"From their names, you should have guessed, yes, they are merchants. They travel between different regions to do business."
"Their business covers a vast range, almost including food, clothing, shelter, and transportation. Most of our food here is traded with the Traveling Merchants."
"A team roaming the Garden Maze, specializing in business? Interesting." Dox murmured softly, then raised his head to look at the Endless Old Man: "Since they’re doing business, why did you say earlier that the blacksmith refused to refine weapons for you many times?"
The Endless Old Man sighed: "Because, I don’t have what he wants."
After explanation, it turns out this Merchant Organization, although they are doing business, aside from daily necessities, food, water, oil, and grain, all other business cannot be transacted with money.
What they want are items obtained from various organizations in the ruins.
In short, although they don’t treasure hunt, they gather many items from the ruins under the guise of trading.
The Endless Old Man also acquired quite a few things in the ruins, but every time he went to the blacksmith, the old guy would give it a glance and throw it back, directly saying it’s not enough.
This is the grudge between the Endless Old Man and the blacksmith.
When the Endless Old Man spoke to this point, everyone roughly understood the ins and outs of the whole matter. This "Traveling Merchant" organization is definitely not simple.
He seems to be detached, but in reality, he is more like he is rearing all the adventure groups in the ruins, making them work for him.
Daily necessities can be exchanged for money because they are things ordinary people can make.
But for combat supplies, you need relic items to exchange them, obviously, this is what the Traveling Merchants truly want.
"Rear adventure groups to help explore, the person behind has some wisdom." They almost certainly confirmed that there is a Transcendent behind the Traveling Merchants.
Because relic items, as long as they are Transcendent objects, ordinary people often cannot use them, only Transcendents can maximize their utility.
"Crow’s staff was refined by the blacksmith?" Angel: "Then if I’m not mistaken, the item you used in trade with the blacksmith is this desk?"
Crow nodded: "Yes."
"Another twist." Dox rubbed his temples, thinking he wouldn’t deal with Transcendents here, but it seems he’ll have to meet other Transcendents.
"Fools indeed." Black Earl snorted coldly.
It appeared Crow got the trade, but in reality, what he traded, along with the polished Magic Blood Ore, were much more valuable than this useless staff.
As everyone was filled with various emotions, Angel remained calm and continued to ask: "Since you received the desk complete from your teacher, could you describe its appearance, any patterns, or engravings on it?"
Crow recalled: "I can’t quite remember, but it seems there weren’t any words, about the patterns... Because the desk is made of some kind of wood, probably normal wood grain?"
"Was there anything unusual about the original column, originally the shape of your staff?"
Crow shook his head again: "There really wasn’t."
Nothing on the desk or legs? Was Dox’s inspiration off track?
As Angel pondered, the Endless Old Man suddenly spoke up: "Actually, initially the desk did have words and some carved patterns, there was also a design on the legs. However, Crow’s teacher modified it after pulling it apart, then using the desk to hammer people and objects every day, slowly, the patterns seemed to have been worn smooth."
Upon hearing the Endless Old Man’s words, Angel’s eyes lit up, it seems Dox’s inspiration hasn’t failed this time.
This desk might indeed be the breakthrough point.
As for the Endless Old Man’s mention of wearing smooth, after all these years, surely there are traces left, they are all Transcendents, if they can’t even see these traces, then they might as well quit.
Thinking of this, Angel looked at the group: "Looks like we need to deal with this Merchant Organization."
"Even if not for this desk, we still need to go."
The reason is simple, since the Merchant Organization has existed here for so many years, Angel doesn’t believe they know nothing of the true entrance to the Underground Labyrinth.
Even if there’s no clue on the desk, there may be something to gain from the Merchant Organization. So, regardless, they must deal with this organization.
...
Before searching for the Merchant Organization, they chatted with the Endless Old Man again to confirm that when they occupied the Subterranean Ruins originally, there was no anomaly. Only then did Angel prepare to leave.
However, before that, they needed an answer: "How to find the Traveling Merchants?"
"The Traveling Merchants keep roaming the ruins, they’ll come to every region. No matter which region we’re in, we’ll encounter them in a few days, so we’ve never thought to look for them." Endless Old Man showed a face of apology: "So, I might not be able to help with this."
"Since there’s no lead, it looks like we should split up and choose sides to explore with spiritual power?" Dox suggested.
Dox’s proposal was fair, but Angel didn’t immediately respond, instead he looked to Matilda.
Matilda still dressed as a youth, positioned beside her husband Crow, surprisingly harmonious.
The reason Angel looked toward Matilda is because earlier, when probing the Endless Old Man about the Traveling Merchants’ traces, Matilda’s emotions showed slight fluctuation, seemingly knowing something.
No one else noticed, but Angel has nearly mastered emotional perception as a Special Ability, sensing Matilda’s anomaly.
"Matilda, do you know the whereabouts of the Traveling Merchants?"
Angel’s sudden inquiry left everyone puzzled.
Out of the blue, why did Angel ask Matilda?
Yet Matilda’s behavior confused them even more, because... she hesitated.
Hesitation signifies she seemingly knows something.
How did Angel figure it out?
Amidst everyone’s rising curiosity, Matilda slowly spoke: "I, I indeed encountered a Traveling Merchant today..."