The Healing Solaris Cleric

Chapter 29: Underground Gambling Den (1)

[Long Sword of the Enlightened One]

Grade: Unique

Attack Power: 75-107

+10 Strength

+3 Stamina

Utilize the rage of the Wyrm Lizard to deal an additional 10% damage when attacking.

*Enchanted with a Sharpness effect. Slashing damage is increased by 10%.

This sword was crafted by the blacksmith Solid, who swung his hammer for many years, applying the enlightenment he recently attained to its fullest. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that the essence of his life's work is contained within this single sword.

Requirements: Level 60+, Strength 80, Stamina 150+.

Durability: 100/100.

"Th-this is...!"

Kai's hands trembled with nervousness as he grasped the sword's handle.

Th-this is the first time I've seen a Unique-grade weapon in my life!

Well, he had seen them a few times in auctions or screenshots, but equipping a Unique-grade item was the first time since his name was registered in the family register.

"Wow...."

When people are extremely happy or sad, they lose their sense of language. Kai only let out exclamations as if he were a broken machine.

"Hahaha! You seem to like it quite a bit!"

Solid's hearty laughter and his thick hands patted Kai's shoulder.

"Oh, yes. I do!" Kai finally regained his senses and nodded with all his might. "I love it. No, how could anyone not love such a weapon!"

Though it had been less than a minute since Kai first met the sword, Kai embraced it tightly as if bewitched.

[You’ve received 1,817 damage.]

[You’ve received an additional 182 damage due to the Rage of the Wyrm Lizard effect.]

"Oh no!"

Of course, the return was dreadful. Yet, Kai continued to chuckle.

"Are you that happy?"

"Of course. Holding a sword like this will likely be a once-in-a-lifetime experience."

"Hahaha! I appreciate the kind words." Solid threw back his shoulders and raised his nose into the air as he was filled with pride. He wiped under his nose with a finger before saying, "Now, it's time to check the armor."

"Ah! The armor!"

Kai had completely forgotten about the armor and looked at it.

This isn't a set item, is it?

When he received the Armor of the Undead set last time, it was definitely in a box.

But these items aren't in a box!

Meaning, they weren’t set items, so they could be traded.

Ka securely tied the scabbard to his belt and picked up the armor.

"Identify items."

[Wyrm Lizard Scale Chestplate]

Grade: Rare

Defense: 412

Magical Defense: 295

Requirements: Level 60+

Durability: 100/100

[Wyrm Lizard Scale Greaves]

Grade: Rare

Defense: 384

Magical Defense: 268

Requirements: Level 60+

Durability: 100/100

[Wyrm Lizard Scale Boots]

Grade: Rare

Defense: 285

Magical Defense: 214

Requirements: Level 60+

Durability: 100/100

Amazing!

Kai greatly struggled to suppress the urge to scream with joy. The armor wasn't worth giving up the effects of the Armor of the Undead set he was currently using. However, if he were to put these items up for auction, he could probably get millions for them.

It's money!

Kai hugged Solid, who had given him this significant amount of money, "Solid, sir, you are truly the best! I see why so many nobles, knights, and even the royal family known to be picky seek your equipment!"

"Hmm, well, it's nothing really...."

Solid tilted his head back, his nose rising high into the air with pride. At this moment, no one could deny his skills.

"How can I ever thank you for this? I feel sorry to just receive this equipment...."

"The enlightenment you've given me is incomparable! It feels like my skills have improved thanks to it."

They exchanged heartfelt emotions over the valuable gifts and enlightenment!

They looked at each other's faces, smiling broadly.

"Solid, sir...."

"Kai...."

The two grew closer! They embraced each other and decided to be honest with their feelings.

"Once again, thank you for the great enlightenment."

"And I thank you, several times over, for crafting such brilliant equipment."

After expressing their gratitude sincerely, they stepped back from the embrace. A bond had formed between them that hadn't existed before the hug.

