[Enbillick Alva is nearby.]
After the prompt, Nol's fingers pressed "A Midsummer Night's Dream", and his presence immediately diminished to its lowest. Teest's reaction was just as fast, so "Golden Sword" Billy merely brushed past them.
Mr. Billy paused for a moment beside the two of them. He uttered a "Hm?" and scanned around with a glance as precise as a compass. Two seconds later, the prominent merchant shook his head and continued walking forward.
He looked different from the first time they met. Mr. Billy had shaved and was dressed like an aristocrat. His tall collar concealed the tattoo on his neck. Nol detected the scent of his expensive cologne.
Despite Nol and Teest's neatly dressed coarse clothes, they seemed especially shabby in comparison.
The "Golden Sword" of the Alva merchant group walked openly in the underground marketplace, with his face exposed and waist straight. No one dared to stare at him for too long. Nearby pedestrians hid their faces and quickened their pace, as if they were the ones exposed.
"Thank you all for your hospitality," Billy said to an empty reception desk. "I've come to retrieve my weapon."
Behind the reception desk, the decorative armor—which Nol initially thought was just for decoration—came to life. It opened its empty helmet and took out the expensive sword from the hollow armor. Nol swore he heard the clanging of other weapons too.
"Serving you is my honor." A delicate voice came from the armor, its gender indiscernible. "You're welcome back anytime, esteemed sir."
[A good harvest.] Teest watched Billy leave. [Dignified guests from the Alva Merchant Group typically wouldn't come to such a place.]
As for what the good harvest was, Teest didn't say. Turning back to the reception desk, he remarked—
"It seems the 'General' is here today."
With one arm resting on the marble reception desk, he casually said, "Great, I want to see the 'General'."
The armor shook twice, its joints creaking loudly. It seemed as if multiple gazes pierced through the gaps of the armor, filled with astonishment, assessing Teest.
Nol was also among those who were stunned by Teest's words.
The General.
During their recent adventures, Nol talked about this individual with Solo. Nol hoped that Solo would stay in the Lost Tower long-term. He wanted to know if Hermitage and the legendary "General" would notice anything amiss.
Solo reassured him that, as long as he successfully changed his profession to "Night Ranger", he would rush back to be this honorary envoy. The young man, hearing that the Mad Monk wouldn't stay in the Tower, became a hundred times more agreeable, nearly swearing to his ancestors in Country C.
Speaking of the "General", as Solo said, he was the gang leader in Grape Collar. Grape Collar was, after all, the capital of Shidina, one of the three major countries. This wasn't a territory to be trifled with.
The General was ruthless and elusive. Very few had seen him in person.
Solo assured that the General wasn't too concerned about the activities of his subordinates. As long as they followed the rules, everything would be fine. But to become a subordinate of the General, while the rewards were rich, one must always be prepared for danger*—
*Living with one's head tied to one's belt. Idiom referring to living in constant danger or always being on high alert, as if at any moment you could lose your head.
After all, what the General valued most were "balance" and "secrecy". Those who tried to break these principles wouldn't even leave a corpse behind.
It sounded reasonable that the formidable gang leader would know the infamous Mad Monk. Now, including Nol, the newly minted representative of the lord of monsters, the atmosphere seemed consistent.
"Did you make an appointment beforehand?" After a long time, the armor finally responded slowly.
"Of course not," Teest replied. "It's a little surprise."
"Then you can only go through the regular visitor's path," the armor cautiously replied. "Go straight ahead. Turn left at the second door. You can keep your weapons."
Is that it? Can they really meet the mysterious gang leader this way? Nol blinked. Everything before him was brand new. It had been a long time since he felt such pure curiosity.
But upon stepping through that door, Nol immediately understood the implications of the "regular visitor's path"—it was a long corridor filled with poisonous insects, monsters, and traps.
"Don't make a move," Teest said. "Someone is watching. Just follow behind me."
...
"I hate you," Nol said, wiping the gray-green slime from his face in anguish. "I just took a bath last night."
"Just follow behind me." Such knightly lines.
