Chapter 61: Chapter 18: Chessboard Realm 2
The inn’s room is a bit old, but it’s very clean after being tidied up.
Su Ziyu put down his things and returned to the hall pretending to drink, while actually listening to others boasting, and incidentally learning the language of the world’s humans.
It turns out that boasting is an activity loved by the vast working masses. These mercenaries, after getting a bit drunk in the evening, start boasting one after another. The guy over there bragged about taking down a Minotaur last year, then the people at the next table started boasting about recently completing a dangerous commission and leading people to kill a Giant. As the boasting went on, the topic shifted from monsters to women, first about which local girls are the most passionate and flamboyant, then which noble’s wife is the most seductive, and finally someone dropped their voice to talk about their encounter with a Witch in a southern forest.
The Witch was so beautiful and graceful, and he detailed how he had won the Witch’s favor.
Others looked on with smiles without speaking, watching him put on airs, until he exclaimed with a flushed face and a stiff neck, "I really saw a Witch! Right there in the Mist Forest in the south."
"Witches haven’t appeared in over a hundred years," a mercenary at the next table laughed, "You might as well say you’ve seen the White Queen."
The crowd burst into laughter upon hearing this.
The topic quickly shifted from Witches to the White Queen. Among the crowd, someone really did see the White Queen, although it was from a great distance and during the New Year’s celebration, hardly close enough to see her clearly. Still, that person swore, "The White Queen is the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen."
"Oh my!"
"I never thought there could be such a beautiful woman in the world."
The Chessboard Realm is a feudal human kingdom, with the highest ruler being the White Queen, who has governed this land for over a hundred years.
Yet, the White Queen rarely leaves the royal capital, often delegating the running of the country to ministers, so common people seldom see her, at most catching a glimpse from afar at the New Year’s celebration.
"A drink for everyone. My treat." Su Ziyu waved over a server.
Soon.
A mercenary raised his glass to Su Ziyu, while a burly man at the next table looked at him and asked, "You’re here to hunt Flying Dragons too? Why are you alone?"
Su Ziyu shook his head and said, "I’m just passing through."
"Planning to visit the royal capital."
The burly man gulped down a mouthful of his drink and said, "Going to the capital? You’ll need to find a horse first. Walking there will take a month."
With that, he lowered his head and focused on eating.
Since Su Ziyu wasn’t here to compete for business, the burly man didn’t need to pay him much attention.
At this moment.
Two mercenaries at the opposite table were arm wrestling, wagering a drink, with the loser treating everyone. Quite a few people were egging them on, and Su Ziyu watched with interest too.
Unexpectedly, the slimmer man won.
"Want to give it a try?" The winner, who had ridden past on horseback earlier in the day, noticed Su Ziyu’s gaze and raised his eyebrows, inviting him.
During the day, he had observed Su Ziyu’s weapon. Though he didn’t know what it was, it seemed very heavy.
"Sure." Su Ziyu smiled.
The people around were quite burly and strong, and Su Ziyu, having been through so many worlds, felt that his physical fitness had improved significantly, so he was curious to test their skill levels.
Begin.
As soon as they started, Su Ziyu felt a powerful force, the man’s strength was great, but not enough to move Su Ziyu’s wrist. Upon leaving the Wasteland World, he carried nearly fifty to sixty kilograms, and after coming to this world, he received Power Enhancement. He didn’t know exactly how strong he was, but lifting two to three hundred pounds was still very easy.
Ahh!
The man in front exerted all his strength, his arms bulging with veins, yet Su Ziyu remained unmoved, and then in a breath, he pinned the man’s arm down.
Wow!
The surrounding mercenaries watched in shock, one hesitantly asked, "Are you a Knight?"
Su Ziyu smiled without answering.
To others, this seemed like an acknowledgment, and many showed a hint of respect.
Pick once mentioned that in the Chessboard Realm there are many powerful Knights, they are the elite among warriors. The humans in this world are very strong physically, far more robust than those in the Wasteland World, even women can easily lift thick logs, likely related to the world’s Energy Level.
"Let me have a go." The burly man who spoke to Su Ziyu earlier stood up.
He was nearly two meters tall, looking like a small Giant. This man pushed others aside and sat in front of Su Ziyu, suggesting, "How about a bet? If I lose, I’ll give you a horse, if I win, you give me five Silver Coins."
"Just like the ones you handed over earlier."
When the innkeeper bit the Silver Coin, this man must have noticed. Although these mercenaries seem crude and bold, they are old hands.
Su Ziyu considered and said, "Alright."
The two sat facing each other. As soon as their hands met, Su Ziyu felt a pressure, the burly man’s strength was astonishing.
Begin.
The contest had barely started when both began exerting force, Su Ziyu’s forehead tensed, and he frowned deeply, while the man in front turned red-faced and his muscles swelled.
"Ah!" Just as they were in a stalemate, the burly man suddenly growled, his muscles seemingly swelled a bit, and an enormous force pressed down.
Warrior!
Barbarian?
Berserker?
Nearby, someone exclaimed, calling varied names, all seemingly referring to the burly man’s profession.
Su Ziyu felt the mounting pressure, gritted his teeth, and unleashed his full power. His most noticeable power growth came after learning White Crow Swordsmanship, and further enhanced when arriving in this world.
Crack!
Just as they fiercely contended, the table suddenly collapsed.
The man in front withdrew his hands, smiling at Su Ziyu, "Let’s call it a tie. I’m Hank, a Warrior from the north."
His hand trembled slightly as he withdrew, but he hid it well.
Su Ziyu also felt his hand a bit numb, but it soon got better after some moving. Physical Enhancement LV6 was earned for a reason, he could at least hold out for half an hour if the table hadn’t collapsed.
He smiled at the burly man, "How about this."
"I’ll give you six Silver Coins, and you help me find a horse, and also get me a map to the royal capital."
The man named Hank considered and nodded, "Deal."
Great.
Solving it with money is much easier than doing it by oneself.
Outside, the sky was already getting late.
Su Ziyu greeted before returning to his room, and as he approached the door, he frowned unconsciously, seeing a small puddle of shallow black liquid in the hallway, not knowing who left it.
.........