I'm not a goblin Frankenstein's monster.

"That's exactly what I was thinking," Xia Lin said. "Could you help me get in touch with that team from last time? Captain Targen and his group?"

Nim raised an eyebrow. "Their team has been resting for quite a while since their teammate got injured last time. I don't know if they'll be free. But I'll ask for you." He put away the booklet and added, "By the way, if you're going to clear out the kobolds, remember to collect plenty of candles from their caves."

"A candle?" Xia Lin was taken aback. "What's that used for?"

"I don't know." Nim shrugged. "There's some weird talk going around the coastal docks lately, saying that lighting kobold candles can ward off evil spirits and protect your house from unclean things. Anyway, there are people who buy them, and the price is decent. You can bring them back with you, and I'll take care of them for you."

Xia Lin recalled the strange incident at the dock that Kai Jin had mentioned before; it seemed the rumors were still spreading.

Woody's voice rang in his mind at just the right moment: "Kobolds regard candles as sacred totems. Legend has it that the light of candles can fight against an evil entity called the 'Lord of Darkness,' and if the candle goes out, that thing will descend and devour them. So they will fight desperately to protect the candles in their lair, especially those in the large lairs."

"That doesn't sound like it'll be easy to do," Xia Lin said in a low voice.

"What's there to be afraid of?" Woody said dismissively. "I don't believe their bones are harder than your sword."

Xia Lin chuckled; these words were quite to his liking.

He went to the counter first and handed the commission form and badge from the previous escort mission to Lia, who was on duty.

The receptionist looked quite well today, and when she saw him, a smile naturally appeared on her lips.

"Mission completed. Basic reward: ten gold coins." After counting, Lia took another small leather bag from Xia Lin. "This is Goblin Left Ear, extra kill certificate, totaling one gold coin and two silver coins."

She skillfully pushed the coins over, and a small pile of glittering gold and silver coins made a pleasant, soft sound on the oak table.

Xia Lin put away the money bag; it felt heavy in her hand.

Including previous savings, his assets have now increased to an astonishing thirty-one gold coins and two silver coins, making him quite wealthy.

"Also," he said, taking out the number Nim had given him, "I'd like to take this mission."

Lia took the note, glanced at it, turned around, rummaged through the files on the back shelf for a moment, and took out a task assignment sheet.

"Clear out the kobolds..." she murmured, looking up at Xia Lin with professional concern in her emerald eyes. "This mission has a higher risk rating than regular goblin clearing. Kobolds are adept at coordinated attacks, and their lairs are often filled with traps. If you decide to go, I strongly recommend that you form a team and make thorough preparations."

"Thank you for reminding me." Xia Lin sincerely thanked her, carefully put away the commission form, and already had a plan in mind.

After leaving the counter, he went back to Nîmes.

"I've accepted the mission. Please contact Captain Targen and the others as soon as possible. If they have other plans, please also keep an eye out for other reliable teams for me."

"Okay." Nim nodded, making a scribbled note on the parchment with his charcoal pencil. "I'll let you know if there's any news."

Next is resupply time.

Xia Lin went to the magic consumables shop first. The shop was still filled with the mixed smell of herbs and parchment, and the shopkeeper behind the counter was wiping a row of sparkling crystal bottles.

"One bottle of low-level healing potion." Xia Lin placed five gold coins on the table.

The shopkeeper glanced at the gold coins, then took down the familiar dark red glass bottle from the shelf behind him.

The liquid inside the bottle shimmered with a viscous sheen under the light.

Xia Lin carefully took it, her fingertips able to feel the slight coolness emanating from the glass.

This potion almost saved him and Jimmy's lives during the last battle against the gnolls.

Now, like Sosia's "Blue Nightmare," it has become an indispensable "strategic reserve" in his adventure bag.

"Actually," the shopkeeper suddenly spoke, a shrewd businessman's glint in his triangular eyes, "I recently received a new batch of intermediate-grade healing potions. They're more than 30% more effective than the lower-grade ones, with faster recovery and relief for internal injuries. It's just the price..."

He rubbed his fingers together. "Twenty gold coins a bottle. Interested?"

Xia Lin paused for a moment.

Twenty gold coins. That's almost two-thirds of his current entire fortune.

"I don't need it for now." He shook his head, carefully putting the low-grade potion into his inner bag. "I'll save it for next time."

As he walked out of the shop, he muttered to himself, "Everything is expensive in the adventurer's trade; I still need to keep making money."

The last stop was a grocery store.

The shop still smelled strange, but Xia Lin had gradually gotten used to it.

He replenished his basic medical kit and bandages, and also selected a new portable torch.

When it was time to pay, the salesman's eyes lit up, and he mysteriously pulled out a booklet from under the counter.

"Customer, take a look at this!" He pushed the brochure towards Xia Lin like a treasure.

"The latest edition of the 'Adventurer's Universal Monster Encyclopedia - Deluxe Illustrated Revised Edition'! Not only is the content more complete, but also..." He lowered his voice, his expression becoming somewhat ambiguous.

"Several new detailed illustrations of rare monsters have been added, such as the banshee from the depths of the forest, and... cough, the beautiful and alluring succubus."

The paintings are incredibly detailed and lifelike! Recently, many professionals have been buying them specifically, saying they have both practical and… well, collectible value.

Xia Lin was taken aback.

Woody on his shoulder suddenly poked his ear with the tip of his wing: "New knowledge? I need to learn it."

Xia Lin hesitated as he looked at the illustrated book. The cover was indeed much more ornate than his old edition, with a beautifully drawn silhouette of a woman printed under the gold-embossed title—quite eye-catching.

"May I take a look?" he asked.

Seeing that Xia Lin showed interest in buying, the shop owner waved his hand generously: "Feel free to look around!"

Xia Lin opened the inner pages. The paper was thick and the illustrations were indeed hand-colored, and the quality was much better than the rough lines of the old edition.

He flipped through the pages quickly; the textual descriptions were indeed more detailed, including ecological habits, analysis of weaknesses, and suggestions for dealing with potential problems.

Then he turned to a certain page and immediately stopped.

Woody also came closer, his dark eyes almost touching the paper.

Time slips away quietly.

The store was so quiet that only the rustling sound of turning pages could be heard.

The boss initially looked smug, but as time passed, his smile gradually froze, eventually transforming into an expression that mixed with impatience and suspicion.

"Um... customer," he finally couldn't help but speak up, "how much longer are you going to look at this? This is a business, why don't you buy it and take it home to study it yourself..."

"Snapped!"

Xia Lin slammed the illustrated guide shut, the movement so fast it created a gust of wind.

"Well written," he commented without batting an eye. "The illustrations are also very vivid. However, I already have something similar, so I don't need it for now."

After saying that, he turned around and quickly walked out of the shop.

Woody shrank his neck against his shoulder: "The taste of a succubus is really good..."

A man and a crow, their backs to the camera, somehow conveyed a sense of fleeing in disarray.