Sudden Wealth

Tucker waited for approximately half an hour, and during this time, a rather senior wizard hurried to the scene. He was the deputy leader of the Cult's Hunter Gang, second only to their leader, Bashamu.

"Where is the leader?" the old wizard inquired of the guard.

The guard replied, "He's still inside."

The old wizard nodded, about to enter, but then he appeared to recall something. "Have you noticed any suspicious individuals?"

The guard shook his head and said, "No suspicious persons, but there was one individual who wasn't suspicious. Eden Gladstone, who had left earlier, returned briefly and seemed injured. He stayed for a while inside and then hurriedly left."

"what," the old wizard responded, feeling a sense of unease. " And you didn't question him?" he scolded the guards in a hushed tone. The two guards seemed wary, for questioning the ruthless and bloody Eden Gladstone was almost synonymous with seeking death.

The old wizard didn't have time to deal with the two gate guards, who were always stationed at the entrance, and he pushed the door open to enter the stronghold.

Not long afterwards, the old wizard dashed out in a hurry, cursing under his breath. "Damn traitors... Gather everyone immediately. No matter what it takes, we must find the traitor Eden Gladstone. I want to see him doesn't matter if alive or dead."

His furious shouts and demands left the two gate guards stunned, and they quickly began calling for assistance.

...

Tucker, having acquired something valuable, decided not to head to Old Man Comb immediately. He was well aware of the ongoing situation, particularly the pursuit of Eden Gladstone, who had been exposed.

Tucker knew that making his way to Old Man Comb to sell his wares would be unwise under the current circumstances. Instead, he had a better place in mind to conduct his business.

The city-state of Larmore Tower served as a crucial gateway for the extraordinary city-state of Saint Rand to access the perilous Ashes territory. This was partly due to the fact that, by extending into the wilderness from Larmore Tower, one could access many regions with unique resources.

Simultaneously, numerous extraordinary biological communities inhabited the region, including kobolds, goblins, wasteland elves, and others, with relatively low levels. This made it an ideal location for students from Saint Rand's Extraordinary Academy to undergo trials.

Another compelling reason for choosing this locale was the presence of a "Crypt Market" within the city-state of Larmore Tower, organized by the "Crypt Man." The cavemen maintained strong trade relations with the Kobold tribe dwelling in the underground city, using this as a primary channel.

The "Crypt Market" in Larmore Tower City-State featured a plethora of underground-world goods. When the Ash Sun rose, merchants flocked to the city-state of Tiramore, making the "Crypt Market," primarily controlled by cavemen deep below, a must-visit place for many traders.

Tucker traversed the dark, silent, and wide crypt passage, aided by a fluorescent wall lamp he had acquired from the Hunter Gang. He transformed it into a "fluorescent horse lamp," which illuminated the relatively narrow passage.

Before long, Tucker encountered two caveman guards clad in thick, grey rock armour. They inspected the "fluorescent lantern" in Tucker's possession and allowed him to pass.

Upon entering the "Crypt Market," he found a multitude of shops offering unique resources from the underground world. Tucker had obtained a considerable amount of valuable items during his recent hunt, including potions and semi-finished materials, which were highly sought after in the underground realm. Extraordinary weapons were also in high demand.

Wearing his fluorescent horse lamp, Tucker began to sell the spoils of his hunt at various stalls. It took approximately two hours before Tucker felt content with his transactions and left the underground market, still carrying the fluorescent lantern.

...

As he navigated a relatively clean underground passage, Tucker reverted to his original appearance. He retrieved a small piece of living wood, which had cost him eight magic gold.

Using his source power to slightly activate his "living wood leather armour," Tucker attached small sections of living wood to it. After a moment, a mouth formed in the living wood leather armour, and it consumed the small piece of living wood with a distinctive chewing sound.

As it digested the living wood, the damaged areas of the living wood leather armour gradually began to heal.

With this process complete, Tucker reactivated the fluorescent lantern and made his way to the surface.

During his visit to the "Crypt Market," Tucker had sold all of the items he had acquired, except for the living wood leather armour and his slightly damaged alchemy robe.

Among those extraordinary storage bracelets, there might be something traceable, and it's best to dispose of it promptly. Tucker even left behind two pieces of extraordinary equipment, which he plans to refurbish before using them again. Selling the combined wealth of two second-level extraordinary beings, one of whom is an alchemist, has yielded a satisfactory harvest – 468 magic gold. This sum, in addition to Eden Gladstone's original magic gold, has pushed Tucker's total well beyond 600. For most extraordinary, this constitutes a significant fortune and provides Tucker with the capital to make strategic investments.

"When I conducted the ritual before, the trajectory led to two areas – the bunker and the tower areas. It's highly improbable that an A-level genius from the Church of the Dark Sun is hiding in the high tower area," Tucker mused. "The bunker area is the more likely location for the genius, while the high tower area... It seems there are members, possibly core members of the Church of the Dark Sun there."

His eyes narrowed. "I entered the high tower through Master Aubrey. If I'm to traverse the high tower, I need to be cautious. Should I encounter them, I'll have to act as though I'm unaware of their identity. The A-level genius didn't complete the steam upgrade during the last Ash Day cycle, and we still have at least half a month, possibly even twenty days, before they're fully prepared."

Tucker continued to map out his strategy. "During this time, I can utilize the extraordinary equipment, treasures, and magic gold I have at my disposal. With these resources, I can at least double my strength. While studying, if I get the opportunity, I can conduct covert reconnaissance in the bunker area, pinpointing their location. If a chance arises, I'll act independently. If not, I may need to seek assistance from Mr. Aubrey."

As Tucker pressed onward, he quietly solidified his plan. His SS-level [Accuracy] provided valuable insight into the potential whereabouts of the Dark Sun Church's A-level geniuses. With time on his side, he could meticulously prepare and gain the upper hand in the coming events.