Chương 43: This poet is a bit abnormal

After observing for a moment, Richard stepped forward and asked:

"Are you the Forest Arrow Squad...?"

"Yes, you are... I know, you must have been introduced by Kayla, right? I've finally waited for you..."

Sure enough, the office lady knew this group of adventurers; no wonder she was so attentive.

Richard curled his lip and sat down at the table with Grace, starting a conversation with her.

A few minutes later, through conversation and the information provided by the Eye of Insight, Richard roughly understood the situation with the Forest Arrow.

There are three people in the team.

Includes a level 4 dwarf warrior named Iron Hammer, a sturdy and reliable knee destroyer.

A level 3 druid named Mendel Brown, whose profession alone suggests he is a master of the forces of nature.

Finally, there's the pointy-eared one named Levin Windwhisper, a rare pure-blooded forest elf in the bay region, and also a level 4 ranger, skilled at roaming the wilderness and killing prey with a bow and arrow.

Overall, they are quite strong.

Moreover, the three races of humans, elves, and dwarves are all represented, and it's unclear how they came together. It feels like if they were paired with a halfling, they could escort the One Ring.

Next, we should assess how well we match each other...

Just as Richard was thinking this, across the table, the dwarf Ironhammer also spoke in a gruff voice:

"Dude, you said you're a poet?"

Richard nodded.

"So what else can you do besides singing, dancing, and seducing your employer's daughter? I'm not targeting you, but most of the poets and adventurers I've met haven't amounted to much!"

Iron Hammer stroked his long beard, which reached his belly, with disdain: "If we're really in danger, don't expect me to stand in front of a useless person!"

Levin, sitting next to him, quickly added, "Sorry, my partner has a bit of a temper. He didn't mean any harm, it's just..."

It's clear that, as the captain of the Forest Arrow Squad, he often smoothed things over for his teammates.

Richard waved his hand, indicating that it was alright.

He just looks down on poets; he's been through a lot with them, he's used to it.

Besides, when two groups get together, they're bound to test each other. If he wants to test others, they can naturally test him too; it's fair.

After a moment's thought, he decided to show off his skills to the three of them.

boom!

But a sudden noise interrupted his actions.

Looking towards the entrance, they saw a group of seven men storming into the tavern.

Richard squinted and recognized the bald man carrying two swords on his back.

The other person's name was Michael, a locally well-known adventurer, but he was famous not for his fighting prowess, but for his irreversible hair loss... and for frequently getting into fights.

Michael also saw Richard's table.

He walked straight over, staring at Levin like a brown bear awakened from hibernation, and said in a deep voice, "I warned you, Donkey Ears, you're not allowed to enter this tavern again!"

Levin looked exasperated: "Dude, I only reminded you last month that you should use words, not fists, when asking villagers for information. Do you really have to hold a grudge until now?"

Michael replied coldly, "I don't want to repeat myself."

Levin wanted to say something more, but he noticed that Michael's teammates were subtly gathering around, and his own team's Hammer also excitedly stood up—although it was no different from sitting—his face clearly showing that he wanted to teach the other side a lesson.

Finally, he sighed and said to Richard and Grace, "I'm sorry, I have some personal matters to attend to. I suggest you leave for a moment, and we can continue our discussion later."

"Thank you for your kindness, but I've already missed the best time to leave, so..."

Richard shook his head, glanced at Michael who clearly saw him as prey as well, and instead of leaving, he took out the iron-inlaid lute and ran his fingers over the strings.

"... Let's add some background music~" As soon as the string music started, the people on both sides seemed to receive a signal and started to fight!

Some were swinging their fists, others were moving chairs, and the ping-pong balls were clattering incessantly, providing Richard's performance with unique percussion harmonies.

Given the significant disparity in numbers, three of Michael's men quickly set their sights on Richard.

However, as soon as they tried to get closer, Grace punched them one by one, forcing them to retreat repeatedly.

Richard then took the opportunity to play the last few notes, offering poetic encouragement to Hammer as he charged directly into the enemy ranks.

"Wow! This feels amazing!"

Hammer instantly felt a surge of power within him that didn't belong to him, and his eyes widened in surprise as he looked at Richard.

Richard smiled and nodded at him.

She then held the lute upside down and swung it forcefully as if it were a warhammer. With a bang, she struck a burly man who was trying to ambush Grace with the iron ram on it, causing him to fall to the ground with a scream.

Wow, a ten-ring ring!

Having landed a successful blow, Richard switched to the Flowing Rock Smash Fist stance and joined the fray.

With Grace's help, he quickly took down the three men who were rushing towards him.

Turning his head, he saw that the Arrow Piercing team was holding up, so he didn't rush to intervene. Instead, he took off the strongman's brass belt from his body...

This belt required him to whip ten people's buttocks.

When he was handing out money throughout the slums, he encountered two groups of thugs and a thief, which meant he had already been robbed seven times.

There are now exactly three spots left.

This must be fate!

Richard smirked, aimed at the three people's buttocks on the ground, and swung the belt in his hand.

clap clap clap!

"it hurts!"

"What are you doing? We're all lying down!"

"Mother!"

In an instant, surrounded by a large crowd in the tavern, the three adults were whipped around like spinning tops by Richard, suffering not only physical injuries but also immense psychological damage.

the other side.

Arrow and Michael's group noticed Richard's actions and were all stunned by the bizarre scene.

The dwarf Ironhammer swallowed hard and whispered to Levin, "Oh, well, this poet is indeed extraordinary, quite talented... By the way, would someone like that hold a grudge?"

Levin gave a sly smile but did not answer.

Michael, sitting opposite him, swallowed hard.

Only then did he realize what a huge mistake it had been to drag Richard and Grace into the battle!

I thought they were just minor characters, but I never expected them to be so difficult to deal with!

Aren't poets supposed to be frail and delicate? How come this one is so fierce when he starts fighting? Is he some kind of Fauvist poet?

clap clap clap!

The belt continued to make noise for about ten seconds.

The strongman's brass-studded belt has increased your favorability towards him.

You have received a gift pack containing a copper-headed belt from the Hercules.

Richard only stopped, satisfied, when the system finally responded.

Seeing his happy expression, and the three unfortunate men lying on the ground with their skin torn and bleeding, most of the onlookers in the tavern instinctively covered their own backsides.

A few others had flushed faces, but the reason for that remained a mystery... cough cough...

Michael, standing nearby, finally couldn't take it anymore.

He roared, abandoned Levin in front of him, and charged at Richard.

At this moment, Mendel, who had been hiding in the corner, moved.

He finished reciting the long incantation and then threw a seed into a crack in the floor.

A nearly two-meter-tall pea vine then sprouted from it, waving its pods and hurling fist-sized peas at Michael and his gang!

Under the barrage of fire, Michael and his men were all stunned and knocked to the ground, marking the end of the brawl.

However, Richard and his men had no time to celebrate their victory.

At that moment, the tavern owner, who had gone to the cellar to get cheese, returned to the hall, saw his smashed tables and chairs, and angrily pulled out an axe...

After a period of intense lobbying.

Richard and his accomplices successfully shifted the responsibility for compensation to the unconscious Michael, and slipped out of the tavern with ease.

Once on the street, Levin said to Richard:

"I also know another amazing bar, how about we grab a drink?"

This time, there was a noticeable increase in enthusiasm and respect in his eyes.