Chapter 15 Chapter 12 Appropriate Jobs

He knew the city, but only roughly.He had been here many years ago, in days of hope and dream, when he searched the Halls of Mithril.Now, Wulfgar wandered the streets of Luskan in a daze, looking at the many open-air markets, listening to the unique bustle of the northern cities, reborn after a long winter's dormancy.All scenes seemed to him to have changed. Many eyes were watching Wulfgar's every move, for a man like him—nearly seven feet tall, with massive pectorals and deltoids, and a gleaming warhammer on his back—didn't get to see it every day. arrived.Barbarians haunted Luskan a lot, but even among those who were hardy and hardy, Wulfgar was a formidable one.

He ignored other people's eyes, ignored their whispers, and just walked aimlessly.He saw the main tower of Luskan's famous wizarding guild, the Wizard's Tower, and easily recognized it because of its unique shape, like a large tree with outstretched branches.But that didn't guide Wulfgar.Even if he had ever seen the tower, it was so long ago that it seemed like a lifetime ago to him. Time passed minute by minute, and two hours later, the barbarian turned his gaze from the outside to the inside.His mind went over the events of the past few days, especially the moment when that unpleasant revenge was completed.Flick Gaoyan was thrown into the air by the blow, and fell in the middle of the destroyed tents. The scene of Aegis' Fang hitting his chest was still fresh in his mind, as if it had just happened.

Wolf brushed back his disheveled hair, and continued to stumble forward.He was completely exhausted, since he had barely slept since meeting the Pegasus Tribe.Until he saw the outline of the city, he was just wandering along the road going west.The guards at Luskan's East Gate had tried to scare him away, but when he shrugged and was about to turn away, they called him back and let him in, but ordered him not to provoke trouble. Wulfgar didn't intend to fight, but he certainly wouldn't obey the guard's orders if someone picked on him.He just nodded and walked through the gates into the streets of Luskan.

As the sun began to sink toward the western horizon, elongating shadows, he spotted another familiar spot.A road sign told him the name of the street, Half Moon Street, where Wulfgar had been before.Not far along the road, he saw the sign for the Crooked Dagger Tavern. This tavern was where he first came out of Icewind Dale, where he first participated in, or in some ways started, a major brawl. Wulfgar looked at the Curved Sword Tavern, looked at the entire dilapidated street, and Wulfgar felt that perhaps there was no other place more suitable for him to survive. This place exists for the lowest rungs of society, villains, rogues, and those who work for the lords.The Savage reached into his almost empty purse, felt for the few coins left, and realized that this was where he belonged.

He entered the Crooked Sword Tavern, a little apprehensive that someone would recognize him and cause another commotion right away. Of course, no one recognized him, and he didn't even meet anyone who looked familiar.The layout of the place was pretty much the same as he remembered.He looked around the room, involuntarily staring at the wall next to the long bar.The young Wulfgar had driven a fat man's head into this wall. He was so proud then, so belligerent.But now, he also wants to fight, but the reason has changed.Now he was fighting only for rage, only for the purest rage, which might not have been generated by the opponent in front of him at all, but he didn't care about that at all.The reason he fights now is simply to fight.Maybe, just maybe, he fought because he wanted to lose, to end this eternal torment.

He didn't think so.He doesn't want anything at all. He walked to the bar and unceremoniously pushed away the various customers who stood in his way.He pulled off his cloak and sat down on the chair without asking the person next to him if the seat was occupied. And then he just sat there, watching, listening, letting everyone stare at him and whisper, listening to them tease the waitress with erotic words.Gradually, he realized that people had begun to welcome him. He dozed off, and the sudden drop of his head woke him up.He moved his body and noticed that the bar owner, an old man with a strong body enough to take on the young man's work, was standing in front of him, wiping a glass in his hand.

"Alan Judpec," the barkeeper introduced himself, holding out a hand. Wulfgar saw the hand extended, but did not shake it. The barkeeper didn't waste a second and started wiping the glasses again. "A drink?" he asked. Wulfgar shook his head and looked away, he didn't want any service from this man, especially meaningless chatter. But Allen took a step forward, attracting Wulfgar's attention. "I don't want trouble in my bar," he said calmly, staring at the Savage's strong, muscular arms. Wulfgar waved him away. The tavern was getting more and more crowded as the minutes passed, but no one bothered Wulfgar so he could let his guard down, his head drooping involuntarily again and again.Soon he was lying on Alan Judepek's clean bar and fell asleep.

