Damn it... Does an Iron Badge eat your family's rice or something?

　　You actually look down on the Iron Badge this much!

　　…………

　　The new book is out, the first chapter is a big one, nine thousand words.

　　I'm back, my brothers.

Chapter Two: The Hand of Juntian!

　　【Thanks to my brothers for your support】

　　(1)

　　"This is really all we've got left on us..."

　　The two brothers, Mr. Smith and his sibling, turned out their pockets and barely managed to scrape together two hundred and fifty taels of silver.

　　Their purses were squeaky clean, not a single extra coin left.

　　And the result of emptying their pockets was that the two brothers ended up sharing a sickroom, mooching off the patient meals, and refusing to leave the clinic.

　　As the saying goes: Conscience is lost in hard times; without money, you can't take a single step.

　　No inn to stay in, no food to eat—if they didn't shamelessly cling to the clinic, these two standard-issue broke and injured brothers would have no choice but to either rob and steal or freeze and starve to death.

　　"We'll recover from our injuries... As soon as we're a bit better, we'll leave, take on some jobs, and once we complete them, we'll have money..."

　　"We can still work..."

　　"We can do anything..."

　　"Anyway, we don't have a single coin left. With your skillful hands, benevolent heart, chivalrous spirit, and soft heart, you wouldn't just watch us brothers die in your clinic, would you..."

　　Mr. Smith said this shamelessly.

　　Beside him, Mr. Smith's face flushed.

　　His brother could say that—he was truly injured.

　　But he himself wasn't hurt at all, strong and healthy... How could he justify lying around like a corpse?

　　After hesitating for a while, he finally said, "I... I'm taking care of my brother..."

　　He paused, then added, "Once it's daytime, I'll go out and look for work to earn some money, maybe take on some jobs... If I can complete a task or two and sell the pills I earn, we'll have money soon."

　　"What? Sell the pills you earn?!"

　　Ethan Brooks, the divine doctor, was about to make a sarcastic remark, but his eyes widened in disbelief.

　　How could you sell such good stuff?

　　I always keep them for myself...

　　"You're an expert at healing, but when it comes to assassin business and job rewards, we brothers know more. The reward pills from Juntian Hand are recognized as top quality across the continent—even the most basic, ordinary Yuan Power Pills are hard currency!" Mr. Smith said proudly, puffing out his chest.

　　"I'm an Iron Badge assassin of Juntian Hand! Iron badge, iron rank, that's a high level!"

　　"Tsk... So impressive, yet you don't even have five hundred taels... Truly impressive... Just an Iron Badge, really too impressive!"

　　Ethan Brooks clicked his tongue twice, shook his head, and walked out with his hands behind his back.

　　Looking all calm and collected, full of style.

　　Damn it, now you know how awesome an Iron Badge assassin is?

　　Two little newbies, and the big boss is right in front of you!

　　Too bad you two can't recognize greatness when you see it!

　　……

　　A steady drizzle fell for three whole days. Though it wasn't heavy, it kept coming down, never stopping.

　　This left the Mr. Smith brothers stuck in misery, faces full of gloom.

　　In the Juntian Register, tasks kept refreshing.

　　Iron Badge and Wood Badge tasks appeared one after another, an endless stream—so many that you could take on jobs until your hands were sore, and that's no exaggeration.

　　But most of the simpler, easier, and closer ones were already completed by others by the time Mr. Smith got there...

　　It perfectly fit the old saying: "Can't even catch the hot shit!"

　　The assassin business of Juntian Hand was booming, the competition fierce... you could see it at a glance.

　　Several times, he had to turn back halfway because the target had already been taken care of.

　　And it was always that Iron Badge Grace Smith who finished them...

　　Mr. Smith ran his legs thin and still didn't get a single job.

　　In his heart, he cursed that Grace Smith to eternal damnation!

　　That damn Grace Smith, are you my destined nemesis or what!

　　Wherever I go, you follow.

　　Have you no shame?

　　……

　　During these same three days, Ethan Brooks found himself at a huge loss—he'd provided food and lodging for the two brothers for three days, plus healing herbs, and got nothing in return. How could he not be annoyed?

　　Even if I snatched the business, you can't just live in my house for free, right?

　　Looking at those two freeloaders getting more and more comfortable in his clinic, as if they were settling down for good—how could this be allowed?

　　Mr. Brooks's face was visibly darkening.

　　But the Mr. Smith brothers were incredibly tenacious, clinging on like bulldogs. Besides eagerly cooking, washing dishes, and cleaning, they did all the chores, and always looked obedient—never fighting back or talking back...

　　As for giving them the cold shoulder... What does that even mean?

　　Is that more important than being hungry, cold, and homeless?

　　Anyway, if Ethan Brooks wanted to use normal means to kick these two tough nuts out, it was absolutely impossible!

　　Once, Ethan Brooks even made up his mind and dragged Mr. Smith to the door, but when it was time to cook, Mr. Smith sneaked back in to make dinner, and even thoughtfully reminded him, "Sir, the meal is ready, you just eat, don't worry about us brothers. Missing a meal or two won't kill us."