Chapter 109: Counterfeit Goods

Outside the gates of Clearwater Stockade.

Mongo’s injuries had healed quickly, but she was still unable to undertake a long journey. Now that Lu Kuan knew she was a woman, he no longer felt it appropriate to carry her on his back.

Fortunately, after Lu Kuan completed the mission to rescue Lightning, the fast-travel point at Clearwater Stockade had been activated as well. As long as one’s reputation with Clearwater Stockade reached Friendly or higher, one could ride the stockade’s exclusive mounts and quickly return to Lava Fortress.

Several young saber-toothed tigers lay lazily outside the gates of Clearwater Stockade. Beside them stood the stockade’s beast tamer, ever ready to provide transportation for passing players.

“Since your friend is leaving, I won’t insist on keeping you here,” Uncle Tao said as he escorted Lu Kuan and Mongo outside. He turned, took a paper parcel from one of the guards, and handed it to Mongo. “Your wounds haven’t healed yet. This is medicine for two weeks. Keep applying it for a few days, and your external injuries will heal soon.”

Mongo sat astride a young saber-toothed tiger. Taking the parcel in both hands, she gave Uncle Tao a solemn bow. “Thank you, Grandpa Tao.”

Lu Kuan sat behind Mongo, wrapping his arms around the petite halfling. Holding the reins in both hands, he said to Uncle Tao, “I’ll see Mongo off first and come back later. I don’t think what happened to Lightning was as simple as it seemed.”

Uncle Tao understood his meaning. After nearly a full day had passed, the efforts of hundreds of players had brought an increasing number of clues into his hands, and a massive conspiracy was gradually coming to light.

“Then I’ll be waiting for you, adventurer.” Uncle Tao clasped his hands behind his back and looked up at Lu Kuan with a smile. “Though what awaits us may be an even more vicious battle.”

“I couldn’t ask for anything better,” Lu Kuan replied easily.

The two exchanged a smile. Lu Kuan gave the reins a shake and squeezed his legs against the tiger’s sides. The saber-toothed tiger beneath him set off at a light-footed trot, leaving the gates of Clearwater Stockade and running toward Lava Fortress.

It was nearing dusk. The scenery of Banyan Tree Prairie was already beautiful, and beneath the slanting rays of the setting sun, vast stretches of water glittered brilliantly. The summer wind swept across the endless reeds, making it difficult to tell at a glance whether one was looking at waves upon the water or waves of grass.

Seeing Mongo staring absently at the beautiful scenery, Lu Kuan smiled. “I don’t think I’ve ever asked you why Tang Jie captured you and went to such lengths to interrogate you. Did you dig up his family’s ancestral grave?”

Unexpectedly, Mongo paused before answering in a low voice, “Something like that… In any case, that fellow isn’t a good person.”

Lu Kuan raised his brows in surprise.

He was genuinely curious about the matter. Tang Jie had personally captured a petty thief and locked Mongo in a private prison. Anyone would have to be a fool to believe there was no hidden quest involved.

Yet no matter how tactfully Lu Kuan tried to question her, Mongo refused to say another word, keeping the truth firmly to herself.

Should he look for a breakthrough by going to Tang Jie?

That was even more impossible. Tang Jie was at least a level-thirty-plus boss-tier character. At present, Lu Kuan could do nothing but look up to him.

Forget it. It was impossible for every hidden quest to fall into his lap. He would deal with the matter at hand first.

When Lu Kuan arrived at Lava Fortress, he caused another commotion.

Everyone was seeing a saber-toothed tiger for the first time. No one could remain uninterested in such a fierce and imposing pet, especially with two people riding on its back.

Lu Kuan had no time to show off. He leaped down from the tiger, patted its neck, and sent it running back on its own. Then he carried Mongo into the city at a brisk pace, turning this way and that until his figure quickly vanished into the alleys.

Twenty minutes later, the two of them arrived in front of an ordinary courtyard in the residential district.

A heavy black-iron padlock hung from the courtyard gate, looking exceptionally secure. Lu Kuan stared at Mongo curiously, eager to see where she would produce the key.

Instead, the halfling girl did not even approach the gate. She beckoned to him. “What are you waiting for? Come and boost me up to the wall.”

“What? You didn’t bring the key?” Lu Kuan asked doubtfully, pointing at the iron chain on the gate.

“That’s a trap, idiot. I never use the door.” Mongo rolled her eyes at him, making no attempt to conceal her disdain.

Lu Kuan habitually rubbed his chin. One really could keep learning throughout one’s entire life. Who would have thought someone would make a habit of climbing over the wall to enter her own home?

Had Mongo not reminded him, he would almost have forgotten that this seemingly delicate halfling girl was not some harmless girl next door, but a seasoned master thief.

Following Mongo’s instructions, Lu Kuan quickly found a secure spot by the wall. He then hoisted Mongo onto his back, took two running steps, and kicked off the stone wall, vaulting neatly into the courtyard.

The courtyard was small, no more than twenty meters in either length or width. There were only two rooms on the northern side. It appeared that no one had visited in a very long time; dust covered the doors and windows, while the weeds in the yard were thriving far more luxuriantly than Lu Kuan himself.

“Stop looking around. The goods aren’t in the house. Come over and help!” Mongo called as she entered the courtyard, running straight toward the southeastern corner.

Lu Kuan walked over unconcernedly and pulled apart the dense weeds. Only then did he discover an iron ring concealed beneath them.

He gripped the ring and pulled with all his strength. Amid the sharp, grating creak of metal, he slowly dragged up a thick, mold-covered wooden hatch, revealing a small opening large enough for a halfling to pass through.

The tunnel was not very deep. Inside, he could vaguely make out assorted bottles and jars, along with several wooden crates.

“These are my treasured possessions from many years of collecting. I was originally going to save them for my retirement. If it weren’t for the fact that you saved my life, hmph…”

Mongo pouted and spoke as though she were deeply reluctant. In truth, she was only putting on an act. The moment she finished speaking, a densely packed list of goods appeared in Lu Kuan’s field of vision.

“My goodness…”

Even Lu Kuan, who had seen plenty of rare treasures, could not help being stunned by the sheer variety and exceptional quality of the goods before him.

High-quality herbs of every kind; gold and silver ore; various potions; cooking ingredients; alchemical materials; pearl ore, emeralds, blue diamonds, and more for forging equipment…

And this was only the first page of the goods list.

Suppressing his surprise, Lu Kuan blinked and looked at Mongo. “You didn’t rob the treasury of Lava Fortress, did you?”

“Tch. How could the treasury contain only this much? Even the goods in that bastard Tang Jie’s vault alone are worth ten times more than this!”

Mongo spoke irritably, then realized she had let something slip. She snorted and hurriedly changed the subject. “Are you buying or not? Don’t tell me you can’t afford it.”

Can’t afford it? Heh.

Lu Kuan grinned. Rather than argue, he turned to the next page of the goods list and quickly browsed through everything. When he reached the final item, a pale-gray object, his heart stirred and his attention was immediately drawn to it.

It was the only piece of equipment on the entire goods list. Its gray, hazy exterior made it resemble a piece of cloth or a veil, while faint blue light silently shimmered across its surface.

Lu Kuan immediately selected the option to inspect its attributes.

Replica Night Elf Invisibility Cloak (Fine Cloak)

Back

Binds on Equip

Equipment Requirement: None

Armor: +11

Durability: 100%

Illusory Veil (Passive): If the player remains completely still, this cloak allows the player to enter stealth for up to 15 seconds.

“Replicated from an artifact once said to belong to the legendary elven race… But what can I say? At least it looks the part.”