Apparently, both men were team leaders of two established teams with both possessing the ability of advance apprentices. Therefore, when they started to challenge each other, the raging killing intent they exuded gave made everyone suffocate to the pressure. Since this place was the inner area of the Adept Tower, none of them dared to start a real fight. What they could do, however, was to keep pressuring the other side using their powerful spirit.
“Alright, alright! Why are you two doing this every time you meet? Since all of us came across the Recovery Earrings together, let’s name our prices. We’ll see who get’s it at the end!”
The voice came from a young man dressed in a red robe who pushed his way out through the crowd.
Although he looked young, he had a calm and cold expression, like someone who had been through many things. He didn’t have a handsome face but he wasn’t ugly either, his looks were quite common, a faint smile formed from his slips.
“What a surprise, Boss Kern is here too!”
“This is going to become lively!”
“Don’t push me aside! I still want to see what will happen!”
…
…
The crowd’s commotion was getting louder and louder.
The man in the red robe turned around, sweeping his eyes over the crowd that had gathered. They quickly settled down when his glanced passed by them. Afterwards, he gave the crowd a warm smile.
“Alright, let’s stop making a racket. It’s quite rare to encounter a pair of Recovery Earrings here, and we all know everybody would want to get their hands on it, but we’ll see who has the fortune of becoming its owner in the end!”
Being suppressed by the man in the red robe, the two team leaders had no other choice but to retract their spiritual pressure. Together, they all went in front of Greem’s stall, casting greedy looks towards the earrings resting on the female apprentice’s palm.
This female apprentice was clearly a team member of the guy with the broadsword as his brows quivered with extreme pleasure when he saw her.
“Heidi, you truly have a good pair of sharp eyes. How is it? Are you able to buy this pair of earrings? If you don’t have enough magic crystals, the few of us together can go gather more. You have to buy it, no matter what!”
The man in the gray robe and Kern furrowed their brows at the same time.
“But he doesn’t want to sell, he only wants to trade it with something else!” Heidi couldn’t help but stomp her foot.
“Trade?” All the three leaders were struck dumb and immediately asked, “Trade with what?”
“Trade it with fire element magical items!”
The three men simultaneously became silent.
Where was this place? It was the Underground Cave!
Fire element materials were extremely rare in this place. As a result, all Fire element magical items were considered a rare commodity.
However, all three of them were obviously not someone who would give up easily. One after the other, they all secretly communicated with Greem through Spiritual Whisper, seeking for an alternative deal but Greem was firmly turned them all down.
Right when the three leaders were calling their men to help out and look for fire element magical items, Greem found a chance to ask fatty Sam and learned the main reason why Recovery Earrings was a sought after item by many people.
For most of the beginner and intermediate apprentices here, although the resources and materials found in Underground Cave had a high value, the risk from obtaining them was consequentially enormous. So most of their training and the areas of activity were carried out in the Kerala Mountain Range. Catching demon beasts, harvesting magical medicines, exploring secret places, all of these were always accompanied with unpredictable dangers. Therefore, if a team could have a member with them who was well-versed in healing during their trip, it would definitely bring massive benefits to any apprentice team.
That’s because if they only use Blood Coagulating Medicinal Paste and Health Potions in healing their injured team members, the expenses they would incur would be too much, cutting down their earnings. Under such circumstances, a plant element Recovery spell would definitely help them save a large amount of additional expenses. Also, one advantage of the Recovery earrings was that, once the plant element energy stored within it ran out, they only have to stay within a place filled with lush vegetation for a period of time and the energy would be refilled automatically.
This, without a doubt, gave it a higher value!
As for the so-called tier-3 magical items, it was actually a classification of magical items given by apprentices. Magical items that could provide an effect 10 to 20 energy points were classified as tier-1. Most small decorative items crafted by apprentice Adept belong to this category.
Meanwhile, items that could provide 20 to 30 energy points of effect were tier-2 magical items. Sometimes, a few top quality items that were crafted by apprentices would be able to reach this tier as well.
As for the tier-3 magical items, their effects had reached an outstanding 30 to 40 energy points. Most of these items were crafted by official Adepts, usually as the products of their alchemy training. But when it falls to the hands of an apprentice Adept, it would become their trump card that can increase their strength.
After listening to fatty’s explanation, Greem was confused and said, “This is impossible! I have tested it myself and these earrings can only provide me at most 10 green life energy. It can’t be a tier-3 magical item!”
Hearing what Greem had said, fatty couldn’t help but pat his shoulder.
“Don’t tell me you were using your own energy to test it? In order to activate the Recovery Earrings’ maximum healing effect, there are two conditions. Firstly, you have to use it at place filled with vegetation like for example, a forest. Secondly, the user must also be a plant element apprentice. Since you’re a fire element apprentice, the effect would surely be reduced!”
At last, Greem was lit with a flame of comprehension.
No wonder these earrings gave him such a weak response when he tested it. Although the female apprentice only gave it a brief test, it instantly showed a distinct green glow. Apparently, he had used the wrong energy for it!
