At a roadside stall, hot oil was bubbling and the aroma was irresistible. The owner, a half-orc, was cooking skewers of grilled meat amidst the smoke and flames.
Parker approached the stall, took out 10 bronze coins, and said with practiced ease, "Uncle Newt, 10 regular skewers, extra spicy, please."
"Alright!" The orc shopkeeper, whose clothes were covered in black oil stains, replied and got to work.
"Let's sit here first, I'll talk to you while we eat," Parker said, finding an empty seat.
Gustavo is perfectly acceptable.
The Fairy Puppet and the mechanical puppet sat down, while the Elia puppet and the main body stood; they were too large.
"What kind of copper coin did you just give the boss?" Gustavo asked curiously.
"Victoria Coin comes in three denominations: gold, silver, and copper. One Ta Pound is roughly equivalent to ten gold coins. It's a currency issued by the Victoria Tavern and circulates only within the settlement," Parker explained. "For ordinary residents, the Ta Pound is too expensive; generally, only those with Transcendent use it. Residents like us in the apprentice stage or ordinary people usually only use Victoria Coin in our daily lives."
"After we obtain large denominations of currency such as magic crystals and Ta Pound, we will go to the Victoria Tavern to exchange them for smaller denominations or deposit them, to be withdrawn when needed."
Gustavo suddenly realized.
"And what kind of faction is this Victoria Tavern? Is it the overlord of Jilong Highlands?"
"No, Victoria Tavern is a neutral party, adhering to an absolutely neutral stance and will not participate in factional conflicts. They are purely a commercial organization..."
Although Parker wasn't particularly strong, he had extensive knowledge of the situation on the Jilong Highlands.
Gustavo asked him about various things, and the boy answered without hesitation, even offering his own insights.
Through Parker's description, Gustavo gained a basic understanding of the entire Jilong Highlands.
Jilong Highlands is a medium-sized settlement, a melting pot of different groups, but only three forces are openly considered the most powerful.
Demon Eye, Steam Church, Victoria Tavern.
The two are in conflict with each other, one occupying the East District and the other occupying the West District.
The Victoria Tavern, however, remained aloof from their conflict, situated in the center of the highlands, and engaged in businesses such as currency exchange, fund storage, procurement of supplies, and intelligence sales.
Moreover, according to Parker, the Victoria Tavern is not unique to Jilong Highlands; other settlements also seem to have this force's influence.
The meat skewers were quickly made, sizzling with oil and covered with a layer of bright red chili powder.
Parker picked up a skewer, took a big bite, and ate it with relish.
"You should try some too. The meat skewers here are pretty good. If you don't like the regular meat, you can pay extra to have the owner grill some Transcendent meats for you," Parker said, his cheeks puffed out as he chewed on a meatball.
Gustavo raised an eyebrow, reached out his small hand, grabbed a skewer of meat, and started eating it.
The meatballs burst with rich aroma as they enter your mouth; one bite releases a burst of juice, a delightful blend of chili powder and other spices—simply divine.
Gustavo's pupils gradually widened. Since his rebirth, he had never eaten anything so delicious, although in terms of quality and nutrition, it couldn't compare to monster meat.
But this stuff tastes delicious!
"Not bad, not bad." Gustavo quickly finished one skewer, grabbed another, ate it in a few bites, and reached for another.
Parker smiled at the sight and waved, saying, "Boss, another 20 skewers, please."
The magic crystal the golden fairy gave him was worth 10 Ta Pound, enough to fill several boxes of Victoria copper coins, so the boy certainly wouldn't be stingy.
"Don't your friends eat?"
"They don't like to eat meat," Gustavo said vaguely.
"Oh." Parker nodded, saying nothing more. Growing up in this environment, the boy had long since learned a lesson: know when to stop.
One hour later.
Hundreds of wooden skewers were laid out on the table. The Fairy Puppet's belly was round and full, while Parker stopped after eating 12 skewers.
The boy dared not eat too much, otherwise it would affect his physical agility. He could best maintain his fighting ability by being in a semi-starved state. This was an experience that Parker had learned from repeated bloody lessons.
"Kid, since you brought me here for some skewers, here's your dagger. See you again someday." Gustavo casually waved his hand, and a black dagger flew out and landed on the table.
This dagger is a common, one-star item.
Although Parker is not Transcendent, his strength is roughly at the level of Advanced Knight Apprentice, so possessing this equipment is not excessive.
"This... thank you." Parker hesitated for a moment, but ultimately couldn't resist the temptation of the new weapon.
After carefully putting the dagger away, he glanced around, his expression darkening slightly; he realized he was being watched.
Although those targeting him are not strong and none are officially recognized Transcendent, they are still causing him some trouble.
However, Parker couldn't bring himself to refuse the dagger.
With this weapon, his combat power can be increased by 50%.
Gustavo was certainly aware of the "hyenas" lurking around him, but he paid them no heed.
Whether Parker lives or dies is none of his business.
He gave the dagger simply because the little guy had taken him to a nice roadside stall, where he was very satisfied with the food, and he was just casually tipping him.
Whether or not to accept it is the boy's own business.
Anyway, he won't take back what he's given away.
However, what impressed Gustavo was that the boy never asked him for help, showing great integrity and principle.
"Not bad, little guy. I hope you survive." Gustavo smiled to himself and left the roadside stall.
After the Black Spider Squad left, more hostile gazes appeared around them.
Parker picked up the dagger, smiled coldly, and got up to leave.
One after another, greedy "hyenas" followed closely behind. A dagger that was just a tip to Gustavo was an absolute treasure to most people in the Jilong Highlands, worth fighting to the death for.
In the center of Jilong Highlands, a continuous cluster of wooden buildings stands side by side, their beautiful and grand appearance contrasting sharply with the chaos and filth of the surrounding settlements, making them seem out of place.
The Black Spider Squad arrived at the tavern, paid their magic crystals, and entered.