"Ah, indeed, just as the rumors said, this is very high-quality pepper. The processing is clean too."
"The feedback from those who have used it directly is also very good. Even the high-ranking ones are all satisfied, I hear."
"With this quality, if we sell it well, we'll not only make a profit, but it'll also be perfect for building connections."
Hubert's business was progressing smoothly.
The pepper, fully packed in the subspace magical tool, sold out in no ti despite its high price.
Sending samples to the nearby major comrce guilds early on and establishing various connections worked out well.
'Of course, during this, we also made use of Halli's services to ensure that the other party couldn't act recklessly.'
The formal thank-you ssage sent to the rcenary guild through the Church greatly contributed to raising Halli's fa.
As he beca more famous, the frequency of disputes increased, but that too beca a new marketing tool.
'Those who dared to pick a fight with the fearso-looking Halli must have been sowhat famous themselves. And to think he beat them with his bare hands...'
Halli, having beco a well-known figure in the Tarak rcenary world.
With such a person as a business partner, Hubert's company also received its fair share of attention.
'With good products and reasonable prices, marketing using limited quantities, and the credibility that cos with a famous na. It would be strange if it failed.'
Thanks to Halli, external interference could also be blocked.
Large forces, including major comrce guilds, inevitably had to maintain connections with the Church.
They learned through their networks that Halli was indeed receiving attention from the upper echelons of the Church, and naturally, they gave up on the idea of ssing with Hubert's company.
From their perspective, it was more of a loss to get on the bad side of the Church just for swallowing up a small business.
And for those without such information networks...
"Ugh... Please, forgive ..."
In a dark alley.
Rough-looking n were sprawled about like trash.
"Halli, this guy's asking for forgiveness?"
A burly man with tattoos all over his face grabbed one of the troublemakers by the neck and shook him before turning to speak to soone else.
"Forgiveness? How lightly they must have seen us to ask for forgiveness now?"
"Such ones need to be crushed from the start so they don't dare to crawl back. I'll show you an example."
Reacting before Halli were two similarly tattooed and burly figures.
Once rivals, now as close as brothers, the southern warriors.
The largest among them, Luwang, with a scar near his eye, Dao, and Turaba, with a face full of hair, were stamping down on the troublemakers attempting to ss with Hubert's company.
'Of course, they're not working for free. They're earning plenty, so there's no need to be frugal here.'
Having reliable and controllable manpower was a benefit in itself.
If a few coins could lead to active cooperation, all the better.
"Hmm, now that you ntion it, doesn't Halli's impression seem a bit changed?"
"Do you think so too? I feel like he's beco more approachable than before."
"Isn't that just because we've beco closer over ti?"
"Maybe?"
The conversation, which ca out of nowhere while moving to grab a drink after finishing work, made Halli feel inevitably self-conscious.
'I've been changing it little by little hoping no one would notice...'
Indeed, his facial structure was subtly changing to the extent that it was different from the beginning.
Having t three locals from the south, it was an opportunity to naturally absorb their characteristics.
Halli's face was being adjusted daily, slightly more towards the racial features of the southern people.
"Ahahaha! That's all because we've beco that much closer! Now we really feel like brothers!"
Halli laughed heartily, smoothly changing the subject as if it was nothing.
And inside the tavern they entered, they chatted noisily, exchanging various conversations.
Most topics were about the southern region, offering very useful information based on the locals' vivid experiences.
"So, once you leave the south, it's difficult to get inscriptions. Shamans mostly don't try to leave that place."
"There are tis when you encounter them elsewhere, though, and if you prove your qualifications and pay the price, you can get new inscriptions."
Among their discussions was also content about the 'inscriptions' they often talked about.
"There are tis when fools try to get inscriptions that are beyond their status, but usually, the shaman would take care of it by sending them away or sothing."
"It happens occasionally. Those who aren't satisfied unless things go their way."
There were cases where inscriptions were forcibly marked on the body through threats, persuasion, bribery, deception, and so forth.
"It's not for no reason that a proof of qualification is necessary."
Inscriptions were not re tattoos.
They were a branch of mystery that intertwined the life force and mana flowing through the body with the deeds accumulated by the person.
'Is it a kind of bio-magical circle that strengthens the body?'
Inscriptions not suitable for one's status could not only reduce lifespan but also lead to muscle loss, reduced vitality, aging, and even hair loss among various side effects.
"That's why in the south, if you don't have at least one inscription, you're not recognized as a warrior. It ans you don't even et the basic qualifications of a 'warriors inscription'."
That was why they had picked a fight with Halli, who claid to be a 'warrior from the south'.
His bare body had nothing but joke-like scribbles, not a single real inscription to be found.
'I can't help it if I can't get it right away. It would be nice if I could do it before going to the south.'
He manfully gulped down the drink from a large mug, savoring the taste.
While Hubert and Halli spent their days fruitfully, Harris, who had newly joined in Tarak, had been continuing his own struggle alone for days.
"Hmm... I feel sothing, but..."
Elf avatar Harris, cooped up in the base Hubert had found, was trying to communicate with spirits through daily ditation.
He had hoped to beco a High Elf, but after the notification that the World Tree was watching, there had been no significant changes.
'It seems like this is natural force, but how do I make a contract with spirits? Is my affinity still not enough?'
The mana purified through natural objects like trees, clean and clear natural force, was a necessary energy source for making contracts with spirits.
Given his initial stats and the effects of the "Child of the World Tree" bracelet, his affinity shouldn't be lacking, but he had no idea how to beco a spirit mage.
"Should I try going to a forest richer in natural force instead of staying here...?"
He had been staying indoors to hide the fact that he was an Elf, but it seed like it was ti to venture outside.
'Just wearing a hood to cover my ears should do. I've been trying to be cautious until I make a contract with a spirit...'
Elves, being a rare race in the Ion continent, inevitably got entangled in various issues.
Wasn't Cecily, who was a candidate to beco a High Elf, sold into slavery because of that?
'Right, like Cecily... Wait, hold on...'
High Elf Laphori and candidate Cecily, along with nearly twenty Elf envoys, were still staying at the Rosellia Grand Temple.
The inquisitors of the Talia Kingdom had discovered the residence where the Immortal King had stayed in the Forest of Beasts, and they also uncovered that he was there right before his attempt to invade the Grand Temple.
Still, it was unclear how he had known the exact mont when the Grand Temple's defenses were weakest...
'It wasn't like the Church suspected the Elves from the start.'
The Church had dispatched an investigation team just to clearly understand the situation, maintaining a polite attitude towards the Elves as they had initially.
'I heard they're about to return ho since their work is done...'
Wouldn't it be better to receive help from fellow Elves rather than learning by oneself?
It would be invaluable if he could receive advice before they left.
"Alright. That sounds good."
Harris hurriedly got up and put on his robe.
Then, he confidently headed towards the temple in Tarak.
As he was nearing his destination, a huge figure lumbered out of an alley next to him.
In stark contrast to Harris's slender fra, it was large and burly.
The man who approached with an imposing stride, Halli, naturally joined him and they both walked towards the temple.
Halli had taken ti out from a drinking session with the southern warriors to help Harris.
Together, they walked side by side and soon arrived at the temple.
"Huh? Isn't that Mr. Halli? What brings you here... Do you have so business?"
Recognizing Halli's unique appearance, which served as its own form of identification, a temple knight guarding the entrance struck up a conversation.
"Haha! There's a matter for which I'd like to seek so assistance. I'd appreciate it if you could pass on a ssage inside!"
The discussion that followed in the arranged eting was straightforward.
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