Glancing at the noisy scene, fatty shook his head while saying, “This have become such a mess… if this continues, those bastards of the enforcement force might be drawn to the commotion here soon…”
Maybe fatty was truly a real jinx or bad things were really just supposed to happen. A commotion broke out from the crowd once again as two intermediate apprentices wearing blue uniforms rushed in through the audience.
“Who was the one? Who dared selling tier-3 magical item in this place? Who gave you the audacity to do this? Don’t you all know tier-2 and above magical items and equipment can only be traded by us, the Murphy Association?” Showing a fierce expression, the young apprentice who was in the lead viciously glared at fatty Sam upon his arrival, convinced that the guy was the culprit.
“Sure enough, it’s you again! Sam! How dare you!”
His face covered with fury, Sam refused, “Ryan, you better not speak without knowing the truth. This thing doesn’t belong to me. No matter how unreasonable you are, you can’t incriminate an innocent man!”
The enforcement guy named Ryan moved his somber glance away from Sam’s face and came to a stop on Greem who was wearing a calm and relaxed expression. He was suddenly hit with uncertainty.
Although there were many apprentices in this Adept Tower, he knew who possessed strong abilities among them. However, he never once saw this beginner apprentice before, and from where did this guy found a tier-3 magical item?
“Kid, I think you don’t probably know the rules in this place!” Ryan stood loftily in front of Greem and continued, “As I said earlier, in this Adept Tower, any tier-2 and above magical item can only be sold to us, the Murphy Association. This is the magic contract that was signed between our association and Adept Howard. If you do
n’t obey the rule, you’ll risk having your apprentice status being revoked! Hmph…”
After he finished saying that, he timely snatched the earrings away from the female apprentice’s palm and held it in front of his face. After inspecting it, he nodded with satisfaction.
“The quality of this earrings is pretty good. According to the rules of Murphy Association, I’ll buy it from you using the market price. The price is…” Ryan rolled his eyes and added, “Fifteen magic crystals!”
Ryan actually only wanted to say twelve magic crystals but he realized there were too many apprentices gathered around. He had no choice but increase it by a tiny bit.
But even so, when the price of fifteen magic crystals was heard by the crowd, an uproar quickly ensued.
“Why don’t you go and rob someone else?”
“Heavens! Only fifteen magic crystals! This price can’t even buy a mere tier-1 magical item!”
“That’s right, this is robbery in broad daylight!”
…
…
The agitated replies of the apprentices obviously made Ryan angry from embarrassment.
“Shut up! This is the agreement between our association and the master Adept himself! Who dares to question me? If any of you still make irresponsible remarks, I’ll immediately report you to the Adept on duty!”
His blunt threats eventually quieted down the crowd. Even the three leaders who were standing in front of the stall were wearing annoyed expressions, suppressing their fury.
Chapter 61
After finding out that the crowd had become quiet, Ryan nodded in satisfaction.
Right at this moment, a servant who had followed him here suddenly pulled on his sleeve from behind, pouting his lips at Greem’s stall.
“Master Ryan, why do I have a feeling that those other items aren’t ordinary things too?”
Ryan leaned his face forward and gave those items a careful look. Indeed, it was as the servant had said. He discovered some rather uncommon characteristics among them.
“Croaking Frog, Elven Boot, Treant Branch…”
For every name he called out, the crowd would gasp in amazement. And when the name of Treant Branch was called out, a few apprentices who were experts in plant element magic spells couldn’t help but place their palms against their chests, as if they couldn’t withstand the intense shock with their heart breaking into pieces.
At the same time, fatty Sam was wearing an unsightly expression. He was portraying a look as if his heart had died, much like the look one would have if their father had just passed away.
As for the other few team leaders, they had totally given up their intention of owning these treasures. They called their men back and walked away from the stall, becoming one of the bystanders instead. They had a clear judgement. If a beginner apprentice was struck by luck, it was possible that he could find himself a tier-3 magical item. But if this beginner apprentice was able to take out a couple of tier-3 magical items together, then it wasn’t luck anymore.
Only a beginner apprentice who was backed by a powerful clan or one who was exceptionally powerful could do so. Either person was not someone they could afford to offend. Perhaps it was only Ryan, who was blinded by his own greed, who could not see such a simple fact!
Indeed, upon seeing so many tier-3 magical items, Ryan could no longer maintain his calm. He immediately stretched his arms forward and tried to snatch all of them away.
Pap!
A large hand reached out from the side and grabbed his wrist.
“Mister, I don’t think you have the right to forcibly buy my items!” Greem could no longer stand the lousy show this clown was putting on, so he decided to stop this man from continuing to behave recklessly.
“Why? You dare to disagree with me? Every single apprentice who lives in this Adept Tower knows that all tier-3 magical items are traded solely by us, the Murphy Association. You’ve already violated the rules for trading in this place, so you better be careful or else I’ll put you into custody!”
“Haha, mister. I think the agreement signed between your Murphy Association and master Adept himself is only limited to the members of this Adept Tower, right? However, I’m not an apprentice of this place. Furthermore, these items weren’t produced by your Adept Tower. Therefore, what gives you the right to forcibly buy them off me?”
