Chapter 3: Re-entry
Chapter 3: Re-entry
This was a cramped, standalone bedroom with a sturdy door secured by iron railings on both sides. Cobwebs in the corners, dust on the floor, and abandoned oil lamps all indicated that no one had lived here for a long time.
At one moment, the empty space in the center of the room rippled like the surface of water, and a figure stepped across, appearing silently.
It was Karl! Holding a broadsword, he cautiously surveyed his surroundings before slowly approaching the door and lifting the iron railing.
"Screech..."
The rusty gate grated against the floor, emitting a faint sound that halted his movement momentarily.
'I really don't want to be here!'
Stepping out of the room, he looked up at the sky, his rationality slipping away, and his mood sinking.
The hazy smog obscured the sun and the sky, making it hard to tell whether it was day or night.
He could barely make out a shattered crimson star hanging in the sky, unchanging from beginning to end.
It was like this every time he came.
The 'moon' of this world didn't move with the passage of time and had even usurped the sun's authority.
The shattered crimson moon and the unchanging starry sky were clear signs that he was no longer in his original world.
The gloom and darkness weren't limited to the sky; there was also a pervasive aura seeping into his body at all times.
This was Black City, a place abundant in blackstone.
The numerous spire towers, stone buildings, and elaborate carvings suggested that Black City had once been prosperous.
Moreover, the standard of living for ordinary people was even higher than in Signo City.
However, with the discovery of blackstone veins underground, the city gradually transformed into a mining town.
The wealthy had long since fled.
Those who stayed became miners, not only enduring hard labor but also enduring the invasion of the underground Yin Qi. Their lives were uncertain day to day.
Karl tightened his grip on his broadsword and proceeded forward. After just a few steps, his eyes narrowed at a sight in the middle of the road: a dead animal, possibly a wolf or a dog, lay there, surrounded by buzzing flies feasting on its flesh.
- Despite it being just a corpse, Karl remained vigilant, circling around it before continuing on his way.
Along the road, gaping, menacing rifts appeared like scars on the earth's surface.
These rifts, according to rumors, were caused by excessive mining, distorting the once-smooth ground into a rugged landscape.
The rifts exhaled smog, alternating between scorching heat and chilling cold. Even a slight exposure could make ordinary people severely ill, so it was best to avoid them.
There were also abandoned pits, dark holes leading deep underground.
The deserted alleys and desolate houses seemed to harbor strange creatures, lurking and observing the living outside.
Karl tensed up, moving quickly and quietly forward. After crossing two blocks, he could see his destination in the distance.
"Phew..."
He breathed a sigh of relief and, at the gesture of two men in black, sheathed his broadsword, walking into a bustling street filled with people.
Laka Market.
A marketplace in the above-ground district of Black City.
"Rat meat, fresh and not rotten! Half a blackstone for a portion!"
"High-quality Calian longswords! Sharp and lightweight, the best choice for slaying those half-dead creatures..."
"Filtered water! Ten liters for just one blackstone, guaranteed free of impurities..."
The vendors' shouts filled the air, their enthusiasm tinged with despair.
The living conditions in Black City were incredibly harsh. Mining had polluted the underground water sources, and food was severely scarce. Except for the higher-ranking mine supervisors, few could afford fresh food.
Even rotten meat was a luxury for most.
"Colom!"
Karl approached a familiar stall and crouched down, asking:
"Last time, you mentioned a way to obtain the Breath Technique?"
Even though these were two different worlds, there were many similarities, including language, the Breath Technique, and even written scripts.
Perhaps, a long time ago, these two worlds had some form of contact.
"It's you." Colom had a lean figure, one of his eyes pecked out by a raven, leaving him with an eyepatch all day.
Recognizing the person, he grinned, revealing a mouthful of decayed teeth. The nauseating breath made Karl instinctively lean back.
"The Breath Technique is the key for ordinary people to become Knights, right? Any family with a legacy wouldn't just sell it, would they?"
"Yes."
Karl's expression remained unchanged as he placed the milk pail on the ground.
"Fresh milk!"
"Gulp..." Colom's throat rumbled, and he unconsciously licked the corner of his mouth. Leaning forward, he whispered with a squint, "My friend, you always manage to get good stuff. I can't even remember when I last drank fresh milk."
"But..."
He shook his head and sighed.
"The person who has the Breath Technique in their hands isn't after these things."
"Oh!"
Karl frowned.
"What do they want?"
"Shh..." Colom leaned forward and spoke softly, "A way out of Black City."
"Karl, you can get fresh milk, so you're not an ordinary person. Can you help someone escape Black City?"
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"Heh..." Karl rolled his eyes.
"What do you think?"
"The reason I can get food is different. If they were truly of high status, would they come to you for the Breath Technique?"
Colom fell silent.
Indeed, those of true high status would never lack the Breath Technique.
After a pause, he spoke, "Butterfly Lady's caravan will set off in half a month. To join her caravan, you'll need two thousand pieces of Blackstone."
"This is the only way I know to leave Black City."
"Two thousand Blackstone?" Karl's expression darkened. He didn't have any Blackstone, and he shook his head firmly, "I can't provide that."
"Then there's no way." Colom spread his hands, "I wanted to make this deal too, but that person only wants to leave Black City and isn't interested in food. There's really no way."
"Hmmph!"
Karl hummed lightly and picked up the milk pail, ready to leave.
"Wait!"
Colom reached out and stopped him, whispering, "I'll show you something good."
He took out a metal sleeve tube from behind his back and, after some fiddling, it made a clicking sound.
"Do you recognize this?"
"A sleeve arrow?"
Karl spoke with some uncertainty.
"Yes!"
Colom nodded vigorously.
"Friend, you're indeed not an ordinary person. Only some nobles know about this, and I got it with great difficulty."
"This set of sleeve arrows was made by a master craftsman. It can be adjusted to fit the arm perfectly. Inside are three arrows. Within seven steps, even a Knight Attendant would find it hard to dodge. If poisoned, it could even kill a Knight."
"In addition to the three arrows that come with the sleeve arrows, I'll also give you six more as a gift. You can replace them when you run out."
Karl's eyes lit up.
He dared not think about killing a Knight, but being able to deal with a Knight Attendant was enough for him.
"Of course."
Colom grinned, "To get this, one bucket of milk isn't enough."
Karl didn't waste words. He took out five pounds of salted meat from his body and pointed at a grand clock on the stall.
"I want this."
"No problem."
Colom was excited, "Good eye, friend. I got this grand clock from a noble's estate. It's coated with a layer of gold."
"What a pity!"
He sighed, "A few decades ago, this would have been worth a lot of money. Now, it's not as valuable as filtered water."
Karl smiled.
He was interested in the gold plating on the grand clock. Even without the gold, it could be considered a work of art.
The grand clock's intricate craftsmanship, gears, and engravings had a unique aesthetic. In another world, it might fetch a good price.
(End of Chapter)
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