The large heavy wooden doors of the Redwood Brew swung open. Feng Ye just pushed through the double doors and was met by a packed tavern filled with the laughter of adventurers and merchants trying to one-up each other on their latest trades.
Feng Ye stepped inside and scanned the room. This was usually the best place to investigate rumors. Words here were worth more than gold.
A few heads turned and gazed at the entrance when he entered. As if by instinct, they took a glance to assess him. Here Feng Ye wasn't out of place. His worn-out clothing and confident demeanor enabled him to not stand out. He was just another traveler passing through.
A broad-shouldered man with a large scar across his forehead glanced at Feng Ye before gesturing toward the nearby counter. He had a neutral expression on his face. Neither welcoming nor friendly.
"New guy. You drinking or staying?"
Feng Ye pulled out three grey beast cores from his pocket and slid them across the wooden counter.
"Both. I'll take one room, some hot food, and a pitcher of whatever is decent."
"It costs only two cores."
Feng Ye smirks, "The extra can be considered a friendly hello."
The man's expression changed. His mouth turned into a grin. "Fair enough. My name's Curt. Rooms are upstairs. Yours is the last one on the left. Here's the key for the night."
He tossed a small iron key onto the counter. "Food will be out. Get comfortable." The man turned around into the kitchen and kitchen orders could be heard. "Mel, another standard serving!"
Feng Ye took the key and slipped it into his pocket. A place to rest was obtained successfully. Now, time to get as much information as possible. Beast cores came in handy.
He found an empty table near the center of the tavern. It was a rough wooden chair that made a small creaking noise when he sat down. A few minutes later, a wooden platter was placed in front of him by a barmaid.
The food was simple but warm. It was a thick cut of roasted venison. On the side, he had some mashed vegetables mixed with some type of local seasoning. He was also given a slice of thick bread with a crunchy outer crust. A small wedge of cheese was also provided.
Along with the food, a mug of dark ale was served. Foam spilled slightly over the edges. It had a rich scent typical of brews. It had a lightly sweet aroma coming from the grains used in the brew.
The tavern did not skimp on the portions. It was a very generous portion. There was no free space on the wooden platter.
Feng Ye picked up the venison and took a large bite. The meaty aroma filled his mouth. It was very juicy and tasty. It had a slightly smoky taste from open-fire cooking. He took a bite out of the thick slice of bread and pushed it down with a gulp of the dark ale.
This was freaking good. Feng Ye licked his lips. Ever since he had come into this world, the food was good enough for survival, but it was never eaten for the taste.
This was a true taste of the borderlands. Delicious. With good food in his front, Feng Ye had the mood to listen to the surrounding discussions.
As he ate, his attention drifted around the tavern. Numerous different discussions occurred at the same time. Some tables chatted with hushed voices, while others were rowdy and filled with laughter. From a nearby table, a place stood out to him.
"Radiant Kingdom." His eyes darted to the origin of the group which he had heard it from. A group of four adventurers sat around a larger wooden table with half-empty mugs in their hands. Their voices were lowered but intense.
Feng Ye finished up his meal, picked up his half-empty mug, and approached the table with an easy smile.
"Mind if I join? Drinks on me."
Out of the four, the tallest was a swordsman with a gruff-looking expression. He had large forearms and looked up. He glanced at Feng Ye from top to bottom.
"There's always a seat at the table for more drinks." He pulled up an empty chair from a nearby table.
"Take a seat."
Feng Ye signaled to the nearby barmaid who was cleaning up a nearby table to order a fresh round of the brew he just had for the table.
It didn't take too long for the mugs to arrive. A shorter adventurer glanced at the brew and whistled.
"This is the good stuff." He grabbed one and took a big gulp. The atmosphere became warmer. Feng Ye has shown his sincerity by not ordering the cheapest alcohol but a nice one instead.
Feng Ye leaned forward slightly and asked with curiosity. "I heard something about Radiant Kingdom. I'm a bit outdated, something going on?"
A woman sitting across from him let out a dry chuckle. "I would call it something else rather than big. The capital has clouded over. Chaotic times. Many there are fearful."
The swordsman took a large sip from his mug before filling in. "The king is not well."
Feng Ye immediately connected the dots. A kingdom with a ruler whose health is deteriorating. Opportunities are provided for those who want to seize power.
"Succession issues?"
The swordsman continued. "If it were only that, it wouldn't be this serious. The king has two heirs. Each has its merits and demerits but the king has not decided." His voice lowered.
"It is rumored that neither side is playing fair but both are recruiting wantonly."
