dmims Page 99
Page 99
It was merely a pawn used to test Mo Jiang's attitude. Those gangsters wanted to know Mo Jiang's background and bottom line in order to judge whether he was a powerful figure crossing the river or a fat sheep.
The waiter thought for a moment, but still didn't say anything.
If it were someone else, he would probably have given a subtle warning to prevent guests from suffering significant losses during their stay.
But Mojiang...
No reminder is needed.
The waiter smelled the scent emanating from Mo Jiang; it was a strong, almost nauseating, bloody odor.
He didn't know the origins of Mojiang, but he did know how dangerous it was.
That level of bloodiness couldn't be produced by ordinary killing; it meant that this newcomer was known as the "Butcher" in a certain region.
This was undoubtedly a theft; the reins of the Heavenly Calamity had been untied, and the other end of the reins was in the hand of the fallen wanderer.
Taking the reins back from the wanderer, the waiter said at the opportune moment, "There are stables prepared inside, and there are people specifically watching over them."
That's a private parking lot for hotel guests.
Mo Jiang casually handed the reins to the waiter, then turned around and went back into the tavern without saying a word.
The wanderers who wanted to steal the horse were insignificant. Mo Jiang's senses could easily detect that, apart from the two guys who had been kicked to the ground, there were other eyes watching him from the shadows of the alley not far away.
But Mo Jiang wasn't worried at all, because those guys were too weak.
"Speaking of which, where would my current strength be placed in the D&D series?"
Behind the tavern was the hotel. Lying on the bed in his room, Mo Jiang couldn't help but fall into some kind of thought.
If he were to create a character card from the D&D series, what would his attributes be?
And how is his challenge level calculated?
Even in terms of special skills, what abilities might they possess?
Can I move with the speed and agility of a whirlwind?
In an instant, countless thoughts flooded my mind.
180. One of the ultimate goals of Neverwinter Nights: The Floating City
The next day, Mo Jiang got out of his hotel bed, still half asleep.
But he didn't leave the room immediately. Instead, he sat on the bed and pondered what kind of "special products" this world had that he needed.
With this thought, a large number of items immediately appeared in Mo Jiang's mind.
Various magic scrolls enable non-non-magical classes to use spells.
The mage profession is also a good one, and if there's a way to get one, Mo Jiang doesn't plan to let it go.
As for warlocks, a magic-based class that relies on bloodline, Mo Jiang rationally knew that this wasn't his cup of tea. Compared to mages who relied on talent and wisdom, warlocks were more like a genetic lottery.
A warlock's potential is determined by the source of their bloodline. In Faerûn, a warlock's bloodline originates from either dragons or powerful creatures such as demons.
As for someone like Mo Jiang, who is just an ordinary person?
No matter how much they regress to their ancestral forms, at best they're still ancient apes.
Besides magic-based classes and magic scrolls, there are also various equipment and items with magical effects.
If Mo Jiang remembers correctly, this world has a miracle called "resurrection magic".
Taking out his notebook, Mo Jiang silently wrote down everything that came to mind:
The mage profession.
Magic scroll.
Resurrection.
Various equipment and props.
After thinking for a moment, he added the words "specialty" to the end.
When talking about D&D (Dungeons & Dragons series), one cannot ignore the "Facts".
In D&D (Dungeons & Dragons series), a "feature" is a special ability that a character gains through training or talent. It is used to enhance the effects of combat, skills, or spells. It is unrelated to class but requires certain prerequisites, such as attribute values or level requirements.
Most importantly, expertise can be acquired through learning and practice.
[Specialties] are mainly divided into three categories. One category is [General Specialties], which are general abilities, such as [Weapon Mastery], [Robustness], [Jump Attack], etc., which are applicable to multiple professions.
One type is the [Super Magic Feats]: such as [Spell Penetration], [Spell Casting in Silence], [Spell Material Freedom], etc., which are specifically designed for spellcasters to optimize the ability to prepare or cast spells.
Another category is [Special Feats]: These require a specific class level as a prerequisite and are abilities unique to that class, such as the Warrior's [Momentum Slash], the Paladin's [Holy Slash], and the Rogue's [Sap], etc.
