Draven had been wandering around Selene City for several days and still hadn't seen a single two-story building. The entire city spread out like a cluster of mushrooms growing flat against the ground, with every structure a uniform stone dome.

  The Succubus Trading Company was no exception. Except for the central building, which had a stone plaque hanging above the door bearing the words"Succubus Trading Company," the other dozen or so buildings bore no signs at all.

  Forget store names; you had to actually step inside to even know what they sold.

  For the third time, Draven found himself questioning the business logic of the demi-human races. He couldn't understand how these folks managed to keep the trading company running this way.

  Helpless, he had no choice but to drag Liliana along and check the shops one by one. At first, both of them were quite interested, almost like they were exploring something new. But the longer they walked, the more Liliana's mouth drooped and her eyes grew plainly bored.

  "This place is so boring. It's not fun at all."

  Draven felt the same. Except for the central building where currency exchange and bulk goods trading happened, the rest of the stone houses displayed unappealing items: beast meat, roughly tanned pelts, cracked cassava chunks, and some dusty rations.

  If it weren't for the occasional magical beast materials or a few bottles of cheap potions, the place could easily pass as a refugee camp supply distribution point.

  Liliana completely lost interest and started dragging her feet behind him, occasionally kicking little stones on the ground. It was obvious she didn't want to browse any longer.

  Just as Draven was about to take Liliana back, his gaze stopped in front of one shop.

  He briskly walked over with Liliana and stared at a few items inside a glass counter for a few seconds before quietly asking,"Are these scrolls contract types?"

  The succubus behind the counter noticed their approach and immediately stood up with a smile. She was slender, her skin glowing with a faint pink hue, and her golden-red eyes shone brightly with a strange allure. Her voice was soft, slightly drawn out, sounding almost like a coquettish purr.

  "Yes, honorable guest," she said with a slight bow, her chest pressing tightly against the apron."We have slave scrolls, magical beast contract scrolls, and a small batch of beast-taming rings. If you wish, I can introduce them to you."

  She lifted the corners of her eyes, secretly studying the young werewolf leader before her. Although she couldn't determine his exact rank, she sensed an overwhelming aura emanating from him. The pink-haired little girl behind him was also no ordinary figure. The fact she couldn't gauge Liliana's level was itself a warning sign.

  Leader level. The succubus woman estimated silently, her gaze growing heated.

  Tentatively, she pushed her chest forward, a faint but natural magical aura flowing from her body, delicate yet captivating.

  Liliana immediately noticed her move, stepping forward to block Draven behind her. Then, she planted her feet firmly on the ground, stood tall, puffed out her chest, lifted her head, and returned the gesture with fierce determination.

  The two women locked eyes, neither backing down, their chests thrust forward in a silent challenge. An inexplicable tension brewed before the counter.

  Draven almost couldn't hold back his laughter. He turned his face slightly and rubbed the corner of his mouth, afraid he'd laugh out loud.

  He secretly gave the succubus a look, signaling her not to take it seriously. Understanding, she pursed her lips, pretending to be overwhelmed by the aura, and silently stepped aside.

  Draven stroked Liliana's hair and smiled, then looked at the scrolls on the counter. He reached out and picked one up, asking the succubus,"Can I open this and take a look?"

  "Of course," she nodded."But please be careful of the magical fluctuations."

  Draven carefully unrolled the scroll. A faint blue light shimmered in the air, as if someone whispered softly in his ear. The scroll contained a faint but stable magical power. He glanced at it and immediately recognized what it was.

  "This is a slave scroll," he said softly.

  "That's right," the succubus explained quietly."This is the standard model, capable of binding up to one hundred ordinary slaves at once. It's convenient and quick to use—no rituals required; it takes effect upon signing."

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  Draven frowned slightly."Do you have anything more advanced? Something that can bind bloodline warriors or leader-level individuals?"

  Hearing the question, the succubus hesitated noticeably, then shook her head."I'm sorry, but at the moment, we only have scrolls suitable for ordinary slaves. High-level contract items are scarce in stock, and the distribution channels are limited..."

  Draven sighed and put the scroll back. He had already prepared several similar scrolls in the Black Flag Territory; these held no value to him anymore. He had hoped the Succubus Trading Company might carry something special, but once again, he was disappointed.

  After asking about the prices, Draven almost threw the scroll back in his hand.

  "The lowest-grade slave scroll costs fifty gold coins?"

  He couldn't believe his ears and double-checked, only to get a firm nod from the succubus.

  "Yes, my lord, the price is correct."

  Draven then glanced at another contract scroll placed in a wooden box. This scroll was said to be used for establishing contracts with low-level magical beasts, emitting a faint magical glow, and it certainly looked special.

