Chapter 49: Identification Ability

Luo En said softly, placing the bottle back on the table, his voice calm yet polite:

"True Moonshadow Bat heart ash shouldn't be this color. It should be closer to silver, and under light, it should reveal a faint blue glow, especially when the bottle is shaken slightly. Most importantly, the genuine article has a unique magical fluctuation that can be felt even through the bottle."

A flash of surprise crossed Otto's eyes, immediately replaced by appreciation, his lips beneath his beard curling into a subtle arc:

"Good eye! This is indeed a counterfeit; I was just testing your level of expertise."

He took back the bottle, his tone carrying a hint of admiration: "In this line of work, distinguishing the real from the fake is the most basic survival skill."

As he spoke, he took out a more exquisite-looking small bottle from the depths of the chest.

This bottle was clearly much more valuable than the previous one; complex runes were engraved on its body, and the stopper was sealed with silver thread, appearing particularly solemn.

This time, he simply stopped talking and introducing it, just handing the bottle over, his meaning very clear.

Luo En took it again; this time, the gray powder in the bottle did indeed reveal a faint silver-blue luster, and the texture was finer, as if moonlight had been captured and condensed into powder.

He carefully removed the stopper and took a light sniff; a subtle, cooling sensation instantly spread from his nasal cavity throughout his entire body.

His keen perception of spiritual power told him that this was indeed genuine Moonshadow Bat heart ash, and of quite good quality.

That unique magical fluctuation was almost identical to the description he had read in ancient texts.

[Precise Identification! Herb Identification EXP +2]

"This should be genuine, and the quality is good." Luo En nodded, his tone certain:

"That unique energy fluctuation is very obvious; it should come from the heart of a healthy adult Moonshadow Bat, and the extraction process was also very professional."

"I knew it!" A satisfied smile appeared on the dwarf's face, his thick beard trembling along with it:

"No wonder Lady Ailan chose you as her assistant; you truly have a pair of eyes that know goods. That is the most precious talent in our line of work."

Seeing Luo En's expression grow somewhat guarded, Otto waved his hand to explain:

"Don't be nervous, young man. After spending a long time in this business, one always hears some rumors. Lady Ailan's shop is a legendary existence in the Black Fog Forest; her new assistant would naturally attract some attention. Especially..."

He looked at Luo En with a meaningful gaze: "When this assistant displays unusual talent."

"However, don't think I've accepted you just yet." Otto narrowed his eyes: "Identifying a few items isn't enough to prove your true level."

He stroked his thick beard and leaned forward slightly: "The things I'm about to take out next are quite difficult; let me see if you really have the skills."

Otto took a flat tin box from deeper within the wooden chest; the surface of the tin box had a thin layer of verdigris, looking quite aged.

He carefully opened the tin box, inside of which was a clump of green, downy substance that flickered with a subtle luster under the light.

"This is the 'Crystalline Moss' on your list, at least that's how my supplier labeled it."

The dwarf pushed the tin box toward Luo En. "It's not common on the market, and I'm very curious how much you know about this."

Luo En's brows furrowed slightly.

He had indeed read descriptions of Crystalline Moss in Lady Ailan's documents, but the real thing was rarely seen.

True Crystalline Moss should appear ink-green, and when the observer changes their angle of view, it should flash with a crystal-like luster.

Most importantly, it produces a special "attraction" toward spiritual power, almost as if it were gently "calling" to the user.

He carefully touched the green substance with his fingertips, feeling its texture and energy fluctuations.

The touch was soft, but it lacked the necessary crystalline hardness; it was more like some kind of dyed, ordinary moss.

Furthermore, there was absolutely no sense of attraction toward spiritual power; instead, it gave one a slight feeling of repulsion.

"I'm afraid this isn't genuine either." Luo En judged cautiously:

"True Crystalline Moss should have a special crystalline structure, presenting a crystal-like refraction effect under light. Moreover, it has a unique reaction to spiritual power, almost actively 'attracting' the user's attention. This sample lacks these characteristics; it might be a counterfeit made from ordinary moss after special treatment."

The dwarf's eyes widened, his eyebrows almost reaching his forehead: "Good lad! To think you could see through even this!"

He slapped his knee and let out a hearty laugh:

"This is indeed a fake; at least half of the Crystalline Moss on the market is this kind of counterfeit, but very few people can see through it at a glance."

Andre watched from the side, dumbfounded; he had never imagined that Luo En's attainments in potions had reached such a level.

The dwarf nodded in satisfaction, a sincere smile appearing beneath his beard:

"You win, young man. I acknowledge your ability. You truly have a rare talent; Lady Ailan didn't pick the wrong person."

"Then, what about the price?" Luo En went straight to the point; he knew this "test" was over, and it was time to discuss the real transaction.

"For you? Ten Magic Stone Fragments." Otto held out five thick, short fingers, then added the five from his other hand:

"This is a very affordable friendship price; usually, I would ask for at least fifteen."

Luo En frowned slightly; this price was still very high, even for him, who had recently accumulated a little savings, it was not a small expense.

He pondered for a moment, his gaze falling on the pile of materials he had just identified, and a flash of inspiration struck him.

"Can I make a small request?" he said calmly, his tone carrying the implication of a negotiation:

"If I help you identify some other materials, can I exchange that for a more favorable price? After all, I've just proven my value."

A shrewd light flickered beneath Otto's blue eyes, and the corners of his mouth beneath his beard curled up:

"A clever proposal! You truly have a talent for negotiation."

He stroked his beard, as if thinking about something: "This is a common way of trading in the black market—exchanging skill for discounts."

The gray dwarf seemed to calculate quickly in his mind, his thick, short fingers tapping lightly on the desktop:

"Then let's do this: you help me identify ten items of material, and I'll give you a twenty percent discount. How about that?"

Luo En smiled slightly: "Deal. However, I must state in advance that I will only tell the truth. If a material is of poor quality, I will speak bluntly."

"Of course!" Otto replied readily, a big smile appearing beneath his beard:

"Honest evaluation is more valuable to me; I need to know how much my goods are actually worth, rather than listening to flattery."

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 50 =====