Chương 29: Black Market

The man with the hooked nose was named Sawyer.

He was a corrupt sorcerer and apothecary, as well as a minor boss in charge of the black market for the Black Hand in Phoenix.

With the aforementioned identity, he frequently sold drugs such as sleeping powder, ecstasy, or aphrodisiac spores.

However, the potent version specifically for professionals, requiring twenty doses at a time, is not so common.

He looked up, scrutinized Richard and Grace for a moment, and then said, "I don't know you."

Richard raised an eyebrow: "I've never heard of checking ID in a place like this."

Sawyer replied, "The quantity you requested is too large; I also need to manage the risks."

"Alright, alright... Well then, my name is Robin Hood, and now we've met."

Richard took out ten gold coins from his pocket and poured them all onto the counter.

Grace, standing nearby, couldn't help but want to laugh, because she could almost hear Zoya's furious shouts in her mind, "My money! This is my money!"

On the other side, Sawyer also curled up the corners of his mouth.

This amount is twice the normal price, which means that after the transaction, he can pocket the extra money instead of having it recorded in the organization's account.

In that case, a little risk is not unacceptable.

"Wait a moment."

He immediately stood up to get Richard his medicine.

At that moment, two more customers walked into the shop.

They were over two meters tall, with strong bodies and grayish skin, clearly not pure humans, but rather of some kind of giant blood.

As soon as they entered, the two burly men said in loud voices, "Boss, I want a serving of strong sleeping powder!"

Sawyer frowned slightly: "Sorry, we're out of stock. Please come back in three days."

"What? No, we want it today!"

They were shouting and waving their arms, clearly very dissatisfied.

Suddenly, they noticed the half-counted powder in Sawyer's arms, then glanced at Richard and Grace waiting nearby, and grinned maliciously:

"I know, it was you little guys who bought the medicine, right?"

"Be sensible and give us one!"

"otherwise……"

Richard squinted.

I never imagined I'd be called short one day.

Is this what it's like to be a dwarf?

Stimulate!

He savored the feeling without giving a response.

The two burly men were immediately enraged and raised their fists to teach Richard a lesson.

Behind the counter, Sawyer cursed inwardly: Damn it, that's why he hates people with giant blood!

They don't even understand the rule against fighting in the black market, and they want to solve everything with violence!

What a terrible customer!

He opened his mouth, attempting to chant a spell to stop the battle, but after uttering only two syllables, he froze in place.

He saw that Richard, despite having his back to the person, seemed to have eyes in the back of his head, and the moment the other person made a move, he turned his body to dodge the punch.

Grace, standing nearby, went even further, grabbing the arms of the big guys. Despite the vast difference in size, she used sheer strength to immobilize them for a moment!

At this point, the situation was completely under control.

Richard smiled and asked, "Guys, I think when buying things, it's important to follow a first-come, first-served basis, don't you think?"

As soon as she finished speaking, Grace smiled and let go of his hand.

The two giants, now free, looked at each other, then slunk out of the shop without a word—the blood of giants, while making them impulsive, also taught them how to respect power.

"That's an amazing skill."

Sawyer looked Richard and Grace over again and offered his sincere praise.

He then realized that the two people opposite him were extraordinary and not ordinary adventurers.

That being the case...

He deftly packed the powder, then took only six gold coins from the table, pushed the remaining four back, and smiled:

"Here's your medicine and your change. And, nice to meet you, Mr. Robin Hood."

"You're too kind, boss."

Richard didn't stand on ceremony and gladly took back the gold coins, thinking to himself: This guy really knows how to spot a shady business.

He packed up the medicine bag and left the shop with Grace...

After the two left, a thin boy emerged from under the shop counter.

The boy was Sawyer's nephew, and he had recently been brought in as an assistant.

He gazed in the direction Richard and Grace had left, and said curiously, "I wonder what they're going to do with all that powder... kidnapping? Controlling a skilled woman? Drugging the guard to steal Big Gold Tooth? Pfft!"

When it came to the last conjecture, the boy himself found it absurd and couldn't help but laugh out loud.

Pia!

Sawyer slapped the boy on the back of the head and scolded him:

"Stop speculating about what the guests are thinking and hurry up and prepare my medicine. Those two big guys will be coming again in a few days!"

"Yes, yes, sir..."

outside.

After walking a short distance, Grace said to Richard:

"I think I've guessed your plan, but how do you intend to drug those mercenaries? There are about ten of them, plus that vigilant vice-captain. It won't be easy."

Richard calmly replied, "The very fact that you have this question shows that you haven't guessed my plan yet."

"uh-huh?"

Grace smiled, her eyes narrowing, then suddenly leaned forward, bringing her mouth close to Richard's face, her warm breath brushing against his earlobe as she whispered:

"Well then, little poet, why don't you explain yourself? You've been so mysterious all day, are you really going to leave your dragon companion completely confused?"

Yes, yes, I can feel it, you have quite a lot of water.

Richard pushed Grace away, wiped his damp ears with his sleeve, and then said in a deep voice:

"I remember you once said that you also know a little bit of fifth-tier magic, including that... So, my plan is..."

This time, Richard told Grace his thoughts without reservation.

Miss Red Copper Dragon became excited after hearing this.

"This is so interesting! This is exactly what I've been looking forward to since I started this journey! I can't wait, let's hurry up and prepare the rest of the ingredients!"

Without waiting for Richard's reaction, she hoisted him onto her shoulder and ran outside in a strange position.

Richard:?

No, put me down!

Your top is too big and it's making me feel uncomfortable!

……the next day.

Five o'clock in the afternoon.

Ethan Green got dressed and prepared to go to Big Gold Tooth.

Although as a quartermaster he didn't have many guard duties, he would still show his face there every day in order to maintain his prestige within the mercenary group.

However, as soon as he stepped out today, he noticed a strange man driving a horse-drawn carriage approaching him.

Just as he was about to ask a question, the other person pointed at him and chanted a spell.

Ethan suddenly felt a little dizzy.

A few seconds later, he came to his senses and said warmly to the man in front of him:

"My dear friend, what brings you here?"

The man was, of course, Richard.

Seeing that his charm spell had succeeded on the first try, he smiled with satisfaction.

He used to fail at charming a kobold, but now charming a human is so easy. This real progress fills him with joy.

However, he did not bask in this joy and immediately said to Ethan:

"Ethan, my dearest friend, my brother, I have a gift for you! You'll absolutely love it!"