Chapter 583 - 511: Abandoned Mine Black Market

Chapter 583: Chapter 511: Abandoned Mine Black Market

Roland raised a hand, signaling for Ogre to be patient. His gaze followed Holland’s finger to a stall that was indeed displaying some minerals with chaotic energy fluctuations.

"It’s nothing."

He turned to Holland.

"You have those Blood Crystals on you, don’t you? Go find a suitable buyer and sell them."

He paused, then added.

"This stuff isn’t of much use to us right now. It would be more practical to trade it for some common currency. Remember to find a reputable middleman or an Alchemy Material Merchant who knows its value. A moderate price will do. No need to get bogged down in haggling."

For Roland, who possessed the [Plundering] Trait, Blood Crystals were rare but not an irreplaceable treasure.

It was better to convert them into a more practical resource than to hold onto them.

As for Ogre’s finances, ever since Roland had brought him to heel and strictly forbidden his illegal dealings, the former local crime boss’s "cash flow" had certainly become tight. Even supporting his own subordinates was a struggle, so he naturally couldn’t provide much funding.

On the bright side, public safety in Lin Ye Town had improved considerably as of late.

Holland’s eyes lit up at Roland’s words, and he smugly raised his eyebrows at a displeased-looking Ogre.

Without another word, he straightened his collar and cautiously began scouting the area with stalls that looked like they might be interested in "special materials."

Just as Roland was about to blend into the crowd and see if he could stumble upon any useful items or information in the chaotic market, the sound of deliberately heavy, thudding footsteps stopped a short distance to their side. They were accompanied by a peculiar odor—a mixture of sulfur and cheap spices.

A moment later, a voice as raspy as rubbing sandpaper spoke up.

"Hm? Ogre? ’Scarface’ Ogre? You’re a rare sight... If I recall, didn’t we have an ’understanding’? The ’business’ in this abandoned mine pit isn’t your territory, is it?"

Before he even finished speaking, the owner of the voice rounded a stall and came fully into Roland’s view.

It was a man about the same height as Ogre, but with a leaner, more agile build.

His skin was an unhealthy deep red, like cooling magma, covered in faint, dark, intricate lines that looked like a cross between blood vessels and tattoos.

His black hair was shaved close to the scalp, and two small, subtle bony bumps protruded from the sides of his forehead.

His eyes were his most striking feature.

His irises were the dark orange of dying embers, while his pupils were two long, thin vertical slits, like a goat’s.

The corners of his mouth were naturally curved in a slight sneer, and two rather sharp canine teeth flashed when he spoke.

He wore form-fitting, dark Leather Armor. A curved-bladed Short Knife and a string of bone ornaments of unknown purpose hung at his waist.

’A Tiefling...’

Roland recognized the man’s Race in an instant.

It was the hybrid Race Galvis had mentioned before, one with an obvious mix of Demon blood from the Lower Realm.

’But judging by his appearance... he must be of mixed blood, just like Ogre...’

As Roland was sizing him up, the Tiefling’s words and appearance caused a stir. In the seemingly scattered crowd around them, where everyone had been minding their own business, seven or eight figures stopped their movements almost simultaneously and subtly adjusted their positions.

They were a motley group: humans, Half-beastmen, and even a short, stocky Dwarf with skin like granite.

With a silent understanding, they formed a loose semicircle, subtly boxing in Ogre and Roland.

Their hands rested with feigned casualness on the weapons at their hips, or were hidden inside sleeves and cloaks, but their eyes were like precision blades, sharply and openly scanning Ogre and Roland from head to toe.

The casual, noisy atmosphere in this small area seemed to chill suddenly, replaced by a silent, palpable tension.

A few nearby stall owners and passersby, sensing the shift in atmosphere, discreetly backed away, creating a small, empty circle around them.

But even more gazes, filled with the cold indifference of an audience waiting for a show, fell upon them from the shadows and from beneath hoods.

This newcomer meant trouble.