Ch.316Suspiciously wealthy

On the first day of the artifact purchase request, September 3rd.

In front of the potion shop “Wild Rose,” more than 20 adventurers had lined up throughout the day.

This was because the designated transaction location in the request was on the second floor of this building.

“When they asked to rent the second floor for a few days, I wondered what they were planning…”

“Don’t just stand there blankly, Steve. Help me with this. We need to make a temporary menu board to place in front of the shop.”

“Those people came to sell artifacts, not to buy potions, didn’t they?”

“Where do you think adventurers will visit first after selling artifacts and getting money?”

At Rose’s point, Steve smacked his forehead.

For adventurers, potions were not just for healing or detoxification but sometimes the key to victory in battles against powerful monsters.

Rose had already realized that the moment these adventurers came into some money was the perfect opportunity to sell potions.

The artifact transactions were conducted one person at a time.

After a brief introduction and performance demonstration of the item they brought, price negotiations would follow before the sale was completed. Among them were adventurers trying to cheat by claiming, “It’s single-use, so a performance demonstration is impossible.”

Of course, such deception wouldn’t work in front of Jessica, a high-level mage, and Mina, a magical craftsman. Those caught had to sell their items at dirt-cheap prices instead of being reported to the sheriff.

No one complained about being able to sell troublesome magical tools or artifacts at a low price rather than damaging their honor as adventurers or their reputation among peers.

Naturally, those who brought legitimate items were paid fair prices.

To attract the killer’s attention by appealing to having a lot of money, the best approach was to actually spend large sums generously to spread rumors.

However, it was also true that artifacts and magical tools brought to places like this rarely traded at high prices…

“Clothes that adjust their size to fit the wearer… I’ll buy this for 1,000 gold.”

“Come on~ You should give at least 1,500 gold. It’s an item I got after defeating a dungeon boss.”

“It’s a women’s dress, not even unisex. And it’s not even a style that’s trendy among women these days… 1,200.”

“Didn’t you say you’re buying it for research purposes? How about 1,300?”

“Then let’s meet in the middle at 1,250.”

“Deal.”

Most items were priced between 1,000 and 2,000 gold, with even the expensive ones not exceeding 3,000 gold. With the daily budget of 20,000 gold, they were able to acquire a total of 12 artifacts.

The adventurers who participated in the transactions were satisfied with selling their troublesome spoils at decent prices.

Mina was satisfied with obtaining a large amount of research material that she could dismantle without burden.

And Jessica’s parents were satisfied with being able to sell potions to the adventurers who came out after completing their transactions.

“A medal that prevents drunkenness when worn around the neck, lipstick that doesn’t come off unless you kiss someone of the opposite sex, soap that never wears out no matter how much you use it, a blackboard that displays your thoughts as text… there really is everything here.”

“Hmm… they’re certainly interesting items, but I’m not sure if they were worth spending the hefty sum of 20,000 gold.”

“It can’t be helped. Powerful artifacts would be kept by their discoverers, and anything truly valuable would be taken to auction houses even if it meant extra effort. What adventurers like us can sell on the spot is ultimately just this level of items.”

After finishing business, we gathered in the second-floor reception room, examining today’s spoils while having snacks.

As Phyllis and Jessica said, among the artifacts purchased today, those worth using could be counted on one hand.

The rest were, kindly put, interesting toys, or less kindly, junk that wasn’t worth the 20,000 gold spent.

“It’s fine, it’s fine. Since I’m going to use them for artifact dismantling practice anyway, this level is just right and not burdensome.”

Since the person who provided the 20,000 gold budget was saying this, there was no problem.

“Well… now that the sun has set, shall I wander around some dark alleyways?”

“Are you trying to get caught already?”

“That is, if the perpetrator knows I’m buying artifacts.”

For some reason, the perpetrator of this case only took cash and jewels from the victims.

If such a perpetrator knew about my request posted at the Adventurers’ Guild, they wouldn’t hesitate. The longer they waited, the less money they could steal after killing me.

“I think Will can handle himself against the perpetrator even alone… but still, be careful.”

“Yes. I leave the rest to you.”

“Leave it to me. Even if by chance the perpetrator appears targeting Jessica’s mother, I won’t let them lay a finger on her.”

