Wizard: My career panel has no upper limit

Chapter 46: Otto, the Gray Dwarf at Sunset Tavern

The morning sun streamed into the room through the gaps in the curtains, and Ron had already opened his eyes again from his meditative state.

He had asked for leave from Mrs. Allen before leaving yesterday, and decided to try to find those special materials on the black market today.

Thinking of this, he took out the shimmering parchment again and carefully examined the items recorded on it:

Dream Spider Eye Fluid, Moon Bat Heart Ash, Crystal Moss, Night Talk Pollen.
He found most of the information in the list of "prohibited items" in the booklet of precautions he received when he was certified as a junior apprentice last time.

"These things can only be obtained through unconventional channels on the black market."

Just as he was thinking about a solution, there was a rapid knock on the door.

Ron went over and opened the door, and saw Andre wearing a practical dark casual suit, with his blond hair simply tied back, obviously prepared for today's "informal event".

"Good morning, respected ally."

After a playful greeting, he slipped in without any courtesy, closed the door behind him, and lowered his voice: "Have you thought about today's itinerary?"

Ron nodded and pointed to the parchment spread out on the bed. "The first priority is to find these materials, or at least get a rough idea of ​​the scope."

Andre took a closer look, his brows gradually furrowing. "My God, what on earth is Mrs. Allen trying to create from this list? Even 'Tongue of the Thirsty Dead' is on it."

"You know this thing?" Ron was a little surprised.

"Of course, that's a common material for advanced curse spells." Andre's expression turned serious.
"It's said that a normal person must be bound alive in the desert and left to die of thirst in order to extract a potent enough material to be used as a medium for casting spells."

Ron's heart trembled. No matter what Mrs. Allen wanted to make, it didn't look like a good potion.

But he quickly made a decision - since he had already agreed, he would do his best to complete it.

"Luckily, I have you, a know-it-all who knows a little bit about everything." He patted the blond boy's shoulder: "Otherwise, I really don't know how I would have found these things."

"It's really an honor to help Master Ron." Andre showed a smug smile: "I do know some inside information about the black market."

He looked at the sky and said, "These few days are a good time. Every month at this time, there is a special trade fair at the Sunset Tavern. We can go and try our luck."

Ron quickly packed up his belongings, including some magic stone fragments, self-defense weapons and several bottles of homemade potions, and then the two of them quietly left the apprentice dormitory area.

Through several sparsely traveled paths, they gradually moved away from the central area of ​​the school and moved towards the mortal settlements and streets further out on the Black Mist Jungle.

"Be careful of the eyes around you."

Andre whispered a reminder as they walked, "Although the school won't explicitly forbid apprentices from going to the black market, if they're caught trading contraband, they won't refuse the magic stone fragments that come to them."

This is probably what is called... fishing enforcement. Ron nodded and took note, while increasing his vigilance around him.

Through the keen perception gained from his multiple professions, he could feel that the closer he got to the edge of the black fog forest, the more chaotic the magical fluctuations in the air became.

Various chaotic energy traces are intertwined together to form a unique atmosphere.

After passing through several winding alleys, they finally arrived in front of a dilapidated two-story wooden building. "This is it—'Sunset Tavern'." Andre looked up at the rickety sign in front of the door.

“On the surface, it’s just an ordinary tavern, but in reality, it’s the safest underground trading place in this area.”

Pushing open the creaking wooden door of the "Sunset Tavern", one is greeted by a complex aroma of alcohol, tobacco, and various foreign body odors.

Ron wrinkled his nose, trying to adjust to the suffocatingly rich smell.

The tavern was dimly lit, with a few magic crystal lamps barely illuminating the crowded space.

Beyond the senses of sight and smell, the whispers of various creatures and the clinking of wine glasses mixed together to form an eerie harmony.

Strange-looking aliens sat huddled together, some as tall as mountains, huddled in corners, sipping wine from giant wooden cups;

Some are short and agile, yet can finish a wine glass that is bigger than their head in one breath.

The sight of these strange guys whispering to each other or drinking alone made this place seem mysterious and dangerous.

Ron glanced across the tavern and saw several humans in different attire mixed in.

Some wore tattered clothes unique to exiles, some wore gorgeous robes in the style of aristocrats, and some were dressed like hunters or mercenaries. Their eyes were generally alert and sharp.

"Over there." Andre gently tugged at Ron's sleeve, lowered his voice, and pointed to the corner of the bar with his eyes:
"Do you see that gray dwarf? That's Otto, a relatively reliable intermediary I know."

Ron looked where he was pointing and saw a gray dwarf with a thick beard and only as tall as an average man's waist sitting on a high stool with a half-full glass of beer in front of him.

The dwarf looked like a wrinkled rock brought to life—his skin a grayish-brown hue, his calloused hands gripping the wine glass as if it were some priceless treasure.

The two walked to the bar. Andrei skillfully gestured to the bartender, then whispered to Ron, "Let me go first. Otto doesn't like strangers asking about transactions directly."

The bartender quickly brought two glasses of turbid, foamy liquid. Ron took them carefully. The liquid gave off a frowning sour smell, and a layer of foam floated on the surface.

Andre took a sip from the cup, then turned to the gray dwarf casually:
"Long time no see, Mr. Otto. The beer tastes as bad as ever today."

The gray dwarf didn't even look up. He just tapped the rim of the cup with his rough fingers, making a regular thumping sound, as if confirming some secret code: "Oh? Which old friend is here?"

The sound was low and hoarse, like two rough rocks rubbing against each other.

"The 'Highland Mineral Vein Guide' you found for me last time was a great help."

Andrei spoke in a peculiar code, his voice lowered, "Unfortunately, I ran into some trouble later and had to throw the book away. It's a pity, it's a rare and wonderful book."

Hearing this, the dwarf slowly raised his head, his blue eyes flashing with shrewdness under his thick eyebrows.

Those eyes were in stark contrast to his rugged appearance, clear and sharp, revealing an intelligence that didn't match his appearance.

"Hey, it's you, Your Highness," he said softly, glancing around cautiously. "It seems you have some special needs again?"

(End of this chapter)