Chapter 51

Chapter 51

Slap.

As he turned the corner, Lorens bumped into a swiftly walking human scholar.

The two steadied themselves from the slight collision. The human scholar's white robe was stained with spots of blood. His expression darkened for a moment when he saw this, but when he looked up and saw it was Lorens, he controlled his expression and took a step back.

"Lorens? Back from Shattered Lake Prison? Sorry about bumping into you just now."

"It's nothing. Where are you headed now?"

"The tavern. It's the 15th today. The Blood Moon Tribunal is always more exciting when watched together."

"Haven't you seen enough from working at the prison?"

The other let out a laugh. "Did you see the list of prisoners announced this morning? Guess who's on it - Valcas Uhl, the elven scholar from Caimon University!"

Valcas?

Lorens was slightly surprised. Wasn't that the patient he had treated yesterday...

"Want to join us? Everyone hasn't seen you in a while. You showing up at the tavern will definitely surprise them—"

"Sure."

The scholar's expression clearly stiffened somewhat. He didn't seem to expect the usually aloof Lorens to actually agree. He had only invited as a courtesy...

"Um... then follow me. Oh, do you want to change your clothes first, treat your injuries?"

Lorens looked at his blood-stained self. "Don't they serve blood wine at the tavern? That can be used to treat me directly. Or would I be improper entering the tavern like this, would you all mind?"

The human scholar immediately shook his head. "No, of course not! I actually think it looks quite cool on you, very fashionable. Must turn a lot of heads walking down the street like that..."

Lorens sneered inwardly.

As the only lizardman at the research institute, how could he not know the other scholars secretly discriminated against and excluded him?

But he didn't care in the past, focused only on pursuing strength. Being excluded meant more peace for him, never participating in any group activities.

"Humans of the sacred bloodline: hearts 80 silvers, lungs 50 silvers, kidneys 40 silvers, eyes 30 silvers..."

"Lizardmen of the sacred bloodline: hearts 44 silvers, lungs 23 silvers..."

The organ recovery prices for the sacred bloodline were clearly lower than market price. Naturally, this was because after transforming into the sacred bloodline, their organs also mutated. So sacred bloodline organs could only be sold to the same bloodline, a small market.

Besides, the sacred bloodline could recover through blood therapy. Demand for organ trade was low, so prices were low too.

If it was normal races, the prices would be at least 2-3 times higher. But normal races would take far too long to regrow organs, greatly impacting lives.

When he was most desperate, Lorens had sold some of his gills and thousands of ml of blood to earn a bit on the side.

Lorens reconsidered - 'Now that I've lost my prison job, the institute stipend will be much lower. Things are getting harder for Granny Yen's place, I should sell some organs first to send money over...'

Granny Yen was the person in charge of the Lizardman Orphanage, and had raised Lorens.

The Lizardman Orphanage was one of the few willing to accept fishmen.

After Lorens grew up, he would send about half his salary to Granny Yen, to alleviate the orphanage's financial pressures. After all, if it went bankrupt, hundreds more lizardman fry would die each year.

Free economy, free market. Abandoned infants with no orphanage would just have to reincarnate.

He didn't have any hobbies anyway, didn't like trading stocks, buying things. With lodging and food covered at the institute, the money couldn't buy anything good, might as well use it to give the little fishmen at the orphanage better meals.

Just as Lorens was pondering which organ to sell, the central area of the tavern suddenly projected an octagonal light screen, allowing all patrons to see the live content.

"It's starting, it's starting!"

"Boss Snake, come open the betting!"

"Hey, when can we have the 'Battle Royale' mode again? That was so thrilling to watch."

"I think the 'Computer' mode is the best. Seeing the electric currents jump out from their eyeballs is just too good."

"It's not some festival today, how can there be a special mode... Don't dream, it'll just be the classic mode tonight. I love watching the classic mode, ordinary yet still stimulating."

Even Lorens who wasn't very interested in the Blood Moon Tribunal couldn't help but watch when the screen lit up.

The Blood Moon Tribunal begins.