Chapter Twenty-Four: The Underground Shop

When it came to the advice given by the Eyes, Fang Tang knew that obedience was the right course. He plunged into the black mist, and Number 61 Abyss—the interior of the shop—came into view.

In the center stood a tall shelving unit, filled with bottles and jars, reminiscent of a scientist's rack. Before it, there was a counter about one and a half meters high, its design reminiscent of a medieval European tavern bar. Behind the counter stood an... octopus? Beside the counter were two corpse guardians, their dog-headed forms looming over six meters tall. They no longer wielded spiked clubs but carried wooden staffs, exuding a dangerous aura.

Upon seeing these two dog-headed guardians, Fang Tang's first instinct was clear: he could not afford to start trouble here, or he would be killed. The octopus kept its head bowed, its two tentacles busy with something behind the counter. Sensing Fang Tang’s arrival, it looked up and offered a human-like smile. Or so it seemed—it was hideous, really.

Fang Tang grumbled inwardly, noticing a cup on the counter filled with a green, unknown liquid. Was this the juice? Fang Tang dashed forward, grabbed the cup, and drained it in one go, like a man who had finally found water after a long thirst.

His actions did not alarm the dog-headed guardians flanking him. Perhaps it was because he held no weapon and posed no threat to the octopus? Fang Tang mused, finishing the juice. He smacked his lips, recalling its taste: bitter, astringent, reminiscent of some kind of plant extract. All in all, it was tolerable.

“Lulu-lu... Adventurer, you are the bravest person I have ever met,” the octopus said, patting two of its tentacles and smiling, though the smile was still ugly. Fang Tang couldn’t help but complain inwardly once more.

He was surprised the octopus could speak, but knowing he shouldn’t waste words, he hurriedly spread out a newspaper and took out all his items: tail hooks, crocodile skin, spiked club, beads...

The octopus’s tiny green bean eyes sparkled with interest. It picked up an hourglass from the counter, flipped it over, and began timing, watching Fang Tang with curiosity. “Warrior, you seem quite practiced at this. Have you met any of my colleagues before?”

“No,” Fang Tang replied casually, taking out everything he’d scavenged from abyssal creatures. “I want to sell all these.”

He pointed to the pile of goods before him.

The octopus let out a lulu-lu sound and said, “Honorable warrior, judging by your manner, you truly haven’t met my compatriots. How did you know the rules of my shop?”

Fang Tang glanced at the hourglass, urgency in his voice: “I’m pressed for time, thank you.”

“I like your straightforwardness.” The octopus patted its tentacle and casually pushed around the goods on the counter. “Altogether, that comes to 394 credit points. What would you like in exchange?”

“Do you have a list? Let me see.” Fang Tang kept his eyes on the hourglass sand. He had only five minutes! Now, four and a half remained.

The octopus produced a parchment scroll and placed it before Fang Tang. Strange glyphs covered it—none of which Fang Tang recognized. Yet, somehow, he could understand them?

The octopus noticed his surprise and grinned. “Lulu-lu... Honorable warrior, the cup you drank from contained our shop’s language water, specially prepared for adventurers. After drinking it, you can understand our words and read our script.” It paused, giving another hideous smile. “It’s free, you know!”

Fang Tang: “...”

At last, he understood where the Eyes’ laughter had come from—it was this octopus.

The parchment listed many items: blueprints, elemental stones, weapons, and more. Fang Tang scanned down and, near the bottom, found the blueprint for one of the three materials needed for the mechanical claw arm—Mithril Heart. Price: 1,500 credit points.

“So expensive?” Fang Tang frowned, looking at the octopus. “Can you lower the price for this blueprint?”

“Lulu-lu...” The octopus chuckled, gesturing at a sign beside him. “No bargaining.”

Fang Tang nodded and continued, “Do you buy other things?”

“Such as?”

“Materials, food, or... elemental stones.” Fang Tang glanced at the hourglass, feeling less anxious now. He’d found his target, but lacked the funds. Four minutes remained—maybe he could sell more to make up the 1,500 points.

“Lulu-lu... Warrior, my little shop will buy anything—even your organs, if you so wish.”

Fang Tang pulled out a heap of materials. “How much are these worth?”

“Thirty-four credit points.” The octopus seemed unimpressed, giving the items only a cursory glance and sounding less enthusiastic.

“Only thirty-four?” Fang Tang raised his brows, surprised. He’d offered bottled water, bread, iron ingots, copper ingots, wood—thirty-four pieces in all. So, ordinary materials were only worth one credit each?

After considering, Fang Tang produced an elemental stone. “How much for this?”

The octopus’s eyes lit up with enthusiasm at the sight of something valuable. “One elemental stone is worth one hundred and fifty credit points.”

“One hundred and fifty?” Fang Tang was surprised, for the parchment listed elemental stones at five hundred credit points. Truly, merchants everywhere are cunning.

He thought himself shrewd, but today he’d met someone even craftier.

Taking a deep breath, Fang Tang calculated. He had thirty-nine elemental stones. He wouldn't trade them all, just enough to cover the cost. At one hundred and fifty points each, ten stones would suffice. With the thirty-four points from the resources, he’d barely have enough.

Though after this trade, his supplies would be somewhat depleted, it was worth it for the Mithril Heart. He could always take on more quests to earn money—there were ways.

Fang Tang took out seven elemental stones and sixteen ordinary resources, pushing them toward the octopus. “These should cover the price of the Mithril Heart blueprint, right?”

“Certainly!” The octopus let out its lulu-lu laugh, sweeping up the goods and, after rummaging beneath the counter, handed Fang Tang a blueprint.

He also produced a transparent card, roughly the size of a bank card, bearing an octopus icon, the word ‘Warrior’ beside it, and a string of zeros below—Fang Tang didn’t bother counting them.

“What’s this?” he asked.

The octopus explained, “Your courageous actions upon entering place you among the adventurers’ warriors. This Warrior-level credit card can store unlimited credit points and is valid in any shop. Moreover, it allows you to remain in the shop for one additional minute.”

He pointed to the hourglass; mysteriously, more white sand had appeared within.

Fang Tang was startled, but managed a smile. “Thank you, I’ll take this credit card.”

He tucked the card into his pocket and looked at the octopus. “Does your shop offer anything better than blueprints or elemental stones?”

“Of course!”