Chapter 395 "Algae Scale" Dodd

Even before Xia Nan headed down the stairs from the Association's entrance and noticed its sunken atrium-and-corridor design, he had already formed a guess about the Barracuda Bay Branch's so-called "second floor"—a place restricted entirely to adventurers with a Class Grade.

The reality was exactly as he expected.

After giving him an affirmative answer, the incredibly earnest and responsible receptionist, Mar, considerately led him out of the small meeting room.

Their destination was a wall in the southeastern section of the atrium corridor.

When Xia Nan first arrived at the Association, he hadn't noticed it due to the building's layout and the sheer number of adventurers bustling around the nearby stalls.

Now, with Mar pointing the way, he spotted an inconspicuous, compact stairwell tucked quietly into the wall.

Except its spiral sea-rock steps didn't lead up to an actual second floor like they did in Rivervale Town. Instead, they wound their way downward, descending deep underground and out of sight.

Evidently, due to Barracuda Bay's unique geography and this branch's specific location beside the cove, the "Association Second Floor" Xia Nan had imagined was actually a basement level here.

The stairwell wasn't hidden. In fact, it was completely exposed to every adventurer in the atrium.

Xia Nan didn't detect any strength-testing or movement-restricting magical effects near the steps, either.

But over the many years since its founding, the Association had long drilled these overbearing adventurers—men and women who traded their lives for gold—into strictly obeying its rules.

This much was evident from the lines in front of the counters. Despite the shouting and shoving, they maintained surprisingly strict order within the apparent chaos.

Unless someone was a true Class Holder who had already obtained a Class Level and completed their promotion quest, virtually no one dared break the rules and force their way downstairs.

On the rare occasion a clueless rookie wandered too close and showed intent to descend, their teammates would immediately hold them back, sternly explaining the restrictions and the potential consequences.

After all, the Association's punishments for rule-breaking adventurers didn't just target the individual; they often implicated the entire party.

Perhaps because of this, as Xia Nan followed the receptionist into the stairwell, he felt several gazes sweep over him from the surrounding adventurers. They lingered on his face and his gear, seemingly surprised by his youth and the Fine quality of his equipment.

When Xia Nan glanced back toward those stares, the adventurers instantly averted their eyes. None dared meet his gaze, as if desperate to avoid leaving an impression on a Class Holder.

Compared to the stairs at the atrium's entrance, the steps leading underground were noticeably narrower. However, thanks to the restriction allowing only Class Holders, the stairwell was practically empty, making the actual descent feel far more spacious.

The steps were carved from polished, deep-black rock, their surfaces marked by water erosion. Under the illumination of fluorescent pearls embedded in the walls on either side, they reflected a soft, gentle light.

The further down they went, the cooler the air became. The faint sound of rushing water echoed from beyond the thick stone walls, as if they were walking straight into the heart of the ocean.

There were no doors.

When Xia Nan followed Mar to the bottom of the stairs, the entirety of the first basement level unfolded before his eyes.

The layout was a sunken semicircle, backing against the cliff face and extending toward the seabed. Although the floor space wasn't as expansive as the level above, the exceptionally high ceiling and drastically reduced foot traffic gave it a clear, magnificent sense of scale.

Situated completely below sea level, the clamor from above was blocked out by specially crafted dark stone walls. All that remained was the deep, resonant echo of seawater gently lapping against the exterior.

Despite the enclosed underground environment, the cool air wasn't stale or suffocating. It was surprisingly fresh, carrying a faint scent similar to seaweed. The lighting here no longer came from the bright sun streaming through a dome or from oil lamps; instead, it was a mix of natural light filtering down through the ocean water and the soft glow of fluorite embedded in the walls.

There were many notable furnishings on this underground floor: sea-cedar shelves displaying a dazzling array of local specialties and artwork, bizarre high-backed chairs crafted from fish bones and blackwood, and a small fountain statue shaped like a siren—

But the one feature that left the deepest impression on Xia Nan—the thing that captured his absolute attention the moment he arrived—

was a curved, transparent crystal wall spanning the entire southern side of the hall, delivering a truly breathtaking visual impact.