However, the reality was rather grim. As Teest rampaged ahead, slaughtering with zeal, Nol dodged from left to right, and all the splattered blood and viscera from Teest's onslaught ended up on him—even though Nol had a moving shield, it couldn't withstand the 360-degree spray.
"Don't you know a cleansing spell?" As Teest struck down another creature, a half-human-high centipede's legs twitched, its head flying far off. That deformed head ricocheted down the corridor, nearly brushing past Nol's face.
The Mad Monk advanced like he was chopping vegetables. The air filled with the stench of monster innards.
"How is it the same?" Nol lifted his magical shield, pinching his nose tightly.
"How is it not?" Teest's tone sounded like he was at a marketplace. "Which one do you want to eat? I can cut you some good parts. These monsters are rare. You should try some."
Indeed rare, and hideously so.
Looking at the scattered deformed limbs, eyeballs, and innards, Nol suddenly thought that the morning leg meat pie looked especially appealing. Couldn't the owner of this place bring out enhanced versions of pigs, cows, sheep, and chickens to attack them instead?
"How about that hydra over there?" Nol reluctantly pointed to a creature that looked somewhat formidable.
"Oh, that's great for porridge!" Teest announced enthusiastically.
There was no door at the end of the corridor. Underneath an archway stood two muscular men, identical in stature.
Their muscles bulged. Their heads, which were too small for their bodies, were wrapped in blood-streaked burlap sacks. They wore minimal cloth around their waists, with metal collars around their necks adorned with magical prosthetic eyes, all staring intently at the two visitors.
For a moment, Nol wasn't sure if they were humans or monsters. Seeing Teest didn't immediately attack, Nol cleaned the slime and bits of innards from himself, though the sticky sensation still lingered on his skin.
"Everyone, stand down. There's no need to be on guard." A raspy voice echoed. "I was wondering which warriors had come, but it's you… What a waste of my lovely pets."
Upon seeing the voice's owner, Nol was stunned—
The "General" was a young woman.
But he could only tell she was female.
She had a feminine figure, petite and slender, with no intact skin visible. She seemed to have survived severe burns. Yet, the scars that covered her were more grotesque than any burn scars.
The "General" had no hair. Her head was oddly misshapen, as if it had been crushed. Her face was like an abstract painting: eyes mismatched, a nose with only two holes, and no lips. Her crooked teeth were fully exposed—some of which didn't look human at all.
This legendary gang leader wore a burgundy robe and black gloves adorned with purple jade and emeralds. She sat on a throne-like chair, with a half-drunk glass of wine before her.
The two monstrous-looking guards positioned themselves behind her chair, one on each side. The eyes on their collars were still fixed on the two visitors.
"Hello there," Teest raised his hand and greeted nonchalantly.
The General ignored him. Her attention was focused solely on Nol ever since they entered this… office? Conference room? She studied him with her misaligned eyes, and Nol managed a polite smile in return.
"So," she appraised Nol before turning her gaze away, her voice still flat, "what do you want from me, Mad Monk?"
Teest motioned for Nol to sit and took a seat himself. "I came to see an old friend."
"We're not friends," the General replied.
"Alright, I have valuable items for sale."
Teest continued on his own accord. "Exquisite jewelry from the system, flawless gemstones the size of fists, alchemical materials with magical effects—I'll hand them directly to you, skipping the loss from converting to money. How about it? It's a good deal."
"It sounds like small business."
The General's gaze returned to Nol. Nol couldn't read any emotion on her face. Using the prop given by Witch Lynn, Nol managed to keep a straight face.
"It's not. This is the first step of a big deal. The vast, mysterious Black Forest holds many secrets and treasures. Instead of hiring those foolish mercenaries, why not hand this business over to—"
"Paradise," the General finished his sentence as she looked at Nol with a burning gaze. "I presume he's the Master of Paradise."
Thanks to Witch Lynn's prop, Nol managed to maintain his composure. He interlocked his fingers and placed them on his lap, waiting for Teest's next blabbering.
However, Teest remained silent, merely smiling at him.
