Chapter 252: Although I Don't Have a Stone Tablet Here, I Have Information About It!

Huo La jerked his head up, surprise filling his eyes: "Leave it to me?"

"Hmm." Ma Jia Mu nodded. "Since Aerzousi chose you, handing this Stone Tablet to you would make full use of it. Moreover, if I'm not mistaken, you will be the new hero."

Huo La stared at Ma Jia Mu's serious gaze, then glanced at the warm‑glowing Fist Plate, his heart a swirl of emotions.

He had been fretting over where to find the first Stone Tablet, never expecting it to arrive so effortlessly, and even more so as a gift from Ma Jia Mu.

"Thank you, Captain." Huo La stood and solemnly took the tablet.

The moment his fingertip touched the tablet, a gentle power surged from his finger into his body, and the system instantly popped up a notice: "Fist Plate acquired, quest 'Acquire Fist Plate' completed, reward granted."

"All right." Ma Jia Mu looked at him, his tone softening a bit. "Now you have the first Stone Tablet; your next task is to find the remaining Seventeen Plates. Our Galaxy Team will assist you."

As he spoke, his gaze drifted, intentionally or not, toward Gangshi and Zhu Bei, carrying an unspoken hint.

Zhu Bei fell silent for a moment, then looked at Huo La and sighed slowly: "Our Pearl Team will also help you. But remember, if the tablet truly lies in the hands of the king our Pearl Team tends, you must earn the king's voluntary gift with your own skill—no stealing or forceful taking. Otherwise, even with the Galaxy Team behind you, our Pearl Team will never compromise."

Gangshi immediately echoed, giving Zhu Bei a glance, his tone equally firm: "Our Diamond Team means the same, we'll cooperate in the search, but we must respect each king's wishes."

"I understand." Huo La nodded gravely, fully aware that these kings are the guardians of the Hisui Region, proud by nature, and that Sheer Force would only backfire.

Xingyue spoke up: "As for clues to the remaining tablets, I'll sort through ancient records and also ask the Ginkgo Guild. Their caravans travel far and wide, well‑informed, and might uncover leads we don't know."

Xingyue's words hit Huo La's heart directly.

The Ginkgo Guild's Wang Luo…

Huo La suppressed the surge of thoughts and said to Xingyue: "Star Moon Squad Leader, about Wang Luo of the Ginkgo Guild, I'll go ask myself and see if any supplies need replenishing."

"You'll go yourself?" Xingyue looked puzzled, but after a moment nodded. "Fine, it'll be more convenient for you. It's just that some matters…"

"I understand, Star Moon Squad Leader." Huo La immediately took over, his tone resolute, "I'll act cautiously."

Ma Jia Mu saw this, also nodded, and said: "Let him go on his own; we have other preparations to make."

He looked at Huo La, his tone carrying a hint of admonition: "Huo La, you can return and get ready; if you need anything, just come to us."

"Yes, Captain." Huo La replied, standing up, carefully placing the Fist Plate into the inner compartment of his backpack to ensure it wouldn't be knocked or damaged.

Stepping out of the council hall, warm sunlight bathed him, dispelling some fatigue.

Huo La lifted his eyes toward the village entrance—there stood a simple shade stall, and beneath it a blond man leaned against a pillar, sun‑bathing, a straw hat shading his face, exuding a leisurely air.

"Ginkgo Guild, Wang Luo?" Huo La's heart stirred, and he walked straight over.

Hearing footsteps, Wang Luo slowly lifted his straw hat, squinting to adjust to the light. When he recognized Huo La, his eyes lit up instantly, his tone warm: "Yo, isn't this Huo La, brother? I heard you ran into some trouble the other day—good to have you back safe! Need any Help?"

Huo La stopped in front of the stall, a meaningful smile appearing on his face: "There is indeed something I'd like you to help with."

Wang Luo sat upright at once, rubbing his hands, adopting a businessman's posture: "Go ahead, Huo La, brother! Our Ginkgo Guild's connections are vast; we not only sell exotic goods from around the world, but also handle information gathering, errands, and the like. What do you need?"

"I'd like to buy something." Huo La said calmly.

"Buying, easy!" Wang Luo nodded, eyes bright. "You've just been through danger, so you probably want to boost your strength. Need injury medicine, Pokeballs, or items to raise your Pokemon's power? I've got quality goods."

Huo La leaned forward slightly, his gaze burning as he said word by word: "What I want is—AerzousiShiban."

As his words fell, Wang Luo's smile froze, his hand on his knee trembling involuntarily, a flash of panic crossing his eyes before he quickly masked it, letting out a dry laugh: "Huo La, brother, you're joking—I don't have that."

"Oh?" Huo La raised an eyebrow, probing further, "Do you know Aerzousi?"

"That's natural!" Wang Luo straightened his back at once. "Our Ginkgo Guild's caravans travel far and wide; the legends of Creator God Aerzousi are well known to us. If we didn't know, we couldn't do business."

He paused, then emphasized again: "If you want to learn the legend of Aerzousi, that's easy, but the Aerzousi Stone Tablet you seek, I truly don't have—it only exists in legend, not something you can just buy."

"You don't have it, not even the whole Ginkgo Guild?" Huo La pressed on, his gaze locked on Wang Luo's face, refusing to let any hint slip.

Wang Luo's expression turned uneasy, and he sighed: "Huo La, brother, to be honest, aside from our Guild's leader Ginjin, my inventory is already the most complete. If I don't have it, the other branches certainly won't either."

Huo La stared into his eyes for a while, seeing no flaw in the calm façade, then feigned disappointment, shrugged, and spread his hands: "Alas, I guess I was overthinking—it looks like I'll have to find it myself slowly."

Having said that, he turned and walked away, his steps neither hurried nor slow, yet constantly alert to any sounds behind him.

Sure enough, just two steps after he left, Wang Luo's voice suddenly came from behind: "Huo La, brother, wait a moment!"

Huo La halted his steps, a cold smile forming inside, but his face remained unchanged as he turned: "Anything else?"

Wang Luo stood, moved to the edge of the stall, and lowered his voice: "Although I don't have a Stone Tablet here, I have information about the tablet!"