Chapter 17

Griffin Cavern Tavern!

Familiar place, familiar taste.

Moreover, it was especially lively.

The adventurers who had been silent for half a month in the Sheng Lan De Supernatural City-State.

Arriving in La Mo Er, they restarted their adventure, full of vigor from head to toe.

"Oh…… this is the taste, I love it so much."

"The Wa Luo Ji of Sheng Lan De always lacks something, or the Wa Luo Ji of La Mo Er has a rich flavor."

An adventurer holding a wooden wine cup half the size of a head, cheering drunkenly.

Not far from him, another adventurer excitedly recounted their gains from the previous ash cycle.

"Last time, our team went to the underground castle, captured that vampire, and was sent to Sheng Lan De."

"At the auction, that noble gentleman bid a high price of 500 magic gold."

"That was definitely the most profitable deal I've ever made."

"It seems that female vampire must be very beautiful." Someone laughed.

"No…… no……"

After gulping down the Wa Luo Ji in his cup, the adventurer corrected.

"That was a male vampire."

"Ha ha……"

Inside the tavern, the adventurers burst into a wave of laughter.

Soon after, someone spoke loudly.

"Ke Li Si, that noble gentleman actually shares the same hobby as you!"

"Damn……"

The adventurer named Ke Li Si, whose secret was exposed, let out an angry roar.

The adventurers shared various amusing stories.

Among them were many messages about events happening outside.

This is also a channel for locals of La Mo Er to contact outside news.

In the corner of the tavern.

Ta Ke was enjoying a large serving of black-horn beef bread soup.

In the Necropolis Tower, there was also food given by Lord Aubri.

But most of it was reserve rations.

It was enough to fill the stomach, having nothing to do with being tasty.

"I need a supernatural bracer."

This is one of the goals Ta Ke is formulating.

First, it can allow Ta Ke to store enough of his favorite food for the future gray nights.

Second, Ta Ke doesn't want to, after killing a gang leader, have to carry the opponent's gold box while fleeing.

Although, the enemy likely also has a supernatural storage bracer.

But those guys are likely connected to the evil god organization.

Using their stuff directly would make it too easy to be found.

Divination, retracing, trace tracking, etc.

In the supernatural world, there are too many means to find a person by following an item.

"Moreover……"

Ta Ke was not idle while eating.

The aura of a first-stage mage had not been restrained.

But no one paid attention.

"The Dark Sun Church's hunts, after the rise of the Ash Day, seem to have eased considerably."

"At least, they dare not hunt openly."

"First go to Lao Ke Mu's place to get the needed things ready."

"Now is the gray date; I should also launch a strong counterattack."

…………

One hour later.

Underground Street, Obsidian Materials Shop.

"You actually aren't dead……"

When they saw that the person sitting opposite was Ta Ke.

Lao Ke Mu let out a strange cry.

"Cough cough…… I mean, you really do have talent."

"Even the contaminated elite materials can be absorbed and digested."

"Now you're like this, not fearing death—cough cough—such bold folks are few nowadays."

Lao Ke Mu, sizing up Ta Ke from head to toe, clicked his tongue repeatedly in amazement.

"Many people yearn to advance to the first stage."

"But everyone knows that's too dangerous."

"Just digesting the materials is a major problem."

After all, this is the Land of Ashes; many materials look clean, but in reality, they all have some degree of contamination.

One careless mistake and you'll fail.

Not long ago, I heard that a ninth-level knight failed his advancement and suffered a mental problem.

He firmly believes he is a brave Blood-Bone Barbarian Ox.

After smashing through three doors in a row, he was caught and tied up.

Poor fellow, even on the brink of death, he was still shouting that he was hungry and wanted to eat grass.

Saying this, Old Ke Mu chuckled.

You suppressed the Elite Magic Wolf materials, advanced one stage, and clearly have the potential to advance to the second stage.

Do you need to prepare second-stage materials?

Although there's still a long way to go before the second stage, that doesn't hinder you from preparing second-stage materials.

Coincidentally, I have a very good second-stage Human-Faced Stone Snake Ghost soul crystal, which is close to elite-quality soul material.

Just 40 Magic Gold.

Ta Ke's eye twitched.

That damned old bastard actually, right to my face, wanted to sell me his materials and then buy them back.

Looks like the number of your lanterns you stole is still not enough.

Ta Ke said irritably.

Old Ke Mu grinned, revealing his inlaid gold tooth.

I need a storage ring.

Ta Ke stated his purpose.

Storage rings aren't cheap.

Sensing a big deal, Old Ke Mu laughed.

Many first-stage supernatural beings can't necessarily afford one.

"50 Magic Gold for a standard-sized storage ring," Ta Ke bluntly offered his price.

The usual price for a supernatural storage ring is around 40 Magic Gold.

Ta Ke's offered price is considerably above the market rate.

Before Old Ke Mu's smile could fully form on his face,

Ta Ke already added a sentence.

"A down payment of 10 Magic Gold, with the remainder to be paid in two days."

Pay the rest in two days?

Old Ke Mu sensed something sharply.

"This kid... is he about to launch a hunt?"

He knows Ta Ke's methods well.

Even when he was an apprentice wizard, this kid wasn't afraid of ordinary first-stage supernatural beings.

Moreover, now this kid has eaten the Elite Magic Wolf's heart and advanced to first-stage wizard.

Ta Ke didn't say much, and Old Ke Mu didn't ask further.

The deal was reached in mutual understanding.

……

Leaving Old Ke Mu's shop.

Ta Ke, concealing his wizard aura, hid his face in the hood's shadows and moved silently through the Underground Street.

If it were the Ashen Night Period, perhaps someone would still notice Ta Ke.

But now it is the Ashen Date Period.

There are plenty of people on the Underground Street.

Nobody cares about Ta Ke at all.

"About the size of a drawer."

Ta Ke felt the supernatural storage ring on his left hand.

"Enough to hold plenty of valuables."

"And the effect is more concealed."

"More importantly, items stored in the storage ring do not affect combat due to encumbrance."

"Nowadays, my physical strength bursts forth abundantly; I really need such a storage ring."

Feeling the waist belt pack beneath his wizard robe.

"You should retire too," Ta Ke thought to himself.

As he moved forward, Ta Ke transferred the resources from his waist belt pack into the storage ring, precisely noting their locations.

When needed, Ta Ke can retrieve them at a moment's notice.

The upcoming battle will encounter considerable resistance.

Ta Ke naturally needs to prepare in advance.

About half an hour later.

On the Underground Street, the double-opening Red Rock Stone Gate loomed before Ta Ke.

The location of the Hunter Black Gang where Nelson, who previously hunted Ta Ke, resides, has been reached.

And here, if Ta Ke hasn't guessed wrong, this is likely a small outpost of the evil god organization, the Gloom Sun Church.

(End of Chapter)