Chapter 334: The Market

"Is any prince here at the clan now?""Based on what I know, no one should be here. But why do you ask that, Sir?"

"Nothing, just curious. You say this place is dangerous. So I am just considering what kind of people dare to attack me here despite knowing I am your princess's guest."

"Especially because you're that, you become the target. Princess Reina is popular with the populace, but here, many hate her."

"Popular with the populace? Doesn't she stay at the academy all this time? She just returned here today."

"It's because she was madam's only daughter. Madam once lived in the city too; she was popular and famous for her kindness."

"You ever met her directly? Rumor is often exaggerated."

"A few times, and I am sure the rumors are true."

"Hmm… interesting."

"What is interesting about this? I don't get what you want to find out from your question."

"I am just curious; there is no need to think too much. Rather than that, tell me more about the city and famous local produce I should check out."

The man looked at the sky and then replied, "There are many places, but you will not have enough time."

"Don't worry, we can go again tomorrow," Alex replied with a chuckle. But deep down, he hoped there was a time difference in this dungeon, too, one that would let him spend a few days while only a few minutes passed in the outside world.

The maid then returned, bringing Alex toward the city. They rode the boat and reached back to the shore.

Many food stalls were established, filling the area with a delicious aroma.

"Could you buy some for me?" Alex asked.

"Which one?" the maid asked.

Alex pointed to almost every single one shamelessly, then asked them to buy in bulk.

The maid rolled his eyes but said nothing and proceeded to purchase the meals as the man kept talking beside him.

"Afraid I am running away?"

"I am just doing my job, sir Alex. Why do you even want to buy that much food?"

Alex just replied with a mysterious smile. He planned to keep some for MingYue, as he knew she was a foodie, but the rest was for the populace.

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No matter the location, a good meal will loosen someone's tongue.

For every purchase, the maid would put the dish in a small pouch bag.

'This world is really similar to MingYue's, but I wonder why she doesn't just use a storage ring?

Is it harder to get one here? But they even have the term awakener cultivator.

Doesn't this mean the place should be more advanced?' Alex thought.

They continued their shopping as Alex kept his eye on the people. From the dock, they moved toward the market.

Different from the others he had visited, the maid needed to show an identification plate. It was made from a weird material that looked like jade but was colored in black. The word 'midnight' was carved in gold color.

Alex could also feel a unique energy signature coming from it. The energy was similar to the one he felt from the old man, Moria.

'I doubt that qi will last long; maybe they do this on purpose to make sure it's not misused.'

The maid then made a gesture for Alex and the others to follow.

"Sir Moria said you can buy a set of weapons and armor using a single technique. With his identity, you should be able to purchase quite a good one."

She then pointed to a pagoda-like building in the middle. "So that is why you need special identification to enter this place."

"Yes, although the techniques sold here are weaker than the ones in the clan, they are still very good." S~eaʀᴄh the nôᴠel Fire.nёt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

"How is it compared to the academy your princess goes to?"

"Of course, the academy is better. It's built from the collaboration of the strong clans that really fight on the frontline."

'So it's like the hunter association in my world. But since they have a way to give power to anyone, they could create this academy, then this becomes a symbol of status for the cowardly clans that don't join the fight.'

Alex then felt there was a possibility his world would also grow like this in the future with the cultivation method.

Associations will build academies like them; the graduates will get benefits, and the strongest will then be sent forward to the frontline.

At the academy, the association could then teach them personal values, such as that fighting on the frontline is the right thing to do and how heroic their actions are.

It's not that the association couldn't do it in the past. But they just didn't have enough incentive to pull really talented awakeners in.

Thinking about this raised Alex's mood. It's only a matter of time before the situation turns better.

Walking around, Alex didn't find any interesting weapons. There was a variety of swords, spears, halberds, and bows. He even saw some that were formed like crossbows.

The most unique one he saw was like a magic wand. It was a staff with a crystal embedded in the tip.

Based on the shopkeeper's explanation, the crystal allowed the user to generate elements without mastering any techniques. This enhanced their fighting style.

The weapons were called battle staves and were preferred because they could wield two elements at the same time.

Different from swords or other weapons that could only wield one, it was possible to put two crystals at the same time, but the elements would then clash, giving out unpredictable results.

This gave Alex the idea to utilize the vitae crystals he had gathered from Thalia's world.

'If I put this into everyone's weapons, enhanced with runes, this will raise their strength to a new level,' Alex then thought, considering creating a customized gun using these runes.

This would be fueled using lifeforce energy, meaning if it was used by their enemies, it would consume their life every time they shot. But for Alex and his group, this would not be a problem.