Ding ding~
"Creak."
The door opened with a clear chi of bells.
"Madam Marishi, long ti no see." A smiling voice ca through, causing the plump middle-aged woman behind the counter to instinctively look up.
"Do you still have rooms available?" Tang Zheng arrived at the small inn where he had previously stayed.
"We do."
"It's you?" Madam Marishi briefly froze upon seeing Tang Zheng before recalling him.
However, she imdiately noticed the small ghost hound following behind Tang Zheng and involuntarily took a step back.
"Don't worry, it won't cause any trouble," Tang Zheng said.
"I hope so... but there'll be an additional silver coin fee!"
"No problem."
As an inn just one street away from the Adventurers Guild, Madam Marishi was clearly worldly, having seen all sorts of adventurers and travelers.
"Here are five silver coins, sa two-person room as before."
Tang Zheng took four silver coins from his pocket and placed them on the counter, then changed his tone to ask:
"After I left, did anyone co looking for ?"
Madam Marishi deftly collected the silver coins, rubbing them slightly in her hands as she spoke without looking up.
"I believe a woman ca by once." At this point, Madam Marishi finally raised her head, her eyes carrying a hint of implication:
"If I rember correctly, she was from the 'Purple Secret dicine Hall,' young man."
Hearing this, Tang Zheng's expression remained unchanged, maintaining only a faint smile: "I have so business to attend to first. Please keep the room for , Madam Marishi."
"Don't worry."
"When you return, the room will be thoroughly cleaned." The plump woman's cheeks lifted in a peculiar smile.
After leaving the inn and walking on the street, Tang Zheng's smile had completely vanished.
"Purple Secret dicine Hall,"
Tang Zheng murmured the na.
Though the na included "secret dicine," it was actually one of E-Rantel's three major brothels.
For solving n's "problems," calling it "secret dicine" wasn't entirely inappropriate.
"Eight Fingers." A cold smile played at Tang Zheng's lips.
An organization capable of extending its influence throughout the entire kingdom—Eight Fingers was indeed a formidable force.
However.
That was for the Tang Zheng of a month ago. With his current strength, unless Eight Fingers sent their Six Arms...
Now wasn't the ti to visit the Purple Secret dicine Hall. He wasn't so reckless as to charge in imdiately upon hearing so news.
The prostitute they sent was just a minor character. For such an establishnt to beco one of E-Rantel's top three brothels...
Tang Zheng didn't believe it lacked local backing. Even City Lord Panasolei might be receiving a cut.
In the ani, even when the Slave Division's leader was captured alive and handed to the Golden Princess, the nobles still released him—proof of Eight Fingers' deep entanglents with the kingdom's aristocracy.
Not just the Purple Secret dicine Hall, but the other two major brothels—"Heavenly Full Moon Pavilion" and "Amber Honey"—might also be under Eight Fingers' control.
Rather than barging in like so hotheaded fool, Tang Zheng preferred they co to him—which was why he chose his forr inn.
As for now.
He had more important matters to attend to.
First was the money problem. After spending five silver coins, he only had six gold coins and two silver coins left.
With this paltry sum.
He couldn't even afford the cheapest mithril-alloy weapon capable of channeling magic, let alone pure mithril.
Fortunately.
His harvest from the Great Tob Forest wasn't insignificant. Just the two ghost hound bone chains were quite valuable. Then there was the entire black-green giant serpent—though its massive size made processing more troubleso than the bone chains.
Of course, the most valuable.
Were the two large baskets of herbs those high goblins had personally delivered.
After leaving the inn, Tang Zheng turned into a nearby narrow alley.
When he reerged, he was carrying a heavy-looking black bundle.
Whether E-Rantel had a black market, Tang Zheng didn't know. But major cities typically had various guilds beyond just the Adventurers Guild and Mages Guild.
Like the Herbalists Guild, rchants Guild, etc.
While buying or selling through the appropriate guilds could fetch better prices, the paperwork was notoriously cumberso.
So most hassle-averse adventurers found it simpler to let the Adventurers Guild handle everything—just with an additional fee.
As he approached the Adventurers Guild.
The street grew increasingly lively and noisy.
Through the open doors ca constant boisterous shouts.
Adventurers clad in plate armor and chainmail lounged casually around the sturdy wooden tables filling the guild hall.
Others wielding bows, staves, or dressed either provocatively or completely covered moved about the space.
Tang Zheng's black-robed appearance was utterly commonplace within the guild.
Yet.
His entrance imdiately drew nurous gazes. The small ghost hound was indeed eye-catching.
While so adventurers kept magical beasts as companions, they were decidedly uncommon.
"Damn it!"
"Hasn't the Adventurers Guild given any explanation yet?"
"What happened in the Great Tob Forest? Even goblins have disappeared."
"Bastards!"
"I was counting on trading goblin ears for coin."
"...!"
Drunken complaints erupted from one corner of the hall, sparking murmurs of agreent.
Tang Zheng's impassive expression twitched slightly.
He'd nearly forgotten—while E-Rantel hosted many adventurers, few were truly powerful.
Most low-level adventurers relied on goblin hunting to make ends et.
Though Tang Zheng had slain many goblins, it was insignificant compared to the forest's total population.
Yet his massacre's ripple effects—making the remaining goblins go to ground—had created unexpected problems.
"Ahem."
Clearing his throat softly, Tang Zheng joined the queue at the counter.
He'd considered trading so goblin ears for coin but now abandoned the idea—presenting large quantities under these circumstances would raise too many questions.
Soon, his turn ca.
Thud!
Without ceremony, Tang Zheng heaved his substantial bundle onto the counter with a heavy thump: "I need to sell these two bone chains."
The brown-haired receptionist—wearing a headscarf and modest clothing, appearing barely twenty—offered a professional smile as she opened the oversized package.
Two pitch-black bone chains with tallic luster ca into view.
Seeing them.
The woman visibly startled. When she touched them, their apparent heaviness contrasted strangely with their actual lightness.
"One mont please."
Her expression imdiately turned serious. Bowing respectfully, she hurried away.
anwhile, others in the guild noticed the unwrapped black chains on the counter.
"Is that—a ghost hound's bone chain?"
"Hiss!"
"That's premium stuff."
"So that's a juvenile ghost hound—I thought it looked familiar!"
"With your skills, don't pretend you've seen one before!"
"Last ti these appeared was half a year ago, wasn't it?"
Murmurs spread through the crowd as many reassessed Tang Zheng with newfound wariness.
Ghost hounds weren't creatures ordinary adventurers could handle—most had never even seen one.
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