Because they were underwater, the flawlessly clear material allowed Xia Nan to distinctly see the tiny ripples and bubbles stirred up by the shifting currents outside.

Vibrant, unidentified little fish darted through colorful coral reefs. Below them, a few white crabs with thick carapaces scuttled across the rocks, while schools of silver-scaled fish swept past overhead like a passing mist.

Mushroom-shaped jellyfish glowed like ghosts, pulsing as they drifted slowly by before vanishing into the lightless, deep blue distance. In the profound shadows beyond, the blurry silhouettes of massive abyssal creatures could occasionally be seen gliding past.

"The surface of this crystal wall is enchanted with waterproofing and reinforcement barriers," Mar explained, her voice chiming in at the perfect moment. "It maintains its transparency while withstanding the pressure and erosion of the seawater. It also has a repelling effect on certain powerful, overly curious sea monsters."

"Please rest assured, we perform regular maintenance on these facilities." The responsible and enthusiastic woman walked right up to the wall, curling her fingers and rapping her knuckles against the glass. "Since the branch's founding, there hasn't been a single instance of damage or leakage. The view here is excellent, perfect for observation and contemplation. Many adventurers like to sit in the hall for a while before taking on a quest, letting the ocean smooth out the restlessness in their hearts."

Xia Nan had to admit that, even though the technological development in this world was far inferior to his past life and productivity was nowhere near as advanced, the existence of supernatural forces, gods dotting the heavens like stars, an incredibly long history, and a flourishing civilization gave them a sense of aesthetics that—at least to him—was remarkably refined.

It was currently mid-afternoon. Brilliant sunlight pierced through the sea surface, refracting and scattering through the currents and the crystal wall. It painted the floor in dappled patches of light that drifted slowly along with the water outside, bathing the entire basement in an almost dreamlike shade of deep blue.

Standing by the window, one could easily fall into a trance, feeling as though they were truly submerged in the tranquil, silent depths of the ocean.

If he didn't have pressing matters to attend to, Xia Nan's personality meant he genuinely could have sat in front of this massive glass wall for an entire afternoon, just watching the currents and the wandering fish.

While Xia Nan admired the seascape, Mar tactfully refrained from disturbing him. Instead, she took the initiative to find the relevant staff and set up an appointment. She only stepped forward with a smiling face after Xia Nan finally pulled his gaze away from the crystal wall and looked at her.

"Mr. Xia Nan, shall we head straight to the information room?" she asked.

Their brief interaction had given the experienced receptionist a rough feel for this young adventurer's personality. Knowing he disliked dawdling, she cut straight to the chase.

Xia Nan naturally had no objections. He followed the receptionist to a small room on the eastern side of the hall.

Mar voluntarily stopped and waited by the door.

Xia Nan pushed the door open and stepped inside.

The so-called information room wasn't particularly large—perhaps twenty or thirty square meters. Cedar bookshelves and sealed filing cabinets lined both walls. The surface of every drawer containing documents was marked with tiny letters and symbols for categorization.

A sharp-eyed middle-aged man around fifty years old, his face bearing the marks of a weathered life, sat behind a wooden desk in the center of the room. He was diligently copying something down, his quill flying across a sheet of parchment. In the silent air, the only sounds were the distant flow of seawater and the scratch of his pen.

Mar had already registered Xia Nan, so the clerk wasn't surprised by his entrance.

The man gestured for Xia Nan to sit across from him, put down his quill, cleared his throat, and asked, "Mr. Xia Nan, what is it you wish to know?"

After a brief moment of thought, Xia Nan didn't immediately bring up the encryption key. Instead, he first asked about their specific pricing structure.

Unlike the standard "gold-silver-copper" system used outside, the Adventurers' Association typically used Points as internal currency. They were earned by completing Association-issued quests and could be exchanged for gold coins, gear, and combat techniques.

Naturally, paying for information right now would also cost Points.

However, because Xia Nan had desperately needed money to commission gear from Barn at Rockhammer, he had exchanged almost all his quest rewards for gold coins.

As a result, his personal Association account only held a meager 18 Points.

Converted at a 1:30 ratio, that was worth about 540 gold coins.

It didn't seem like a small amount on the surface, but considering the Association used a completely different internal pricing system, he was unsure if it would be enough to buy useful information.

