SS Awakening: My Monster Merging System!

Chapter 145: Exploring the Central City [2]

The closer they got to the Trade District, the livelier the streets became.

Almost none of the stalls were empty. Some sold treasures, some sold tournament potions, some sold food from various races, while others displayed tables completely filled with monster materials, with signs beside them reading, "Negotiable."

Zich’s gaze gradually became serious.

The prices here were much higher than those in the First Shelter.

But the variety was also far greater.

Light resistant materials, poison resistant potions, undead repelling treasures, beast blood enhancement medicine, temporary weapon rentals, tournament maps, training contracts, and even adaptation items designed specifically for different races.

Many of these things could never be seen in ordinary shelters.

"The things in Central City are expensive," Helen said.

"Yes, but they’re actually worth it."

"So you like this place?"

"I think so. Let’s check it out more," Zich suggested.

Helen could not help but beam a smile at his words.

The two of them continued walking forward.

Along the way, Zich saw Keth merchants up close for the first time. Those small amphibious races were only about chest high compared to humans. Their skin was moist, they had webbing between their fingers, and when they spoke, their voices carried a bubbling tremor.

One Keth stall was filled with aquatic herbs and transparent bottles, inside which floated strange tiny creatures.

On the other side, several Sorath merchants wore thick cloaks. White mist continuously drifted around their stalls, and most of what they sold was related to ice, cold energy, and resistance to low temperatures.

The Velhari were much more direct. Their stalls displayed bone blades, beast hides, poisonous fangs, and some weapons that looked rough but emitted powerful auras.

Farther away, several figures wearing dark cloaks walked through a designated passage. The people around them subconsciously kept some distance. Zich glanced at them and only felt that their presence was very strange, as though they were clearly standing there, yet people instinctively did not want to remember their appearance carefully.

"The Nullborn?" Zich’s eyes narrowed.

Helen followed his gaze, her expression becoming slightly more serious.

"Maybe. Don’t stare at them for too long."

"Why?"

"I don’t know."

"That’s even more reason I want to stare at them," Zich muttered. His gaze lingered on them longer until they eventually left.

After walking a little farther, an argument suddenly erupted ahead.

A young Velhari stood in front of a Keth herb stall, his expression looking extremely unpleasant. Behind him stood two other companions, their imposing auras carrying obvious pressure.

Behind the stall, the Keth merchant hugged a water jar while refuting him in a shrill voice.

"Fake? Are your eyes growing on your horns? This is genuine Water Lung Grass. It’s just been dried!"

The young Velhari sneered.

"The color has already changed, and you still dare sell it to tournament participants? You Keth really only know how to use your water soaked brains to deceive people."

People around them slowly gathered.

The human players watched the excitement.

Several Keth nearby began moving closer.

More Velhari also stopped to watch.

Central City was neutral territory, but neutrality did not mean there was no friction.

Zich originally only glanced over casually, but the next moment, his gaze stopped on a small bundle of herbs in the corner of the stall.

It had been casually placed at the edge, looking like a cheap bundle mixed together with Water Lung Grass. However, faint silver veins ran through its leaves, and its roots carried a weak cold damp aura.

Although Zich did not know its exact name, his intuition told him this was no ordinary herb.

Moreover, neither the stall owner nor the Velhari had recognized it.

He walked forward.

Helen was stunned and thought he was about to do something stupid.

"Hey, don’t tell me you’re planning to interfere."

"I’m not interfering with them," Zich said and didn’t say anything more.

He walked directly to the stall and pointed at the bundle of herbs in the corner.

"How much is this?"

The Keth merchant was caught off guard and subconsciously answered, "Thirty gold coins."

"I’ll take it."

Zich took out the soul stones equivalent to thirty gold coins and placed them down before reaching for the herbs.

The young Velhari’s face darkened as he reached out to block him.

"This item is still under dispute."

Zich looked at him.

"You haven’t bought it yet."

"We’re negotiating. Are you blind? Didn’t you see that?"

"No. It seems like you were about to explode into a fight at any moment."

The young Velhari’s expression immediately turned cold.

"Human, are you looking for trouble?"

Zich stored the herbs inside his storage bag, his tone remaining calm.

"I’m just buying something. If you really wanted it, you wouldn’t have been arguing."

The young Velhari reached toward Zich’s shoulder.

The next moment, a wisp of flame appeared between Helen’s fingers.

The flame was not large, but its warmth was enough to make the other party stop.

Helen spoke softly.

"You perhaps have forgotten, but starting a fight on the streets of Central City is not allowed."

Seeing this, the Keth merchant immediately let out several sharp laughs.

"This human has much better eyesight than that red skinned lizard."

The young Velhari’s expression became completely ugly, and his face turned green from its initial red shade.

Just as the atmosphere was about to spiral out of control, a squad of City Guards arrived. The leader glanced around the scene before speaking in a cold voice.

"Private fighting is prohibited in the Trade District during the tournament. This is your first warning. Any more offenses will result in banishment from the city."

The young Velhari gritted his teeth but eventually withdrew his hand. He gave Zich a cold look before turning around and leaving.

The Keth merchant blew several bubbling sounds toward his departing back.

Helen looked at Zich.

"Were you really only buying the grass just now?"

"Yes," Zich replied and glanced at the herb, as a series of system prompts soon appeared before him.