That’s great, that’s great! My name is Hom. Hom Mudfoot—of course, that’s just what they call me," he added quickly. "I’ve lived in this Trout Town for nearly twenty years. I can’t make any grand claims, but I know the eastern part of the swamp like the back of my hand."

Earlier in the tavern, Old Nick had mentioned that the Blackwater Swamp was vast.

Since Trout Town was situated on the eastern edge of the swamp, when locals referred to the Blackwater Swamp, they were usually talking about the eastern region.

The waters of the Twilight River flowed into the swamp here, forming a vast but relatively shallow expanse of water overgrown with reeds taller than a person.

Some small Frogman tribes gathered here, but they didn’t usually cross that stretch of water.

The fishermen of Trout Town only dared to fish near the confluence, where it was relatively safe.

Of course, that was before the Frogmen started rampaging.

Now, forget the confluence; even the trade routes closer to town were often swarming with Frogmen.

Hom puffed out his still-sturdy chest, trying to add a bit of Persuasion. "I know the areas the Frogmen frequent most. I even know... which reed beds are the easiest places to find those damn Frogman spawn!"

Hesia sized up Hom.

’The information from his Assessment Skill showed that the man was level 10. For an ordinary person, this at least meant his physical Attributes wouldn’t be too low.’

’Next, his gaze shifted downward, noting Hom’s wide, stable stance and low center of gravity—a characteristic of someone who spent years on a rocking boat.’

’He really did seem to fit the part of a guide who made his living in the swamp.’

Hayley and Hughes exchanged a glance. Hughes gave a slight nod, signaling that they should at least hear him out.

Hayley turned to Hom, her tone calm but cautious. "Thank you for the offer, Mr. Hom. However, we need reliable experience, not just familiarity with the terrain. After all, as you heard, the situation is much more dangerous than we initially estimated."

"I understand! That’s precisely why you need me, not those other guys who only dare to take you around the outskirts." Hom’s tone grew urgent. "I can tell you’re here to solve the problem, not just to make a bit of money off some webbed feet."

Hesia cut in, asking, "If you know it’s so dangerous, why are you still willing to go in?"

Hom’s smile froze for a moment before turning into an embarrassed grimace. "Sigh... To be honest with you all, I owe some money to those loan sharks from River Claw. The interest is piling up... If I don’t pay it back soon, they’re going to tear my old boat apart for firewood. That boat is my livelihood..." He looked up, his eyes pleading. "But I, Hom, would never gamble with my own life! The path I take you on will definitely help you avoid the deadliest traps and find traces of the Frogmen. As for the commission... it’s negotiable! Once you esteemed masters complete your quest, just toss this poor soul enough to pay off my debt!"

Grek scoffed. "A poor man’s life isn’t worth much."

A flash of awkwardness crossed Hom’s face, but he didn’t argue, simply fixing his expectant gaze more intently on Hayley.

Hayley looked into Hom’s eyes, which shone with desperation, and mulled it over for a moment.

"We need to discuss this."

"Of course! Of course! I’ll just wait by the courtyard gate. You all take your time!" Hom tactfully took a few steps back, but his eyes remained glued to them, as if afraid his lifeline would suddenly fly away.

Watching Hom step away, Grek couldn’t help but whisper to Hayley, "Captain, you really trust this guy? He looks more like a gambler who’s lost everything and is trying to win it all back by running his mouth. With guys like this, I’m most..." He trailed off, a flicker of embarrassment on his face. ’After all,’ he thought, ’wasn’t he a gambler who’d lost all his money and had to run to this godforsaken place in the cold?’

Priest Hughes pushed up his glasses and said gently, "Caution is necessary, Grek. However, it does sound like he’s very familiar with the swamp. Perhaps... we could give him a chance to prove himself?"

Hayley looked at Hesia. "Mr. Galen, what do you think?"

Hesia’s gaze went past Hayley to Hom, who was nervously wringing his hands in the distance. He spoke calmly, "He’s level 10, so his stamina and other physical aspects should be fine. Besides... he seems to really need the money. Sometimes, desperate need is a better guarantee of caution than any useless promise."

Hayley nodded, her mind made up.

She turned and walked toward Hom.

Hom’s heart leaped into his throat.

"Mr. Hom," Hayley said, "we can hire you as a temporary guide."

"However, your commission will be paid after we return safely, and it will be based on our final haul. Also, while in the swamp, you must follow our orders completely and are not to act on your own. If you agree to these terms..."

"I agree! Absolutely!" Hom accepted eagerly. "I, Hom, am the most obedient! If you esteemed masters say go east, I’ll never go west!"

Seeing his reaction, Hayley couldn’t help but let a small smile touch her lips, the corners of her eyes crinkling slightly.

"Then, welcome to the team, temporarily, Mr. Hom."

"Wonderful! Wonderful!" Hom was so happy he rubbed his hands together again. "Just let me know when you esteemed masters are ready to set out. I’ll be waiting at the tavern these next few days! I’ll be on call!"

He seemed to think of something else and lowered his voice to give them a reminder. "Oh, right, I heard you say you were going to look for those Adventurers from Shiya Town. Those folks don’t look simple. You’d best be careful not to start any trouble with them."

Hayley nodded in thanks.

Crossing the muddy courtyard, the group walked toward the wooden building, also built on a stone foundation—the Flipped Belly Trout inn.