“Don’t get hurt either. I’ll be back.”

After going outside, I first went to the Adventurers’ Guild to update the request content.

I increased the daily artifact purchase amount from 20,000 gold worth to 30,000 gold worth.

“Hey there, mister.”

As I posted the newly written request on the bulletin board, a familiar face tapped my shoulder and greeted me.

It was the hairy male adventurer who had sold me the “soap that never wears out.”

“Ah! You’re the friend who came to sell an artifact earlier today.”

“Business going well?”

“Better than expected. There are more adventurers with artifacts than I thought.”

“Hahaha! That’s right. No matter what anyone says, this is the Western Frontier! It’s different from the depleted Central or Eastern regions!”

Several adventurers in the guild nodded at the hairy man’s hearty laughter.

The adventurers active here must take pride in exploring truly uncharted territories.

If I ride on that pride, appealing that “I have a lot of money” would be a piece of cake.

“Speaking of which, would all of you like to have a drink? I’ll treat you at the restaurant across the street.”

“Oh? Really? That place sells expensive whiskey!”

“How expensive could it be compared to artifacts? I’d be even more grateful if you could teach some survival tips for the Western Frontier to a newcomer who just arrived yesterday.”

“When you put it that way, I can’t just sit still as a senior! Hey everyone! Let’s go!”

“Free drinks! Hahaha!”

Receiving envious glances from the reception desk staff, I led nearly ten adventurers to the restaurant.

~ ~ ~ 2 hours later, near the restaurant ~ ~ ~

‘Had a good drink today, mister! See you next time!’

‘Yes. Be careful not to fall.’

In the middle of the night when few people were out walking.

Tia was hiding at a construction site near the restaurant, watching Will say goodbye to the adventurers and leave.

‘That man is the last target…’

Charles, who had returned to the tent with a flushed face, said that man would have at least tens of thousands of gold.

William J. Kim, a human adventurer.

Charles had given permission to use all remaining jewels if necessary to finish him off for certain.

‘Do you understand, Tia? Kill that adventurer by any means necessary! His wallet contains at least tens of thousands of gold, maybe even over a hundred thousand.’

‘Once we steal that money, we’ll go far to the east and live the rest of our lives in leisure. Then you can quit hunting and fighting, and just do housework and live comfortably.’

While Charles dreamed of a rosy future, Tia simply believed and followed.

Tia, who had been a slave since coming of age, didn’t know how to doubt her master’s words, and that applied to her “current master” Charles as well.

All that was permitted to her was to carry out her master’s orders to the best of her ability.

‘Tap tap’

So Tia runs.

With bare feet covered in wounds, not even wearing shoes, stepping only on places that won’t leave footprints.

She quietly follows Will, who hasn’t even noticed her presence yet.

‘He went into the alley…!’

A person in their right mind wouldn’t enter a deserted back alley in a city where three people had already been killed.

Even if they were confident in their skills as an adventurer, there would be no reason to deliberately put themselves in danger.

Nevertheless, the reason he entered such a dangerous place alone was,

‘His judgment is clouded from drinking.’

It wasn’t unreasonable to think so.

Most of the men who left the restaurant were staggering drunk, and even now, a strong smell of alcohol was coming from Will’s body.

No matter how skilled an adventurer might be, they couldn’t possibly deal with an invisible attack while intoxicated.

‘Whoosh!’

The girl, wrapped in invisibility magic, flies through the air.

Jumping over high-piled materials, stepping on the roof of a half-built building, landing at the corner far ahead of Will, who was walking with a slight stagger.

After confirming once more that there were no witnesses around—

‘Shwik’

She swung her merciless blade toward the nape of the black-haired man passing right in front of her.

She thought it was a perfect ambush that wouldn’t even give him time to react, let alone scream, but—

‘Bang bang bang!!’

What came back was the flash of white magic bullets and the loud sound of three gunshots.

What the sheriff and residents who came running moments later discovered was the black-haired adventurer who had been gaining popularity lately and—

“A Catfolk…!?”

A Catfolk woman who had collapsed with gunshot wounds to her right shoulder, the middle of her abdomen, and her left thigh.