Chapter 24: Red Fang Exchange House
"That’s an Elite!"
"Woah, do you recognise either of them? I don’t think I’ve ever seen their faces amongst the veterans in Erenhot who hunt for Elite beasts. Maybe they moved in from another city."
After a few hours, Rohan and Elane finally made their way back through the northern gates of Erenhot. What would have normally taken about an hour to travel took nearly four, as they had to drag the corpse of the Soldier Ant all the way back with them, in complete darkness at that...
The rough terrain of the jungle didn’t make things any easier for them either.
’Man, I’m not getting a good feeling from this.’
The multitude of eyes that darted over in his direction gave Rohan the creeps. There were some Awakened who didn’t even hide their intentions, staring at the impressive corpse of the Elite beast down with malicious intent.
Though, if the safety of the city wasn’t there, the huge gaping hole in the Elite’s neck was enough of a deterrence to stop anyone who wanted to try their luck with him.
Elane felt just as uncomfortable under all the gazes, even feeling like an impostor. Everyone there looked at her with the same respect they held for Rohan, but only she knew she didn’t deserve it.
Rohan, meanwhile, couldn’t care less about their respect.
Their greed, though?
That was another matter entirely.
The stares trailing the Soldier Ant’s corpse were getting heavier with every street they turned down. At first, it felt like mere curiosity — as most Awakened had never seen an Elite beast in person before.
However, there were a few that seemed more calculated.
A few Awakened even paused their own business just to watch them pass. Some trailed behind at a distance for a few seconds before peeling away, probably to go and inform their friends of what they just saw.
Others openly whispered to one another while eyeing the gaping hole in the Soldier Ant’s neck, as if trying to judge whether Rohan and Elane had killed it themselves or merely gotten lucky and stumbled upon the remains.
’I have to get rid of this thing asap...’
Holding onto the corpse any longer would only invite trouble.
The longer they dragged it around, the more people would start thinking about how much it was worth. And in a city where strength decided most things, Rohan had no interest in testing whether the ’safety’ of the city truly extended to two exhausted rookies carrying around a small fortune in beast materials.
’Not to mention that once they get their hands on the beast, they might wonder what other valuables I might have on me.’
That was his real worry. If someone found out that he was walking around town with an Elite tier Gene in his pocket, he had no doubt that he’d be pounced on the next second!
Forget abiding by the rules of the city! If they could get their hands on something so valuable, then the inconvenience of moving to a new city was more than worth it.
"We’re not going anywhere else first," he said in a low voice to Elane. "Straight to the market district. We sell it immediately."
Elane nodded without objection.
Rohan tightened his grip on the Ant’s mandible and changed directions at the next crossing, hauling the corpse toward the brighter and busier commercial quarter of Erenhot.
The city at night was a different beast altogether. Most Awakened hunted during the day and returned at night with their spoils, so the city really came alive once the sun crossed the horizon.
Torchlight and luminous crystals hung from buildings and market posts, casting orange and pale white glows over the streets below. When technology failed them, people’s creativity to find things to replace it really started to shine.
Traders were active everywhere despite the late hour, carrying around their wares and catering to Awakened who came and went from the surrounding hunting grounds at all times. Some sold weapons, armour, and essentials like food and water. There were even quite a few Awakened walking about with Beast Corpses trailing behind them just like Rohan.
But even within the lively noise of the district, their arrival made waves.
People moved out the way, heads turned, and conversations stalled midway through.
The Soldier Ant’s corpse scraped loudly over the ground behind them, announcing their presence wherever they went.
"That’s a Soldier Ant!"
"No, that’s definitely an Elite tier corpse..."
"Those two killed it?!"
"Impossible. Look at them, they’re as fresh as they come."
"Maybe they got lucky."
"Lucky enough to drag it back intact? Don’t be stupid."
Rohan and Elane ignored every word. They kept their head down and pushed through the crowd, eyes scanning quickly for the largest storefront he could find.
Small stalls weren’t an option. No way was he going to spent ages negotiating the sale of an Elite beast corpse who might not even have enough Origin Crystals on hand to pay for it.
He needed a large, already established buyer. Someone with enough capital to pay immediately, and enough reputation that robbing them openly would be far less likely.
"There." Elane spoke, pointing ahead.
At the far end of the street stood a broad building with a reinforced archway and several large beast skeletons mounted decoratively above its entrance. The sign hanging over the doorway was simple yet imposing, with thick engraved letters lit by embedded crystals.
’Red Fang Exchange House.’
More importantly, the place had guards.
’Seems like I made the right choice in being cautious by selling the corpse immediately.’
If even a place as imposing and reputable as this needed to employ guards to stand out front, then it was a clear reminder that the city wasn’t the safe haven you’d expect.
’This place looks by far the richest on this whole street, maybe even the whole city.’
This was good. For all he knew, they might even have some wares inside that might be of some interest to him.
’Though that’ll have to come later. Right now my biggest priority is Origin Crystals.’
The crowd thinned around them as they approached the building, no doubt because people knew better than to make trouble directly outside a major exchange house. Being banned from a place like this was worse than the death they’d receive if they tried to rob them...
The two guards raised their brows as they watched the approaching duo.
"...That’s an impressive catch you got there." One of them said.
"We’re here to sell."
Rohan didn’t stop walking.
The guard’s gaze lingered for a second longer before he lost interest, nodding at Rohan in response.
"Take it through the rear entrance. Lucky for you, the Chief Appraiser just returned to the Origin Realm earlier today. Otherwise, you’d have to wait days before you’d have your chance."
Rohan was inwardly surprised and secretly relieved.
He was so focused on just trying to get rid of the corpse as soon as possible that he completely overlooked the fact that those who would be willing to buy it might not even be in the Origin Realm.
After all, the Origin Realm was only a temporary stop for every Awakened. F ranks were only able to stay in for 7 days at a time before being kicked out, and while they could choose to immediately enter again if they wanted to, most opted to take a break instead before going back.