“Boss, three bottles of Star Dream! Quick!”
“Any more Moonshadow Blessing potions? Any left?”
“Dylan, I’ve been waiting forever!”
The moment Puchi House opened today, a flood of customers poured in shouting for various potions. Dylan was swamped; this was definitely abnormal.
Several potions sold here were special elven recipes, irreplaceable for adventurers who needed them. Even at high prices, business had always been good.
But never like this: a mob like old ladies fighting for eggs, nearly breaking down the door.
The reason was news from the western front: the west ravaged by demons, Threehill City on the brink.
Bianca struggled to part the crowd, hugging a maid Puchi to keep it from being trampled.
Soon even she was squeezed dizzy, only able to carve out space for the Puchi.
A warrior in armor passed behind her. Hard plate bumped her head.
As she stumbled forward, a strong hand steadied her shoulder.
“You okay, little waitress?” Vera, in light armor, used his arm to shield her and the Puchi from the crowd.
“Th-thank you, Vera.” Vera was a regular; Bianca recognized him.
Dylan noticed the commotion and shouted over the crowd, “Stop shoving! We’re sold out! You almost hurt my waitress!”
“What? Already gone?”
“Even here it’s sold out so fast…”
Amid disappointed murmurs, the crowd gradually left Puchi House.
Only then did Dylan have time to thank Vera. “Vera, thanks.”
“No big deal…” Vera glanced at the empty potion cabinet, shrugged disappointedly, and headed out.
Dylan called after him. “What potion did you want? Wind Whisperer brew?”
Vera’s eyes lit up. “Yes! And Verdant Whisper too!”
Dylan rummaged under the counter and pulled out two bottles of each. “That’s all.”
“Enough, enough!” Vera counted silver coins and carefully stowed the potions in his belt.
“Vera, heading west?” Dylan suddenly asked.
“Why do you ask?”
“Right now people stockpiling potions are either fleeing east or fighting west.” Dylan tidied the messy counter. “You don’t strike me as the fleeing type.”
Vera nodded. “The demon raiding parties are gone, but scattered demons are still wrecking havoc. We adventurers can’t change the war, but clearing small demon groups is within our power.”
“Be careful,” Dylan said, looking at the likable young man. “Keep an eye on Threehill City news. Don’t throw your life away.”
Vera waved and left Puchi House.
Dylan had warned him about Threehill City for a simple reason: as the last western bastion, if it fell, the entire west would be abandoned. Adventurers like Vera would have to flee west immediately to survive.
After leaving Puchi House, Vera walked the cobblestone streets toward the Adventurers’ Guild to meet his team.
Passing the “Lucky Coin” casino, a commotion erupted.
Two figures were roughly thrown out, crashing to the ground.
One unfamiliar wanderer lay face-down, frantically slapping himself while muttering “I deserve to die.”
The other was a familiar face…
“Please! At least return my Puchi!” Horn clung to a casino thug’s leg, tears and snot streaming. “I swear I’ll earn money with the Puchi and pay back immediately!”
The thug kicked him away impatiently. “Want back what you lost? Borrow from your gambling buddies!”
Vera quietly looked away and quickened his pace around the farce.
Not that he didn’t want to help Horn, but real help meant making him quit gambling. Vera wasn’t that free. He could only wish him luck.
The Adventurers’ Guild entrance was packed. A crowd surrounded the latest Puchi master recruitment notice.
Bold letters advertised generous benefits, stamped with official seals.
Vera found his teammates a short distance from the board.
Vera had gotten potions. Fiyin bought casting materials. Cirian shrugged sheepishly; swarmed by male adventurers, he hadn’t managed to buy any.
Filing finally emerged from the guild, waving a parchment. “Perfect! Escort Puchis to Goldvalley City mission!”
Since fungal-mat Puchis were highly random, though the front could breed locally, unified, commandable Puchis still needed screening and transport from the rear.
Clearly an official mission.
After showing the quest sheet, Filing suddenly remembered. “Right, I wanted to ask Lord Aidin about his friend’s name too, but the staff said Lord Aidin left for the front long ago.”
Vera nodded. A bit regretful to miss again, but he understood.
In this crisis, everyone was doing their part. No one wanted to watch imperial boots trample the United Kingdom.
“Did you ask which direction Lord Aidin went? Maybe near Goldvalley City too?”
“No, they said Redstone City.”
“Redstone City… wait, isn’t that…”
“The city Silver Thorn team won, south of Threehill City with a fortress in between.”
Fiyin added, “Thinking about it now, ‘winning a city’ in these chaotic times… not sure if it’s good or bad…”
The world changed too fast. Who could have predicted?
The group fell silent, quietly packing for the new journey.
…
Meanwhile, Redstone City lord’s mansion.
Silver Thorn team captain Nova respectfully welcomed Aidin into his office.
The courtesy wasn’t just for Aidin’s diamond-tier strength, but more because Aidin came as special envoy of Duke’s daughter Inanna.
After they sat, Aidin pulled out a magic device covered in complex runes and activated it in front of Nova.
Nova looked puzzled but didn’t interrupt.
As the device activated, silver-gray mist poured out, spreading along the walls, soon enveloping the room in flowing fog.
“Veil of Obscuration. Completely blocks external detection,” Aidin explained proactively.
This only confused Nova more. “So Lady Inanna sent you for…”
Aidin met Nova’s eyes and said word by word, “For the Heartwood of Genesis fragment in your possession.”
“You…!”
(End of Chapter)
