Ding ding~
A soft chime echoed as the door creaked open.
"Lady Marich, long time no see."
A familiar, cheerful voice rang out, prompting the middle-aged woman behind the counter to glance up instinctively.
Sakeer stepped inside the small inn where he had previously stayed.
"Do you still have a room available?" he asked.
"Yes—"
Marich squinted at him in recognition, her expression shifting as the memory clicked into place.
"Ah, it's you!" she said, but as her gaze dropped, she caught sight of the small Barghest following at his heels.
Immediately, she stiffened, taking an instinctive step back.
Sakeer remained unbothered. "Relax. It won't cause any trouble."
Marich eyed the creature warily before letting out a sigh. "Let's hope so… But there'll be an extra charge—one silver."
"No problem."
As an innkeeper running a place across from the Adventurers' Guild, Marich was no stranger to unusual guests. She had seen her fair share of travelers and adventurers, some stranger than others.
"The price is five silver coins," she said, sliding a room key across the counter. "Same two-person room as before."
Sakeer reached into his pocket, retrieved four silver coins, and set them on the counter. Then, with a slight shift in tone, he asked,
"Since I left, has anyone come looking for me?"
Marich swiftly scooped up the coins, rubbing them between her fingers before answering without looking up.
"A woman came by once."
At this, she finally lifted her gaze, a glint of amusement in her eyes.
"If I remember correctly, she was from the Purple Secret Medicine Hall, little brother."
Sakeer's expression remained unchanged, though a faint, knowing smile touched his lips.
"I see," he replied lightly.
Then, turning toward the stairs, he added, "I'll be heading out for now. If anyone comes by, let them know I'm in my room."
Marich gave a small chuckle, the extra weight on her cheeks shifting with her smirk.
"Don't worry," she assured him. "When you return, your room will be spotless."
Sakeer left the inn, stepping onto the street. The moment he did, his smile faded.
"Purple Secret Medicine Hall…" he muttered to himself.
Despite the name, the establishment had little to do with actual medicine. In reality, it was one of the three largest brothels in E-Rantel.
Of course, for a place that catered to men's "needs," calling itself a secret medicine hall wasn't entirely inaccurate.
A mocking smirk played on Sakeer's lips as another name surfaced in his mind.
"Eight Fingers."
An organization so vast it had its hands in every corner of the kingdom—a truly frightening network.
But that was a month ago.
With his current strength, unless the infamous "Six Arms" of Eight Fingers personally came after him, he had little reason to be concerned.
Naturally, he wasn't about to rush headfirst into the Purple Secret Medicine Hall. Acting on impulse just because someone came looking for him would be reckless.
The woman they sent was likely a low-level pawn—a disposable informant.
For a brothel of this scale to remain one of E-Rantel's top three establishments, it was almost guaranteed that local authorities were involved.
In fact, Sakeer wouldn't be surprised if even Panasolei, the city's mayor, had a stake in its profits.
In the original storyline, even a minister of the slave department—despite being captured alive and handed over to the Golden Princess—was eventually released by the nobles.
That alone spoke volumes about how deeply intertwined Eight Fingers was with the kingdom's aristocracy.
For all he knew, the other two major brothels—Heavenly Full Moon Court and Amber Honey—were also under Eight Fingers' control.
Rather than recklessly barging in, Sakeer preferred waiting for them to make the next move.
That was precisely why he chose to return to the same inn—a place where he knew he'd be easily found.
For now, however, he had more pressing matters to attend to.
First and foremost—money.
He had just spent five silver coins, leaving him with only six gold coins and two silver coins.
That amount was nowhere near enough to afford a weapon crafted from mithril, a metal known for its ability to conduct magic.
Even weapons partially infused with mithril were beyond his budget.
Still, he wasn't entirely without options.
His expedition into the Great Forest of Tob had yielded considerable spoils.
The bone chains from the two Barghests alone were worth a hefty sum.
Then there was the black-green serpent he had slain. While it was undoubtedly valuable, it was also large and cumbersome, making it much harder to sell discreetly.
But his most valuable haul?
A pair of massive baskets filled with rare herbs, personally delivered by the hobgoblin.
