Chapter 89: The Old Rules

Chapter 89: Chapter 89: The Old Rules

"What else?"

"The main ingredient in this soup is actually a type of Demon."

"A Demon?" Hesia grew even more curious. "What kind of Demon?"

"A Demon called a Puji," Hulk chimed in. "They usually live in dark, damp Dungeons or ancient ruins.

"They have no real combat ability, but they’re fast and stealthy. The ’puji-puji’ sound they make can interfere with a tracker’s hearing, which makes them difficult to catch."

"Their flesh has an exquisite umami flavor that no known mushroom can compare to."

Hesia had a realization. "A Demon from a Dungeon? No wonder a bowl of soup costs five Silver Scales."

Laila snorted softly and said, "Difficult to catch, maybe, but who knows how many bowls of soup you can make from a single Puji.

"It’s just that there aren’t any decent Dungeons around here. I have no idea where that profiteer Pachy got his supply from."

"Haha, as long as it tastes good, who cares where it comes from!" Belte chuckled and looked at Hesia. "I thought you’d had it before. I didn’t realize you’d never even heard of this Demon."

Hesia shook his head.

"This soup is especially popular in your Mage circles. It’s said to effectively relieve mental fatigue and make one’s thoughts more focused and sharp."

As if to prove Hulk’s words, Hesia clearly felt that as the hot soup went down, it wasn’t just his taste buds that were treated. His mind also felt as if it had been washed by a cool, refreshing energy, leaving it more relaxed and clear.

At the same time, a new buff appeared in the Status bar in his mind:

[Status: ...

Sunken Grotto Jumping Puji’s Blessing: Physique +2, Wisdom +1, Will -0. Remaining Duration: 3 hours 59 minutes.]

’So it really is a Demon...’ Hesia was inwardly startled. ’And unlike the effects from eating Demon Flesh before, the Puji’s buff only lasts for four hours.’

But what surprised him was that this Demon called a Puji could provide a bonus to Wisdom and Will.

Wait a minute... Will -0?

He immediately realized it was because he had anticipated drinking tonight and had equipped the [Refined Gold Gastrointestinal Tract] trait in advance. It provided resistance to negative effects, neutralizing the slight Will-reducing effect of the soup.

No wonder the soup was so delicious and tempting, making one want to keep drinking it as if possessed. So it had this hidden side effect.

But this minor side effect couldn’t hide its immense value!

’If I need to learn a Magic spell that has a high Wisdom Attribute requirement, couldn’t I just drink a bowl of this soup first to temporarily boost my stats and then learn it?’

Moreover, from the description in the Status bar, he had also learned the full name and origin of this Puji—the Sunken Grotto Jumping Puji.

It came from a place called the "Sunken Grotto."

’If I can find this "Sunken Grotto," won’t I be able to catch a lot of Puji?!’

’A Demon with almost no combat ability, that can be sold for a good price, and can even be used to extract traits...’

Hesia looked at the remaining soup in his bowl, his eyes burning with fervor.

Puji are amazing!

...

Just as everyone was enjoying the fine food and wine, a slightly flippant voice, thick with exaggerated enthusiasm, sounded from behind Belte:

"Hey! Look who it is! Belte! You old dog!"

A large hand slapped heavily onto Belte’s shoulder, nearly making him stumble.

Belte rubbed his sore shoulder and looked back. "Maurice? You damn rhino! It’s been so long, I thought you’d been captured by some Beastman Tribe and forced into hard labor!"

The newcomer was a man in his thirties, dressed in a set of worn Leather Armor. His slightly greasy hair was combed back, and a cynical smile played on his lips. His eyes held a mix of shrewdness and laziness.

He exuded the air of a seasoned rogue, clearly someone who had frequented taverns for many years.

"Tsk, I just crawled back from that damned Blackwater Swamp, I’m nothing but a bag of bones." Maurice sighed dramatically and unceremoniously pulled over an empty chair to sit down. "Dammit, the mosquitos in that godforsaken place are bigger than a goblin’s balls! They nearly sucked me dry!"

He jerked his chin toward the bar and shouted, "Jin Jia! Two mugs of ’Pachy’s Pride’! I need to wash the taste of swamp mud out of my throat!" He paused, a cunning smile spreading across his face. "Put it on my good friend Belte’s tab!"

Belte’s mouth twitched. "...You rascal, what were you doing in a hellhole like the Blackwater Swamp?"

"Don’t ask, it was bad luck!" Maurice waved his hand dismissively, seemingly unwilling to elaborate. His gaze shifted to the others at the table. "Out drinking with friends, are we?"

Belte puffed out his chest. "Yeah, my luck’s been good recently. Made a bit of money, so I’m treating my friends to a relaxing night."

Upon hearing this, Maurice chuckled and teased out of habit, "Haha, how did that she-dragon Laila ever let you out to splurge? Didn’t she...?"

He hadn’t finished his sentence when he noticed the atmosphere at the table had suddenly turned strange. Belte’s expression was frozen, Hulk silently took a sip of his drink, Zoya was staring down at the tabletop, and Hesia was looking past him with an expression of someone enjoying a good show.

A chill ran down his spine. Maurice stiffly turned around.

Laila was standing there with her arms crossed, watching him with a blank expression.

She had just returned from the washroom, only to be greeted by this "splendid" remark.

"Er..." Maurice’s smile froze on his face, and beads of sweat broke out on his forehead. "Long... long time no see, Laila! You’re... you’re still as... as radiant as ever..."

Just then, a waiter arrived with the drinks he had ordered.

Maurice grabbed a mug, intending to make a run for it. "Ah, the drinks are here! You guys enjoy, I just remembered I have something to do..."

"Stop."

Maurice turned back, his face a mask of misery.

Laila pointed at the mug in his hand, then at the feast on the table. "Pay for the drinks. And while you’re at it, settle the bill for this whole table, too."

Maurice immediately started pleading poverty. "Er... Laila, look, I just got back from the swamp. I don’t have a single coin on me, I’m broke as a joke..."

Belte was about to try and smooth things over. "Laila, how about..."

Laila shot him a look. "Shut up."

She continued to stare at Maurice and sneered, "Trying to fool an Undead? How could you have no money when you just got back? Would you come to a tavern with no money? Cut the crap. When are you going to pay back the 80 Silver Scales you lost to me?"

"I’ll pay you back soon! Real soon! I swear! As soon as I get a new commission and get paid, you’ll be the first person I repay!"

"Settle this table’s bill today. You can make up the rest of the debt later."

Maurice glanced at Belte, shooting him a pleading look for help. Belte returned an apologetic look that said, ’Sorry, my hands are tied.’

Seeing that he couldn’t weasel his way out, Maurice’s eyes darted around. He seemed to think of something and said tentatively, "Otherwise... the usual arrangement?"

Not wanting to lose too much face in front of his drinking buddy, Belte also tried to persuade her. "I think that could work. Laila, look..."

But Laila shook her head. "No. I don’t feel like drinking that much today." She glanced at the bandage still wrapped around Belte’s neck and added, "Besides, you need to heal up as soon as possible, so you shouldn’t be drinking too much either."