Chapter 169 - Death Swamp
Mr. Nian's attitude suddenly took a major turn.
From the confident and carefree attitude he got earlier, he was not suddenly letting out an amiable smile. Almost like he was a monk who just came out of seclusion.
The kid bowed towards Leon and Joana obediently before he turned around and left the premises after obtaining permission from his uncle. He no longer wanted to stay there as he was afraid that his uncle would suddenly change his mind.
Meanwhile, after the kid left, Mr. Nian sweeped the chess box and hid it under the table.
He realized that playing chess actually brought so much stress. He suddenly wants to escape from it and just live a peaceful life in his courtyard while selling valuable information.
'I should find another fun game from now on!' he secretly promised to himself.
After losing for more than fifteen times a row with in ten moves, Mr. Nian was already traumatized by the game chess.
He felt that the familiar game he studied for years has become a stranger to him. The various strategies that Leon uses just could not be surpassed by practice alone.
'Sigh, what a waste of years playing chess only to be defeated by a genius newbie! The world was really unfair… Sigh, forget it!'
Mr. Nian took out a teapot from under the table and served each of them a cup.
"According to our deal, I would need to give you five free valuable information as long as I have it," Mr. Nian said calmly as he sipped the tea with his eyes closed tight.
"You can begin now!"
"Alright, do you know of any information about or the location on where I could obtain a Pure River Water?"
Ban asked the most crucial question right away. Not only did it involve his body, he also knew that it would affect his future if it was not taken out as early as possible.
It was also the only material left before he could make that medicinal soup to cure the hidden injury on his spine.
"Simple, wait for the Auction that will happen five days from now. Due to the Beast Tide, there was actually a rumor that the Auction would be postponed. However, with the Beast Tide starting to calm down, it was confirmed again that the auction would take place at the City Lord's Mansion five days from now."
"However, to obtain one vial, you should at least prepare a huge amount of Gold Coins as competition would be fierce during that time."
"Here's another information for free, although it was really not considered as reliable information as it was only a rumor that I heard from one of my subordinates.
Apparently, there was actually a big river at the center of the Death Swamp located at the west side of the Eagle City.
According to that rumor from five years ago, the deepest part of the river, which is over 20 meters deep, was actually seen glowing during the night in random intervals.
They suspected that it was the birth of a treasure while some say it was a Pure River Water being formed.
Either way, many tried to dive down and try their luck on obtaining that treasure or the Pure River Water. Unfortunately, none of them was able to get it and it was also the last time that the river was seen glowing.
If you got the guts, then you should go to the Death Swamp and try to see if there really was Pure River Water there…"
Mr. Nian explained in detail what he knew towards Leon truthfully.
Ban listened to him and made sure to memorize all of it inside his head. He also tried ordering the System to also record it and to his surprise, the System actually agreed.
He could not help but think that the System might be plotting something against him. He made sure to recall all details and think about it again in the perspective of the Almighty Summoner, after all, he doesn't want to experience the same thing again where he missed such an opportunity because the System forgot to warn him about it.
'It seems that I should try my luck on that Death Swamp, five days from now are just simply too far and I don't even know if I could obtain even one vial. I don't have any money after all.'
"Alright, next question!" Mr. Nian said as he sipped down another mouthful of tea.
Ban immediately asked his question and he asked about the location of a certain material he needed. He also asked if Mr. Nian knew if one of these items existed in the area around the Eagle City.
It was the main material for the Giant Red Dragonfly Egg.
Mr. Nian really has a vast amount of information stashed inside his brain. He not only provided every information that Ban wanted, he would always even give him a piece of rumor as a bonus.
The information regarding the Giant Red Dragonfly egg's hatchery material was easily resolved.
For the next question, Ban asked for information on where he could find a certain Beast that was already at the Pseudo D-Master Rank.
Mr. Nian said that the Beast he was looking for was actually last sighted a month ago in the Death Swamp.
It looks like he would have really had to go there after all.
Ban asked another question regarding information about the Dark Guild and their workings.
Mr. Nian explained everything to him again in detail starting from the history of the Dark Guild, their strength, weaknesses and also their recent movements as a bonus.
Some time later, Ban nodded his head in understanding. The Dark Guild was truly despicable. If what Mr. Nian said it was true, then they really could not be forgiven.
It turns out that the rumor about them abducting children and using a city as a sacred sacrifice to a higher being was all true. Mr. Nian even took out a map of the whole continent they were in and pointed to the location where the city that was sacrificed before was previously at.
After a while, Ban finally asked his last question.
"Why do the Adventurer's Guild force all of their members to participate in the Beast Tide? And is there a way to avoid such responsibility without getting punished?"
Joana's eyes widened in surprise after hearing what Leon had said.
"Interesting!" Mr. Nian said as he drank another mouthful of tea.. It was already his fourth cup and it seems that he was still far from getting satisfied as he was now brewing another tea again.