Chapter 892: Chapter 445: Wrapping Up, Reputation Brewing_2

The task reward surely won’t be small, but now is clearly not the time to discuss these matters. It’s better to wait until the Baron has finished wrapping up the work and adjusted his mood before having a deeper conversation.

The specific distribution of rewards is also a matter of consideration. Xia Nan played the biggest role in this mission, and everyone in the team acknowledged his outstanding performance in combat. However, Hai Yin’s contribution was also crucial, as she helped the team track down the Shark Gang’s hideout thanks to Jerry the "Blood-nosed Rat’s" body.

Truth be told, being able to find Jerry’s body might have been partly due to Alton, who is favored by the Goddess of fortune.

Lastly, there’s also the twin warriors who assisted in the battle. If the reward is simply given in Gold Coins, a careful discussion among them will be necessary.

Additionally, the loot from the Shark Gang also needs to be sorted out.

Of course, that’s a matter for later.

At the moment, the group of five, having left the Baron Mansion, returned to the Three-legged Sea Dog Tavern.

It was evident that as they walked through the door, the previously lively atmosphere in the room paused slightly, before returning to normal.

However, countless gazes unconsciously swept over from all directions, primarily resting on Xia Nan.

The scene by the coast that afternoon had been witnessed not only by them but also by many adventurers nearby who heard the commotion and rushed over.

They almost watched with their own eyes as that Black Wolf Beast, seemingly from the Abyss, crossed the sea, tearing the small drifting boat and its fleeing occupants to shreds.

The horrific scene in the Shark Gang’s shack had not been concealed at all, and even now, the severed limbs and pieces were still soaked in the rain, not yet cleaned up.

As the central figure who caused all this, the deeds, image, and new nickname of Xia Nan began to spread among the adventurers in Suo Yu Bay.

Of course, it will take time to ferment.

But for now, even though only a few hours have passed since the events, in the Three-legged Sea Dog Tavern, a hub of information in Suo Yu Bay, what he did has already been known to many people stimulated by alcohol.

This gave Xia Nan a sense of déjà vu, as if he had returned to River Valley Town’s White Sparrow Tavern.

He naturally understood the reason.

The fight inside the shack, while a bit messy post-battle, was honestly a straightforward fight since the Shark Gang members inside were humans, not Green-skinned Goblins. He had no intent of tormenting or deriving pleasure; the neatly chopped heads were proof enough.

Xia Nan considered it a proper battle.

Though he had to admit that the piercing Powerful Qi attached to the Teeth Hunting specialty was very useful in such group battles where the enemy’s average strength was relatively low, saving him effort and significantly increasing his efficiency.

Therefore, even if the scene post-battle appeared a bit messy, Xia Nan accepted it.

As for the Black Wolf running on the sea... that was entirely a sudden clever idea from his mind.

Ever since arriving at Suo Yu Bay, Xia Nan contemplated how he would handle fighting if he accidentally fell into the sea during a battle or had to engage enemies in the water.

The Shark Beast campaign at Cliff Island deepened his concern.

If the demon had escaped by diving into the sea at that time, he really wouldn’t have had a way to deal with it.

Earlier, faced with the enemies drifting away on a small boat, the anxiety about potential retaliation and his considerations for maritime combat while in Suo Yu Bay led him to seize a flash of inspiration in his mind, combining all his skills to their utmost.

Using Gravity Control to decrease the gravitational force on his body, while not quite reaching the level of flight or short-term gliding, still allowed him to achieve a moonwalk-like effect akin to an astronaut on the moon;

Then, using the Teeth Hunting, which had reached Master Level 5, as the core, he fully utilized his Strength and agility attributes, maximizing his horizontal speed in an instant;

Finally, he utilized the agility bonus on unstable surfaces granted by the Tidal Shaping specialty to maintain balance in his body center of gravity while moving at high speed.

By combining all these aspects, he achieved the scene of the "Black Wolf running on the sea" and successfully beheaded the Wanderer, who thought he had escaped death.

To this day, Xia Nan still remembers the look of horror on that sinister face when he saw him approaching on the waves.

It’s worth mentioning that due to countless experiences since his transmigration, his Perception Attribute had reached a very high level, while his Intelligence Attribute had not received any opportunities, remaining at an average level for this world, possibly slightly higher than ordinary people?

Regardless, the numerical difference between the two attributes had made him, especially during combat, into an intuitive being.

Thus, when the inspiration struck and he launched Teeth Hunting to charge out to sea, Xia Nan wasn’t thinking too much.

This also led to him, after slashing the small boat apart, losing the burst speed granted by Teeth Hunting and landing directly in the sea.

The scene of chasing, with the Black Wolf phantom and foot surf, was as dashing as it was embarrassing to swim back.

Fortunately, those onshore didn’t seem to notice what he was thinking, only surprised at the sight of the scene heard along with the wolf howling earlier.

"Pleasure working together."

The voice from beside him pulled Xia Nan’s somewhat wandering mind back to reality.

Beside him, Hai Yin, with a smile on her face, was looking at him with a complex expression, reaching out a hand suspended in the air.

—Considering the Silver Ring Snake "A Yin" wrapped around her left wrist like a bracelet, she used her right hand

Not refusing her show of goodwill, Xia Nan nodded gently, shook hands with her, and said:

"Pleasure working together."

In just half a day, Hai Yin’s impression of Xia Nan had been refreshed again and again.

At their first meeting in the adventurer association trade room, she had already speculated about this young adventurer’s strength due to the subtle sense of danger he exuded.

But she didn’t expect to still underestimate him.

Her mind unwittingly recalled the scene in the shack, with limbs and pieces flying like a meat grinder, and heads spinning and falling in the sharp blade light;

Recalling the leaping black Winter Wolf on the wave crest and the dead, no longer living "Horned Shark" Lailo and "scar-browed" Batty...

This black haired adventurer from the inland likely had a Professional Level of 5 or above.

Even in the Southern Islands, he would be considered a notable figure.

Thinking of this, Hai Yin even started to recall if she had offended Xia Nan during the half day they spent together. She didn’t want to unwittingly make such an enemy for herself or her fleet.

"I need to report the situation to the captain. Regarding the rewards from the Baron and the distribution of the Shark Gang’s spoils, we can talk after they finish wrapping things up."

"For today... will that be it?"

Hai Yin gestured toward the stairs leading to the tavern’s second floor, asking Xia Nan tentatively.

Why not.

After such a busy day, Xia Nan also wanted to reward himself with a bowl of fragrant seafood cream mushroom soup; her suggestion was very much to his liking, so he nodded in agreement.

Seeing Xia Nan with no objections, Hai Yin sighed a little in relief and left the tavern hall with the twin warriors who had become silent again after the battle.

With his gaze withdrawing from the three as they vanished behind the staircase, ignoring the occasional glances from surrounding adventurers, Xia Nan called out to the Half Orc Alton beside him:

"What do you want for dinner, care for a couple of drinks?"

Before they could approach, a mature female voice with a touch of magnetism called out from behind the bar.

"You’re back?"

"The stir you caused this time is no small one."

The tavern owner, Hera, could be seen leaning slightly over the countertop, arms supporting her as her emerald eyes, with a hint of inquiry, looked at Xia Nan with interest.

"Hmm... let’s chat about that later."

"First, two bowls of cream mushroom soup, please."