Chapter 9 Silver Market

Heine briefly recounted the tough journey he had embarked on to study and repay debts before returning to the Bone Burial Ground.

Including summoning skeletons, but he didn't go into great detail.

He mentioned these only to solidify Hunter Jettile's identity as a villain; he was not prepared to fully answer Donald's questions.

Why was it so coincidental that the timing of the Holy Light Judgment and Hunter's attack?

Why indeed?

Because Hunter was a mole for Eternal Dawn!

Heine was now aware of the existence of Eternal Dawn and understood Donald's beliefs, as well as foresaw the future of the Makala region.

He knew that the Holy Light was about to purge this place—with deliberately created evil, invasion could also be packaged as the rescue of justice.

But he could not speak of it.

This was not a person's impulsive idea, it was the momentum of history, the inertia of the powerful, and rash attempts to stop it would only result in being crushed to pieces.

So he chose to transform the questions he could not answer into those he could, and answer them perfectly.

"Hmph..."

Donald scoffed:

"If Hunter Jettile is as powerful and ruthless as you say, I really can't imagine that a skeleton summoned by a student spooked by the Bone Burial Ground could so easily kill him.

"I'm somewhat familiar with Necromancers. A weak skeleton servant summoned by an 'apprentice' Necromancer couldn't even handle a healthy hunting dog, let's not joke, mister."

See, there it was!

Heine smiled and said, "Would you like to try it out?"

"What?"

"Questioning my undead servant is questioning me as a Necromancer. I request a duel with you."

"Ha?" Donald laughed in disbelief. "Why should I duel with you?"

"I inherited my father's title of knighthood; I have that right."

Heine was already taking off his gloves—specifically worn for this satisfying moment.

Little George hurriedly tried to stop Heine; this guy had been holding back his laughter from the start.

"Mr. Donald is of advanced age; he obviously cannot participate in a duel. How about this, in three days I will host a hunt as a prelude to the Charity Festival. I will invite both of you to decide the winner by the number of game, does that sound acceptable?"

Heine willingly agreed, and Donald, though with a darkened face, also consented.

...

After breakfast at the Viscount's mansion, Heine prepared to visit a market specifically for adventurers.

The Silver Market.

Upon hearing his destination, the Viscount handed him a badge.

"This signifies you are my guest."

This was one of the rewards for handing over those land deeds and documents.

A good portion of Gale's land was located at the Haunted Farm; he didn't say to whom he'd leave it, but he wrote to the Viscount, the implication was clear.

Heine was very sensible; he would not meddle unnecessarily.

At least not for now.

He first quietly browsed the market.

It was bustling with noise, with shrewd traders speaking their jargon, little kids who were big troublemakers, beggars and pickpockets, and mysterious adventurers with concealed identities—all perfectly matched Heine's imagination of adventure.

He was very satisfied but did not participate too much.

The waters here were too deep, even the local lord couldn't fully control them.

He only purchased a full-coverage helmet, a red mask that covered the head, and some calming potions before hastily returning.

The next day, he fully disguised his two skeletons.

Zhuo Yang wore the helmet and donned Heine's winter gear, with bones interlinked and wrapped, slung across the back.

He complained he looked like an out-of-place deserter, while Teacher Xia resembled a thief who stole landmines, even wearing a conspicuous red headscarf.

"Even though I knew he was taking us out, the guy's aesthetic is downright criminal."

Yet Teacher Xia was not upset; in fact, he loved the red mask that Heine bought.

He was even more excited than Brother Yang when he got the new outfit.

"This guy gets me so much!! How does he know me this well!"

"Come on, it's just an ordinary mask..."

"You don't get it! The material of this mask is Soluble Blood Hemp, a specialty of the Makala region, perfectly suited for the Bloody Pirate outfit. Too bad by the time the equipment phantom feature was unlocked, the Makala region was gone, and it became a collector's item! I have collected at least 60 varieties of masks that don't match the outfit; do you know how frustrating that is?!"

"...I really don't get you appearance enthusiasts."

"True, we can't compare with you guys, your skills are either a Great Treasure Sword or big wings, what else do you need in appearance."

