"Hello, sir," he greeted respectfully.
The shopkeeper yawned, stretching his arms behind the counter. "Hello, hunter," he replied groggily, eyeing Alex with mild curiosity.
"I need to process this meat properly and quickly. Can you help me?" Alex asked urgently, his voice tense with impatience.
"Calm down there, son," the shopkeeper said, standing up straighter. "What have you got?" He leaned forward to inspect the bundle Alex unwrapped. As soon as he caught sight of the white hide and faintly glowing veins of the meat, his eyes widened.
"By the heavens—white deer!" he whispered. "Hurry, put it here on the slab. I'll start immediately."
Without wasting a moment, the shopkeeper grabbed his best set of knives and pulled on a fresh pair of gloves. He moved with practiced efficiency, first removing the silvery-white skin, then expertly cutting the meat into evenly sized portions. Each slice was clean and deliberate, as if honoring the creature's rarity. Just fifteen minutes later, he stepped back, finished.
Washing his hands at a nearby basin, he turned back to Alex. "You're a lucky boy," he said seriously. "All this meat still holds preserved elemental power. If you'd been even a little later, most of it would've dispersed."
Alex's eyes narrowed slightly. "Elemental power?" he asked.
The shopkeeper nodded. "White deer meat is incredibly rare. Preparing it right away not only preserves its magic but prevents it from spoiling for a long time. It's especially beneficial to people with ice or water affinities."
He wiped his hands on a cloth, then added, "Now, let's talk payment. I'll take 25% of the meat as my fee. Fair?"
Alex nodded. "Yes. That's fine—and thank you."
The shopkeeper packed the rest of the meat carefully into a sturdy cloth bag and handed it over. With a respectful nod, Alex left the shop and headed straight to the Hunter Guild.
He carried two cloth sacks in one hand, containing herbs and the heart of the white deer, and the meat bag in the other. His pace was brisk—he didn't want to risk drawing attention.
Once inside the Hunter Guild, he approached the receptionist's desk. The woman behind it glanced up as he handed over his badge and laid the items on the counter, along with his mission paper.
After a quick inspection, the receptionist smiled and handed over a small pouch. "You're quite lucky," she said. "That white deer you found was It's heart worth ten gold coins. The herbs fetch another two silver."
Alex blinked in surprise, staring at the gleaming coins in his palm. "Thanks. Uh… can I rent a room here?"
"Certainly. One copper coin per night. Comes with one meal," the receptionist replied.
"I'll take seven nights," he said, handing over the coins.
Room number ten was at the end of the first-floor hallway. It was simple but cozy—a bed near the window, a desk and chair, and a washroom with a clean shower, washbasin, and toilet.
Alex stripped off his travel-worn clothes, showered, and cleaned his garments before sitting on the bed wrapped in a towel. Thoughts swirled in his mind.
I have money now. First, I need clothes… and a couple of daggers. I have to explore every corner of Romania City—and find my ring.
He lay back and slowly drifted into sleep.
But it didn't last.
He awoke with a gasp, his body drenched in sweat. A cold chill ran down his spine as he wiped his forehead.
That nightmare again… He sat up and glanced at the window. It was midday—time to move.
Dressing quickly, Alex stepped out and wandered through the city. Over the next three days, he observed, listened, and learned.
Romania City was built around three concentric circular walls, each one defining a zone of wealth and power:
The outer wall surrounded the poor zone—densely populated, chaotic, and mostly made up of slums. Most residents didn't possess elemental power.
The middle zone housed the working class and hunters. It was more organized, and the Hunter Guild was based here.
The inner zone was the domain of elites—high-ranking military officials and powerful B-rank and above hunters. Ordinary people weren't allowed inside without permission.
With his newfound knowledge, Alex bought two reliable daggers and a set of clean clothes: black jeans, a fitted black T-shirt, and a matching hoodie. He blended into the crowd with quiet confidence.
He also learned about Laila.
A skilled thief operating in the slums, Laila was infamous for targeting newcomers. Rumor had it she was stronger than she appeared.
Alex began tailing a group of three EE Academy students—two girls and a boy, all about fifteen. The boy had golden hair and lion-like golden eyes, his round face etched with arrogance. The girls—one with black hair, the other brown—were dressed in noble clothes and hung on his every word.
"Young master," the brown-haired girl said, "let's start with an E-rank mission. It'll help us get used to the green zone before trying something harder."
The boy nodded with a smug grin. "You're right, Emily. That's a smart approach for our first mission."
Alex trailed them as they moved toward the middle zone. He wasn't surprised when Laila suddenly appeared, bumping into the boy with a well-rehearsed stumble. He followed her like a moth to a flame, and the girls trailed behind.
They were lured into a shadowy alley.
Suddenly, a muscular man stepped from the darkness and struck the boy down. The girls screamed and tried to flee.
But Alex was already there. He emerged from the boy's shadow like a phantom and struck the attacker with surgical precision. The brute dropped like a sack of stones.
Then Alex walked forward calmly, his eyes fixed on Laila.
"Hello, Laila," he said.
She froze, eyes wide with terror.
"I want my ring back."
Her hands trembled as she reached for the ring on her finger and slowly approached him.
"Drop the act," Alex said coolly. "I know you're above beginner level. Give me my ring, and we'll call it even."
Grudgingly, Laila handed it over, her jaw tight with frustration.
Alex pocketed it and turned away. "A bit of advice, Laila. That boy? He's from one of the Ten Clans. You really don't want to mess with them."
Her face went pale. She looked back at the unconscious boy, noticing his golden hair. Then, with a snarl, she screamed, "Fuck!"
Alex smirked and returned to his room at the Hunter Guild. Sitting on his bed, he pulled out the ring and examined it.
Everything was still inside, untouched.
She couldn't open it, Alex thought, relief washing over him.