Sakeer navigated the winding streets of E-Rantel with purpose, eventually slipping into a narrow alleyway.
When he emerged again, he carried a black cloth bundle—heavy and filled with goods.
He wasn't certain whether E-Rantel had a black market, but in most major cities, aside from the Adventurers' Guild and the Mages' Guild, there were always various trade guilds operating in the shadows.
In major cities, aside from the Adventurers' Guild and Mages' Guild, there were also various trade associations—herb guilds, merchant guilds, and chambers of commerce, to name a few.
Whether one was buying or selling, these organizations offered competitive rates, ensuring adventurers could either purchase supplies at lower prices or sell goods for higher rewards.
However, the paperwork involved was notoriously tedious.
For most adventurers who loathed bureaucracy, it was far more convenient to let the Adventurers' Guild handle the transactions, even if it meant paying a processing fee.
As Sakeer approached the guild district, the atmosphere grew increasingly lively.
The streets buzzed with activity, the hum of conversation punctuated by the occasional shout of a merchant peddling goods.
Inside the Adventurers' Guild, the boisterous energy was even more pronounced.
The hall was filled with adventurers in varying attire—some clad in heavy plate armor, others donning leather gear suited for agility.
Bow-wielding archers, staff-bearing mages, and adventurers wrapped in thick cloaks moved about, either deep in discussion or focused on their next contract.
Dressed in his black robe, Sakeer blended in effortlessly.
However—
The moment he entered, many heads turned his way.
More specifically, their gazes landed on the small, ominous figure at his feet.
His little Barghest was undeniably eye-catching.
Though adventurers often tamed monsters, such occurrences were rare—especially when it came to creatures of this nature.
"Damn it!"
A drunken voice rang out from the far side of the hall, drawing Sakeer's attention.
"Hasn't the Adventurers' Guild given an explanation yet?"
"What the hell happened in the Great Forest of Tob?! Why aren't there any goblins anymore?"
"Bastards! I was counting on those goblin ears for money!"
A wave of complaints rippled through the surrounding adventurers, their resentment palpable.
Sakeer's brow twitched ever so slightly.
He had nearly forgotten—
Although E-Rantel was home to many adventurers, few were truly powerful.
For low-ranking adventurers, goblin hunting was a primary source of income.
Though Sakeer had slaughtered a vast number of goblins, the effect on the Great Forest of Tob was more profound than expected.
The remaining goblins had seemingly gone into hiding, creating a shortage that impacted those who relied on hunting them.
"Ahem."
Suppressing a sigh, Sakeer cleared his throat and stepped into line at the counter.
He had originally planned to exchange some goblin ears for money, but given the current atmosphere, pulling out a large stash of them now would be asking for trouble.
Before long, it was his turn.
Bang!
Sakeer dropped a heavy package onto the counter with a dull thud.
"I want to sell these bone chains."
The female receptionist, a woman in her mid-20s with chestnut-brown hair tied beneath a headscarf, maintained a professional smile as she reached for the bundle.
However, the moment she unwrapped the package, her expression subtly shifted.
Inside lay two dark, metallic bone chains—their surface gleaming with an eerie sheen.
At first glance, they appeared hefty, yet the moment her fingers brushed against them, she was struck by how surprisingly light they felt.
She hesitated for only a second before her demeanor became serious.
"Please wait a moment."
With a quick, respectful bow, she turned and hurried away.
By now, a handful of nearby adventurers had also caught sight of the chains resting on the counter.
A low murmur spread through the crowd.
"Is that… a Barghest's Bone Chain?"
"Shit…"
"That's a rare find."
"Ah, so that's why he had a little Barghest with him… why does that feel oddly familiar?"
"Hah! As if you've ever seen something like that before!"
"The last time someone sold one of those… was half a year ago, wasn't it?"
The guild's atmosphere subtly shifted as more adventurers took notice, their gazes toward Sakeer growing more cautious.
The Barghest was not a monster to be taken lightly.
Many of the less-experienced adventurers had never even seen one in person, let alone hunted one successfully.
As the murmurs grew, Sakeer remained expressionless, his calm gaze fixed on the counter.
He wasn't concerned with their whispers—
What mattered now was how much he could get for those chains.
(End of Chapter)