"If you're going to make more equipment in the future, come to this Solid!"

“Alright. I might become very bothersome!"

"Hahaha! If it's your request, I'd get up from sleep to fulfill it, don't worry!"

It was a bond! It was a feeling of connection that sailors floating in the vast sea would experience! The two formed a strong bond, exceeding the species of player and NPC.

"Then, I'll be going now."

"I won't be able to take you out farther, lots of work to do. See you next time," Solid gave a bright smile as he said goodbye, which was a look that didn’t suit his thick muscles.

Kai, with a slight bow and a smile, left the blacksmith.

There were still items to be collected from the Wizard’s Tower and the tailor.

***

Wow, so this is what the city's auction house is like.

The auction house in Glendale Kai had visited after collecting all the requested items was on a different level from Frica. It was a sophisticated space that reminded one of a bank.

At the entrance, attendants handed out wooden tokens engraved with numbers to everyone who came in. After Kai also received his token and waited for a bit, the area around the number on the token blinked red.

It must mean they're calling me, right?

The pretty auction manager at the counter checked the token and smiled. "How can I help you?"

"I'd like to sell some items."

"Then, please place the items in this box."

Kai placed the items he wanted to sell into the box she extended.

"Wow, you're selling a lot. The Shoes of the Wind, Steel Helmet, Steel Shield, and... oh my! Even the Scholarly Gloves and Wyrm Lizard equipment too!"

She couldn't close her mouth as she looked at the items Kai placed.

I knew since he had nice equipment on, but... this person is a big spender!

In MID Online, where Rare items were still not widely released, it was rare for someone to come and sell this many Rare and Magic items at once.

Then she said in the kindest voice possible, "What starting bid were you thinking?"

"I'm not really sure about the market price."

"Then, may I explain a bit?"

"I would appreciate that."

"I'll explain one by one. For instance, these Scholarly Gloves, due to their effect of increasing spell power, have recently become extremely popular among wizard adventurers...."

She meticulously assigned prices to the items as if it were her own task.

The prices were as follows:

[Shoes of the Wind (Rare) - 17 gold 20 silver]

[Scholarly Gloves (Rare) - 22 gold 17 silver]

[Steel Helmet (Rare) - 16 gold 75 silver]

[Steel Shield (Rare) - 18 gold 8 silver]

[Wyrm Lizard Scale Chestplate - 20 gold 17 silver]

[Wyrm Lizard Scale Helmet - 17 gold 5 silver]

[Wyrm Lizard Scale Boots - 14 gold 95 silver]

"Wooow...!" Kai let out a light exclamation as he looked at the price list she had determined.

Despite having to pay ten percent of the total amount as auction house fees and kingdom taxes, the total sales amount easily exceeded 10,000,000 won.

Kai, who became happier, looked at the auction house manager with warm eyes and said, "That sounds good. Please proceed with the prices as they are."

"Of course, sir."

***

It had already been a week since Kai had received the bandit quest from Baron Arsen. Although the quest wasn't time-limited, Kai was getting eager to start.

It was definitely the underground gambling hall of the Breeze Bar that Milton was running.

Since the sun was beginning to set, the atmosphere in the gambling hall would be at its peak.

Upon entering Breeze Bar, a man wiping glasses at the counter glanced at Kai and asked, "Food? Or drink?"

"I feel like rolling some dice today."

What Kai had said was a kind of code indicating he wanted to enter the gambling den.

"Hmm... I'd like to ask where an adventurer heard such information... but it's against the rules to inquire. Follow me."

Kai knew the code because he had received information from Baron Arsen.

The man led Kai down a flight of stairs connected to the first-floor kitchen. The further down they went, the noisier it became.

"Come on! Come on!"

"Please! Just once!"

"I-it came out!"

"Waiter! One strong drink here!"

...This is the underground gambling den!

