Chapter 378: Chapter 378: Strange Badge, Underground City Speed Race

Necros fumbled around in a crack in the stone for a moment before pulling out a brass key.

He then walked to the front door, inserted the key into the lock, and turned it.

As the door swung open, a cloud of musty dust billowed out, rushing straight at Ella as she leaned in and making her choke and cough repeatedly.

"Looks like we’ll have to do a major cleanup. Otherwise, we won’t be able to stay here tonight."

Necros said, waving a hand to clear the dust in front of his face.

"Leave it to us."

Lance wouldn’t let the old man help.

For the next while, the small house was a hive of activity.

Ella was like an energetic little motor, zipping between the garden and the various rooms to carry out miscellaneous items.

Meanwhile, Lance activated the ring Necros had given him.

Cleaning Skill, Water Creation Skill, Gentle Wind Skill...

He cast one practical, everyday spell after another, and soon the entire house was sparkling clean and habitable once again.

’Spells really are convenient,’ Lance mused, wondering if he’d ever get the chance to learn some himself.

The house was still sparsely furnished, and they would probably need to go shopping for some necessities, but it was more than enough for the night.

The sun was already beginning to set. Seeing it was nearly evening, Lance went to the master bedroom on the first floor and found Necros organizing his luggage.

"Guild Leader, Ella can make dinner later. Her cooking is incredible; it’ll blow you away."

Lance said, leaning against the doorframe. "I have a little something to take care of, so I need to head out for a bit."

Necros paused what he was doing. He didn’t ask what Lance was up to, but teased, "Heading out this late? Are you even planning on coming back tonight?"

The question made Lance’s brow darken.

’He couldn’t be lumping me in with the old perverts just because I glanced at a girl on the light rail a couple of times, could he?’

Before he could defend himself, Necros added with a knowing look, "If you have... *those* kinds of needs, there’s a place in the Three Rings called Night of the Enchanting Demon. The Succubi there are all licensed and perfectly safe."

"I’m coming back to sleep here!"

Lance retorted loudly.

Seeing the ’I know exactly what you mean’ look on Necros’s face, Lance knew the old guild leader was just messing with him.

Lance shook his head in resignation. ’The older they get, the less dignified they become.’

Just then, the old guild leader suddenly clutched his chest and broke into a fit of coughing. His already pale face flushed a feverish red from the effort.

"If you’re not feeling well, you should lie down and rest until dinner’s ready."

Lance stepped forward and helped him sit on the bed, his voice laced with concern.

Necros caught his breath, gripping the edge of the bed, and waved a dismissive hand. "Don’t worry about me. Go on, do what you need to do."

Seeing that he had truly recovered, Lance prepared to leave the master bedroom.

Necros suddenly seemed to recall something important. "Oh, right, Lance. That badge I gave you, do you still have it with you?"

"I do."

Lance nodded and retrieved the mottled, rusty badge from his Imaginary Number Dark Grid, showing it to the old man.

"Good. As long as you have it."

Necros’s tone was heavy with meaning. "Make sure you keep it on you at all times. You might need it someday."

’Such a riddler.’

Lance returned the badge to his dark grid, unable to resist muttering to himself.

He had asked what the badge was for before, but Necros had only smiled enigmatically, so Lance had lost interest in pressing the matter.

He had also tried using his Outer World True Vision on the badge, but the result was unexpected.

The badge actually resonated with his Outer World True Vision, indicating it was a creation of the Star Realm.

However, it seemed to be protected by an outer shell that shielded the information within, preventing his Outer World True Vision from discerning its origin.

’I’ll just have to hope I really do need it someday.’

After bidding farewell to Necros, Lance had just stepped out of the bedroom when he ran into Ella.

"I’m going out for a bit," Lance said.

Hearing this, Ella immediately stopped in her tracks, planted her hands on her hips, and blocked his path in the middle of the hallway. "It’s almost dark out! Where are you going at a time like this? Dinner will be ready soon!"

After all, now that they had left Rein, Lance was the person she knew best. Necros seemed like a good man, but she felt much closer to Lance.

As if afraid her words weren’t persuasive enough, Ella puffed out her chest and added emphatically, "And I’m the one cooking tonight!"