"Let's set our goal in this world as acquiring these things for now."
If Mo Jiang in this world has any ultimate goal, then acquiring the floating city as the central hub and main base of his many worlds must be one of them.
Netheril, a legendary magical civilization, originated on the continent of Faerûn approximately 5000 years ago.
Over the course of approximately three hundred years after the founding of the city-states, they gradually formed an alliance of city-states. In the early stages, they laid their foundation by defeating orc bandits. Under the magical enlightenment of the Ilran elves, they began to study arcane magic. The discovery of the Scroll of Nesser propelled a qualitative leap in magical technology, creating an unprecedentedly prosperous era of floating cities.
The invention of the Core of Mysera by the Archmage Iolum made it possible for cities to rise into the air, and the breakthrough in magical artifact technology gave birth to magnificent city-states that floated in the sky.
At its peak, this civilization possessed dozens of floating cities and world-leading magical skills.
However, the over-reliance on magical power led to a civilization crisis, and the civilization was severely weakened in the war against the Felin Magic Sunflower.
Ultimately, the twelfth-level spell that the archmage Karthus attempted to use to steal divine power caused the magic network to collapse, resulting in the fall of most of the floating cities.
Although this once-powerful magical empire has vanished, its ruins and magical heritage still hold an important place in later legends.
The floating city is Netheril's mobile territory, and it is also the culmination of this legendary magical civilization's knowledge and technology.
No one would refuse a giant toy that can fly, even knowing that the floating city would eventually crash.
Just like no one would refuse S.H.I.E.L.D.'s [spacecraft carrier].
But he was also very rational, knowing that the floating city was not something he could touch at his current level.
Because there's a Shadow Lich crouching inside that floating city. It's a mage from Netheril who transformed into a Shadow Lich, and its challenge level is probably terrifyingly high.
Even if he manages to kill the Shadow Lich and seize control of the Floating City, he cannot escape unscathed.
The people or gods of this era might not be happy to let Netheril's floating city rise into the sky again.
The vast amount of magical knowledge within the floating city would inevitably attract the covetous eyes of many mages.
Realizing he had been thinking too far ahead, Mo Jiang shook his head and temporarily put the plan for the floating city out of his mind. What he needed now was to establish a foothold in Neverwinter City.
Neverwinter City is the main stage for Neverwinter Nights. Only by establishing a foothold here can one get involved in various events and obtain sufficient rewards.
Upon arriving at the tavern, Mo Jiang was also hungry. He directly ordered half a leg of lamb stuffed with garlic and a piece of golden-brown toasted wheat bread, and began to wolf down the meat with the bread. After gradually filling his stomach, he ordered half a whole, lightly seasoned chicken and a bottle of wine, and began to slowly tear it apart and eat it.
While eating, he was also thinking about how to gain a foothold here and, ideally, establish a force to help him handle miscellaneous matters.
There is currently no plague in Neverwinter, and Mojang has a considerable amount of time to prepare before the plague spreads.
Perhaps because of Mo Jiang's generous spending, the waiter was very attentive and proactively brought over two more sturdy sausages. These were meant to be used as a base for cutting bread. When you cut into them with a knife, you could see that the cross-section was made of pink minced meat, with bits of fat and whole peppercorns mixed in.
This is an experience that other tavern guests don't have; those who work in taverns naturally have a keen eye.
Whether it was paying the bill with gold coins yesterday or his warhorse that clearly had a distinguished background, the waiter knew that Mo Jiang was definitely not someone to be underestimated.
When faced with such generous customers, it's natural to provide them with extra service.
The waiter did the right thing by placing a silver bean on the empty plate after serving the enema.
Although the amount wasn't much, the tip was already equivalent to several days' wages for the waiter.
Modern industrial silver is worthless, but in this medieval fantasy world, silver is extremely valuable.
After finishing their meal, Mo Jiang called over a waiter to clean up and asked, "Who was that thief who tried to steal my horse yesterday?"
The waiter didn't want to get involved, but his hand, which was clearing the table, touched a silver bean.
"They are from [Rat Shadow]."
Having paid for the information, the waiter then gave a detailed account of the organization "Rat Shadow."