"Hey, you, wake up!" He heard a voice that seemed to come from far away.Then someone shook his shoulder, and he opened his eyes sleepily and looked up, seeing Alan's smiling face. "It's time to leave." Wulfgar stared at him blankly. "Where do you live?" asked the barkeeper. "Maybe I can get two guys to get you back." Wulfgar didn't answer for a long time, just stared at him inexplicably, trying to make out what he meant. "He didn't drink at all!" cried someone nearby.Wulfgar turned his head and saw several burly men forming a semi-circle behind him, undoubtedly Alan Jadpek's security guards.Wulfgar turned back to stare at Alan again.

"Where do you live?" Allen asked again. "Shut up, Josie Pardus," he added to the defiant fellow. Wulfgar shrugged. "I have no place to live," he answered honestly. "Hey, you can't stay here!" cried another, taking a step closer and pointing his finger at the Savage's shoulder. Wulfgar calmly glanced back at the man. "Shut up!" Allen scolded immediately.He stepped up to Wulfgar. "I can provide lodging for a few silver coins," he said. "I don't have much money," the big man admitted. "Sell me that hammer," said another man directly behind Wulfgar.When he turned to look at the speaker, he saw that he was holding the Fang of Aegis.Now fully awake, Wulfgar stood up and held out his hand, his expression and gesture ordering the hammer to be returned immediately.

"Perhaps I'll give it back to you," Wulfgar said, taking a step forward, while holding up Aegis' Fang, not so much to give it back to Wulfgar as to say Is ready to smash his skull. Seeing this, Wulfgar paused, casting menacing glances at everyone, a confident yet wicked smile on his face. "You want to buy this hammer?" he asked the man with the hammer. "Then you should know its name." Wulfgar spoke the name of the hammer, and it disappeared from the intimidator's hands and returned to Wulfgar.And even before that, the barbarian had already started to move. He strode in front of the man with a big stride, and with his backhand, he sent the man flying, smashing a table when he fell.