“Kid, don’t try to fool me. If you’re not a part of this Adept Tower, how did you enter this place? Hmph. You better let go of your grip, or else…”
“Or else what?”
“Or else, I’ll take you to Enforcement Quarter and teach you a good lesson!”
“Hehe, if you really plan to do so, you should prepare to be humiliated!” Greem laughed through clenched teeth. He was finally unable to take it anymore and was completely pissed off by this idiot.
“What? Are you going to assault me?”
While saying that, Ryan slapped on his waist. In that instant, black and thick hairs suddenly burst out from his once fair and clean face, and his body vaguely started to expand.
Beastialize!
A frown appeared on Greem’s face. He took two steps back, and swiped his fingers across his waist pouch, taking out two summoning crystal cores.
Right when he was hesitating about whether or not he should really fight, a cold voice could be heard from the middle of the crowd.
“Stop right there!”
The voice sounded familiar to Greem.
Greem immediately recognized him after being hinted by the Chip.
A thought came over him, so he clenched his right palm tightly and didn’t throw the summoning crystal cores out.
To be honest, this place wasn’t suitable for the Demon Alligator Hunter to fight. Firstly, there wasn’t any clay in the public hall. The only way to get the Earth Elementium was to try and absorb it from the surrounding air, however, this wasn’t an easy task. Also, as the Demon Alligator Hunter was his trump card, the better he kept it a secret, the better the result would be in a real fight. Thus, unless it was a critical moment, he didn’t want to expose this secret.
Right when both men were confronting each other aggressively, a man strode out from the crowd. Judging from the way the crowd parted to make way for this man, it was obvious he was quite well-known.
“Master Kevin!”
……
One after another, the apprentice Adepts bowed and greeted the man. Soon, Blackhand Kevin, the advanced apprentice who Greem had run into once, arrived next to both the men.
“Master Kevin, why are you here?” Ryan, the blue-robed law enforcement, nodded while bowing towards Kevin.
The young, yet prestigious, Kevin wouldn’t even bother responding to Ryan. Instead, he nodded his head at Greem. He then squatted in front of Greem’s stall and examined the items.
“Elven Boot, Croaking Frog, Treant Branch… good stuff, they’re all tier-3 magical items. No wonder these guys are so crazy about it. But, I thought I heard someone say that there was a pair of Recovery Earrings here?”
“That… that… master, the Recovery Earrings are here!” Ryan hesitantly handed over the Recovery Earrings.
“Alright!” Kevin took over the earring and tossed it back to the stall. Then he assumed a serious attitude and grabbed the magical notes. He gave it a few flips and briefly read through.
Finally, Kevin raised his head and lightly sighed.
“Just as I came back, I received news that the Demon Vine Lady was killed in the underground world, but I didn’t believe it. I’d never have thought that you’d even brought back her notes about magic spells. I suppose these items are taken from her, too? You’re really one of the younger generation who is worthy of respect!”
“Demon Vine Lady? Are you referring to the girl who can transform her body? She was killed by Master Mary, and it was her who ordered me to sell these equipments!”
“Mary? The girl who can transform into a vampire?” After pondering for a few moments, Kevin chose to believe Gre
em’s explanation. After all, no matter how he looked at it, it was impossible to believe that a beginner apprentice would have the ability to kill a notorious advanced apprentice Fallen Adept. “Pack up all your things and follow me! You won’t find anything you want here. I’ll bring you to the place you’re supposed to go!”
After finishing speaking, he helped Greem roll up the cloth before striding away. Throughout the entire process, he simply ignored the existence of Ryan.
After both men finally disappeared from the sight of the crowd, an uproar once again broke out from the public hall. The few team leaders even dragged fatty Sam to a corner to thoroughly question him about the background of that mysterious young man.
But those questions had lost all meaning to Greem. He was totally struck dumb by what he saw now.
Kevin had brought him to a small training camp outside of the Adept Tower. In order to reach the camp, they had to fly. Therefore Kevin led him to a flying demon beast. For the first time in his life, Greem had the chance to ride on a flying demon beast. The demon beast Kevin had led him to was referred to as a ‘Socrates Condor’.
Socrates Condor was an advanced apprentice level Wind Element demon beast. It stood three meters tall and had a full wing span of five meters. It had a big, strong body and possessed the ability to cast Wind Blade, Wind Vortex and a few other basic Wind Element magic spells. It was a rare flying creature that dominated the forest region.
Because of its great physical strength and incredible flying speed, they were often captured by Adepts and tamed into excellent flying vehicles.
It was the first time he had the opportunity to fly on a demon beast, so he was rather nervous about the experience.
When the majestic looking condor soared up into the sky, its golden feathers sparkling in the sun, Greem couldn’t help but grip the soft feathers behind the condor’s neck. He felt like his heart was beating so fast it would jump out of his chest.
Whilst riding on the other condor, and leading the way, Kevin looked over his shoulder. He saw Greem’s nervousness and simply let out a loud laugh. Clearly, this wasn’t the first time he saw someone behaving like this.
Age of Adepts c1-1513 Page 42