āMy luck is still pretty good. A guide appeared of their own accordā¦ā Leylin glanced at the white-robed swordsman and his group, a hint of blue shining in his eyes before he left immediately.
The wizard of the group watched their swordsman freeze. She asked with surprise, āWhat is it?ā
āNothing much. Something felt off for a moment.ā The swordsman looked slightly baffled, his right hand on his scabbard as he took a look around him. He sat down once more, looking puzzled.
Heād felt a chill up his spine that moment, as if death was right before him. However, that sense of danger had disappeared before he could take stock of the situation.
āYouāre being paranoid. We canāt leak news of our missionā¦ā A black-robed person spoke in a low voice.
āPerhaps thatās it,ā he said as he sat down. His hand was still on his scimitar, though, and his frown didnāt dissipate.
Leylin had already left the area, and was now strolling along the bustling streets.
āHis senses are good. Even if it was only for an instant, the ability to sense my intent is quite impressive. Heāll probably become legendary in a few yearsā time, but thatās only if he can survive thisā¦ā
His noble attire, rosy cheeks, and extravagant accessories were signs of wealth, and they caused many small peddlers to pay attention to him.
āTake a look at this, esteemed customer. Old Jafar has the best things hereā¦ā One in particular held a golden scepter up for Leylin to see. It was an old white man with golden hair, āTake a look at these patterns and decorationsā¦ I unearthed this while I was still an adventurer, braving deadly danger in an ancient ruin. Itās said to hold the secrets of the ancient Sun Dynasty within, and it can be yours for just one hundred kronasā¦ā
āAncient Sun Dynasty?ā Leylin halted his footsteps, a teasing smile on his face. He watched this Old Jafar do all he could to introduce the item.
āIndeed! It was a dynasty from a time before this place became a desert. Legends talk of a large golden river, flowing not with water but honey and milk. The land was filled with golden words in that era, and this scepter contains a secret of theirsā¦ā
āYour name is Jafar, yes?ā Leylin stopped in front of the stall, watching this old man who was evidently not a human from the deserts, āWhy did you settle here?ā
āSighā¦ I met the mother of my children during my life as an adventurer. I naturally canāt leaveā¦ā Jafar chuckled. Although he seemed honest, there was still a sly look in his eyes that could not be concealed.
āSo? Since weāre both from the south, I can sell it ten kronas cheaper. The Goddess of Luck is smiling down on youā¦ā
āIāll take a lookā¦ā Leylin seemed interested, and he crouched down in front of the booth.
āAll these things are from ruins?ā Jafar had placed decorative ornaments on a greasy black cloth, and some of them still had a layer of rust on them. It gave the illusion that he was speaking the truth.
Unfortunately, Leylin had acquired the Scholarly feat when heād advanced to the legendary realm. His appraisal skill had hit its limit, and he used the A.I. Chip to immediately see through these fakes.
āThis looks pretty good. Itāll look good on my wallā¦ā Leylin āappraisedā a dark gold mask that was carved in the likeness of a cobra.
āOf course! How can there be nothing decent from the ancient ruins for an esteemed guest like you?ā Jafarās face wrinkled in his delight.
āThis, this, and this. I want it allā¦ā Leylin acted like a deceived noble, buying seven to eight items. Jafarās smile was so wide he couldnāt close his mouth.
āThis too, and theseā¦ā Leylin continued to point at things with both hands, basically buying everything in the stall.
āOld Jafar is going to get rich at this rateā¦ā The surrounding peddlers all stared hard at Jafar in envy.
āIāll buy all of thisā¦ Hmmā¦ there seems to be an issue with carrying themā¦ā Leylin looked troubled.