The others rushed forward in unison, but stopped immediately, for Wulfgar was at the ready, swinging his mighty hammer with ease, and the sight made the thugs realize that fighting the man in front of them was beyond question. It will ruin their reputation of constant victories and invincibility. "Stop! Stop!" Allen rushed out from behind the bar and waved the thugs away.The two ran to help the man Wulfgar had beaten.The man was already a little delirious, and it took a lot of effort for them to lift him up and had to hold him up. Allen waved again and told them to stay away.He was standing so close in front of Wulfgar that the barbarian could have easily knocked him down, but he wasn't afraid—or, if he was, at least he didn't show it. "A man as strong as you would be of use to me," he said. "The man you just hit is called Reeve, and he's one of my best fighters." Wulfgar looked at Reeve and the other thugs sitting beside him, and snorted disdainfully. Allen led him back to the bar and sat down, then walked behind the bar, took out a wine bottle and put it in front of Wulfgar, beckoning him to drink it. Wulfgar picked up the bottle and took a long swig, feeling a burning sensation from his mouth to his stomach. "I'll provide you with a room and something to eat," Allen said. "It doesn't matter how much you eat. You just watch the bar for me and stop the fight from happening, or if it happens, end it as soon as possible." Wulfgar looked back at the group across the room. "What about them?" he asked, gulping down another gulp of wine at the same time, then coughing violently, wiping his lips with his forearm.The strong drink seemed to make him cough up his lungs. "They only came when I called them. They serve all the bosses in Half Moon Street and the surrounding area." Allen explained. "I've always wanted to hire a bodyguard who only works for me, and I think you're a perfect fit." "You don't even know me," Wulfgar argued, taking another half-bottle down.This time, the burning sensation quickly spread throughout his body, making his body feel a warm numbness. "And you don't know about my past." "I don't care about that either," Allen said. "People like you are rare here—I mean, barbarians from the Northland. It is said that people of your race are very capable of fighting. The hit you made on Rif just now makes me feel that your reputation is well-deserved." "Shelter and food?" Wulfgar asked. "And wine." Allen added, gesturing to the bottle in Wulfgar's hand.The Savage drank the rest of the wine in one gulp and tried to give the bottle back to Alan, but it seemed to be throbbing in his hand, trying to break free of his grasp.He clumsily pushed it towards Allen, and Allen quickly and deftly snatched the bottle from his hand. Wulfgar sat up a little more - or so he tried to - and squeezed his eyes shut, trying to dispel the illusion of double vision.When he opened his eyes again, he saw another full bottle of wine in front of him, and he immediately brought this bottle to his lips. An hour later, Wulfgar was quite drunk.Allen, who also drank a little wine with him, helped him up the stairs and into a cabin. Allen tried to fit the Savage on a small cot, but it was too small for the huge Savage.Finally, the moment Wulfgar lay down on the bed, the cot was torn and both fell to the floor. They laughed together, the first time Wulfgar had laughed from his heart since being rescued from the ice cave. "Customers start coming in just after noon," Allen spattered. "But I don't need your help until the sun goes down. I'll call you then, and you'll sleep like you're dead!" They laughed together again, and Alan stumbled out the door and shut it behind him, leaving Wulfgar alone in the dark room. Alone.Completely and completely alone. The thought almost overwhelmed him.The drunken savage sat on the ground, realizing that Errtu had not come here with him; he realized that all the past, all the memories, good or bad, were nothing but insignificance.In those bottles, under the power of the spirit, Wulfgar found his refuge. Allen promised to provide him with food, shelter, and wine. For Wulfgar, the last condition was the most important. Entreri stood in an alley not far from Molly Pariso's scourge, watching the searing flames soaring over the warehouse roof.Three others stood beside him.They were about the same height as the Killer, maybe a little more slender, but their muscles had clearly been exercised in combat. But most recognizable is their ebony skin.One of them wore a purple wide-brimmed hat with a huge feather in it. "This is the second time I've saved you from doom," commented the purple sombrero. Entreri stared hard at the dark elf, only to drive his dagger deep into the drow's chest.But he knew very well that such an obvious attack could not hurt Jarlaxle at all. "We have much to talk about," said the dark elf, gesturing to his companion.It seemed that with just one thought, Drow opened a portal to the room where several other dark elves gathered. "Kimmouri Obroza," Jarlaxle explained.Entreri knew the name—the surname.The Obroza family once ranked third in Menzoberranzan City, with a frightening ability, a strange kind of mind magic.During the turbulent years, compared with most traditional magic in the city, the power of Obroza was not reduced. They used this opportunity to gain power, even threatening Matron Baenre, the ruling family in the city.But when the uncertain factors turned in favor of traditional magic and suppressed their psychic powers, the Obroza House was completely destroyed. As Matron Baenre's angry protest, the family's magnificent building and all its occupants Swept into the Claw Rift. Well, Entreri thought, staring at the psychic, not all the occupants. He followed Jarlaxle through the door—did he have another choice?The long, disorienting dizziness finally passed, and he was signaled by the mercenary leader to find a chair in this small room and sit down.Apart from Jarlaxle and Kim Murray, the dark elves departed in an orderly manner to protect the meeting place. "We're safe enough now," Jarlaxle assured Entreri. "They spy on me with magic," replied the killer. "That's how Molly Parisot laid an ambush." "We have been watching you with magic for weeks." Jarlaxle grinned. "They can't spy on you anymore, I promise you." "So you came for me?" asked the killer. "Seems like a bit of a hassle to get a rivvil back," he added, using a drow word that isn't exactly a compliment to a human. Jarlaxle laughed at Entreri's choice of words.True, the word