57: Obtained the Herbal Crystal

At this moment, Ron faced the female attendant's inquiry and answered with a relaxed and natural tone.

"Hello, miss. I am a high-level Potion Master apprentice, recently arrived in Kula City to further my studies at the Potion Masters Association."

"Because I've run out of materials, I want to buy some herbs and some magic crystals to replenish energy."

Compared to the backwardness and isolation of Hibo Town, Kula City was not only more economically prosperous but also sufficiently open.

Therefore, even valuable items like magic crystals could be purchased freely, with almost no restrictions.

However, to be safe, Ron did not reveal his true identity.

He simply found an excuse, using the name of the Potion Masters Association to make his purchases.

Sure enough, the female attendant, upon hearing this, showed no suspicion and said with a smile,

"Alright, please tell me the specific names and quantities of the items you need, and I will fetch them for you immediately."

Ron heard this and took out a list from hisin arms.

On this list, in addition to the rare herbs needed to refine the Spirit Awakening Potion,

there were also some common herbs used to create a smokescreen and to refine other low-level potions.

The female attendant took the list and first estimated a total price based on the herbs listed.

After Ron nodded in agreement, the female attendant then asked him to wait a moment while she went to retrieve the items.

Because the energy crystals and those few rare herbs were very expensive, they were not displayed at the front desk but were stored in the back.

At this moment, Ron stood by the counter, idly scanning his surroundings.

"All these things combined must be worth at least tens of thousands of gold coins, right?"

Ron thought to himself, feeling a touch of envy.

Previously, through various means, such as selling herbs to Litton, acquiring Poke's inheritance, finding Barto's hidden gold in the small courtyard... all totaled, he had accumulated nearly a hundred gold coins.

In Hibo Town, he would have been considered a small local magnate with considerable wealth.

However, upon arriving in Kula City, the money he had was simply not worth mentioning.

After all, he had just heard the female attendant introduce the prices of various herbs and energy crystals.

Leaving aside the different types of herbs,

just the energy crystals, even the lowest grade ones, cost ten gold coins each!

And setting up an unsealing array required at least five crystals as a base.

If it succeeded on the first try, that would be fine, but if it failed... he would have to redraw the array and refill the energy crystals.

Ron calculated that with his current wealth,

even adding the money Barto had stored in an unregistered safe deposit box at the bank,

at most... it would only be enough for him to fail three times!

"It must succeed, absolutely must not fail!"

Ron clenched his fists, silently praying.

Just then, the female attendant came over, carrying a box.

"Sir, these are the items you requested."

The female attendant opened the box, revealing more than a dozen types of herbs neatly arranged and separated by dividers.

At the same time, the female attendant took out a small wooden box containing six thumb-sized crystals emitting a faint white glow.

"Sir, if any item does not meet your requirements, we can replace it."

The female attendant said, and Ron nodded, inspecting them carefully.

He found that there were no problems with any of the herbs.

So, the female attendant led him to the cash register.

Ron took out seventy-five gold coins and handed them over.

After the transaction was complete, the female attendant packed all the items into a leather case and handed it to Ron.

Ron took the case and, after leaving the Exchange, went to a blacksmith's shop.

However, rather than a blacksmith's shop, it was more like a [Weapon Forging Station].

Compared to the ordinary blacksmith shops in Hibo Town, which primarily forged farm tools and secondarily guns and swords,

ninety-nine percent of the goods in this Kula City blacksmith's shop were all sorts of powerful weapons.

In addition to standard knight's longswords and lances, there was also a series of weapons and equipment including armor, bows and arrows, shields, broadswords, and warhammers.

Even on the central shelf, there were several steel longswords emitting a sharp, cold glint.

Ron's gaze narrowed; he could tell at a glance that those longswords were all low-level alchemy constructs.

Although their specific effects were unclear, judging by the slender nature of these swords, they were likely related to sharpness or agility.

After a few more glances, Ron no longer paid attention and shifted his gaze.

After all, his purpose for coming today was not to buy alchemy weapons.

Moreover... even if he wanted to buy them, he couldn't afford them.

He had just glanced at the weapon prices and found that even the cheapest sword cost thirty gold coins... So, Ron walked straight to the counter, not looking left or right.

"Hello, sir. I am a high-level Alchemist apprentice, recently arrived in Kula City to further my studies at the Alchemist Association."

"Because I've run out of materials, I want to buy some ores and some auxiliary tools."

Ron used the same trick, still waving the banner of the Alchemist Association to cover himself.

Behind the counter, the salesperson was a burly man with a rugged appearance.

Upon hearing this, his eyes immediately lit up, and he then said very enthusiastically,

"Oh? You're from the Alchemist Association? What a coincidence, I'm also planning to sign up next year."

"By the way, what ores do you need? I can give you a discount..."

Facing the big man's kindness, Ron's lips curved upwards, and he naturally wouldn't refuse.

Fifteen minutes later, when Ron walked out of the blacksmith's shop,

he had an additional box in his hand.

By this time, it was almost noon.

Ron did not wander any longer; he called a carriage to take him back to the inn.

Upon arriving in his room, Ron had just put down his things.

He then heard footsteps outside, followed by the door opening, and Litton also returned.

However, Ron looked up and saw that Litton's expression was very displeased, filled with gloom.

"Hmm?"

Ron's heart stirred. What was going on?

Could it be that Litton and Doctor Gavin had argued?

"Ron, you're back? Did you see your sister?"

Litton saw that Ron had already returned, so he forcibly suppressed his displeasure and asked.

Ron sighed, concealing the details of what happened, only vaguely stating the outcome.

"What? Such a thing happened?"

After Litton learned the news that Ron's sister could not be redeemed anytime soon, he also couldn't help but frown.

However, he had no good solution for this matter, so he could only comfort Ron a few times, telling him not to worry and to think of other ideas later.

At this moment, Ron, however, asked Litton about what had happened between him and Gavin that morning.

Upon hearing this, Litton's expression changed slightly, and he fell silent.

"Nothing to say, let's leave it at that..."

Litton said gloomily, then added,

"By the way, if there's nothing else, we'll head back this afternoon."