The gang originated from the coolies of Gangtou, and in its early days made a living by smuggling undeclared goods and pickpocketing merchants and travelers.
Because they are adept at using the complex rope nets, stacked containers, and tidal time differences in the port to commit crimes, they are known as "Rat Shadows" by the citizens. When they move, they are as precise as rats gnawing on cargo holds, and when they disappear, they are like rats blending into the shadows.
181. A thief wielding dual swords and performing a sword dance is engaged in close combat with a warrior in an alley.
【Rat Shadow】is not a big problem. Although it is a thief organization, it is only a small organization. The strongest member's professional level does not exceed level ten.
Although Mo Jiang was unsure of his exact level, he could guarantee that he was at least no weaker than a level 15 warrior.
He did not use the monk as a comparison because it was not a good comparison.
Mages excel at pre-planned battles, but in a direct encounter with a warrior of the same level, they are actually at a disadvantage.
Even the difference between spellcasters is greater than the difference between a human and a dog.
Only mages with money and a list of spells are qualified to be called "mages".
The one who has no money and no spellbook can only be called a "Magic Grandson".
After eating and drinking his fill, Mo Jiang went out.
He wandered aimlessly, not so much doing anything serious as simply strolling around after a meal.
I would only occasionally walk into a store while strolling around, looking left and right.
Sometimes we go into a blacksmith shop, sometimes a potion shop, and sometimes even a shop selling magical goods. However, the mage apprentices inside are not very enthusiastic. They don't even lift their eyelids when someone comes in, probably because they know that people who come in will only look and not buy.
In addition, Mo Jiang would occasionally go to places that sell grain to check the prices, and also visit other taverns and restaurants to check the prices.
He was using the consumption patterns in Neverwinter to deduce the economic dynamics of the city.
It doesn't need to be very accurate; a vague, general impression is enough. After all, he's not an official of Neverwinter and doesn't need to conduct macro-level control over this.
After some exploration, Mo Jiang also gained some understanding of the cost of living in Wudong City.
As I was walking through a narrow alley, the entrances at both ends of the alley were suddenly blocked by people.
Mo Jiang was not surprised by this; he had noticed someone following him a long time ago, and they had been following him for quite some time.
However, the stalker kept following him without making a move, so Mo Jiang deliberately chose to walk through a back alley to lure them into attacking.
A sinister-looking man appeared in front of Mo Jiang, with a dagger and a short sword hanging on his left and right sides respectively. He had long arms, and his hands, when naturally hanging down, could almost reach his knees.
A guy who excels in close combat and has a fierce offensive style.
and……
He's no pushover!
Two people appeared from both the front and the back, blocking Mo Jiang's path. Apart from the sinister-looking man, the others were all holding daggers, the tips of which were pointed directly at Mo Jiang.
Mo Jiang remained calm and showed no signs of panic. He had been in Wudong City for less than 24 hours, and the only person he had been in contact with during that time was the horse thief from [Rat Shadow].
So where did this guy blocking the way come from? It's self-evident.
“Our people were injured because of you, and you need to make compensation.”
It's obvious they're talking about the two guys who tried to steal the horse last night.
“So…” Mo Jiang drawled, “what kind of compensation do you need?”
"Give us your horse and all the money you have." The sinister man cracked his knuckles, "We'll just give you a beating, we won't kill you."
The others in [Rat Shadow] immediately laughed. As locals, they naturally knew that there were usually no patrolling guards near this place, and even if someone went to notify them, it would take at least twenty minutes.
With so much time, they could have easily robbed the people of everything.
The reason they didn't just ambush him was because [Rat Shadow] had his eye on that horse, but it was currently in the tavern's stables.
They need Mojiang to bring the horse out.
However, judging from their expressions, if Mo Jiang refuses, the people of [Rat Shadow] wouldn't mind using wounds and pain to warn him.
"What if I say no?"
As soon as he finished speaking, Mo Jiang turned around abruptly. Before anyone else could react, he grabbed the head of the [Rat Shadow] thief and slammed it against the wall next to him.
The head collided violently with the solid wall, resulting in a rare mutual injury.