"Ah, right, right..."

That sounded about right. Yesterday something seemed off, and it was the lack of someone bickering in his ear.

Listening to their everyday banter, Heine drove back to the Silver Market.

Entering the market as conspicuously as he did made him look like a rich, naïve newcomer, and nearly the entire street of beggars rushed towards him.

"Sir, let me hold your horse for you!"

"Sir, sir, where are you heading, do you need someone to show you the way?"

"Sir, I know all the merchants on this street!"

Heine snapped his fingers and a green ghoulish puff of smoke suddenly appeared, scaring the young beggars out of their wits, and they scattered in an instant.

Summoning a ghostly face was merely a trick, nothing to boast about, but it was still a form of spellcasting.

Soon, a guard came over to warn Heine that spellcasting was forbidden on this street.

However, after seeing his badge, the guard's demeanor softened considerably.

"Sir, next time, please let us handle such matters for you."

Heine, well versed in the troubles of the service industry, tossed a silver coin and received an even more heartfelt smile in return.

Politely declining the guard's generous offer to accompany him, the carriage first stopped at a shop called "Defense Focused."

He had purchased a helmet there the day before, and seeing the shopkeeper's enthusiastic greeting, he knew he had been overcharged.

"Sir, what are you looking for this time?"

Heine didn't beat around the bush, lifting his hand to point at the shiny silver suit of full body armor.

"How much for this?"

"You have quite the discerning eye!"

The shopkeeper's eyes lit up as he fervently started his pitch.

Teacher Xia: "This guy's crazy, right? That thing has no stats, only a magic crafter would buy it to reforge it. Who else would wear that?"

"You're wrong there. We also had our fair share of deception from NPCs before we learned our lesson. You have to pay the tuition fee. Plus, the strength of this armor is enough, better armored than naked. I think you're just jealous."

"Brother Yang, are you buttering him up because you'll be wearing that thing?"

"Yes."

"You're really something..."

"Of course, honesty is one of the knight's virtues."

Listening to this, Heine had a good idea of the situation.

He interrupted the shopkeeper's endless boasting: "How much?"

"8 Gold coins, I initially wanted to ask for 10 Gold Coins, but as you are a distinguished guest of the lord..."

"80 silver coins," Heine offered.

The shopkeeper as if in disbelief: "What?"

"I come from the Bone Burial Ground, I've handled orders for your place before, you understand what I mean, right?"

He had seen this shop in Gale's accounts; the bulk purchase price was 60 silver coins a set, not including a helmet.

Probably due to the influence of magic, metals products in this world were very cheap.

The expensive part was the enchantment.

All enchantments were exorbitantly priced.

Hearing this, the shopkeeper's expression collapsed in an instant.

He replied somewhat despairingly:

"The lowest I can go is 1 Gold Coin, the tax office... in any case, selling to the academy is not the same as selling to you."

"Alright."

Watching Heine haggle casually, both onlookers were dumbfounded.

"This guy... seems like he won't have to pay a tuition fee."

"Maybe this is the wisdom of a native."

...

Having left that store, Heine headed straight for the "Magic Leather" shop he had picked out the day before.

Deerskin boots enchanted with a slight aura of agility

A cloak enchanted with a slight protection of the jungle

Chain mail enchanted with a slight magic resistance

The three pieces of equipment cost him 16 Gold Coins, halving Heine's fortune in an instant.

He had also taken a liking to a green hunter's cap, but unfortunately Teacher Xia shouted like a man slaughtering a pig behind him, "I don't want that," so he regretfully inquired about the price and then expressed his disappointment.

That green cap was priced at 20 Gold Coins...

The Half-Elf shopkeeper was indifferent, and both did not comment on the price.

The prices of magic equipment were never deceptive because there was no need for that.

As he left the shop, Heine heard Teacher Xia let out a long sigh of relief.

But at the same time, he regretfully said:

"It's a pity, having come to the Silver Market, we can't suggest he take on the 'Scorpion Tail Needle' quest. That Magic Hand Crossbow would be useful for quite a while."

Here it was!

The thing he had been longing for had finally arrived!