It seemed to be a situation where social niceties were unavoidable. With a sigh, Nol lifted his head. "The Mad Monk fights for Paradise. You're indeed well-informed."
He tried hard to sound confident.
"Yes, after all, you guys have been causing chaos right under my watch and even took away a young man from Hermitage." The General's voice still betrayed no emotion. "So, is this a formal negotiation?"
Nol's mind raced. "No, it's a transaction. Paradise needs a continuous supply of resources. I've heard you can even deceive the eyes of the gods."
As the number of neighbors increased, they couldn't always rely on the raw meat, fresh water, and wild fruits of the Black Forest. They needed salt, sugar, pepper, books, music, tools… and many more products of human society.
Having ample supplies could appease people's hearts. This wasn't a small matter. At this point, Nol deeply understood the horrors of mental stress.
"In exchange, we can provide items produced by the system and the skin and bones of rare monsters," Nol said. "If you have a specific target, we can help, depending on the circumstances."
It would just be a side job when the neighbors were leveling up. Compared to heaps of gems and furs, he guessed his neighbors would prefer a smartphone with internet access.
The General clasped her hands, covered with black gloves, revealing a smile that could be described as horrifying.
"All that you're asking for, the Temple of Life can do better," she said. "Their envoys haven't approached you yet. Are you getting impatient?"
"No, that's a different matter," Nol replied without hesitation. "Concerning resources, Paradise doesn't need faith—just a cooperative partner with mutual benefits."
He signaled Teest to take out some of their loot. A large, perfectly cut ruby lay next to the General's wine glass, its dazzling brilliance nearly unreal.
"A small token of appreciation," Nol said.
'This dungeon can be cleared once a month. When I go back, I'll have to update the regeneration dungeon respawn list,' Nol thought.
"What reason do I have to refuse?" The General narrowed her mismatched eyes and laughed. "The treasures deep in the Black Forest are worth more than gold. It's my honor to have your affirmation."
Teest rested his hand on the gem, smiling at the General.
"The person who deals with our contract will be prepared. The first batch of supplies is on the house and will be ready by sunset. Please, feel free to choose." The General's gaze was fixed on Teest's hand. "It's also a token of my sincerity."
Only then did Teest gracefully retract his hand.
"In two months, if all goes well, I'll come back to negotiate more with you." Nol nodded, feeling a bit uneasy. He hadn't fully activated the effect of the "A Midsummer Night's Dream" and wondered how much of his features the General could recall.
"Then there's my personal request," Teest continued smoothly. "I'd like to look for the Eclipse Shield of the Eternal Church. Half of this deal belongs to me. I believe the price should suffice."
The General finally turned her face towards Teest.
Her smile diminished. "Indeed, it suffices. But we'll follow my rules for this—it's your personal business. We'll have to discuss it separately."
[Honey, wait for me at the tavern. Remember to order the roasted piglet and iced grapes.] Teest sent his thoughts. [Don't worry. She's practically blind. She won't reveal your appearance.]
Nol immediately deactivated the prop's effect, feeling relaxed. He rubbed his face, getting up, maximizing the effect of the "A Midsummer Night's Dream" before retracing his steps.
Once he passed through the inconspicuous door of the tavern, Nol put on his hood and nestled in the darkest corner.
With Teest taking a while, Nol ordered iced grapes first while the piglet was being prepared in the kitchen.
The grapes of Grape Collar were indeed exceptional. Peeled and seeded in advance, they were placed in a stemmed glass. Iced, they tasted perfectly sweet, reminiscent of a unique ice cream.
'The topics those two were discussing might not be so simple,' Nol mused absentmindedly as he played with the cold fruit with his tongue.
On this occasion, Teest seemed more like he was introducing him to the gang leader rather than doing business. Nol found Teest's motives rather unclear. If he was the Mad Monk Nol was familiar with…
"The Mad Monk I know would never expose this connection." The General poured herself a glass of wine, swirling it in her glass as she spoke coldly. "You'd keep this channel a secret, ensuring he relies completely on you. So, what are you really after? Listen, you're causing me problems. Unless you're planning on hanging him up soon, wrap this up."
