Chapter 207: Lilith and Stanny

【Meilaer】

【A homeless orphan of Frostfall City, who just advanced to a Tier 1 【Thief】 Apprentice last night; the aura on her body has not yet stabilized.】

【Some days ago, she attempted to steal 【Yun Mu】's purse, was eventually discovered, and had her own coin pouch snatched away in return.】

【However, not only did she suffer no loss, but she was instead gifted three Silver Frost Coins by the kind-hearted other party.】

【With this help, her life seemed to see a turning point, and she made initial contact with the Supernatural organization, the 【Thieves Guild.】】

【Recently, she seems to have encountered some unlucky event; she has been infected with the Scarlet Curse internally, though she has yet to notice it.】

【There seems to be an injury on her left shoulder, making her movements appear somewhat unnatural.】

Is this all I can see? It feels so different from when I used the Eye of Appraisal on Brenna back then.

Is it because she was more familiar with the latter, while the former is a complete stranger?

Uh, though I suppose I can't say she's entirely a stranger?

I really didn't expect the other party to be the girl who tried to steal my purse back then; if not for the prompt from the Eye of Appraisal, she would have forgotten about this matter entirely.

If the information on the Eye of Appraisal is correct, then she shouldn't have anything to do with the Scarlet.

She is just like she was back then, an unlucky person forced to be infected with the Scarlet Curse.

However, because she has the Game Panel, she is able to notice it.

And normal humans without a panel, just like that person who reported the case, would not be able to detect the power hidden within their bodies until the Scarlet Curse erupts.

How pitiful; having only just escaped the status of a beggar, she has to encounter such a thing.

Although Yun Mu has the heart to help the other party, the moment she thinks about how her own situation is actually similar to the other's, she immediately feels a bit discouraged.

Let's follow Dunn's instructions and observe the other party for a while first.

The other party has already been infected with the Scarlet Curse; leaving her alone will definitely lead to trouble.

But then again... has the Scarlet Curse already started spreading in the city?

This can hardly be considered good news.

I just feel like things have become even more urgent.

Pat.

Suddenly, a palm gently patted Yun Mu on the shoulder, giving her a fright while she was deep in thought.

"It's done." Dunn stood behind her and said to her, "Wait here for an hour and you can get the Identity Cards."

"During this time, let's discuss the matter of our new identities."

"New identities..." Yun Mu's expression looked a bit strange.

Thinking about it, it makes sense; after all, not much time has passed since she last processed an Identity Card, and she didn't expect that in less than half a month, she would be changing to a new card.

"My name is Stanny, and your name is Lilith. We are not locals of Frostfall City, but merchants who set out from Unfrozen Port in Florinda, a southern coastal city of the Frost Kingdom, to do business here."

"But halfway there, due to encountering severe weather, the merchant ship was wrecked, all the cargo was lost, and in the end, only the two of us survived."

"Because we have no money, we can only work temporarily in this city. Coming to the Scarlet Relief Society is entirely because the reputation here is better, plus the fact that someone introduced us..."

"Oh right, almost forgot, the two of us are siblings; remember to address me as brother."

"..."

This guy, he really is a closet pervert, isn't he?

The corner of Yun Mu's eye twitched slightly.

That last setting was completely unnecessary, you jerk!

"I understand, Brother Stanny~"

Yun Mu placed her hands together against the right side of her cheek, looking at Dunn with a fake smile.

Oh, forgot she was wearing a Mask; the other party couldn't see her expression at all.

"Very good, it seems you've mastered it quickly, Lilith."

"Next..." Dunn's gaze swept obscurely over Meilaer.

"Are you certain there is an aura of the Scarlet Curse on her?"

As early as when Dunn arrived behind Yun Mu, the other party had already deployed sound-dampening measures, so there was no need to worry about being overheard at this moment.

"I am very certain."

After thinking for a moment, Yun Mu informed him that she possessed a domain of Civilization and had the Eye of Appraisal.

And she explained to him the information she saw via the Eye of Appraisal.

"I see."

After listening to Yun Mu's account, Dunn supported his left elbow with his right hand, while his left hand gently stroked the Mask on his chin, thinking for a moment before saying: "Then let's try to make contact with her."

"But not here."

"Mm, I understand." Yun Mu nodded.

This is the Black Market, after all; it's better to wait until another opportunity arises to speak with Miss Meilaer.