can be used of "humans," but it is equally used of many lower races, any race that is not drow. "Get you back?" he asked suspiciously. "Would you like to return to Menzoberranzan?" "I'll kill you or have you kill me long before we get to that drow city," Entreri replied earnestly. "Of course," Jarlaxle replied calmly, not at all offended. "It's not your place, any more than Calimport is ours." "Then why are you here?" "For Calimport is your domain, and Menzoberranzan is mine." The drow replied with a smile, as if this simple declaration explained everything. Entreri leaned back in his chair to consider the words before questioning Jarlaxle further.First and foremost, Jarlaxle is a speculator.The drow, and his mighty band of rogue dajet, always seem to find a way to profit no matter the circumstances.Menzoberranzan was a city held by the priestesses of Lolth, but Jarlaxle and his all-male army were not of the lower classes.But why had he sought out Entreri, why had he come to a place that didn't belong to him at all? "You want me to guide you," the killer stated. "I am not familiar with the rules," Jarlaxle replied. Entreri grinned now that he understood what was before him. "You hope to extend the control of Dayet's regiment to the surface, to Calimport, but you realize that you and your regiment will not be recognized by those who control the city." "We can use magic to disguise our identities," Drow retorted. "But what's the trouble with Artemis Entreri?" the killer replied quickly. "Really?" Drow asked. Entreri thought carefully for a moment, then shrugged. "I will provide you with protection against the enemy," Jarlaxle continued. "No, not only that, I will also provide you with the power to overpower the enemy. With your experience and reputation, coupled with the behind-the-scenes support of the Dayet Corps, you will soon control all the streets of Calimport." "As Jarlaxle's puppet," Entreri said. "As Jarlaxle's partner." Drow replied. "I don't need puppets. In fact I see them as hindrances. A partner who can really profit from an alliance will work harder to achieve a higher goal. Besides, Artemis Entreri , aren't we friends?" Entreri laughed back at the notion. The combination of the words "jarlaxle" and "friend" in a sentence is really incongruous. To quote an old street proverb, the most dangerous intimidating word that the street masters of Calimshan use to others is "trust me." And that's what Jarlaxle had just said to Entreri. "Your enemies, the Basadoni Guild, will soon call you Pasha," Drow continued. Entreri didn't respond. "The administrators of this city, and all of Calimshan, will respect you," Jarlaxle said. Entreri didn't respond. "I need to know now, before you leave this room, whether you will agree to my proposal." Jarlaxle added, his tone a little menacing. Entreri knew well the implications of the shift in tone.He knew that the Dayet Corps had penetrated into the city, and the only thing in front of him was to cooperate or be killed. "Maybe." The killer poked his own chest with his fingers. "But I will command the actions of the Dayet Corps in Calimport. When and where to attack is up to me." Jarlaxle nodded in agreement.He gestured, and a dark elf entered the room, stepping beside Entreri.Obviously here to escort the killer. "Sleep," Jarlaxle said goodbye to the human. "For your ascent tomorrow." Entreri left the room without bothering to reply. Then another drow came out from behind the curtain. "He's not lying," he confirmed to Jarlaxle, speaking in Dark Elvish. The cunning mercenary leader nodded and smiled, glad to have such a strong ally as Lai Ji Bondarek, a former high priest from the city of Ched Nassar, who fell in a coup and was later dismissed by the general. The Dayet Corps, who can find the opportunity, comes to the rescue.Jarlaxle had noticed Lecky a long time ago, because the drow not only possessed powerful divine spells, but was also proficient in mage arcane spells.It was a stroke of luck for the Dayet Corps that Leckie suddenly found himself an Outcast. Little did Lecky know that it was Jarlaxle who had instigated the coup. "Your Entreri doesn't seem very excited about the interests you have in front of him," Lykie said. "Maybe he'll do what he promises, but he won't take it very seriously." Jarlaxle nodded, not at all surprised by Entreri's reaction.Jarlaxle knew Artemis Entreri well, as the Slayer had spent several months with the Dayet regiment in Menzoberranzan.He knew the man's motives and desires, perhaps better than Entreri himself. "I haven't told him about my other gift yet," he explained. "Even Entreri himself has not discovered the need for it." Jarlaxle drew a silver chain from under his shawl, on which dangled an amulet. "I got it from Catti-brie, Drizzt Do'Urden's companion," Jarlaxle said. "Silvermoon Lord Alastre made it to track down the drow ranger and gave it to Catti-brie's adoptive father, Bruno Warhammer." "You know a lot," Leckie remarked. "I live by this," Jarlaxle replied. "But Catti-brie knows it's lost," put in Kimmouri Obroza. "It's likely that she and her companions did something to keep it from functioning." Jarlaxle shook his head before the psychic could finish speaking. "Catti-brie's one was put back in her pocket before she left the city, and this one was a magical replica made by one of our mages. Like Alustriel giving the original to Bruenor Warhammer , he gave it back to the woman. I guess she'd be happy to have it back in her hands, or at least keep it out of Catti-brie, because in Ranger Drizzt Do'Urden's In terms of love, these two are rivals." When thinking of any beautiful drow and non-drow love affair, a look of disgust fills the faces of the other two; the simplest definition of a non-drow race is iblith, or, shit. Jarlaxle is so attracted to the lovely Catti-brie that he doesn't bother to refute their racist notions. "If this is a copy, is the magic attached to it strong enough?" Kim Murray questioned, emphasizing the word "magic" and prompting Jarlaxle to explain exactly what made it work. "There are unique ways to create enchanted items," explains Lecky Bondarek. "I know how to copy or improve them." "Lakey spent much of his early years practicing this technique," Jarlaxle added. "These abilities proved to be the key to his success in replacing Ched Nassar's original High Priest. He can reproduce it again, and even enhance its original effect." "That way we can find Drizzt Do'Urden," Kim Murray said. Jarlaxle nodded. "How fitting a trophy for Artemis Entreri."