Eden City.

The mercenary guild was bustling with people, and due to the nature of the profession, most of those walking around in the hall were men from various mercenary groups.

Mercenary groups are quite common organizations on the Aireland Continent, similar to adventure groups, and they have their own guilds.

However, unlike adventure groups, mercenary groups arose not for the sake of adventure, but to meet certain groups' needs.

For instance, escorts for caravans heading to distant places, clearing mountain bandits, searching for special herbs in certain locations, all those requests that cannot be fulfilled by an individual or small team can be posted as bounties through the mercenary guild, hiring various mercenary groups.

Unlike adventure groups, mercenaries as a whole are not very strong, and not all members have combat professions; even ordinary people with slightly stronger physiques can participate.

In Eden City, there are about a hundred mercenary groups. Among them, only three or four are strong and well-known.

The Tree Hunter mercenary group is one of them.

Inside the hall, in front of the service window, a grim-faced green-haired man cloaked and dressed as a swordsman, with a long sword at his waist, exuded a chilling aura.

This man was Shute, the leader of the Tree Hunter mercenary group, known for having the Slime Hundred Beams Kill Honor Badge.

The Tree Hunter mercenary group, a group contracted for hunting Tree Spirits in Eden City and its surrounding areas, although their main business was tree hunting, also frequently took on various shady jobs.

Helping underground casino loan shark gangs violently collect debts from citizens; robbing gem transport caravans; stealing gold; disguising as thugs to beat up common folks demanding overdue wages...

As long as the price was high enough, no shady job was off the table.

The reason Shute came to the mercenary guild was simple.

"Mr. Shute, y-you... hello,"

The receptionist looked nervously at the face that looked like it had swallowed a ton of gunpowder, afraid to say something wrong.

"Are you sure... you want to change the name of your mercenary group?"

"That's right."

Shute nodded expressionlessly.

"Then, okay..."

The receptionist swallowed hard.

Half of Eden City already knew about Shute's situation.

More than half a month ago, Shute had ridden into Eden City in a sorry state. He was covered in an unknown liquid, his body was full of red spots, his clothes were in disarray, and the first thing he did upon returning to the city was rush to the best hospital.

Shute was initially a somewhat renowned and capable figure in Eden City. Because of this incident, he drew attention for quite some time, and nobody knew exactly what had happened. But everyone speculated that he had encountered a strong enemy, been defeated, and then humiliated before being allowed to return.

However, such matters weren't discussed openly.

How could she, just a small receptionist, dare to inquire?

"Please wait for a moment then."

The receptionist quickly went to handle Shute's request.

In front of the window, Shute's expression was grim, and his hands clasped tightly once more, as if even rocks in his palm would be crushed to powder.

Reflecting on his half month lying in the hospital, he felt on the brink of madness, desperate to destroy everything he saw.

...

Back to that time.

Attempting to steal gold in the forest, he encountered a Poisonous Slime and was sprayed with its poisonous slime liquid. After being defeated in battle, Shute could only flee the forest in disgrace and return to the city for treatment.

Supported by his identity and money, he successfully transferred to an advanced ward and immediately had an attending doctor come for treatment.

Inside the advanced ward.

The attending doctor rushed inside.

Disheveled hair, dirty clothes, covered in red rash, itching so badly his eyes seemed to bulge out, Shute hurriedly looked over.

"Doctor, quickly check my body! What are these symptoms!"

The doctor trembled slightly.

"Mr. Shute, you're covered in a red rash, your body scratched to bleeding in many places, eyes bloodshot... this is the highly contagious Black Rat Plague!"

"Don't just glance at it and flee, you bastard! Are you a doctor or not! This was from the Poisonous Slime liquid when I accidentally touched it during battle, not some Black Rat Plague!"

"Oh, oh, I see... so it was the Poisonous Slime sprayed liquid..."

"So what should I do? I feel like I'm going to shed a layer of skin!"

"Such widespread rash and itching, in all my years, it's the first time I've seen such a situation."

The attending doctor couldn't come up with any ideas, falling into thought.

"Then at least give me some anti-itch medication."

Shute was in agony.

If this continued, he really would scratch his skin off.

"Medication can't be taken randomly."

The attending doctor frowned and sternly refused.

"I had a batch of male mercenaries with similar symptoms before. If safety measures aren't properly in place during unauthorized intimate encounters, diseases can indeed be transmitted, leading to these symptoms. Later on, these rashes would become purulent and ooze, quite disgusting."

"You're talking about the Star Disease! Don't mix them up!"

"Regarding Poisonous Slime, I really have no clue for now. In any case, first wash off, get the remaining liquid off your body, and don't let the symptoms worsen!"

The advanced ward had a washroom, and the attending doctor quickly prepared everything, after turning on the showerhead, he anxiously looked at Shute.

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