"These are the Identity Cards for you two, along with the complimentary background materials."

About forty minutes later, the middle-aged man known as One-Eared Rat held two document bags and handed them to Dunn, saying.

"You don't mind if I verify the goods here, do you?"

Dunn asked this, but without waiting for the other party's reply, he opened the document bags after taking them and began to check them carefully.

"Hehe, when I, One-Eared Rat, handle things, you can rest assured one hundred percent."

The other party didn't seem to care at all, laughing lightly and casually.

"However, there is one point I hope you pay attention to."

Perhaps it was the effect of that large bag of Gold Frost Coins, or perhaps it was something One-Eared Rat said to every guest who came here, as he instructed them: "Although my documents are seamless."

"But if you provoke any major trouble, you will still be found out."

"Besides, personal data is the sort of thing that always has to be uploaded to the core, but the synchronization speed varies for every city."

"It's hard to say for other places, but here in Frostfall City, it will be at least tomorrow morning before you can legally use these files."

You're actually a pretty decent person.

Yun Mu looked at the other person with some surprise.

"Hehe, you getting caught is a small matter, but if you were to expose me, that would be no good." One-Eared Rat let out a strange laugh and pulled a contract from his bosom.

"So, you must sign this non-disclosure agreement before you can leave here."

"."

Fine, she knew it was impossible to meet any good people in the Black Market; she had been overthinking it.

"Of course." After carefully reading the contents of the contract, Dunn nodded and said.

"Blood will do, right?"

Taking a small knife from his bosom, Dunn dripped his blood onto the contract and said.

"Of course, I don't expect the two of you to reveal your real names."

This is a standard Black Market merchant.

Yun Mu sighed casually in her heart, then took out the Fixed Shadow Instrument Blade and gently sliced her finger.

After her blood dripped onto the contract, she quickly pulled her finger back.

She covered up the sight of her wound healing rapidly.

Come to think of it, the blade length of the Standard Short Dagger increased quite a bit after being reforged into the Fixed Shadow Instrument Blade.

Now, it would be more appropriate to call it a short sword than a dagger. Although the attributes are better, it still feels a bit unfamiliar to use.

It would be better to find some time to get used to it.

"By the way, I've been curious since just now—that young girl, what did she come here for?"

While One-Eared Rat was putting away the contract, Dunn feigned casualness and asked him.

"After all, she's been sitting there without saying a word since we came in, hasn't she?"

Hearing Dunn say this, the trace of suspicion on One-Eared Rat's face immediately vanished. He thought for a moment and whispered back to Dunn:

"Her? She's also a person who came to me to handle identity documents, but she doesn't have much money on her. If it weren't for the introduction from the Thieves Guild, I wouldn't even want to do this business."

"I originally intended to give her the identity documents after you left."

"As for why she isn't speaking, I'm not clear on that; she's probably just thinking about something."

After finishing, One-Eared Rat walked up to the young girl and unceremoniously slapped a stack of document bags onto the table in front of her.

"Here, this is your identity document."

"You should have heard what I said just now. If not, I'll tell you again, and then there's also—"

"I heard it," the young girl wearing a wooden Cat Mask said softly.

". Then sign this contract." One-Eared Rat took out another contract and placed it in front of the young girl.

"Mm."

Meilaer took a dagger from her waist, aimed it at her finger, and seemed to hesitate for a moment.

"Sigh, use this."

Looking at the slightly worn-out dagger in the other person's hand, One-Eared Rat rubbed his forehead in frustration, then took out a needle box specifically for drawing blood and placed it in front of the young girl.

". Thank you."

Casually pulling out a thin needle, the young girl gently pricked her fingertip and dripped her blood onto the contract.

"Very good. Once the contract is signed, leave quickly. I don't want to have people from the Thieves Guild staying here too long." One-Eared Rat took back the contract and said in a fierce tone.

"I understand."

The young girl picked up the document bag from the table, didn't check it carefully, and stood up to walk toward the door of the room.

Mm, a proper door, not the manhole cover they used when One-Eared Rat recommended it to Yun Mu and the others.

"Let's follow her too," Dunn whispered in Yun Mu's ear.

After finishing, he shook the document bag in his hand at One-Eared Rat: "Well, Boss, we're off too."

