Chapter 17: Maric’s “Adventure Story”

Chapter 17: Maric's "Adventure Story"

At the Brave's Tavern.

Caspas, who was playing billiards, saw that impressive young nobleman again.

Unlike others who would haggle, this young nobleman directly took out 5 pounds in cash and even treated him to a Southwell beer.

"Good evening, Mr. Caspas."

Hastur greeted politely, then had Caspas lead him to the small black room in the alley to join an extraordinary gathering.

He could find the way himself, but thought it safer to have Caspas escort him.

As for the fee, he would treat him to another Southwell beer.

"Those who are too obsessed with those things can easily bring disaster upon themselves."

Caspas gave Hastur another piece of advice before leaving.

"Thank you for your advice, Mr. Caspas." Hastur nodded, deciding to treat him to two Southwell beers when he came out later.

Wearing a mask and hood, he entered the small black room, which was still the living room on the first floor.

As the transaction proceeded, the lady who had previously sold Hastur the lawyer's potion formula at a higher price, expressed her desire for the barbarian potion formula again.

Thinking there was no hope this time, she was surprised to hear a calm voice from the corner, "I once obtained a barbarian potion formula."

"What do you require?"

"800 pounds."

The lady frowned, "Isn't that price a bit steep?"

A typical Sequence 8 potion formula would cost between 500 to 600 pounds, but this person was asking for 800 pounds right off the bat, a clear markup.

"I'm not in such dire need of money at the moment."

"…"

The lady was stunned; why did that sound so familiar? Right, at the last few gatherings, a newcomer wanted the lawyer's potion formula, and she used that reason to sell it to him for 300 pounds.

That voice also sounded familiar.

It was him!

The newcomer who had sought the lawyer's potion formula! The lady was taken aback, then chuckled bitterly, "This is a considerable fortune; I need some time to gather the funds."

"I believe Mr. Eye of Wisdom wouldn't mind fronting you a portion," Hastur said lightly.

Mr. Eye of Wisdom chuckled, "I don't mind offering a little help; you can use an extraordinary weapon of equivalent value as collateral."

"That's fine then."

The lady gritted her teeth and painfully spent 800 pounds to buy the barbarian potion formula.

Hastur handed over the barbarian potion formula he had written to Mr. Eye of Wisdom for a free appraisal.

When Mr. Eye of Wisdom announced the deal was done, he finally breathed a sigh of relief.

This was not just about the 800-pound transaction, but also the potion formula he needed himself; back and forth, it was 1600 pounds! Having gained a hefty sum of 800 pounds, Hastur felt much more relaxed and intended to buy a suitable extraordinary item for himself, preferably a seal related to order and rules, but unfortunately, he couldn't find one.

When the gathering ended, Mr. Eye of Wisdom had Hastur leave first to avoid unnecessary trouble.

Back at the Brave's Tavern, Hastur ordered three Southwell beers for Caspas.

Caspas was silent for a moment and said, "I've aged past the point of enjoying Southwell beer."

"Consider it a taste of youth."

Hastur left him with his back, silently sipping a cocktail named the Disorderly, which cost 2 Sule.

He initially wanted to try fruit wine, but seeing others drinking beer or strong spirits, he felt out of place drinking fruit wine alone, so he opted for a cocktail instead.

"…"

Caspas only drank one Southwell beer, casually passing the other two to other merry patrons.

After finishing his drink and seeing Hastur still sitting interestedly in a corner, enjoying the drunken haze of the place, he approached and offered, "Would you be interested in meeting a real extraordinary person?"

"Oh, here?"

"Yes."

"Sure."

"Come with me."

Caspas led Hastur to a card room deep in the tavern.

Upon entering, there were a dozen people playing Texas Hold'em.

When someone arrived, a man in a white shirt and black vest slowly stood up from his seat, and the other dozen people also put down their cards at the same time and looked over.

No one spoke, and the atmosphere was somewhat eerie.

Hastur glanced around and noticed these people had pale complexions and wild eyes, exuding an unwelcoming chill.

This man must be Maric.

Hastur recognized the man's background, which was a major reason for his stay at the Brave's Tavern.

Caspas briefly introduced Hastur to Maric, then turned and left, leaving the two to talk alone.

"Are you very interested in the world of the extraordinary?" Maric asked with a hint of mockery as he sat back down.

Hastur sat opposite Maric and said, "Mortals always aspire to the divine realm."

"Heh, have you ever killed anyone?"

"No."

Maric's mocking smile deepened as he shook his head, "Someone like you is neither suited nor should enter this dog-eat-dog world."