āNo issue, thereās no issue at all!ā Jafar quickly discarded the items Leylin didnāt want, his movement faster than a high-ranked thief. He placed the four ends of the cloth together and bundled the items up. āHow about that? So easy. I can even send this to your innā¦ātogether, forming a huge bundle. āHowās this? Isnāt this easy? I can even send this to your innā¦ā
Old Jafar had a cajoling smile on his face, āThat comes up to 1372 gold kronas, and Iāve already given you a discountā¦ā
āUmmā¦ā Leylin appeared like those generous guests that were easily cheated, āFine! Do you accept bills from the church of wealth, or will you come with me as I withdraw the gold?ā
Every market had a church of wealth, and a huge market like the western desert obviously wouldnāt miss out. The small town had one to serve the merchants.
Leylin sent the extremely thankful Jafar away once they exited the church, turning a corner on the street.
āI never thought Iād find something great from a peddlerā¦ā Leylin flung the bundle in his hands, and all the fake gold items clattered to the ground like trash.
āA legendary magic beast hide with some information on itā¦ā Leylin stared at the greasy cloth, blue light flickering in his eyes. This was what heād set his sights on, the cloth Jafar used to display his goods.
āI wonder how he managed to get this hide. Could he really have been an adventurer?ā Leylin stroked his chin, but didnāt linger on the thought. Heād paid for the items, so this was his now. He couldnāt be bothered with how Jafar had gotten his hands on it.
āJust the material alone is worth the price. Iāll need to have the A.I. Chip decipher the information on it.ā
Leylin knew the history of the west desert well. It had once been the core of Netheril, and in its days of glory been filled with fertile land and a huge population. Unfortunately, with Netheril fading away and wars involving gods occurring in the place, the west had become a desert.
If not for that, why would an arcanist who leapt through dimensions keep his floating city here?
āThis encryptionā¦ It doesnāt seem like an arcanistās, but thereās still some exemplary strengthā¦ It even contains the secrets of a lost civilisationā¦ā Leylinās eyes glinted. If Jafar learnt of the secrets of this hide, heād probably grow so annoyed with himself heād just commit suicide.
Leylin was in a great mood now that heād obtained a treasure. He walked out of the corner and then glanced through the items in the stall with more focus. With his foresight and experience, no treasures escaped his sights.
Unfortunately, that had been the only one. Nothing stuck out to him after that.
āBoohooā¦ Please help us. Please help usā¦ā
Some cries attracted Leylinās attention at this moment, leading him forward. A large crowd had formed a huge circle up ahead, and caused a disturbance that Leylin took notice of as he drew closer.
In the middle of a circle was an adventurer and a crying little girl.
The adventurer had fallen down, looking like heād met with great hardships in life. He was no longer young, and his lips were blue. It looked like some sickness had acted up all of a sudden.
āUncle, uncle! Please wake upā¦ā With such a huge crowd watching, the girlās cries made her seem even more helpless.
āHe must have gotten poisoned. There are many dangerous beings in the desert nearbyā¦ā An experienced mercenary went up, touching the adventurerās neck and pulling up his eyelids to check, āUnless I have a specific antidote, I canāt do anything. Do you know what poison it was?ā
The little girl froze after hearing this, and began to bawl more sorrowfully, āI- I donāt know. Vivian is so useless, sniffā¦ uncleā¦ā
āSighā¦ Unless a high-ranked priest is here to cast Neutralise Poison, heāsā¦ā The mercenary looked around, āWho amongst you is a high-ranked priest?ā
The crowd avoided his gaze, evidently not wanting to be involved in this. A death would cause the guards to come here, and the interrogations and the like would be very time-consuming. They could even be blackmailed by shameless jailors and officials, which caused most of the crowd to leave.
The area was bustling with activity, yet they pretended not to see the little girl and the adventurer who seemed to be breathing his last. There was a great sense of detachment in this place.
āLittle girl, we need to look for other methodsā¦ At the very least, weāll need an innā¦ā The mercenary looked troubled, obviously seeing the impatient urging from his companions. He halted midway his speech, realising that no inn would take in an adventurer on the brink of death, and he was only making things difficult for himself.
āSighā¦ā With this thought, the mercenary too looked agonised and place a small bag of copper coins in front of the wailing girl, āTake these and bury your uncle well!ā
He then left quickly in large strides, as if afraid of something.
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