Sid opened with a staggering offer: five hundred gold coins.
Over the past few days, Gong Qiying had gained a better understanding of the purchasing power of this world's currency.
People mostly used copper and silver coins. Gold coins were reserved for major transactions, and they had considerable purchasing power.
A couple of days ago, he'd rented a shop on the commercial street near the Gourmet Area for a year. Even with renovations and other miscellaneous expenses, it had cost him only a few dozen gold coins.
Five hundred gold coins for a small, mangled piece of Rainbow Fruit seemed like a pretty good deal.
"Add another hundred, and I'll tell you how I avoided the monsters," Gong Qiying said.
"No problem," Sid agreed without hesitation.
He'd really found himself a rich man this time.
A short while later, Gina brought over a check from the Magic Crystal Bank. It could be exchanged for gold coins at any time.
Gong Qiying explained how he'd evaded the monsters and even drew a shortcut map on the spot. He embellished the story with plenty of lucky breaks, making his method sound difficult to replicate.
In reality, it wasn't complicated at all. The monsters in the dungeon wouldn't attack him. He'd simply strolled over to the Rainbow Fruit and torn off a small piece.
But if he didn't make the process sound difficult, how could he capture people's interest?
"You really were lucky," Sid said with a sigh when he finished.
Gong Qiying said nothing. Even the shortcut he'd just drawn was made up. He'd have to alter the map a little when he returned to the dungeon that evening.
Of course, even if he went out of his way to create a shortcut for Sid and the others, it wouldn't make things much easier. At most, it would shorten the route and reduce the number of monsters by one or two compared to elsewhere.
"But luck is part of strength, too. If the Guild forms an expedition team to explore the Rainbow Fruit, I hope you'll join us," Sid said, offering him an opportunity. "Do you have a place in Bed City? It'd be convenient for keeping in touch."
"I actually just rented a shop. I'm planning to sell some items from the dungeon and the like." Gong Qiying wrote down the address and casually slid the paper over to Sid.
"A shop for dungeon items?" Sid glanced at the address and asked offhandedly, "If you've got a shop, why are you still setting up a stall by the roadside?"
"Because advertising works better where there are lots of people."
"Hmm, that's true." Sid nodded. Showing off the treasure in the middle of the street really could draw customers to a shop. It was a common tactic among businesspeople.
But what Gong Qiying actually meant was that he wanted to lure more people into the dungeon to die.
The advertising had already worked. The Rainbow Fruit had shown just how incredibly tempting it was as soon as the box was opened. Anyone who'd smelled its fragrance was probably unable to think of anything but going into the dungeon to explore.
Besides, the commotion Sid had caused by demonstrating high-level magic in the market had overshadowed even the Rainbow Fruit. People would be talking about the mysterious powerhouse who'd shown off his strength there. And why had he shown off his strength? Because of a fruit from Sain Underground City! What kind of fruit could attract the attention of a powerhouse? If only I could get my hands on one...
See? The advertising was already doing its job.
After leaving the Guild, Gong Qiying planned to spread the news that he'd sold a scrap of Rainbow Fruit for the outrageous price of six hundred gold coins, adding fuel to the fire.
The meeting ended with both sides satisfied. With Gina seeing him out, he left the Adventurer's Guild.
A short while later, when Gina returned to the reception room, a sweet fragrance nearly made her lose control of her drooling. Sid had opened the box and was staring at the Rainbow Fruit, deep in thought.
He frowned thoughtfully while swallowing hard. It was quite a funny sight.
"Sir, was it really worth spending six hundred gold coins on a fruit of unknown use, especially when it was only a small piece?"
"It was absolutely worth it."
Sid slowly closed the box and licked his lips, still reluctant to part with the sight. Then he said:
"When I look at it, there's a voice in my head that keeps telling me to eat it. The moment I let my guard down, that voice gets louder. Even using a Calm Spell can't suppress the urge."
"Do you mean..." Gina began, realizing what he was getting at.
"Just the fact that this little piece of fruit can affect my mind so strongly makes it worth the price."
Sid smiled. "Imagine the effects it might have if we used it to make an illusion-type item. I'm looking forward to finding out."
"..."
Watching the old man smile like some kind of mastermind villain, Gina finally couldn't hold back. She spoke in a quiet voice:
"Um, sir, you're drooling."
"What? I was trying so hard to control myself."
"Would you like me to cut off a small piece of Rainbow Fruit for you to try?"
"This is valuable research material. It can't be eaten."
"You don't want to try it?"
"Heh. You're the one who wants to eat it, you little girl. Don't try to tempt me under the pretense of doing it for my sake."
"Are you sure you don't want to try it?"
"..."
"Then I'll take it away."
"Wait. Cut me a little piece."
Sid helplessly covered his forehead. He'd never wanted to eat anything so badly.
Then he remembered what Gong Qiying had said before leaving:
"Rainbow Fruit is sweeter than humans can imagine. If you want to try it, I recommend mixing its juice with water. As for the ratio, one drop of juice should go in an entire swimming pool."
At the time, Sid had scoffed at the remark, thinking Gong Qiying had just been bragging. Now, though, he was starting to have doubts.
He said to Gina:
"Where's the nearest swimming pool? Take me there, and bring along the rest of the Guild. We can make it a get-together."
Later, the Adventurer's Guild in Bed City closed for a day for reasons unknown.
The story went that the staff had drunk so much fruit juice that they'd passed out, and all of them had been taken to the hospital.
But the story was so ridiculous that nobody believed it.
Back to Gong Qiying. He went to the commercial street known as White Whale Street and found the shop he'd rented.
It was neither too big nor too small, just the right size. Located halfway along the commercial street, it had a potion shop on one side and a clothing store on the other. The foot traffic was pretty good.
Prices on this street were a little above average for Bed City. Most of the regulars were adventurers, along with some customers who had money but weren't exactly rich—in other words, the middle class. Ordinary people came by to browse now and then, too.
There hadn't been any vacant shops on this street, but Gong Qiying had happened to arrive just as the owner of this one was urgently trying to sell it. He'd snapped it up.
He could use the shop to sell dungeon specialties and as a way to share information with the outside world.
He wasn't interested in running a business. Opening a shop was just an experiment, so he naturally wouldn't make it his main focus.
The shop was still being renovated, and it would probably take a few more days to finish.
He bought some fruit drinks for the workers. After receiving a chorus of thanks, he found an out-of-the-way corner, dragged over a recliner, and lay down, pretending to fall asleep.
In truth, his consciousness had already returned to the dungeon. He could switch between the bodies of Gong Qiying and Godwyn at any time, and could keep track of what was happening around either body.
It had been pretty hard to get used to at first, and he'd had to learn to accept it little by little.
"Let's see what tricks the adventurers have come up with today."
He looked toward the Gourmet Area, where something unexpected was happening.
Fishing rods, buckets, folding stools.
The Gourmet Area was packed with anglers.
Before you continue