YM778.TV Chapter 129: Hurwicz's transaction
He was fully aware of Hurwicz\'s purpose for visiting.
Hurwicz and his companions, as he disclosed, hailed from a distant tribe. They had encountered a supernatural entity en route, and although they ultimately vanquished the creature, their merchandise was destroyed in the fray.
Consequently, they were compelled to seek a solution.
From tales recounted by adventurers of the Crimson Star Tribe, Hurwicz learned of the tribe\'s wondrous goods and led his caravan here, his discovery akin to finding a new world.
Fatefully, he encountered Raham.
Upon learning of Raham\'s establishment, Hurwicz entertained thoughts of trade. Yet, with his goods destroyed, all he could offer were materials from the supernatural entity and a core of supernatural essence.
Regrettably, such rarities were insufficient to barter for the plentiful goods he desired.
Within the Crimson Star Tribe, only a select few were privy to the true cost of items like paper and glass, while the majority, even among the tribespeople, deemed such commodities costly to produce.
However, Hurwicz wanted to return with enough goods.
Despite his sincerity and pledges on behalf of his tribe.
The risks were too great, and Raham, preferring secure transactions, had no choice but to decline.
At this, Hurwicz grew desperate.
Making what appeared to be a tremendously difficult decision, he called out, "Mr. Raham, could you possibly introduce me to the Lord Priest of the Crimson Star Tribe? Should you assist me, I am prepared to gift you the supernatural entity\'s core essence."
"Are you seeking an audience with Priest Enzo?!"
Raham and Emily exclaimed in unison, their expressions shifting to one of caution.
Hurwicz swiftly interjected, "I wish to exchange a matter of utmost significance with the Crimson Star Tribe. Only the tribe\'s priest can truly appraise the value of this information."
Raham hesitated.
After a brief exchange of glances with Emily, he reached a decision and replied, "Very well."
Nevertheless, Raham refrained from hastily seeking out Enzo. Instead, he made his way to the assembly hall of the Crimson Star Tribe, only to find that Amy was absent. Consequently, he opted for a second choice and approached Heru, saying, "Lord Heru, I have a matter to report."
As captain of the Vanguard squad, Heru now found himself in a state of mixed emotions.
With the emergence of the Adventurer\'s Association, a multitude of adventurers had infiltrated the tribe, their numbers vast and their presence ubiquitous. They returned with a variety of information, including the habitats of beasts and the distribution of ores...significantly diminishing the role of the Vanguard squad.
Ultimately, both the Vanguard squad and the Hunting squad were dissolved and amalgamated into the Battle squad, leaving Heru to transition from captain to a purely administrative role, overseeing the construction of various tribal structures.
Moreover, his wife, Shirley, was pregnant.
Although the loss of his position as captain, which previously allowed him to embark on adventures and confront beasts, occasionally left Heru feeling despondent, the impending arrival of their child and the warmth of domestic life brought him immense joy.
Especially with the linen shop that Shirley managed, which consistently yielded a commendable income.
Upon hearing Raham\'s report, Heru inquired, "Raham, what is the nature of this matter?"
Raham succinctly relayed the details.
This prompted skepticism from Heru, who replied, "A traveling merchant from afar wishes to meet Lord Enzo? Raham, you must realize that many use such claims as mere pretexts."
Hurwicz, standing beside Raham.
He quickly countered, "Lord Heru, please believe me. I possess information of profound importance."
"Is there any news that cannot be revealed just yet?"
However, Heru remained skeptical.
Many had claimed to possess significant information or treasures before, but the vast majority were charlatans, with only a select few being genuine. Yet, even those so-called revelations and treasures held little value for the Crimson Star Tribe.
At this moment, however, Hurwicz fell silent.
Suddenly, a commotion arose in the assembly hall, with someone exclaiming in delight, "It\'s Lord Enzo and Lord Amy!"
A look of surprise lit up Hurwicz\'s face.
He squeezed his way towards Enzo, calling out, "Priest Enzo, I wish to propose a transaction!"
This statement immediately drew curious glances from several onlookers.
Both Enzo and Amy turned their attention to Hurwicz, who, though slightly flustered as he jostled through the crowd, wore an expression of fervent enthusiasm.
Enzo, too, sensed an unusual energy.
Turning to Amy, he said, "Amy, please tend to your matters."
Amy nodded and made her way to her position.
Enzo then regarded Hurwicz, leading him into the exclusive meeting room on the second floor, inquiring, "What is this transaction?"
