Chapter 132: Hunting Party Formed.

As the noble said this, Gerred was not convinced.

"I am not an ordinary Wildhammer." He emphasized: "That beast may be able to kill other warriors, but it may not necessarily be able to kill me."

"It killed three at the same time." The noble said: "I have no doubt about your combat skills, Mr. Dwarf. But a friend of mine watched that battle. The three Sundermar brothers who came here from the highlands together wanted to surround and attack, but the Baron of the Night seized the opportunity and defeated them one by one. The scene was very tragic. But I have to admire the combat effectiveness of your Wildhammer clan. Because I was also fortunate to see the battle of those three Sundermar dwarves. They once killed a pair of violent white ape siblings in Stranglethorn Vale together. Their strength should not be underestimated."

Gerred stared at the noble and listened to his narration. After a long time, he didn't say a word.

He wiped the rain off his face, looked at Jess and then at the noble, and said: "Then ask the captain to give me a hunting rifle."

"Don't worry, dwarf." The noble shook his head and said: "The captain will not give you a gun and let you go down and kill that leopard."

"Is this black panther too valuable?" Jess asked.

"Yes." The noble said: "It is a star of the Gurubashi Arena. Its value must be inestimable. Do you think the captain could transport such a valuable cargo for free? He must have an extremely expensive transportation contract with the owner of this beast. At the same time, there will also be an extremely expensive guarantee. Once the leopard is injured or even dies. In short, if it loses its ability to continue fighting, he will lose everything."

"So how much is it worth exactly?" Gerred asked curiously.

The noble glanced at Gerred and said: "I can't say for sure. But there must be people among these passengers who, like me, know the value of that black panther. And the captain also knows this. It depends on how much he is going to offer as a reward for hunting down that beast."

The undulation of the ship has eased a lot compared to before. The wind howls and the rain slants and splashes on the deck. The canvas retracted on the mast makes a whooshing sound.

The most violent time of the storm seems to have passed. Only the low black clouds that are oppressively hanging over the sea are still staring at this lone ship. It's as if the sea has also calmed down and is curious about what these people are going to do.

The guests' discussions gradually subsided. The captain and a group of goblins and several human sailors were gathered together discussing something. Their sharp and urgent voices overwhelmed the noise of the crowd on the deck below.

Those goblins holding hunting rifles were aiming at the open hatches. Most of the hatches had been firmly locked.

After a while, several goblins dragged out some ropes, forks, and fishing nets from the cabin on the other side. A tall human sailor came out last holding a long stick.

They were whispering to each other. Jess could tell that these people were discussing tactics, which cabin to search first and then which one. It seemed that the captain was going to send his own people to solve this problem.

As the noble had expected, none of these people had any real sharp weapons except for the harpoon held by one of the goblins. Even that harpoon was for fixing. Jess was very doubtful that those two sharp points could cause any damage.

"They want to capture that black panther alive." Jess said.

Gerred looked at these guys and said: "I'm not optimistic. A black panther that can deal with three Wildhammer warriors cannot be compared to ordinary animals in Stranglethorn Vale. It's hard to say whether these few people can kill that black panther with all their strength, let alone capture it alive."

"Human." He turned to look at the noble and asked: "Did your friend tell you what weapons the three dwarves used when fighting with that so-called baron?"

"You know, the arena needs to be entertaining." The noble looked at the goblins on the high place and replied: "They couldn't give those three dwarves any beast-fighting tools. So they just let them go up with the weapons they are best at, hammers and axes."

Jess guessed it was like this. For the nobles who can come to the Gurubashi Arena for entertainment, what's so strange about catching beasts with tools? Maybe they can watch such a thing once or twice a month on their territory.

Fighting at close range with the beast's sharp claws with short axes and warhammers is the real highlight. No matter who watches such a program, they are here for novelty.

Gerred shook his head, but he didn't say anything. After all, these gladiators value the program effect most for fame and applause. He can't say anything for these clansmen who kill for gold.