The woman nearby adds, "Many mercenaries have been disappearing. Assassination of key nobles from either influence is extremely common. It's not safe in the capital."
Feng Ye nods. Shifting power and political instability is an inevitable result.
A third adventurer who dressed like a scout was silent the entire time and suddenly spoke softly. "That's just the surface."
The rest of the table fell into silence. Feng Ye urged quietly. "Go on."
The scout sighs. His eyes dart around his surroundings briefly before leaning in. "There's been sightings of strangers. Foreigners. People who don't belong."
Feng Ye maintained a curious expression. "Who might you mean? Beasts? Other countries?"
"Otherworlders." The woman nearby states.
The scout nods. "Yes. We call them otherworlders. They aren't staying hidden either."
The world's political situation is muddier and deeper than expected. Political struggles with otherworlder involvement. This changes the difficulty significantly. Feng Ye will need to eventually head over to the capital. He must finish his quest to avoid the dire fate of forced execution.
The conversation soon changed to lighter topics involving bounties, local troubles, and minor guild conflicts. Feng Ye felt that the following news wasn't as important. He exchanged a few stories and excused himself from the table. He went back to the counter, paid the difference for the drinks, and climbed the stairs to his room. The last one on the left.
He unlocked the door with the iron key which Curt had given him earlier. Within the room, it was simple. Function over beauty.
A wooden bed, a wooden desk, and a wooden chair. It was a suitable resting place but far from luxury. Feng Ye stepped into the room shutting and locking the door behind him.
He pulled out the blade hidden from his cloak. He held the handle and observed it closely. A familiar pulse could be felt on his palm and the blade seemed to become an even darker shade of crimson. It was as though it had absorbed the blood that it had reaped.
He decided to use the system. Previously, he didn't dare to his blade in the system inventory. It was too obvious and would raise suspicion.
He placed the sword into the system inventory. The moment he placed it inside the system inventory, the pulsing sensation was no more. He could feel no influence from the blade. It had completely sealed it away from the world.
Feng Ye's eyes narrowed. This sword was a potential danger. He willed the panel to display its contents. He sorted the contents in a way that allowed him quick access and categorization.
He stared at the ??? label next to the bloodbound blade. The blade wasn't simple. The system won't tell him the information either. Or perhaps the system can't even identify what it is. He continued to look at the rest of his inventory contents.
--
Inventory contents:
[Essentials]
5x loaves of bread
1x water skin
1x map
[Gear]
1x Bloodbound Blade (???)
2x steel dagger (+5 attack)
1x steel axe (+7 attack) [From bandit leader's loot]
4x bamboo staff (+2 attack)
[Cores]
21x low-ranked monster cores (grey) [Some from bandit leader's loot]
2x mid-ranked monster cores (dull green) [From bandit leader's loot]
1x unidentified core (faint red) [From bandit leader's loot]
[Misc]
3x children book
2x linen tunic
1x linen pant
24x bamboo stalks
2x cloth sacks
--
The loot from the bandit leader was fruitful. Particularly the monster cores. There are some higher-tier ones too. For now, he needed to stay lowkey. Carrying a flash crimson sword is too obvious. He decided to take out a cloth sack and fill it with a handful of grey monster cores. The two steel daggers were also placed in his cloak.
He needed to use the system inventory out of the public's line of sight. So, it was best to carry some weapons and beast cores outside the inventory to not raise suspicion.
Feng Ye's gaze then shifted to the unidentified core. This should be the bandit leader's true treasure. What type of uses could this have?
With a single thought, he closed the inventory panel and lay on the bed. He had to rest and recover. Lots still had to be done. For now, he needs to create a stable footing within Redwood. A plan formed while he lay there, eyes staring at the wooden ceiling above.
First, he needed to get some status. He would check out the adventurer guild branch tomorrow. He could also potentially see if he could glean any information there. He would also register to get an officially recognized status.
His two daggers currently weren't adequate for weapons. He needed a mainstay weapon that he could wield freely without catching attention.
Finally, he needed to secure some more income. The beast cores were the local currency here. The auction house and beast core exchange were options and opportunities.
So much to do, so little time. Feng Ye lets out a sigh. "Whatever. I'll take it step by step."
Glancing out at the nearby window in his room, he could see the lights of Redwood Town and the bustling activity in the streets.
Today, he had gained valuable information. So much was happening. Struggle in the capital, the rise of otherworlders, and potentially more unknown to him moving in the dark.
Crazy world. But in the end, it didn't matter.
Survive. That was the only rule.