First Trade

First Trade

Outside the abandoned inn by the North Peak Mine, five ox-drawn covered wagons stood beside a muddy road overgrown with weeds.

Several fierce-looking men climbed down from the wagons and carried crate after crate of goods into the stable behind the inn. Then they dragged several sacks of money out from the haystacks.

Jack waited anxiously beside the wagons. The moment one of his men approached, he immediately asked,

"How much did they pay?"

"We just finished counting... fifty thousand Os Silver Coins in total," the man said, drenched in sweat.

For some reason, that necromancer had paid entirely in coins, and loose ones at that.

The Os Empire had issued dozens of versions of silver coins, each with different sizes and silver content.

Copper Coins were even worse. Because they were widely used among civilians, the Os Empire had long since ceded the minting rights for copper coins to local authorities. As a result, not only did the Os Empire mint them, so did the Ryan Kingdom, and even Grand Duke Campbell.

While counting the money, he had actually found a sixth-edition silver coin minted in the early First Era! Wasn't that thing practically an antique by now?!

Jack did not care whether the other party paid in banknotes or coins. In the end, he would either deposit it in a bank or exchange it for gold bars anyway.

Hearing that the amount was what he had expected, he finally breathed a sigh of relief. The weight in his heart was lifted as well.

On one hand, he was glad that the esteemed necromancer truly wanted to do business with him rather than simply extort him.

On the other hand, he was glad that he had restrained that fleeting greed and had not tried to cheat that lord by cutting corners on the equipment quality.

Fifty thousand Os Silver Coins was exactly five percent above the market price.

Clearly, this necromancer lord understood Thunder City's prices! After deducting procurement and transportation costs, he could make around a twenty-five percent profit. That was enough to justify the risks he had taken.

If nothing unexpected happened, he could keep this business going for a long time!

Just as Jack was thinking this, he suddenly spotted a man carrying a greatsword beneath a crooked tree in the distance.

Though the man wore a cloak and the hood's brim covered nearly his entire face, Jack could still tell that it was Bond.

At least, half of him was.

After their eyes met, Bond turned around and headed toward the mine.

Knowing that the necromancer was summoning him, Jack gave a bitter smile.

Though he was unwilling in every possible way, he still handed matters here over to his men and followed after him alone, gritting his teeth.

At the mine entrance, Bond stopped.

Before the necromancer could speak, Jack respectfully lowered his head like a truly devout believer.

"Mr. Leon, what are your orders?"

Just like last time, the mysterious necromancer did not reveal his true face. Instead, he chose to speak through the zombie.

"Was that money enough?"

"Enough, more than enough." Jack nodded repeatedly and continued, "When will you need the next batch of goods?"

"Three days from now." Bond spoke in a hoarse voice, then suddenly changed the subject. "By the way, you're a Bronze-level warrior?"

Jack froze for a moment. He did not know why the necromancer was suddenly asking this, but he still nodded.

"Yes... why?"

Bond continued asking.

"Do you know any combat techniques?"

Jack nodded nervously.

"Yes, a few... but only the most basic ones."

Ever since becoming the Viper Gang's leader, he had not fought outside for a long time. The few tricks he knew were all things he had learned back when he was an adventurer.

In the Underground Street, Extraordinary Power had limited use.

After all, anyone truly capable was either an honored guest of a lord or had joined Saint Siss's knight orders. They would never mingle with lowlifes like them.

Jack did not know why this lord was suddenly asking about him.

Just as he was wondering, he heard words that made his heart pound wildly.

"Cut me."

The instant he heard that, Jack's legs went weak, and his expression looked worse than crying.

"Honored necromancer... have I offended you somehow?"

Bond stared at him and frowned.

"Offended me? You're overthinking it. I just want to see how you people fight... draw your sword. Stop dawdling."

Seeing that the zombie before him had already drawn its greatsword, Jack silently prayed bitterly to Lord Demon Lord while forcing down his fear and drawing the one-handed sword at his waist.

Bond held the greatsword horizontally before himself and repeated Lord Demon Lord's command in a hoarse voice.

"Very good. Strike me with your strongest attack... move quickly. If you still don't act, I'll be the one making the first move."

"I'll do it! I'll do it!"

Jack hurriedly took up an offensive stance, drew a deep breath, focused his mind, circulated the Extraordinary Power throughout his body, and gathered it at the tip of his blade. He desperately tried to recall the combat technique he had nearly forgotten.

Meanwhile, in the shadows of the mine.

Leon held a Recording Crystal in his right hand, recording while using the Eye of True Sight to observe the flow of Extraordinary Power through Jack's body.

In this world, warriors were mainly divided into two types.

One was the Temple Faction, while the other was the Dragon God Faction.

The former mainly consisted of Holy Knights, Templar Knights, inquisitors, and others loyal to the temples. They relied on the power bestowed by Saint Siss and fought beneath the radiance of holy light.

The latter used combat techniques said to have been passed down from the mythological age—the First Era. They imitated dragons in wielding the power known as qi in battle!

As for Magic Swordsmen, magic archers, magic lancers, and the like, those were considered unconventional.

Before learning about the other side of this world, Leon had always regarded qi as a special form of energy existing within the human body.

However, after hearing You You's explanation, he had gained a new understanding of this power he had yet to master.

Whether qi, elemental power, or other Extraordinary Power... they were all essentially the same thing! It had no tangible form and normally could not even be observed, yet it truly existed throughout this planet and even throughout the universe! It did not merely exist.

