Chapter 536: Chapter 536: Beastman (Extra Chapter as a Reward for “Chopsticks Li”)
In Doomsday City, the number of food and drink that could replenish Spirit Points in a non-combat state was dwindling, let alone potions that could restore Spirit Points during combat;
The price of these supplies had almost doubled since Song Jian first entered the game, making it impossible for him to use them as normal consumables.
Now, hearing that this military camp town had items to restore Spirit Points, whether for non-combat use or for in-combat use, Song Jian planned to stock up on them first.
Following Wang Chui’s guidance, Song Jian arrived at the only inn in the small town, the Old Army Camp Inn.
Standing outside the inn, Song Jian heard faint noises come from inside: swearing, the sounds of rowdiness, and the loud laughter of a group of people.
As he pushed open the door, a surge of noise mixed with the smell of alcohol and sweat assaulted his senses.
Song Jian couldn’t help but frown, approaching the counter of the inn that seemed more like a bar.
“I need a quiet room for the night,” Song Jian asked, “How much is a single room per night?”
“You’ve come at the perfect time. Come any later, and I’m afraid all rooms would be taken,” a one-eyed, bearded old man cleaning a glass of wine, took a few gulps of the half-empty bottle of liquor set next to the counter before squinting at Song Jian and saying, “A single room costs eight hundred Doomsday Coins a night, including breakfast!”
“That’s not cheap at all…” Song Jian said speechlessly. Eight hundred Doomsday Coins were what he made from lumbering trees for three whole days when he just started the game.
As he handed over eight hundred Doomsday Coins to the innkeeper, Song Jian casually asked, “This place seems deserted, but it has many visitors?”
From his previous conversation with the goblin Torolf, Song Jian learned that this military camp town didn’t have many inhabitants, probably just a few hundred. Since it was located in a remote place, it was rare to even see a person for months.
This locality served as the nearest restocking station to the Dark Castle in the Shadowfang Mountain Range and gave occasional sightings of adventure teams. These small teams consisted of seven or eight people at most, considered a small relief to the monotonous lives of the town’s residents.
“Who knows?” The innkeeper shrugged, carefully checked the Doomsday Coins, stuffed them into the drawer beneath the counter, took a glance at Song Jian, and said, “Maybe adventurers like you are getting stronger and feel like exploring the Dark Castle. We’ve seen a lot of people coming here recently, but not many are returning…”
Song Jian couldn’t help but chuckle, shaking his head. He initially intended to discuss the mead with the innkeeper. Seeing the noisy lobby, however, he decided it wasn’t the right place for conversation and told the innkeeper, “Prepare a meal and send it to my room. Is that okay?”
“Of course, a roast deer leg, half a pound of ginger sugar bread, and a bottle of mead, totaling six hundred Doomsday Coins. When the food arrives, you can pay the waiter directly,” the innkeeper said. He then seemed to lose interest in Song Jian and turned his head to yell, “Pike, Pike, take this guest to the last single room quickly. Remember to send him a dinner of roast deer leg, bread, and mead. Don’t mess it up again, or I’ll throw you into the wilderness for your relatives to roast you into meat skewers…”
“Coming, sir, your humble servant obeys your order. Is it this guest? Please, follow me, honorable guest. Pike will take you to your room. Please watch your step; there’s a threshold here…”
A goblin waiter in grey clothing materialised from somewhere, genuflected with a respectful demeanour, rested his right hand on his chest, and bowed to Song Jian. He then led Song Jian upstairs.
Song Jian raised his eyebrows. He noticed that this town seemed to favour goblins as their labour force.
As he followed behind the young goblin, Song Jian casually asked, “It’s been busy around here recently, with all kinds of people coming in…”
“Yes, honorable sir, Pike hasn’t been this busy in half a year. We’ve had especially many guests recently…” Pike said as they walked along.
After reaching the second floor, they followed the corridor with Pike in the lead. As they walked a few steps further, a guest room door suddenly opened, and a beastman cloaked in black emerged.
Song Jian’s body tensed up. He sensed a strange energy from the beastman — a force similar to the Abyssal Power but radically different. This force was filled with chaos and evil as if a tranquil lake concealed a vehement torrent of magma beneath its surface.
“Shorty, does your place sell or rent mounts?” the beastman looked at Song Jian for a moment before blocking Pike, asking loudly.
“Honorable beastman sir, there’s a Beast Tamer located at the northern wall of the town. You can purchase combat pets and mounts from there. However, considering your size and weight, sir, he probably doesn’t have mounts that can carry you,” the goblin Pike bowed to the beastman, careful not to offend.
“Sorada, I told you to lose weight a while ago, but you didn’t listen. If all of us ride mounts tomorrow, you might have to run after us,” a seductive and charming female voice resonated from the room.
“Sorada, can’t you summon demons from Hell? Let it carry you, just be careful with your ass, don’t let the demon’s flames cook it,” another voice, a young man’s taunting voice, came from the room.
“Damn it, I should have thrown you bastards into the Dark Castle, and let that giant worm turn you all into its slaves…” The beastman’s face soured. He cursed under his breath and headed downstairs on his own accord.
Upon hearing the word “Dark Castle”, Song Jian felt a jolt in his heart. He didn’t show anything on his face but followed Pike to his room.
“Honorable guest, your dinner will be served shortly. Please wait… ” Pike bowed and backed out of the room.
“That beastman and his companions’ target is clearly the Dark Castle. What on earth is going on? Why are so many people focused on the Dark Castle recently? Did Qi Yun sign that contract with me because he noticed something as well? Dammit, there’s information hidden in this that I’m not aware of…” Song Jian looked gloomy. He hated feeling manipulated and in the dark. He needed to gather more information.
…