As the words left Enzo\'s lips, Hurwicz felt an unsettling shift.
Though they were situated within the confines of the meeting room, with Enzo calmly seated before him, Hurwicz felt as if he had been transported to a resplendent, tranquil cosmos, where Enzo\'s form loomed colossal, eclipsing the radiance of the sun and stars.
He appeared as a deity, surveying the world beneath him.
A jolt coursed through Hurwicz at this thought, and he was drenched in cold sweat.
At that moment, he grasped the truth: Enzo was undeniably a profoundly powerful supernatural being, perhaps even more formidable than the priests of his own tribe.
Thus, he dared not entertain any notions of disdain.
Nor could he afford to conceal anything as he stated, "Esteemed Lord Priest, I have discovered an underground relic at Qaidam Lake, which appears to pertain to priestly inheritance."
"Priest inheritance?"
Upon hearing the news, Enzo remained largely indifferent.
As his understanding of supernatural knowledge deepened, he gradually came to grasp the nature of priest inheritance powers and totemic forces, both of which could be perceived as powers inherited from external sources.
However, priest inheritance powers typically originated from a specific sacred place, encompassing a wealth of information. In contrast, totemic forces are merely derived from supernatural beings, requiring those who wield such powers to cultivate their understanding independently.
In essence, the distinction between the two was minimal.
Yet, priest inheritance powers possessed a significantly higher potential ceiling, making their enhancement considerably easier.
Noticing Enzo\'s lack of concern, Hurwicz felt compelled to divulge more information, stating, "Lord Enzo, in addition to the priest inheritance powers, there are also numerous murals carved there. According to my interpretation, these murals depict the ascension of the tribal fire to the Totem Fire."
This revelation elicited a subtle shift in Enzo\'s expression.
He began to display a flicker of interest.
The ascension of the tribal fire is of utmost importance, intimately linked to the supernatural evolution of the tribe.
The tribal fire of the Crimson Star Tribe had yet to transform into Totem Fire.
Enzo was acutely aware that.
During the ritual square, the tribal fire was affixed to the Ring of the World, which allowed Enzo to comprehend the Ring of the World Ritual. At that moment, he confirmed that the tribal fire had not fully transitioned into Totem Fire.
Of course, with his capabilities, he could forcibly condense the Totem Fire, but that would not be a sustainable solution. Should he ever leave the tribe again, the tribal fire would inevitably revert to its original state.
Thus, elevating the tribal fire also emerged as a necessary goal for Enzo.
He inquired, "Where is the location?"
Noticing Hurwicz\'s hesitation, Enzo added, "If your information proves true, I can permit you to defer the payment of one thousand gold coins."
Upon hearing this, Hurwicz nearly leaped with excitement.
However, before Enzo, he could not afford to be so rude. The mere thought of such immense wealth caused Hurwicz to beam with delight as he exclaimed, "Mr. Enzo, that location is on a small island at the edge of Qaidam Lake. This island is strewn with piles of weathered stones, and there are also some..."
Hurwicz retrieved a piece of animal hide and handed it to Enzo.
Upon this hide, the precise location was meticulously marked, alongside the surrounding topographical details.
Enzo accepted it and subsequently exited the conference room.
Hurwicz followed suit, his heart brimming with joy, as he now awaited Enzo to confirm the information regarding that place.
With the map in hand, Enzo summoned his Black Feather.
Enormous black wings materialized behind him, propelling Enzo skyward at an astonishing speed towards Qaidam Lake.
Before long, Enzo arrived at the indicated location on the map.
It was an underground cavern, initially blocked by a massive rock, but the relentless erosion from the lake\'s waters and fierce winds had shattered it, unveiling an entrance that Hurwicz and his companions had discovered.
Enzo stepped inside.
Indeed, just as Hurwicz had described, the cavern was adorned with numerous murals depicting the priestly inheritance of power and the ascension of the tribal fire, while At the end of the cave, there was a pile of rubble blocking the passage to further inside.
Enzo made no attempt to clear it. He had no intention of delving further.
At least, not at that moment.
After exiting the cavern, Enzo moved several boulders to block the entrance once more and soared back to the tribe.
This did not take long.
Thus, Hurwicz soon received a response, granting him permission to defer payment for a thousand gold coins\' worth of goods.
Consequently, Hurwicz embarked on a significant purchasing spree.
As a result, the marketplace buzzed with activity.
Beyond the market, the expansive farmlands outside the tribal encampment were equally bustling.