Seeing his hesitation, the middle-aged man in charge of information management offered an explanation.

"Please don't worry, Mr. Xia Nan," the man said. "Compared to the high-quality combat techniques and rare materials on the exchange list, information is certainly important, but it isn't a physical good. The prices aren't nearly as exorbitant. As long as the intel doesn't involve high-level, vital secrets, the Points required won't be too steep. Furthermore, the Association doesn't force a flat fee. We price flexibly based on the specific information, and we only deduct the Points from your account after you confirm the transaction."

Hearing this, Xia Nan's concerns dissipated, and he posed the question he had prepared.

"The information I need is this," Xia Nan began. "Many years ago, a direct scion of the Duke Morton Family of Sticky-Tree Territory came to the Southern Archipelagos. I need to know his exact whereabouts."

His voice faded, and the room fell silent.

Xia Nan carefully observed the clerk's expression.

First, there was intense focus as he listened to the request, followed by a frown of concentrated thought, and finally, a stiffening of his features as his memory hit a dead end.

Without a doubt, the requested intel fell straight into the clerk's blind spot.

This, of course, was perfectly normal.

The man was just a regular staff member working at the Adventurers' Association, not some all-knowing scholar or prophet. He couldn't possibly be well-versed in every scrap of news.

That was especially true for an event that had happened many years ago, like the one Xia Nan was asking about.

Fortunately, even though the clerk had no personal memory of this figure from the Morton family, the sheer volume and detail of the information stored by the Adventurers' Association was unmatched by any ordinary information broker.

As the staff member on duty in the information room, he naturally had a specially trained method for retrieving data.

"Please wait a moment, Mr. Xia Nan," the middle-aged man said, an apologetic look on his face as he rose from behind the desk.

He first paced around the wooden shelves, cross-referencing the labels for a few moments. Finally, he pulled a document from a filing cabinet in the corner, flipped through it, and scanned it a few times, as if committing something to memory.

Then, he carefully returned the folder to its place, went back to the desk to scribble a note, stuffed it into his pocket, flashed Xia Nan an apologetic smile, and hurriedly pushed the door open and left the room.

Xia Nan was suddenly left alone. Though curious, he subconsciously memorized the location of the file the clerk had just inspected.

But considering he was right in the middle of the Association, there was no need to take unnecessary risks just to satisfy a bit of curiosity. Thus, he remained patiently in his seat, waiting in silence.

After waiting for about ten minutes, the door to the information room opened again.

The middle-aged man returned holding a small envelope-like pouch. His chest heaved slightly, and his breathing was a bit rapid—he had clearly just run an errand.

"I am truly sorry to keep you waiting so long, Mr. Xia Nan," the man apologized as he smilingly waved the envelope in his hand. "Because the event you mentioned happened quite some time ago, the intelligence had already been archived, so it took a little time to retrieve and process. Fortunately, the Association does indeed have the relevant information, so we haven't wasted your time for nothing. Additionally, regarding the price, my colleagues and I evaluated the value of the intel and decided to set it at 12 Points."

'12 Points? That's within an acceptable range,' Xia Nan thought.

He didn't immediately nod in agreement. Instead, acting on his inner doubts, he probed a bit further.

"A price of 12 Points—what tier of information does that roughly translate to?" he asked.

Instead of answering Xia Nan's question directly, the middle-aged man across the desk gave him a very specific example. "Hmm... it's a bit hard to describe exactly. But for reference, intelligence on the possible whereabouts of an adult brass dragon active in the Southern Archipelagos costs around 20 Points."

Xia Nan instantly understood.

'It seems the Association hasn't connected this to the [Dream Weaving Corridor] encryption key, otherwise the price would never be this low. Or could it be... the key isn't with the Duke's scion?'

Though his mind raced, his expression remained perfectly calm.

Giving the man a slight nod, he confirmed the payment of the 12 Points required for the intel and took the envelope.

He opened it and read the contents.

—"In the year 993 of the Arcane Calendar, the fleet established by Lyle Morton was attacked by 'Algae Scale' Dodd (dragonborn). Lyle Morton's whereabouts remain unknown; he is presumed dead."