  "How much is this one?"

  "That's a contract scroll for low-level magical beasts, priced at two hundred gold coins."

  "What?"

  Draven was stunned. Two hundred gold coins? That could almost buy ten low-level beasts. A decent, moderately strong low-level beast usually sold for about twenty gold coins.

  How on earth did these succubi set their prices? Did they think gold coins fell from the sky?

  Noticing his confusion, the succubus smiled slightly and explained,"You see, our demi-human race lacks the talent to craft scrolls. These scrolls were purchased at great cost from outside territories by the lord's manor."

  Draven fell silent for a moment and finally nodded. He was not unreasonable and understood market principles— scarcity drives value. But this price was beyond what he had expected.

  After all, he simply didn't have that much money. Two hundred gold coins? Even if he emptied his entire stash back in the Black Flag Territory, it would be hard to come up with that amount.

  Yet his gaze lingered on the counter. Suddenly, he noticed a metal ring about the size of a bowl opening, covered in magical runes, with a blue magic crystal embedded in the center, softly glowing.

  He reached out, picked it up, and whispered,"Is this a Beast Taming Ring?"

  The succubus nodded gently, her eyes turning serious."My lord, this Beast Taming Ring can contract with one mid-level magical beast. Around here, that's a very rare treasure."

  Draven's eyes lit up. Since his contract slots were all filled, he couldn't tame any new beasts. He had thought about solutions, but Beast Taming Rings were legendary items in the Black Flag Territory— he had never seen one in real life.

  He lightly traced the runes on the ring's surface, excitement welling inside him."If I had three or four of these, I could take three or four more beasts into battle!"

  "How much?"

  "Five hundred gold coins, my lord," the succubus smiled in reply.

  Draven's hand froze, and the smile on his face stiffened instantly. He looked at the ring, then at the succubus on the other side of the counter, who showed not an ounce of hesitation.

  "You said five hundred gold coins?"

  "Yes, that's already the internal price."

  Draven carefully put the ring back exactly where it was, his movement gentle as if he were setting down a broken dream. He grabbed Liliana's hand and turned to leave without looking back.

  Outside the stone house, he muttered under his breath,"Shady merchants— robbery, but so classy about it!"

  The business tactics of the succubus trading post made him realize one thing clearly: he was truly poor. Before, he just thought he lacked money; now he deeply felt the helplessness of wanting to buy but not being able to afford it.

  The greatest function of gold coins was to show me exactly how poor I am!

  He hurriedly walked away with Liliana, as if leaving this market district would also shake off the aura of poverty clinging to him.

  Fortunately, when they returned to the stone house where Rurik and the others stayed, seeing a row of newly hung Octagonal Lanterns finally lifted Draven's mood.

  These lanterns were quite exquisitely made, perfectly symmetrical in outline, and the lines on the lampshades were smoother than the first batch. Martha and the others clearly had become more skilled— even the joints between the wicks and the frames were handled neatly.

  Draven carefully picked one that looked the sturdiest and had the finest craftsmanship and happily stored it in his storage ring. The rest he left for Martha and the others— after all, these were their hard work.

  Then he chatted briefly with Liliana and Rurik's group and they all complained together about the prices at the succubus trading post. Finally, he patted Liliana's head."Go eat something, I have some business to take care of."

  They hadn't even had lunch because of this shopping trip. Hearing that, Liliana immediately ran over to Martha and the others, giggling and preparing food.

  Draven did not follow but turned to head toward the lord's manor. He still had tasks to complete— not only to meet Selene but also to deliver next month's wine supplies.

  Just as he approached the lord's great hall, he saw a familiar figure walking toward him. It was Cedric.

  Draven smiled and raised his hand in greeting:"Hi, long time no see."

  But Cedric didn't even glance at him, his expression stern and steps hurried, passing right by without a word.

  Draven froze, holding his hand up for a long moment before lowering it. He grinned awkwardly.

  He took a few copper coins from his pocket and handed them to the guard at the great hall's entrance."Please notify inside— Draven from Black Flag Territory requests an audience with the lord."

  The guard took the coins and slowly entered the hall. Draven was not surprised; he was used to this pace. He glanced back at Cedric's departing figure and sneered inwardly:

  "Acting all aloof, like you rule the entire southern region."

  Inside the lord's great hall, Selene was pacing back and forth in front of the throne. Cedric had just returned from the south, bringing news that not only failed to clear Freya and her group of suspicion but made Selene even more alert.

  What secrets were those women hiding? The more she thought, the more annoyed she felt. The fog surrounding them only seemed to thicken, completely impenetrable.