About ten minutes earlier.
Inside the Golden City's sewers.
Shi Lei, who had been concentrating on recovering from his injuries, suddenly grew alert. He sensed something approaching, and cautiously at that. He turned to look, his hand already gripping his brand-new saber, ready to spring up and cut down the intruder at any moment.
But that person...
Shi Lei's expression turned odd, because the newcomer did not look like someone from the Radiant Holy Church.
The figure wore gold silk robes and a golden crown studded with enormous gems. He glittered gold from head to toe, matching the Golden City's sewers perfectly.
But Shi Lei knew better. After coming into contact with it, he had realized that the city was not made of gold at all, but brass or a similar alloy. It was actually just a flashy imitation meant to fool people.
The newcomer seemed rather apprehensive and showed no intention of approaching. He even raised his hands outright. They were skeletal hands, with three or four gemstone rings of different colors on every finger, each gem as large as a goose egg. He looked filthy rich-tackiness taken to its extreme became stylish.
He seemed to harbor no hostility and was somewhat afraid of Shi Lei.
Only after confirming that Shi Lei had not immediately hacked him down did he breathe a sigh of relief and start beckoning to him instead.
"Are you... the Treasure Collector?"
Shi Lei guessed at his identity, but since this was his first encounter with a Collector, he was somewhat unsure.
The other party immediately nodded, nearly sending his golden crown tumbling to the ground. He hurriedly steadied it, then gestured for Shi Lei to follow him.
Shi Lei followed while keeping his guard up. His injuries were already halfway healed, and he wanted