Jacob was speechless when he heard this receptionist's blunt way of handling guests, and then he remembered that coarse voice who inspected the ID card. He wondered if everyone here was arrogant and cranky.
Nevertheless, since they could build such a city in the middle of nowhere and give shelter to anyone who entered without being worried about even three hegemonies, he won't cause trouble without any good reason.
As long as they played by rules, he didn't mind obeying them.
He took out ten gold coins and ten silvers and place them on the counter, "Ten Day Pass and that guild book."
The masked receptionist coolly took the coins and asked, "Your name? Any name is fine."
Jacob thought for a moment and then answered, "Jack."
The masked receptionist started to move her hands under the counter, which Jacob failed to see. He didn't know what she was doing, but he waited.
After a minute, the masked receptionist put a bronze card with strange wording engraved on one side, and when Jacob saw the other side. His eyes dilated because a timer 09D:23H: 59M:58S was running on it.
He also noticed a dark-capped symbol on the top of this timer.
"When this timer reached all the way to zero, you'll have fifteen minutes to leave the Dark City or to recharge this timer again. Remember this, we will know when it reached zero and can find you anywhere as long as you are in the vicinity of Dark City, so don't try anything funny.
"If you neglected this, the City Guards will detain you and impersonate you in the dungeon for three days and torture you. Afterward, they'll throw you out, and you'll be banned from entering the Dark City for three months."
The receptionist coolly explained before she put a pocket-size book on the counter, "Your Dark City Guide Book. Now you can get out of my face."
Jacob picked up the bronze card and small book, but he didn't leave and asked, "Last question: why is this city in the uncommon region?"
The masked receptionist sounded annoyed by this question. "Because many depraved and illicit bastards like you ran into the uncommon region when you have no place to go, and it's good for business. Now go, or those four haven't had a decent exercise in a while."
'What a bitch,' Jacob scoffed before he left toward the barricade.
One of the tall guards coldly glance at Jacob before he opened the way for him.
Jacob didn't mind them and continued moving, and he finally crossed the gate and entered the clean valley way which was made of solid stones.
As he moved forward, he finally reached the end, where he saw many capped figures moving in masks.
Jacob noticed this entire city was surrounded by steep mountains on each side, and only this valley led to the exit. Furthermore, he could spot small green balls embedded on these mountain walls.
'No wonder she sounded so confident about this place. What a peculiar organization.'
As he entered the city, he noticed many tall buildings made of stones and marble while there weren't any carriages, and everyone was sauntering on the city streets.
However, Jacob could feel the murderous sensations from many capped figures, and he knew they weren't just ideal citizens, and he had to remain on guard.
Although that voice told him no fighter or provoked others, some lunatics might not care about such penalties.
As Jacob moved in the east direction, he noticed a butcher shop, and his eyes widen even so slightly when he saw the skewered uncommon animals.
He entered the shop, and a large, burly man in a mask was sitting on a chair with a book in his hand.
He didn't stand to greet Jacob and coldly said, "How much meat do you want?"
Jacob didn't mind his attitude and said, "Do you have Rare Meat?"
The masked man coldly said, "I only have five pounds in stock. The next supply will come in two days. How much do you want? One pound for 1000 Gold Coins, and the price is non-negotiable!"
Jacob's heart raced slightly when he heard this because he had yet to encounter a rare beast, but this guy had a source. This was simply a godsend to him.
He promptly asked, "Can you arrange a rare heart and one-liter blood of the same species? I'm willing to pay handsomely. However, the blood and heart have to be from the same beast, and I can tell this, so don't put on a facade. If you can't arrange it, I'm good with just meat."
The masked man's blue eyes suddenly shimmered with uncertainty. "It can be arranged. You can collect your delivery in two days. But I can only deliver one heart and blood after fifteen days intervals. The price will be 10,000 Gold Coins."
Jacob couldn't help but celebrate inwardly when he heard this guy agreeing to supply him with heart and blood. Fifteen Days were nothing for him.
He swiftly agreed. "Fine, save ten pounds of meat for me as well. I'll come in two days. Where can I sell precious iron here?"
Jacob didn't have this many gold coins on him, so his only option was to sell titan iron bricks. He never thought he would do that, but the gold coins were nothing compared to rare heart and blood.
Furthermore, he didn't tell him about the most important condition, which was he wanted the heart and blood of the new species every time. He would wait for their first transaction before he would put this condition.
If this guy had some kind of rare beast farm, then their deal would be over and he would buy the rare meat from him, nonetheless.
The masked man seemed amused by this question. "Are you new in Dark City?"
"Does it matter?" Jacob squinted his eyes.
"Heh, if you didn't know about Jerry's Pawnshop, then you're definitely new. However, since you and I have a business deal, I'll point you in the right direction. Go to the central city district, and asked anyone about the Jerry's Pawn Shop, and they'll point you in the correct direction." He chuckled.
"See you in two days." Jacob nodded before he left.
The masked man's eyes shimmered coldly. 'Another rich newcomer, huh? I wonder how long his wealth last in this bottomless hole like a city. In the Dark City, there are always things you wanted to buy, and no amount of wealth is not enough. This is how the Dark City sucked you dry before you become the slave to Dark City…'
A sigh escaped his mouth before he stopped caring about a newcomer like Jacobs. He had seen too many scions coming into the dark city before they turned into beggars and were thrown out after torture.
The only successful person in the Dark City was; who knows how to make profits or you were just filling other pockets.
Jacob had no idea about the butcher's thoughts as he moved toward the center area. He also scouted three more butcher shops, and to his surprise, they all can sell him heart and blood like the first one in fifteen days intervals.
But their prices were rather high, but Jacob used his merchant skills to get the price to ten thousand gold coins.
When he left those shops, he grimaced. He never thought he would need to spend this many gold coins in the uncommon region.
Furthermore, the more he observed the goods in the Dark City, the more he felt he was literally living in a village all this time.
There were weapon shops that sold innovative weaponry, and even smoke mines and stick grenades were available in these shops. He was now starting to understand where that hob troll got all those weapons.
As he entered the central district, his attention was attracted to a ten-story tower that looked like a clock tower.
'Potion Tower?' Jacob was curious and headed toward the tower.
But two burly guards giving off a scary aura stopped him. "5 Gold Coin Entrance Free."
Jacob asked, "What kind of goods do you sell in this place?"
If this was before, he might've given 5 gold coins without batty an eye, but now he needed all the money he could get so he won't waste it without any good reason.
One of the guards coldly replied with a hint of disdain, "If you don't know about Alchemy Potions, then you might as well not waste your time. I'm afraid this place is too expensive for you."
Jacob suddenly thought of something and asked coldly, "Are you implying to those color liquids that can heal or put someone to hibernation?"
"So, you know about the HR (Hibernate-Rejuvenation) Potions. Yes, we sell those here as well." The guard nodded disdainfully.
"Good for you." Jacob sneered and turned around, leaving the dumbfounded guards.
However, Jacob's expression was grave. 'It seemed I can't go on without a sufficient income source!'
This time he didn't take any detour, and after asking around, he finally reached a lavish ten-story building named 'Jerry Pawnshop' and entered!