Xu Feng believed everything was done now and could finally breathe a sigh of relief.
Truth be told, he was somewhat nervous about not meeting the deadline when assisting Zhao Kai.
After all, the time was really going against him and he didn't know if he had enough time to do so.
Despite the gamble paid off well, even if it didn't, Xu Feng wouldn't have any regret either.
It was his decision and choice to assist Zhao Kai over one mission.
When comparing the two, Xu Feng didn't even need to hesitate or think of which choice to choose from.
'The past timeline's memory is really like a constant nightmare haunting me.' Xu Feng sighed inwardly. Had he not chosen the Reaver Guild back then, he wouldn't have been so lost as to what happened to Zhao Kai.
Thankfully, Xu Feng didn't dwell on it much longer, especially when Sandy asked him an unexpected question.
"By the way, Baron Lin Feng, I've heard you borrowed a loan from Herbalist Elias."
"Eh? How did you know about that?"
"He mentioned it to me when we were having a discussion." Sandy responded, and with a tinge of worry, she continued, "If you are short of money, I can ask the Town Mayor to help you out."
"There's no need for you to trouble yourself in this matter, Sandy." To her surprise, Xu Feng shook his head and rejected her kind offer.
However, it wasn't done because of his conscience, but because he knew it was another form of test. A test of his character to be precise.
Sure enough, the worrisome look vanished from Sandy's face as she smiled cheekily.
"Hmm, I really wasn't wrong about you. Herbalist Elias said you will definitely accept my offer to relieve your debt, but I said you wouldn't." She said approvingly.
Faking a bitter smile, Xu Feng facepalmed, "I didn't expect you would be using me as a bet. How disheartening is that?"
"Ah, don't be mad, Baron Lin Feng. I will definitely tell Herbalist Elias to be lenient since he's not short of money and he would much rather have those valuable herbs on you than gold coins."
"I see…"
"Anyway, I have to go and do some reporting. I can't relax even though you made arrangements already." Sandy hurriedly said, dashing away.
Meanwhile, Xu Feng stood in place for a few seconds.
'Phew, as expected of a Friendly rapport relationship.' He thought to himself.
If it wasn't for the improvement from Amicable to Friendly, he doubted Sandy would reveal this piece of information, and even go as far as helping him in changing the loan aspect.
Though to be fair, even if that didn't happen, Xu Feng wasn't worried about repaying back in gold coins. All he needed was some time and a little bit of luck regarding the damnable success percentage.
'Anyway, Clara and the rest are settled, so that's done.' Xu Feng stretched his arms and began moving to a place that he had been planning for a while. It was just a pity that the plan had to be delayed because of Zhao Kai.
Previously, he planned on hiring some NPC in the Mercenary Association, but because of Zhao Kai and his antics, he had to rush over to Oakwood Town.
Finally, he could now focus on the things he wanted without any distractions, except for some minor problems.
"Move out of the way, loser!"
"Save it. We can't afford to waste time arguing with him!"
"Yeah, those hideouts are about to be all taken by the guilds and teams!"
As soon as Xu Feng went out to the street, he was pushed by numerous players trying to rush out of the town to get to the other hideout location.
If that wasn't enough, he even got insulted because of his idleness and non-rushing behavior.
'A bunch of greenhorn players.' Xu Feng merely thought to himself. To call him a loser when in reality, the real losers were them, who got manipulated and deceived by his scheme.
Not to mention, he wasn't going to get angry for something as trivial as this.
Ignoring them, Xu Feng calmly and patiently walked toward the Mercenary Association using the path exclusive to the NPC guards and higher-ranking NPCs.
When the players rushing past him noticed his passage, they were stupefied.
"Damn, is that the mysterious player in the forum post?"
"It probably is, but we have no time to worry about that now. I heard the Silver Wind guild already raided two hideouts and although they didn't get any rare equipment, they got something useful."
"Damn, Guild Leader Gentle Wind is really taking over the Divine World by the storm."
With that being said, no one else paid attention to Xu Feng any longer.
Sure, his so-called privilege remained a huge question, but it was no longer the main priority for these players.
That was just how trending goes.
One moment, you're the most viral person in the world, and the next moment, you're not even worth a grain of sand in their eyes.
Either way, Xu Feng didn't mind their comments as he finally arrived at the Mercenary Association.
Contrary to most people's expectation of a mercenary being a loose organization and somewhat in shabby condition, the place was far from that.
The Mercenary Association was housed in a sturdy, well-maintained building, its exterior boasting clean lines and a formidable presence.
The entrance was flanked by banners displaying the association's insignia, fluttering gently in the breeze.
Heading inside, Xu Feng instantly noticed the space was immaculately clean and neatly organized.
Polished wooden floors gleamed under the soft light of chandeliers, and the walls were lined with racks of weapons and armor, each piece meticulously maintained.
A large bulletin board dominated one wall, covered with neatly posted job requests and announcements. Comfortable seating areas were arranged throughout, allowing mercenaries to gather and discuss strategies or relax between missions.
'This is what I call a proper association.' Xu Feng praised, giving his approval for the exterior and interior design that offered the greatest comfort to their mercenary.