"Safe travels, you two!" Hearing Dunn's words, One-Eared Rat squeezed a smile onto his face and said: "If you have any more business next time, remember to come find me, One-Eared Rat."

"Will do, will do."

Waving his hand casually, Dunn took Yun Mu and left One-Eared Rat's shop.

The two successfully found Meilaer, who had left first, and then quietly followed behind her.

"Do you know which direction she is heading?"

"Uh, I don't know," Yun Mu answered with a hint of embarrassment.

Forgive her; after all, her predecessor really hadn't been to the Black Market many times.

Even the few times she entered the Black Market, it was just to wander around near the exit.

She never had the guts to enter the depths of the Black Market to scout the terrain.

When it comes down to it, her predecessor was just a street beggar; the fact that she even knew how to enter the Black Market was already quite impressive, okay!?

"Thump!"

A slightly dull sound suddenly came from ahead, pulling Yun Mu's thoughts back.

She looked in the direction of the sound and saw that the young girl named Meilaer had actually collapsed! Had the Scarlet Curse flared up!?

Yun Mu was startled and, no longer caring about staying hidden, hurried to the other person's side.

"Hey, are you okay!" She pushed the young girl's body firmly.

"So thirsty..."

Meilaer was panting heavily, her right hand clutching tightly at the position of her left chest. Her heart was beating rapidly at this moment, and the flow of blood throughout her body was accelerating continuously.

She needs to drink blood!

Without any hesitation, Yun Mu took the Blood Brewing Bottle from her bosom and snatched the wooden cat Mask off the Young Girl's face.

"Hmph."

Yun Mu's brows furrowed slightly; just as she lifted the Young Girl's Mask, the other party suddenly opened her mouth and bit down on her finger.

A wave of warmth with a sandpaper-like texture came from her fingertip, along with a slightly wet sensation.

The area bitten open by the teeth felt tingly and numb as the blood was being sucked.

"Open your mouth," Yun Mu said, her tone quite helpless as her other hand gripped the body of the Blood Brewing Bottle.

"."

"Let me do it."

Dunn crouched down beside the Young Girl at this moment; he pinched Meilaer's cheeks, forcing her to open her mouth.

Taking this opportunity, Yun Mu immediately pulled out her finger, which was covered in the other party's saliva, and then poured the Blood Brew from the Blood Brewing Bottle into the Young Girl's mouth.

"Gulp, gulp..."

Why does this feel like I'm doing something bad?

Watching Meilaer swallow the Blood Brew, Yun Mu inexplicably had a sense of déjà vu, as if she had seen this scene somewhere before.

*Cough, cough*, she was saving someone properly, not doing anything strange!

"Whew."

Letting out a long breath, Meilaer's strange physical reactions dissipated quickly after drinking the Blood Brew.

Yun Mu laid her flat on the ground, but after thinking for a moment, she gently placed the girl's head on her own lap.

This might be more comfortable... "Tha, thank you both, I feel much better."

About five minutes later, Meilaer opened her eyes and looked at Yun Mu and Dunn as she spoke.

"It's nothing," Yun Mu shook her head and looked at the other party's left shoulder: "May I ask, what caused this wound of yours, and about how long ago were you injured?"

"Am, am I infected with a disease?" Hearing Yun Mu's question, combined with the strange reaction her body had just experienced, Meilaer immediately thought of something, and her face turned deathly pale.

"The medicine I just drank, it wouldn't be very expensive, would it..."

"... I'm not charging you money; answer my question first." Looking at Meilaer's appearance, Yun Mu felt speechless while also feeling a hint of heartache.

The first thing she thought of wasn't her health, but whether the medicine was expensive... "O, okay."

Upon hearing Yun Mu's question, Meilaer looked somewhat nervous as she said: "I, I was injured the night before last, when I was preparing to advance into the Pickpocket profession."

"But on the way, I encountered a rabid wild dog."

"That thing was very fast and attacked me without any regard for its own life. Caught off guard, I was bitten by it, and it was only when it bit me that I found an opportunity to finish it off with my dagger."

PS: Florinda is a seaport city in the southern part of the Frost Kingdom.

It is closer to the Heling Empire, the Shattered Star Sea, and the Exile Sea, and its commerce is more developed.

But because it is too far from the Royal Capital and Winter City.

Many goods use it as a transit point, are transported to Frostfall City, and finally shipped to Winter City via Steam Train.

(End of chapter)