It was Glendale's largest private gambling den, where thousands of gold exchanged hands daily. Waiters and ladies carrying various drinks bustled about, outnumbered by the people gambling.

Baron Arsen's request to deal with Milton probably means he wants to eliminate the private gambling den altogether.

As Kai entered the gambling hall, thugs looking like gangsters blocked his way.

"Whoa whoa, are you headed to a battlefield or something?"

"Maybe take off the armor? Plus the mace on your belt too."

"...."

It seemed entry with weapons wasn’t permitted. Kai obediently put his Armor of the Undead set and Skull Crusher of Darkness into his inventory.

"You look quite young."

"An adventurer, huh. A friendly advice, don't take out those equipment again."

After passing the threatening warnings, Kai looked around inside.

Where’s Milton?

After roaming around the two-story gambling den, he couldn't spot Milton's face, which he had confirmed several times as a portrait.

The only place left unchecked is over there....

Kai glanced at the VIP room located in a corner on the second floor. Guards were posted, making it look difficult to enter by ordinary means.

As he leaned against a wall, frowning, waiters coming out of there passed in front of Kai.

"Set up the accompaniments right away."

"Yes, sir!"

"It's a table shared by the boss and important guests. Even if you're new, mistakes won't be tolerated."

"I'll keep that in mind."

"You always carry the manual with you, right? If there's something you don't know, it's all written there, so refer to it."

"Understood!"

The boss...?

Kai's eyes lit up after overhearing their conversation. Since Milton ran the gambling den, there couldn't be anyone else they referred to as the boss.

So he's in the VIP room after all.

Kai began to secretly follow the waiter named Hans.

***

"Are the accompaniments ready? Chicken and duck meat! And five plates of salmon salad!"

Hans, having stopped by the kitchen several times to check on the progress of the accompaniments for the VIP room, caught his breath.

Phew, fortunately, everything is going smoothly.

Being only three months into his job as a waiter, he was still treated as a newbie.

But now I finally get to set up the VIP room.

If he could get through today's work without any accidents, he would be recognized as a full-fledged waiter!

However, perhaps due to nervousness, he kept feeling signals from his stomach.

Ugh, it feels like I need to go again.

Hans quickly entered the bathroom.

"Ah... much better...."

After finishing his business with a sense of relief, Hans quickly turned around. But in his rush to finish and return, he failed to look behind him and ended up bumping shoulders with someone.

"Oh no, my apologies...."

"Apologies? Is that all you have to say?"

Hans repeatedly bowed his head, looking at the young-faced customer.

Fuck. I can’t believe a kid younger than me is playing the customer card....

Hans thought a few bows would suffice, but the man's expression only grew more raged.

"Are you new? Do you not know who I am?"

"P-pardon...?"

Hans tried to recall the faces of the VIPs he had been taught about by his seniors, but he couldn't recognize the guest in front of him.

Were there adventurers among the VIPs? I- I don't think there was....

As Hans couldn’t say anything and just stood there, the man shouted in an irritated tone, "You really don't know, do you? This is getting ridiculous.... Pull out the manual now!"

Startled by the shout, Hans quickly pulled out the manual he had kept hidden in his pocket.

The man snatched it away irritably, saying, "It says right here about me! I dine here with the boss, eh!? Roll dice with the boss, eh!? I did all that, buddy!"

"Yes... Yes, sir!"

While Hans stood frozen, the man who had taken the manual, Kai, obtained the information he wanted.

Good. There was a secret entrance after all. Those with something to hide always do. It connects through here.

After memorizing the information, Kai handed the manual back to Hans.

As Kai attempted to leave the bathroom without a word, Hans stopped him. "Um... so, your name is...?"

"Oh," Kai turned his back with an annoyed expression, then smiled. "I must have been too drunk and made a mistake. Sorry for confusing you with another gambling den!"

With those words, he hurried out of the restroom.

Left alone in the restroom, Hans mumbled with a dumbfounded expression, "...Who the hell is that bastard."