Listening to the masked Jules's request, the woman said, "I don't know why you're looking for such an apothecary, sir."
This is a fake apothecary! You've probably taken more lives than you've saved!
Jules replied to her in a tone that showed he was smiling. "That's why I'm here."
"Ah, I see..." The woman lingered a moment, then said, "Wait here. My boss will be with you shortly."
"Time waits for no one," he said, trying hard to create a contrasting identity with his real self.
He'd picked that idea up from reading countless fantasy novels.
After about five minutes, Jules, who had decided to rest his back on a wall, suddenly sensed bloodlust.
His fight with the Crab had enlightened him more on how it works.
Not only that, with his Mana Perception being exceptional, he noticed the mana in the atmosphere condense a bit.
People surrounded him, their intent clear: ready to strike at any moment.
But he stayed cool to avoid being seen as weak.
Instead, he stood from where he rested and glanced at the door behind the counter.
"What a nice welcome. I feel honoured."
His arm, concealed by a glove, twitched as he also prepared to pull blood out of his sigil incase of emergency.
The best thing I can do if I'm attacked is to alert nearby people and escape!
As his words landed, a figure that seemed like a man, but quite short, walked in.
He was dressed in a black suit with green prints, his face concealed with a hood that came with a dark green mask.
This person is someone who wants to destroy organizations of the underworld. Someone that I can obtain spoils of war from!
"I have questions." The masked man said bluntly.
Looking down, Jules said in a deep voice, "Hello to you too, Sir Green Stream."
"How do you know of this place? What do you want?"
At that moment, the bloodlust only became more palpable as even the woman at the counter seemed to pull out a dagger.
"Isn't it the underworld's whole thing to be secretive, now you're asking me to reveal my secrets?"
Jules shrugged his own question and continued, "Anyway, I need an ID. I want to apply for the Institute so make it as authentic as possible.
"I'll pay with what's in that sack. The information of the ID I want is within too."
Sir Green Stream, as Jules called him, tilted his head as if confused.
This man just revealed something that could be used to trace him!
"Check the sack," He instructed the lady behind him.
With a nod, she checked the sack and saw a pile of bones. She was initially shocked, but after feeling the bone, her eyes widened.
Seeing her look at the sack intently, Sir Green Stream became curious too.
"Pass it."
He took the bag and drew out a shard of bone.
Raising it to his eye hole, he scrutinized it for a while as if trying to confirm what he was seeing.
Heh, that's probably the highest quality bone you've seen! It's from a beast of at least S-rank!
This was because S-rank creatures were yet to appear much in this world.
Jules smugly commented, "If business goes well, there's more from where that came from."
The masked man spared him a glance before going through all in the sack.
At this point, the blood lust Jules felt had also reduced.
"Welcome, sir." Sir Green Stream suddenly said, "Is it only what's in this list you need? The bones cover more."
The classic underworld personality change! Ryan would fit this world perfectly.
Jules replied to the man, "Pretty much. If you can't find what I specifically want, consult me before getting anything else. For the change, let's keep it for future deals."
"Noted." Sir Green Stream turned to the lady and gave her the bag.
As she collected it, she swiftly left the room, leaving only the two of them here.
Jules took the lull as a chance to say, "I take missions too."
"Oh, that's good information." The masked man answered. "Do you have a way for me to contact you?"
"I'll just check in here in intervals," Jules said.
"Alright then." The masked man asked, "What should I call you?"
"Veil." Jules replied. "And you?"
Although I already know… But if it seems like I know too much about you, you might kill me!
"Call me Green." He then added in a threatening tone, "I hope the name doesn't spread."
"My plan actually falls into getting on your good side," Jules said.
"The items will be ready in 7 days, the IDs may take longer," Green stated.
"Just let the Ids be ready before application ends." Jules said and turned around. "I'll take my leave now."
Green merely looked at Jules as he left, a voice ringing in his head.
"Should we trace him?"
"No, it's dangerous." He responded telepathically.
A man who came to exchange a S-rank beast for mere items. Isn't that showing off that he at least has access to such? Furthermore, the man was aware of their faction's hideout!
Green looked intently at one of the pieces of information on the fake ID in his hand.
There was a picture of a teenage male with smoky white hair and dull golden eyes.
A simple "Jules" was written in the name section.
With an arrogant tone, Green said, "At the end, the winner is who can use who best."
- - -
In another corner of the City, in the largest pub.
Ryan sat with a group of adventurers, drinking and laughing as they sang.
As someone who regularly hung with his Father and his team, he partied like a man.
While he listened to the tales they gladly told him, he kept attention on his surroundings.
He didn't forget his main priority.
"So, how did you guys later find it?" He asked the men around him.
"Oh,well—"
Gbam—!
At that moment, a ruckus suddenly broke out, attracting everyone's attention.
Ryan also looked over and was shocked.
Perched on a burly man, a small-framed guy with black hair and red eyes was shouting.
Isn't that who the young master said I should find?
"What'd ya mean, mate? Who's small now?"
A no-nonsense guy who spoke strangely…
Ryan watched, trying to observe for more confirmations.
In a heartbeat, more men gathered around the red-eyed guy, as if they wanted to beat him.
"Ay, all of you, come at me!"
He beat them all.
Ryan's heart sank as he quickly retracted his eyes from the fella.
He wasn't lying when he said this individual would beat me up!
Fuck, I didn't even have time to enjoy myself! I thought this would take at least a few days!