It could sense and respond to the spiritual energy emitted by conscious beings, manifesting it into observable objects.

At first, people merely used it to light a fire, pray for a drop of dew, or pluck an apple from a tree.

Later, people desired more. Gradually, they tried gathering everyone's Spiritual Power to create Gods, then used the hands of those Gods to regulate and concentrate the use of Extraordinary Power.

Rather than having each individual imagine raindrops of different shapes, it was better to gather everyone's strength and create a satisfying downpour.

After gathering everyone's strength, people gradually discovered that this tremendous power could do far more than bring rain or burn down a city.

If they wished, they could, in the name of Gods, bring the sun down to earth, ensure the moon never rose again, let good people be reborn into good families in their next lives, turn people into beasts, or grant eternal life—

They could even continue writing the laws the Creator had left unfinished! "Aaaah!"

Having finally finished charging up, Jack stepped forward and fiercely swung the blade in his hand.

An invisible blade shot forth along the sword's edge, slashing toward Bond with the force to cut through everything.

Just as Leon had expected.

It was neither a shockwave from an explosion nor some sort of compressed gas released afterward! It was pure Extraordinary Power known as qi!

Or rather, it was the power system known as the Dragon God Faction, created by the dragon race's Gods!

Even with the buff Leon had applied, Bond had nearly exhausted all his strength to take that blow head-on. An index-finger-thick mark had even been left on the steel greatsword!

Leon was secretly astonished. He had not expected this man, who looked cowardly as hell, to possess such strength.

What Leon did not know was that Jack was even more astonished at that moment—utterly shocked, in fact.

Though he was no peerless master, he had still been Bronze-level for many years.

As far as he remembered, no opponent of the same level had ever taken this move, "Execution," head-on! Most either leaped backward to widen the distance and watched him strike the ground, never gave him the chance to use it at all, or jabbed him several times to force him to abandon his charge.

Could it be...

Did the zombie summoned by this necromancer also possess Steel-level strength?! Then just how terrifying was this necromancer?!

Jack felt his head buzzing.

He was a crude man with little education. He had only ever lived in Thunder City's Underground Street, and his understanding of Necromantic Spells went no further than the exaggerated stories told by his card-playing buddies.

"Not bad... passable."

Leon, controlling Bond, expressionlessly gave that calm evaluation as he planted the greatsword into the ground. Then he continued,

"What is this move called?"

"We usually call it Execution." Jack panted heavily, cautiously glanced at the greatsword, and said nervously, "Sorry... can I compensate you with another one?"

Such a large steel greatsword was not cheap.

A quarter of his profits had just vanished, and Jack's heart ached. He could only comfort himself by treating it as an investment in goodwill.

Compared to that,

being targeted by the necromancer was far more terrifying.

Leon did not refuse. He controlled Bond to silently nod, then continued,

"How is this move used? Is there some chant or trick to it?"

Most Temple Faction combat techniques required the user to shout out the skill, much like chanting a spell.

However, he had heard that Dragon God Faction skills did not require chants. One only needed to use the qi-manipulation methods the Dragon God had taught its followers.

Jack scratched the back of his head, thought for a moment, and said,

"There isn't really any chant... anyway, the friend who taught me this move said that you just gather qi on the blade, then swing with all your strength."

Leon took out a palm-sized mirror from his pocket and glanced at You You. Seeing her manifest a thumbs-up, he put away both the mirror and the Crystal Ball.

You You's answer told him that these clues were enough.

At the same time, Bond, standing with his sword in hand, nodded at Jack and said,

"Very well. You may leave."

Seeing that the necromancer had finally spared him, Jack sighed in relief, as though a thousand-pound burden had been lifted from his shoulders.

Looking at Bond standing motionless at the mine entrance, he could not resist asking out of curiosity,

"Honored Mr. Leon, may I ask... what do you intend to do with this knowledge? Ah, please don't misunderstand. I have no intention of prying into your private affairs. I only mean that if you are interested in how adventurers fight, I can bring you some related books and Recording Crystals next time."

Leon: "Experiments."

The moment he heard that word, Jack immediately shut his mouth and nervously did not dare say another word.

Experiments.

He did not want to know what kind of experiments a necromancer conducted.

However, this lord showed great interest in his materials.

"Remember to bring me a copy of those materials along with the next batch of goods."

After a pause, Leon controlled Bond and continued,

"And that greatsword."

"Understood! I will certainly keep it in mind!"

Jack nodded slightly, a flattering smile on his face as he respectfully withdrew.

"It is my honor to ease your burdens!"

Meanwhile, One Leaf Knows Autumn, who had just received his "compensation for keeping the Demon Lord company," stood at the counter of the only NPC shop in the Demon Lord Territory, browsing through its wares.

At present, only he and Hu Wan could afford to shop there.

Long Xing Wan Li watched from the side, jealous as hell.

Unfortunately,

there were too few people on the server right now. Otherwise, he would directly buy Hell Money at a one-to-one rate.

Where there was a hefty reward, brave men would surely emerge. He refused to believe anyone could resist the temptation and refuse to sell to him.

Just as One Leaf Knows Autumn was debating whether to exchange for a steel spear as his next weapon or save up and wait for the development team to remember to put Magic Wands into the shop, a dark green notification suddenly appeared before his eyes.

A.0.3 Update: Skill System!

He was obviously not the only one to receive that notification.

In that instant—

The entire Demon Lord Territory erupted!