The goblin rubbed his hands together.
"Firecrystal root—five fragments. Red ironleaf—three. Dragonblood leaves—eight. Total of sixteen magic crystal fragments, but since you're new customers, I'll give you a discount—fifteen. What do you say?"
"Ten," Robb said firmly, without hesitation. "Combined, these materials shouldn't cost more than twelve. And your dragonblood leaves have clearly been stored for over two weeks—their potency is starting to decline."
The goblin froze momentarily, then quickly plastered a grin back on his face.
"A sharp eye for such a young one! Fine, twelve then. That's rock bottom—any lower and I'll be losing money!"
After some back and forth, Robb finally secured the purchase for eleven fragments.
"You planning to use those for brewing vitality potions?" Andrey asked as they left the stall, curiosity lighting up his face.
"Exactly," Robb replied, carefully stowing the materials. "Lady Elena taught me a few recipes. Vitality potions are extremely beneficial for knight training—especially when combined with breathing techniques."
Andrey brought up another point.
"I've heard potions that affect the mind are particularly hard to brew—and require a lot from the alchemist."
"That's true," Robb nodded. "But physical enhancement and breathing-type potions are a bit easier. If the brew succeeds, we'll both benefit."
They continued wandering through Lizard Alley, occasionally stopping to inspect potentially useful ingredients.
"You won't find anything rare on these open stalls," Andrey muttered after checking a few of them. "The real goods are always hidden—usually in obscure corners."
Robb had noticed that too.
The prominent items on display were mostly entry-level herbs. The truly valuable stuff was locked away in special containers—only brought out when the seller deemed a customer worthy, based on their buying intent or perceived wealth.
"Look over there," Andrey whispered, nodding toward a shadowy corner of the alley.
"That one's different."
Robb followed his gaze and saw a small, unmarked stall nearly swallowed by shadow at the very end of the street.
No signs hung above it, but several dimly glowing vials lined the display, standing out starkly in the gloom.
"Let's check it out," Robb said softly. The two carefully navigated around a crowd of loud, haggling customers to approach the stall.
As they neared, Robb noticed the vendor was an unusual creature.
The figure's upper half resembled a human, though covered in fine black scales, and his vertical-slit eyes gleamed with an eerie glow.
Whenever the creature turned its head, those eyes would catch the light coldly. From the waist down, he had a coiled snake's tail, supporting his humanoid torso.
A serpentine merchant—and seemingly an old one. The scales on his body were starting to fade to gray-white at the edges, a sign of age.
"Interested in my goods, gentlemen?" The serpent vendor hissed, his forked tongue flicking as he spoke with a chill, seasoned tone. "Not bad—so young, and yet such sharp eyes."
"We're looking for some rare materials," Robb said evenly, hiding his urgency while scanning the merchandise. "Specifically, crystalline moss—or perhaps nightwhisper pollen."
"Oh?" The serpent's pupils narrowed in interest, tinged with a glint of appraisal. "You've got a good eye. Not many ask for those."
He examined both Robb and Andrey closely, clearly evaluating their buying power and possible affiliations.
After a pause, the vendor relaxed a little and reached under the stall, pulling out a tin box with a scaled hand.
"Lucky for you, I have some crystalline moss in stock. Rare stuff. Pricey, of course."
Robb took the tin box and, activating [Herb Identification], examined the green substance within.
This moss was noticeably different from the counterfeit Otto had once shown him—it was a rich, dark emerald green.
When Robb tilted the box, he clearly felt a spiritual "pull", as though the moss was subtly calling out to his attention.
The sensation was strange and mesmerizing—like hearing a song only he could understand.
[Accurate Identification! Herb Identification +2 EXP]
"This is genuine crystalline moss," Robb confirmed with a nod, but kept his tone neutral—neither surprised nor eager. "Though the quality is only average. Judging by the coloration, it was harvested over a month ago—its potency has started to fade."
The serpent blinked, clearly caught off guard by the precise assessment. A flicker of awkwardness crossed his scaled face, but he quickly regained composure.
"Impressive. Very few customers notice that," he admitted, now with a trace of genuine respect in his voice. "Still, it's a rare item. Twenty magic crystal fragments—a fair price, considering the scarcity on the current market."
Robb shook his head and returned the box to the table.
"Ten, tops. The freshness is compromised. And I trust someone with your experience knows exactly how much that affects the value."
"Ten?" the serpent hissed a low laugh. "You wound me, young one. This is authentic crystalline moss. Even with some potency loss, it's worth fifteen. Not a single coin less. This isn't some budget street fair."
The two entered a sharp negotiation battle. In the end, they settled at twelve magic crystal fragments.
Robb paid, then carefully tucked the tin box into his inner coat, ensuring it wouldn't get jostled or crushed.
"Anything else you're searching for?" The serpent merchant asked with surprising warmth, his forked tongue flicking as he leaned closer. "Perhaps I can help. I've been in this business for thirty years—know a lot of suppliers."
Now that the deal was done, the snake-man had become unusually friendly, even bringing out some stock he normally kept hidden, hoping to make more sales.
Unfortunately, none of it matched the remaining items on Lady Elena's list.
"You really impressed me today," Andrey said softly afterward, admiring the now confidently skilled negotiator beside him. "Where'd you pick up those bargaining skills? You never showed any interest in this stuff back in the capital."
"All credit to Lady Elena," Robb replied vaguely. He couldn't very well reveal his secret of fusing with a soul from another world. "And I've discovered I seem to have a knack for it. The feeling… it's like I'm resonating with the materials."
Andrey nodded in approval.
"Everyone changes in unexpected ways—especially in a place like this. Life-or-death pressure has a way of bringing out buried potential."