Entering Boulder City, the wide streets were paved with smooth flagstones, large enough for several carriages to travel abreast.
Shops lined both sides of the street, with a dazzling array of signboards: taverns, blacksmiths, general stores, clothiers… everything imaginable.
Pedestrians jostled shoulder to shoulder, the sounds of hawking, laughter, and horse hooves echoed incessantly, forming a stark contrast to the desolate scene of Blackstone Territory.
A hint of awe and longing was visible in the knights' eyes; this was how a major city should look.
The guiding knight led them to an inn called “Golden Gryphon.”
This inn was five stories high, with an imposing facade, and a lifelike golden gryphon statue stood majestically at its entrance.
It was evident that this was one of the top inns in Boulder City.
“Baron, this is the Golden Gryphon Inn, one of the best inns in the city. Your room is ready; please rest well.”
The Knight Captain said respectfully.
Lei Luo nodded in thanks, and the group entered the inn.
As soon as Lei Luo stepped into the inn lobby, his gaze was drawn to a large notice posted on the wall.
The notice was on fine parchment, with elegant calligraphy, and its content made his heart skip a beat:
“High-priced acquisition of Dragon Scales! Excellent quality will fetch premium prices! Dragon Scales can also be exchanged for my specially formulated ‘Earth Knight Breakthrough Potion’! Barnaby Gray, sincerely seeking, serious inquiries only!”
Below the notice, an exaggerated potion bottle design was drawn, with “Master Barnaby” signed next to it.
Earth Knight Breakthrough Potion!
Lei Luo’s pupils contracted slightly.
He subconsciously glanced at Moonlight at his feet.
Moonlight was idly pawing at the carpet’s fringe, seemingly uninterested in the notice.
Aide also saw the notice and whispered to Lei Luo, “Sir, if Master Barnaby is seeking Dragon Scales, why would he come to the frontier Boulder City instead of visiting the Duke in Lei Long City? Isn’t that taking the long way around?”
Lei Luo remained noncommittal, but he already had a plan in mind.
He instructed Aide to arrange lodging and meals for the knights, while he, accompanied by Moonlight, returned to the suite assigned to him.
The suite was spacious and comfortable, elegantly furnished.
Lei Luo closed the door, ensuring no one would disturb him, then squatted down and looked at Moonlight.
Moonlight had already jumped onto the soft bed, curled into a ball, and was idly sweeping the bedsheet with the tip of its tail, its pale golden eyes half-closed.
It looked as if it was saying, “I’m sleepy, don’t bother me.”
“Moonlight.”
Lei Luo rubbed his hands, a smile he considered his most amiable appearing on his face.
“You saw that notice at the entrance, right?”
Moonlight didn’t even lift an eyelid, merely letting out a soft huff from its nose, indicating it had heard.
“That… Earth Knight Breakthrough Potion, it’s very important to me.”
Lei Luo tried to make his tone sound sincere.
“You know, my strength improving is good for you too, right? I’ll be able to get you more delicious food in the future, like… hmm, juicy roasted honey-glazed wild boar leg, plump and oily golden roasted whole lamb…”
Moonlight’s ears twitched, and the frequency of its tail sweeping increased slightly.
Seeing an opening, Lei Luo pressed on.
“I heard there’s a famous ‘Seven Mile Fragrance Tavern’ in Boulder City? They say their roasted goose has crispy skin and tender meat, and one bite fills your mouth with oil. If you help me with this small favor, I’ll treat you to… hmm, three! No, five roasted geese!”
Upon hearing the words “roasted goose,” Moonlight finally opened its eyes, its pale golden gaze fixed on Lei Luo, with a hint of suspicion.
It slowly licked its paw, seemingly seriously considering the cost-effectiveness of the offer.
Lei Luo was secretly delighted, knowing this little glutton was tempted.
He continued to coax, “Look, Dragon Scales, for you, shouldn’t be a rare item, right? Just a few pieces falling off can get me the potion I’ve dreamed of, and allow you to feast. This is simply killing two birds with one stone, no, a highly profitable good deed!”
Moonlight tilted its head.
Lei Luo gave an awkward laugh.
“Uh, I didn’t mean that. What I mean is, as you grow, occasionally… occasionally, won’t there be one or two naturally shed scales that are useless anyway? Why not trade them for some practical benefits?”
He chose his words carefully, afraid of offending this esteemed one.
Moonlight stared at Lei Luo for a long time, making Lei Luo feel a little uneasy.
Just as Lei Luo thought the negotiation was about to break down and was preparing to add a few more roasted geese, Moonlight suddenly opened its small mouth and yawned.
Then, to Lei Luo’s surprise, it stretched out a front paw and rummaged around its belly.
As it moved, several silver scales, shimmering with a cool, moonlit glow, quietly slipped out, clinking onto the soft bedsheet.
Exactly five pieces, no more, no less.
Each piece was about the size of a baby’s palm, with smooth edges and a surface covered in intricate and profound patterns, like the most exquisite works of art, emitting faint magical fluctuations.
Lei Luo’s eyes went wide.
“This… this is…”
He was overjoyed.
Moonlight glanced at him, lazily licked its paw, and then looked at Lei Luo with its pale golden eyes, clearly conveying: “Roasted geese, five, remember.”
Lei Luo carefully picked up a Dragon Scale; it was cool to the touch, tough in texture, and the pure energy contained within it thrilled him.
He was simply ecstatic, not expecting Moonlight to so easily…
No, it was so “generously” producing five Dragon Scales.
And they were naturally shed, which made him feel even more at ease.
“Moonlight, you really are my precious darling!”
Lei Luo excitedly tried to hug Moonlight, but Moonlight skillfully tilted its head and dodged him.
Moonlight patted the scales on the bedsheet with the tip of its tail, then rubbed its chin against Lei Luo’s hand, purring contentedly, as if urging him to quickly go exchange for the roasted geese.
Lei Luo laughed heartily and put the five Dragon Scales into his embrace.
Moonlight, this little guy, has so many secrets.
It must also possess some kind of spatial storage magic; who knows how many treasures are hidden in the magical spatial pouch on its belly.
Not to mention, who knows how many shed Dragon Scales it has accumulated.
Otherwise, given Moonlight’s personality, the price would never be as low as five roasted geese for five Dragon Scales.
At dinner time.
The smiling waiter from the Seven Mile Fragrance Tavern delivered five glossy, fragrant roasted geese.
At the dining table in the suite, Moonlight was currently buried in one of the roasted geese, eating with oil dripping from its mouth, making contented rumbling sounds in its throat.
It would occasionally lift its head, vigilantly glancing at the other four intact roasted geese, as if afraid they might grow legs and run away.
Lei Luo found it amusing; this little guy could temporarily set aside its principles for food.
He himself ate a simple meal, his thoughts already soaring to Master Barnaby.
Seeing that Moonlight’s battle with the roasted geese had entered a heated phase, and it likely wouldn’t be distracted for a while, Lei Luo quietly got up, carefully secured the five Dragon Scales close to his body, and left the suite.
The inn lobby wasn’t too noisy, and the flickering firelight in the fireplace illuminated the faces of passing travelers.
Lei Luo walked to the counter and asked the attendant, “Excuse me, which room is Master Barnaby staying in?”