"Are you considered a 'connection'?" Teest lounged in the guest chair, his tone becoming more teasing. "Human? Are you serious?"
"You know full well that's not the main point." The General's voice grew colder. "You even guided him during the negotiation. Don't think I didn't notice. Apart from a tragic death, you never teach anyone anything."
"Alright, let's be honest—he really is a very handsome young man, with a particularly attractive smile, especially his eyes. I really enjoy the feeling of kissing him. It's a pity you can't see it," Teest said.
He glanced casually into the General's eyes.
He knew those eyes were prosthetic, just like the decorative collars on the servants behind her. They watched every corner around her but couldn't provide a clear picture.
She had long lost her vision, and now she could only see a distorted, blurred world.
The General scoffed. Her tone finally revealed anger, balancing on the edge of tolerance. "So, this is your so-called reason? Why not just behead that beautiful boy, preserve his head with magic, and kiss it from time to time—that sounds like the lunatic I know."
How uncreative. Nol had already played that card. Remembering the skeleton in the dungeon who would swing its own head around, Teest couldn't help but smirk.
"Alright, alright. Let's talk business."
Seeing that his old acquaintance was about to explode, Teest sat up straight in his chair. The laughter in his golden eyes disappeared.
"I want you to stop investigating Paradise and only sell insignificant trivial intelligence. Also, no investigating the Master of Paradise under any circumstances—the dogs from the Temple of Life are sniffing everywhere. I don't want you assisting them."
"Hey, are you really committing to Paradise?" the General rasped. "Is Sophie's information true? You two are fucking like animals in heat—"
Teest shrugged. "Oh, we haven't progressed that far yet… I just wanted to make it clear that he's my personal property, and you know how much I dislike others encroaching on my territory."
"Compensation." The General shifted her gaze. "Paradise is the current hotspot. I would lose intel revenue."
"The compensation is 'I won't kill you'. What a deal!"
"…" The General shook her head in disbelief. "I'll give you a discount if you just tell me the truth about what's going on between you and him. Don't fob me off with some clichéd love and redemption story."
"After all, I've known you long enough. We've been normal people, but you've been a lunatic from the beginning."
"Fair enough."
Teest looked through the lavishly decorated wall in the direction of the tavern.
"You discover a particularly beautiful raw gemstone, and you decide to sculpt it a bit. It becomes more and more perfect… It's a peculiar feeling of possession, I guess. Even a lunatic would like to see the final product."
"And?" the General continued.
"I love those eyes, but I don't like the way they see through me. He's unpredictable to me, and I'm predictable to him. It's super frustrating." Teest sighed. "So I want to do something he doesn't expect. I don't expect you to understand."
The General remained silent for a while, then pressed on, "What else?"
"…He might have the answers I seek," Teest whispered.
"Remarkable." She stopped probing. "Now let's talk business—real business."
"You said you want the 'Eclipse Shield'. Are you joking or serious?"
"Of course I'm serious!"
"The Temple of Life couldn't find it, the Eternal Church couldn't find it, and neither can I." She gritted her teeth. "If you want to track down the long-lost clue, you know there's only one way."
"Ah, the 'Time Reversion' potion, an exclusive product of the Eternal Church. It's rare, once in a decade, and very coveted."
Teest interlocked his fingers, smiling innocently. "That's why I came to see you, right?"
"Last year, I heard a little related rumor. There's a secret auction in Grape Collar soon, and even Enbillick Alva is attending. There must be something extraordinary."
"Alright. If you have it, great."
The General weakly put down her goblet. "At the very least, please tell me you're planning to drink it alone."
"Of course I'd share it with my darling."
"You're done for."
"No, I'm not."
"Do you really want to show him something 'unpredictable'?" The General pressed her temples hard. "Like, for instance, the church that was burned down all those years ago by you?"
The author has something to say:
Crimson: I wished for an interesting opponent.
So, after three arcs, his god still travels through time and space (really traveling through time and space) chasing and feeding him (…
Crimson: Fuck.