At this moment, the goblins and two humans have set off. Even though the skin on the faces of the goblins is all green, Jess can see that they are ashen-faced and extremely reluctant.

Those two humans also had solemn expressions. Although they were wearing chainmail and scale mail that could resist scratches and were holding various beast-catching tools in their hands. But these equipments obviously couldn't suppress panic and fear.

They must know what they are dealing with, although the goblin captain has repeatedly denied it.

After several people went down, there was an unusual silence on the deck.

The rain kept falling. With the wind, there was a loud and then soft sound of splashing from time to time. Occasionally, a flash of lightning suddenly revealed the worried and curious expressions of everyone. The captain held the cable tightly and swayed with the wind, looking into the distance of darkness.

Those goblins holding guns were aiming at the open hatches as much as possible in the wind to prevent that beast from suddenly rushing up.

Jess knew that it would never rush onto the deck. Since this leopard can become a star on the arena, it must have its own battle strategy and know how to judge the situation.

Rushing onto the deck might be able to kill a few more innocents and add a little "battle record". But it will definitely be quickly beaten to death by those brave people among the passengers.

Jess saw that many people present were wearing all kinds of weapons, swords and daggers. Jess hadn't noticed so many things that could kill people on the ship before.

This shows that at this moment, everyone has taken out their self-defense items and is ready to fight to the death at any time. Only now does the passenger characteristic of the Reagents Group show up a little bit - there are not many people on this whole ship who are easy to deal with.

Everyone's eyes were slightly serious, staring at the hatch as tightly as the muzzles. The leopard couldn't not know that coming up is tantamount to suicide.

If the beast-catching team below has no results, this situation may drag on until dawn or until they reach the port.

However, once it is daytime and dawn breaks, the passive ones will be the people on the deck.

In the case of the direct sunlight on the sea during the day, even if the temperature in late November is not so high, everyone can't stand being exposed to the sun all the time. Eventually, they must return to the hunting ground of the leopard. At that time, no one knows how many people will be injured or die.

The goblin who was in charge of the cargo hold has died. The first mate Gazik is in great danger. Otherwise, the captain would not come out to take charge of the work in person. This guy didn't show up at all in the first few days of the voyage. Gerred thought he was still on the port "looking at the butt of some green-skinned chick" and missed the departure.

Time passed minute by minute. Some people who were still facing the hatch or listening to the movement below by sticking close to the deck gradually gave up persisting. Everyone knew that the hunting team that just went down seemed to be in trouble.

How many more people can the captain afford to lose?

In short, the ship can never take this uncontrolled leopard ashore.

The guards of Southshore will never allow a crazy beast to run around on the shore. Once they get the news, they will definitely rush into the cabin in heavy armor and holding shields and hack that beast to death.

Jess glanced at his pocket watch. It was already late at night.

The captain didn't know when he had walked to the high place on the deck again and was looking at everyone, seemingly hesitating.

"Two gold coins!" At this moment, he suddenly stretched out two fingers and shouted: "Two gold coins, capture that damn... leopard alive!"

"What?!"

"I said it. It's that black panther!"

"Two gold coins?"

"Isn't this too much... two gold coins?"

"Can that leopard sell for two gold coins? Can it?"

"Shut up, poor devil... Look at your ignorant look. That's the Baron of the Night! It can sell for at least a dozen gold coins anyway..."

The deck suddenly boiled up. Even Jess couldn't stay calm.

Since he arrived in Stormwind City, which job has he ever earned even one gold coin? Let alone two!

Even participating in saving an entire castle didn't have such a cash reward. These goblins are really rich. Rather than saying that goblins are rich, it's better to say that those who run the arena are rich. Since the captain is willing to take out two gold coins to capture that leopard alive, it means that his transportation fee for this trip must be greater than this amount.

But his experience of making money in the Stormwind Kingdom these months also made him understand one thing. That is, the reward must be related to danger. Don't forget the job of hunting orcs in Redridge Mountains. The reward is only a dozen silver coins.

And these two gold coins are almost equivalent to killing five or six Hoggers.

