The monks weren't happy we wanted the Celestial Bell, so we ended up having to take it by force. Poor chumps were in over their head and didn't last more than a second. We did promise to return it afterwards, but they might not have heard over their own groaning.
"This thing's gotta be broken. We sure it's what we're looking for?" Yui asked, flailing the bell around to get it to ring.
"It ain't ringing on its own." Anya snatched it from her and tapped its metal surface, causing the bell to vibrate and let loose a high pitch ring. She showed us the mouth, inside of which was supposed to have a clapper to strike the bell, was absent.
"What's it supposed to do?" I also gave it a tap but instead of a ring, I thought I heard a whisper.
"Can't find out anymore. We beat up the guys who could tell us," Yui said.
Before I could get another hit off the bell for another listen, Anya tossed it back to Yui for safekeeping.
"I don't get how Bogart's supposed to fix Sacchan with that, but I'm down to try anything at this point. All we need now is a dryad's seed. The hell's that?" I asked.
Both of them shrugged.
Well, shit.
Bogart said something along the lines of a tree nymph that has a humanoid form. My first guess would be to search a forest, but we were in the middle of a city.
"So, what? We take some horses out and see what we can find?" Anya suggested.
"That'd take too long," I said, shooting her down.
"Excuse me…" A hooded man, shadier than a beach umbrella, approached us with his hands in his pockets and a smirk on his face. "I heard you ladies were looking for something in particular. Perhaps I can… interest you in my wares?"
The three of us traded dubious glances and scoffed.
"I got a better idea, old man. How about we talk over there in that dark alley where no one can see or hear us, yeah?" I threw an arm around his shoulder while Yui and Anya flanked me.
The guy suddenly had cold feet, not realizing what he'd gotten himself into. "Er, wait… uh… W-We can just speak in public…"
When we were out of sight and between the privacy of two buildings, I shoved the guy against the wall, pressing my forearm against his throat.
"Alright, Shady Jim. What were you trying to sell us, huh? Better make it worth my while." I sneered.
"My-My name's Quan— " The rest of his name was cut off by a hard gulp as I put Sacchan up to his face. "I sell trinkets and baubles! Nothing more!"
"Oh, why didn't ya tell me sooner? I'm looking for a dryad seed, not trinkets and baubles. What I'm hearing is, you wasting my time, Jim?" I asked him, pushing my bat to the tip of his nose.
"No! I, uh… most certainly am not wasting your time, ma'am! Dryad seeds are extraordinarily rare. But I know a place to acquire such an item!" His legs were shaking so much I thought he was going to piss his pants.
I picked him up by the collar and tossed him to the ground. "Looks like we got us a tour guide. Better not be a trap, or you're gonna find yourself crawling on your hands and knees for the rest of your life."
Jim led us under a bridge where he unlocked a metal grate. The entrance was cramped at first, but widened as he continued further in. We were right under Taiq'ae. It didn't stink like I expected an underground sewer system to. Instead, it was fragrant with a heavy floral scent.
We reached a bolted iron door that was only accessible by casting magic onto the rune lock. The door swung open to a sprawling, underground bazaar. Like the surface, the place was lit up by paper lanterns, but the similarities ended there.
Floating, red flowers in the sewer water looked like bloody claws trying to escape the depths. Brothels had women soliciting customers outside, with collars on their necks that led back into the building. Most of the 'markets' were stalls lined up along corridors, selling exotic animals, jewellry, weapons, and more.
It was surprisingly crowded for an underground market.
"Taiq'ae is called the Blossoming City, down here is the dirt and roots of it all," Jim said.
We passed by a fighting pit where two beastlings were duking it out. Anya, unable to turn down a chance to paint her knuckles red, ditched us to get a bout in.
"Just yell when you're done!" she said, taking off.
"Aw, man. I wanna play, too." Yui moped.
Someone walked into me, and I felt their hand go for the pouch of gold at my waist. The elven man was startled that I grabbed his wrist.
"Let go, bitch!"
"Ain't your lucky day, pal." I kicked his legs out from under him and tossed him over the guard rails into the sewage.
Jim's mouth hung open.
"You're next if we don't get what we're here for," Yui said, nudging his ribs.
He cleared his throat. "Right this way!"
I expected a stall, but it was a caravan of four wagons manned by beastlings that he introduced me to. They occupied one of the alcoves, and were in the process of unloading slaves in cages and chains.
"I hear they work for the Ramaleiks. Wait here. I'll speak to them first," Jim said.
I tripped him to the ground.
"Nah. I don't think so." I grinned.
A couple of goons moved in quick to block our way.
"Relax. We're buyers from Cynderace," I said.
One of them grunted in response. Then a low growl from behind caused them to lose their composure.
"If they have gold to spend, let them through," a familiar voice said. By their invitation, we came into a makeshift camp that used the wagons as a perimeter. A single dark elf sat at the campfire with his back turned to us, skinning an apple. "You know, there's something therapeutic about removing the skin off what you're going to eat. I rather—"
As soon as Yui and I sat down across from him, all the blood drained from his face. A giggling Yui put a finger to her lips and shushed him.
"Sorry to cut your cliche villain speech short. Bet you've been working on that all day. Ya miss me, Haqin?" I leaned forward to offer him a handshake over the fire, but his words only came out as a squeal.
"W-Why are you here?" Haqin asked, eyes bulging so much they might fall out of their sockets.
"What if I said we're here to do some yankee diplomacy?" Yui pulled out her nunchuck.
He gulped. "N-No, could we conduct normal diplomacy?"
"I'm looking for a dryad seed. If you don't got one, maybe you got a dryad locked up in one of your cages," I said.
Haqin whistled for one of his goons and ordered them to quickly check the wagons for a dryad. Yui and I kept our eyes on our old dark elf friend with a smile on our faces. His hands hadn't moved an inch, and the apple was already discoloring. It was for the best he didn't eat that apple, seeing as he was about to barf.
I almost thought this was a set-up because it took so long. He sensed my impatience and tugged uncomfortably on his collar. Luckily for him, the beastling returned to tell him the news.
"As it turns out, my dear friend, we are in possession of a dryad!" Haqin jumped from his seat and asked us to follow him.
The dryad was in the only cage that had yet to be unloaded. She had wilting flowers on her hair, dried leaves that cracked and fell from her body, and green skin that looked sickly.
"How much for her?" I asked.
"For you? Free of charge! Please, just take her and leave," he begged.
"Aw! You shouldn't have!" Yui climbed into the wagon and broke the lock on the cage.
"S-So… is our transaction… complete?" the sniveling dark elf asked.
"Not yet." I knocked out the two goons behind me and grabbed Haqin by his neck. "I feel like we made a connection doing business with ya? Too bad the Ramaleiks crossed me a second time. You're unlucky enough to run into me again."