Lance was both amused and exasperated by the blue-haired girl blocking his way.

He knew it was probably because of the incident on the light rail. Ella was likely worried he’d go out carousing and not come back until the wee hours of the morning.

’Why are both of them thinking the exact same thing?’

Lance looked at Ella’s suspicious expression, as if she were guarding against a thief, and was reminded of Necros’s earlier teasing.

Lance simply placed a hand on Ella’s head, deciding not to get tangled up with this silly pup.

"Just stay here and take good care of Necros."

While Ella was momentarily stunned by the head-pat, Lance seized the opportunity to bolt out the door.

"Lance, you jerk, get back here!"

Realizing what had happened, Ella stomped her foot in frustration, the two wolf ears on her head standing straight up in anger.

Just then, Necros leaned against his bedroom door, watching the pouting girl with an amused smile. He asked, feigning ignorance,

"What’s the matter? Did that rascal Lance run off? Should we still save him some dinner?"

Necros had never married and had no children of his own.

Watching the bickering youngsters, he felt as if he were looking at his own grandson and granddaughter.

"No way! Let him starve!"

Ella turned and stomped huffily into the kitchen.

...

「Ostrara, Eighth Ring, Black Reef District」

The Siren Tavern was located here. It was evening, and as Lance pushed open the tavern doors, he was met with a deafening clamor.

The most eye-catching feature was a massive brass horn suspended over the central bar, from which a minstrel’s voice was broadcasting:

"Ladies and gentlemen, the situation is getting intense! The Meteor Squad has successfully cleared the fifth checkpoint room! Let’s hear it for their spectacular performance!"

"Cheers!"

As the minstrel’s voice faded, more than half the gamblers in the tavern erupted as if they’d gone mad, raising mugs of ale overflowing with white foam and letting out a roar.

They had all placed their bets on the Meteor Squad.

Of course, for every person ecstatic about their winning bet, there was another pounding on the wooden tables, having lost all their money.

Lance found the whole scene quite novel.

This was a completely different Underground City atmosphere than in Gray Rock Town—part of Ostrara’s unique entertainment industry built around them.

Around Ostrara, all sorts of competitions were regularly held in the nearby Underground Cities, with the arena-style tournaments being the most popular.

Countless Adventurer squads battled inside for hefty prize money, while gamblers in the taverns outside wagered furiously on the outcomes.

’Now *this* is a real city. Gray Rock Town seems so plain in comparison.’

Lance inwardly marveled at the city’s dizzying decadence.

He pulled his gaze away and walked straight to the bar.

Behind the bar stood a tall, thin, middle-aged man with a messy shock of gray hair. He was nonchalantly polishing a glass.

"What can I get for you, new face?"

The bartender glanced up at Lance.

Lance wasted no time, pulling an Iris Gold Coin from his pocket and sliding it across the bar.

"A Vesper’s Evening Wind. And remember, no ice. Finish with three drops of Iris Flower Extract."

Upon hearing this combination, the bartender nonchalantly swept the coin into his pocket.

"That drink is extremely particular about temperature. The stock we keep at the bar won’t taste right. You’ll have to come with me to the cellar so I can mix it fresh. This way."

Lance followed the bartender through a wooden door at the back of the tavern marked with a "Staff Only" sign. They descended a spiral stone staircase into a spacious cellar below.

CLANG. The bartender swung the heavy iron door shut behind them. In that instant, the noisy cheers from the tavern were completely cut off.

CLICK.

The bartender flipped a switch on the wall, and the Magic Crystal Lamps flickered to life.

He turned around, his nonchalant demeanor gone in an instant. His expression was now serious as he looked at Lance and asked, "Alright, talk. Who sent you to me with that code phrase?"

Lance didn’t answer. Instead, he reached into his Imaginary Number Dark Grid and pulled out the parchment Rein had given him.

Lance then channeled Ether Energy into the parchment.

The lines on the parchment began to glow and rearrange themselves. Within seconds, they formed an insignia: a blood-red Iris Flower pierced by a sword.

The moment the insignia lit up, the guarded, probing look on the bartender’s face vanished.

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