Although it can't be converted equivalently like this, but at the same time dealing with five or six Hoggers also makes Jess a little nervous.

But as the saying goes, there must be brave men under great rewards. Suddenly two people stood up and responded.

Gerred seemed unable to hold back either. He grabbed Jess's arm and asked: "Do you want to go in and fight for it?"

"I don't want to fight desperately with a star gladiator, Gerred." Jess said: "Think about it. Half of the people on the ship know him. Maybe some people have watched his matches. Would you fight with a boxer who has won an award in your area?"

Gerred laughed and said: "I have won an award myself! Don't forget how I dealt with that Thoribain at the Pig and Whistle! No matter how famous this baron is, he is just a beast! And if he is really so powerful, why isn't he called the Earl of the Night, the Duke of the Night, or the King of the Night? I don't believe it... As long as there are tools!"

"Look at those people who just went down." Jess asked: "They are fully armed. Why haven't they come up yet?"

"Just a few sailors. I used to be a hunter." Gerred said: "Those goblins may understand navigation better than me, but they definitely don't understand how to deal with animals better than me. And look at these helpers who have stood up. One is more eager for money than the other! Those guys look like bounty hunters. Four experienced hunters besieging a beast. Isn't this money earned easily? That Baron of the Night is indeed a gladiator, but this is not an arena!"

"This place is much more disgusting than the arena." Jess recalled the scene of groping along the bloodstains in the cabin just now and said: "You forgot what the rich man said just now. If you want to go, you have to wait until daytime, Gerred. At least it should be brighter in the cabin. Isn't it uncomfortable to go down now?"

"That's true."

Gerred was anxious but couldn't do anything. He sat down beside Jess with his arms crossed and stared at those two people without moving.

Two people are certainly not enough to catch that black panther. The goblin captain shouted for a while and then directly took out a gold coin from his bag and shouted loudly: "Three! Is there anyone else? I'll pay three gold coins!"

"Three?" Gerred's eyebrows rose.

Another woman raised her hand and wanted to join the hunting team. Now he couldn't sit still at all.

"Three gold coins, Jess. What if these people take the money? There is also a woman."

Jess said: "We didn't intend to earn this money in the first place. Isn't it better if they take it? We safely get through this crisis and let the ship reach the other side smoothly. This is the best."

"It's different now." Gerred stared at the gold coin held by the goblin with a sidelong glance and said: "Now there is money there. And it's three gold coins. If I don't try to fight for it... it's a loss! Jess, can't five experienced hunters deal with a beast? Look at that woman. She is as strong as a female bear. I guess I could be killed by her with one punch!"

Jess looked at Gerred's dissatisfied look and then looked at the three people who had already gathered over there. Indeed, as Gerred said, these three people seemed to be capable. When they took the ropes, fishing nets, long forks and other tools from the goblin sailors, the way they held them was also quite professional.

He glanced at that shiny gold coin again.

"Oh, damn it. Anyway, this isn't the first time being stupid. Let's go, let's go!"

"Ha! If you had said so earlier, it would be over!" The dwarf excitedly ran out and asked loudly: "If five people go, and divide three gold coins, how should we divide them?"

"There are plenty of silver coins on the ship, brother from Aerie Peak." The tone of the goblin captain has become much calmer than before: "At the current price of gold coins, each person will get eighty silver coins if it is successful. How about it? These three people here, are you willing?"

The three people looked at each other, talked for a while, and finally nodded in agreement. Everyone is not here to risk their lives for a little more money. They are probably here to earn some extra money and make this journey safer. Of course, the more helpers, the better.

"I need a shield." Gerred asked: "Is there a shield on the ship?"

"Sure." The captain called a goblin to bring a shield with the emblem of Lordaeron that was found from somewhere. There was even no damage on the surface.

After Gerred took the shield, the tip below it was almost touching the ground. Obviously, it was not suitable for his height.

"Better than nothing." After taking the stick, he looked at the crowd and asked loudly: "Is there anyone else coming? If there is no one else, we will go down."

The other people didn't object. The five-person hunting team was formed temporarily like this.