Shanfro's fifth city, Fival, sits between the Zenith Earth Decay Great Pit—a chasm swallowing all winds—and the seventh city, Sebrasebul. Brick windmill towers line the city, a place living in harmony with the breeze. Constant gusts buffet Pepper's cloak and Bilac's fur-coat disguise, making movement chaotic.
"Rough winds… can't move safely," Pepper grumbles. "My heart nearly stopped when my cloak flipped," Aitouil says. "Sand in my eyes almost broke my disguise," Bilac adds. The city's a nightmare for them—Pepper risks exposing Aitouil, and Bilac's camouflage could fail.
"Bilac-san, head back to Rabbits. Aitouil, stay hidden like in Thirdrema. I'll upgrade Madness Breaker at Fival's weapon shop," Pepper decides. "Show me the upgraded hammer later," Bilac replies. "Be careful, Pepper-han," Aitouil says. After handing Aitouil two mana potions, Bilac returns to Rabbits' Grand Palace via Aitouil's gate. Ensuring Aitouil's disguise, Pepper removes his cloak and sprints to the weapon shop.
"Hey, Pepper-san," an elderly woman in her 60s, wearing glasses, greets him at Fival's weapon shop. "Uh, ma'am…" Pepper starts, but she cuts in, "Heh, you want to evolve Madness Breaker with Bluelet Rock, right?" Her insight stuns him. "How'd you know?" "Years of smithing teach you what someone wants, what their weapon craves," she chuckles eerily.
"Please, use these. Sell excess Bluelet Rock for costs," Pepper says, stacking Madness Breaker and the mined rocks on the counter. "Plenty here to work with. Bluelet Rock needs special handling, so give me three days," she says. "Take your time," Pepper agrees, entrusting the weapon's evolution.
He dashes back through the windy streets to Aitouil's alley, passing through her gate to return to Rabbits' Grand Palace. "Madness Breaker's evolution is set! Aitouil, let's hit the dining hall after a break," Pepper says. "A pre-celebration for the new weapon?" Aitouil asks. "Yup. Livestide Salmon and Horal Mushroom foil-baked—bound to be delicious. I'll rest first." "See ya, Pepper-han!" Aitouil waves as Pepper logs out on the rest room bed.
An hour later, after lunch and a bathroom break, Pepper logs back in and heads to the dining hall with Aitouil, lured by the aroma of kombu broth. "Yo, Pepper! Long time no see. Here for grub?" Teak, Aitouil's brother and the palace's chef, pops up from the counter.
"Been a while, Teak-san. Got ingredients for you to cook for me and Aitouil," Pepper says. "Something to pair with booze!" Aitouil adds. "Sure thing! What's the menu?" Teak asks. Pepper pulls Horal Mushroom from Thousand Purple Myriad Red Forest Cave and Livestide Salmon from Tear-Glimmering Underground Lake, placing them on the counter—fresh as caught.
"Let's do a dish with these…" Pepper starts, but Teak's jaw drops. "L-L-L-L-L-LIVESTIDE SALMON!?" His shout echoes through Rabbits. "No mistake! Only caught in the Underground Lake, barely seen in human markets—a supreme ingredient!" Teak's eyes gleam. "Pepper, let me buy these off you!"
Stunned, Pepper didn't expect the dining hall to buy ingredients. Rare ones fetch high prices. "Sure, how much?" he asks, expecting 10,000 Mani per salmon—30 fish from power leveling with Pencilgon could net 300,000 Mani for potions, throwables, or gear upgrades. Ingredients rarely sell high in his gaming experience, so he tempers expectations.
"One salmon for 100,000 Mani!" Teak declares, ten times Pepper's guess. (WHAT!?) "Uh, Teak-san…" "What's up?" "Can I sell all of them?" Pepper dumps 30 Livestide Salmon onto the counter, a goldmine in Teak's eyes. Stacking them pyramid-style, Teak faints from shock, revived by Aitouil's slap.
Regaining composure, Teak pays 3,000,000 Mani for the lot. "Today's Livestide Salmon sashimi! Tell the boss and Ivel—let's feast!" he roars, cooking in a frenzied high. Pepper, now filthy rich, resolves to sell rare ingredients to Teak in the future.
Sudden Wealth Strikes
PN: PepperLevel: 38Main Job: BackpackerSub Job: None
Stats
HP: 15 MP: 10 Stamina: 90 Strength: 70 Agility: 91 Dexterity: 35 Technique: 50 Durability: 26 Luck: 25 Remaining Points: 25
Equipment
Left: Vorpal Ledge Right: Lycaon's Curse Marking Legs: None Head: Leather Cap (+1 Durability) Torso: Blade-Resist Leather Vest (+4 Durability) Waist: Blade-Resist Leather Belt (+4 Durability) Legs: Blade-Resist Leather Pants (+4 Durability)
Accessories
Chainmail (+10 Durability) Traveler's Cloak (+2 Durability) Vorpal Soul Collar
Money: 3,021,100 ManiInventory: Blue Toy Ostrich Feather, Rising Volks Gear, Horal Mushroom
Skills
Ladder Slash Life-End Thrust Repel Counter Drive Throw Alzeid Edge Meias Work Volberg Strike Grasharas Impact Strength Smasher (Lv. 1) Over Top Beat Infight (Lv. 1) Seven-Boat Leap Skate Foot Jet Attack Cross Slash (Lv. 1) Ballistrider Actus Dash (Lv. 5) Stick Piece (Lv. 4) Grip Strike (Lv. 3) Throw (Lv. 4) Climb Kick (Lv. 5) Neck Snap (Lv. 3) Moon Jumper Body Purge (Lv. 3) Life of Change Straight Fist Back Kick (Lv. 4) Dual Flip Fulls Shoot (Lv. 2) Oppression Kick (Lv. 3) Iron-Breaking Life Strike (Lv. 1) One-Shot Annihilation (Lv. 1) Envy Fusion Taunt (Lv. 1) Vorpal Sword Art [Half Moon Sever] Vorpal Hammer Art [Full Moon Stamp]
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