I'm not a goblin Frankenstein's monster.

Xia Lin, short of money, raised her hand to stop her: "Thanks, but I don't drink. Alcohol numbs the nerves and affects accurate judgment."

"Really?" Sosia raised an eyebrow, slightly surprised. "A teetotaler is quite rare."

She shook the azure bottle in her hand, her tone slightly regretful, "What a pity, I was hoping to invite you to try this new product for free. By the way, it's priced at one silver coin per glass."

Free, one silver coin per cup.

Xia Lin keenly grasped the key words, and her concerns instantly vanished.

"Buzz—"

He gently pushed the empty wine glass toward the elf's hand.

Sosia cast a questioning look at her.

"Fill it up, thank you."

It's good to challenge your weaknesses.

Xia Lin remained expressionless, as if the righteous and stern refusal he had just uttered had never come from his mouth.

"Heh~" Sosia chuckled. "He's a young man who knows how to adapt."

[Affection level increased!]

[Interspecies Reproduction - Experience Points +2]

The icy blue liquid slid down my throat, initially offering a refreshing fruity aroma with a hint of sweetness, before a rich, lingering fragrance slowly unfolded, somewhat reminiscent of a fruit cocktail from a past life.

Immediately afterwards, a gentle warmth rose from my stomach, softly brushing over my limbs and bones, invigorating my spirit, before returning to a comfortable tranquility.

As for the aftereffects of alcohol? Xia Lin, who has a "healthy digestive system," is currently unaware of what they are.

"How's this wine?" Sosia asked with great interest.

This wine is truly exquisite, smooth on the palate and flowing down the throat.

Xia Lin struggled to find tasting notes: "A very good wine, it seems to also have a calming effect?"

The elf's eyes lit up: "Excellent taste. The recipe for 'Blue Nightmare' comes from an ancient elf's notebook, but unfortunately many of the ingredients are now extinct. I've tried many substitutes, but none of them can achieve the wonderful effect described in the record."

"Until you discovered the Moon Tear Grass?" Xia Lin continued.

"Smart." Sosia nodded approvingly.

There aren't many adventurers who can afford a cup of Elven wine for a silver coin; most prefer the larger, more filling Golden Wheat Wine. To be honest, Xia Lin isn't optimistic about the elves' chances of making a profit.

But she clearly had higher aspirations for this syrup. It seemed that the mages of Faerûn had even invented some extraction and growth magic for it. Charlin felt that elves and they belonged to the same kind of people.

He didn't understand, but he respected.

"This herb only grows in the northern mountains. There, magic accumulates, giving rise to all kinds of magical creatures, and adventurers have previously been willing to take on the task of gathering it."

But recently, goblins have been wreaking havoc, and the bounties are high, so everyone's flocking to hunt those green-skinned rats.

As she spoke, she took out an old leather booklet from under the counter and pushed it in front of Xia Lin. "This is the 'Encyclopedia of Magical Plants,' which contains brief descriptions of some precautions for collecting Moon Tear Grass. You can take it for now."

After carefully reviewing and confirming all the key information, Xia Lin closed the guidebook, stood up, and took his leave: "Ms. Sosia, I'm setting off now. If all goes well, I should be able to bring back the Moon Tear Grass you need in a few days, and perhaps I can also get another cup of 'Blue Nightmare' then."

"Of course, I'll invite you to taste it as soon as it's available," Sosia replied with a smile. However, Xia Lin did not move after speaking and remained standing in front of the counter.

She asked, puzzled, "Is there anything else, Xia Lin?"

Xia Lin's gaze fell calmly on the half-empty bottle of dark blue liquor on the counter.

He pointed to the bottles: "Could you please pack up the rest of the free drinks for me? Thank you."

He specifically reminded her of the word "free," even though the elf had previously said it was free to sample, Xia Lin was still afraid she might change her mind.

The beautiful, silent boss in front of me probably wouldn't hesitate to spend a bottle of wine.

Will this lower my opinion of you? Have I already mentally removed myself from the list of customers for the next new product tasting?

Finally, with the elf boss's amused expression, Xia Lin obtained the remaining half bottle of Blue Nightmare.

"One silver coin a cup, I wonder if there will be another chance to try it..." Xia Lin muttered to herself as she pushed open the door.

[Affection level increased!]

[Interspecies Reproduction - Experience Points +2]

Hmm? Then it's alright.

I see, so he prefers to be passive.

---

At the town's exit, Xia Lin quickly found a carriage willing to give him a ride.

As the town's outline gradually disappeared on the horizon, the cobblestone avenue beneath the wheels transformed into a dirt path amidst tall oak trees and grass.

The driver, Pete, was a mountain dwarf who had once been an adventurer in his youth. However, he was ambushed by treacherous kobolds during a mission, which forced him to retire and make a living as a transporter.

Most mountain dwarves dream of becoming high-level professionals, making a fortune on a mission, and then retiring early.

Among the Gondor dwarves was a dwarf named "Steel Shield." After becoming a professional, he always dreamed of making a fortune and ending his adventuring career. However, during a mission, he encountered an owl-bear deep in the forest, which brought his lifelong dream to an end.

Although Pete didn't become a professional, he was fortunate enough to achieve half of his dream.

Xia Lin, being new to this mission, naturally wouldn't miss any opportunity to gather information.

The dwarves' natural generosity and talkativeness, coupled with the half-bottle of high-quality Blue Nightmare that Xia Lin contributed, quickly got Pete talking.

After a few drinks, Pete not only shared his experiences and observations from years of adventure, but also revealed his rather romantic relationships with several women of unusual races when he was young.

"Xia Li, I'm not bragging, but if I hadn't had a few too many drinks before the mission and taken an arrow to the knee, I might have already become a professional," Pete muttered with a burp.

"After all, I was only half a step away from becoming a professional."

"How exactly does an ordinary apprentice adventurer advance to become a full-fledged professional?" Xia Lin immediately seized the opportunity to ask.

His understanding of the extraordinary systems of this world is still limited, and any relevant information is invaluable.

Pete stroked his messy beard and said thoughtfully, "It depends on individual talent."

Different training directions lead to different career paths.

For example, warriors emphasize the honing of physical strength and combat skills, rogues focus on agility, stealth, and a fatal blow, while the less common mages value the cultivation of mental strength and intellect.

"The career path will subtly modify the body of the prospective professional. Some people cannot adapt to this modification and may need potions, reagents, job change rituals and other special items to assist them. The methods of assisting in advancement vary depending on the profession and each person's body is different."

Only when your class rank is fully solidified can you be considered a Level 1 professional. Right now, you're only an apprentice. The current focus is on finding a suitable training path for yourself; becoming a professional is still a long way off for you.

"So, generally speaking, how long does it take to go from apprentice to Level 1 professional?"

"It's hard to say. There are too many types of level 1 professionals. Take the common warriors and rangers for example. The known advancement paths for warriors include melee defensive shield warriors and berserkers who pursue the ultimate attack."

Hybrid magic warriors who combine physical and magical damage, ranged archers, melee-advanced windwalkers, hunters who excel at setting traps and controlling the battlefield, and so on.

Even if the profession and the adventurer are highly compatible, it can take anywhere from 2 to 5 years.

I'm quite lucky to have reached the threshold of a warrior's career path after only two and a half years of training.

Some adventurers have been at the apprentice level for over ten years.