Did he really look that naive? Hastur sighed inwardly; both Caspas and Maric, upon first seeing him, treated him like a foolish noble scion chasing after extraordinary powers.

Hastur pondered and asked, "If you had to choose again, would you still pick this path?"

"Yes." Maric's mockery softened a bit.

"Why?"

Maric didn't answer directly but chuckled, "I don't have the comfortable life you do."

"Yes, my life is already so good, living in a big house, waking up from a large bed every day, with servants attending to me all day long. Since I'm already so wealthy, why not seek some excitement I've never experienced?"

Maric fell silent, feeling somewhat shown up by the other's opportunistic boasting.

"Fancy a game of cards?" Hastur smiled, gesturing to the deck of cards on the table, extending an invitation.

He didn't like gambling, but he missed the feel of cards in his hands.

If there were three people, he would definitely suggest a few rounds of Fight the Evil.

That was the imprint left deep in his heart.

If there were four, they would definitely play Upgrade or Fight the Landlord.

"You want to play cards with me?"

"Yes, just the two of us."

"Alright, the minimum bet is 1 Sule, and the maximum raise is 1 pound."

Hastur nodded; the stakes were smaller than he expected, and winning or losing a few rounds didn't make much difference.

He also wanted to see if his luck had improved.

Maric snapped his fingers, and a living corpse standing to the right began shuffling and dealing cards.

After dealing, Hastur peeked at the corner of his two hole cards, a pair of Aces, which made him pause—had his luck improved? "It seems your hole cards are quite good," Maric observed Hastur's subtle change in expression.

"Learning to control your expressions is also a gamble."

"5 Sule."

"Call."

After a round of calling, the living corpse continued dealing, and both chose to keep calling until all 5 community cards were dealt and revealed.

A, Q, 9, A, 8.

"I have a straight."

Maric revealed his hole cards, a 10 and a J; he had gambled on the last card and won.

"Four of a kind, Aces."

Hastur remained calm, naturally revealing his two hole cards, winning over Maric's straight with four of a kind.

"Is this the beginner's luck?" Maric mused.

"Perhaps."

In the following rounds, Hastur's luck remained good, and although Maric's cards were not bad, he mostly lost.

After eight rounds, Maric had only won one, losing about 20 pounds.

"Damn it."

Maric frowned slightly, glancing at the living corpse dealing cards, wondering if he should change the dealer.

Seeing an opportunity to leave on a high note, Hastur said, "Can I exchange all the bets I've won for some information?"

"Oh, what do you want to know?"

Maric didn't reject the trade; the goddess of luck wasn't on his side tonight, and he didn't want to use his bad cards to spoil someone else's good mood.

"Your adventure story."

"Heh, that's not an adventure story."

Maric laughed self-deprecatingly, organizing his thoughts before slowly recounting his extraordinary tale to Hastur.

In his story, he was a peace-loving farmer's child, living with a group of friends in a tranquil village, enjoying an idyllic life.

But one day, some desire-filled people colluded with enemies outside, launching a merciless slaughter.

The peaceful life was no more, war spread, people died tragically, some fled, some turned traitor…

He was lucky; with the help of some elders, he and a few friends managed to escape.

But the demons who destroyed their hometown didn't choose to let them go and kept sending people to hunt them down, forcing them to live a nomadic life until they arrived in Beckland and finally had a stable life.

Perhaps reminded of something that angered him, Maric's eyes grew more ferocious, like a beast ready to bite its prey at any moment.

But soon, Maric suppressed his impulse, returning to calmness.

Hastur sighed, "Those who follow desire will eventually be consumed by it. What makes us human is that we are not dominated by desire like beasts; we have a self that is above desire."

He didn't say this to please Maric; it was a genuine sentiment.

Maric and Miss Sharon's faction of restraint were clearly much better than those of the indulgence faction.

The indulgence faction are like beasts that have lost themselves; when their desires burn out, they too will be reduced to a pile of charred bones.

Maric's eyes shone with pride, "To restrain desire and seek nothing from the outside is to be truly extraordinary."

"The human heart is greedy like a snake, wishing to swallow an elephant."

"That's a very sensible saying; Emperor Roselle truly is a great thinker."

"…"

Hastur struggled to keep his composure; he had merely rephrased the saying 'the human heart is not enough, like a snake swallowing an elephant,' not intending to plagiarize Roselle.

A great thinker? Indeed, attributing all famous sayings from past and present to oneself, how could he not be a great thinker?

"The night is deep; I should head back."

Hastur, silenced by Emperor Roselle's wisdom, lost interest in continuing the conversation.

Maric said, "I usually come here every night."

"That's my good fortune."

Hastur understood his meaning, smiled, and stood up to leave.

(End of Chapter)