CHAPTER 960: BALEROG REGION

"Also... can you tell me the location of the headquarter of the Black Lotus Guild?" Max asked, his tone steady but carrying a sharper edge.

For a moment, the woman on the other side of the curtain fell silent, as if weighing the question or confirming the details. Then her voice returned, calm and unhurried. "It is located in the Balerog Region... beneath the mountains of Fukaru."

"Balerog Region... and mountains of Fukaru," Max repeated quietly, committing the names to memory. His eyes narrowed slightly as the pieces clicked into place.

From what he remembered, the Balerog Region was part of the Hundred Battle Region—one of the most dangerous and chaotic territories in the entire Middle Domain, where countless factions clashed endlessly for dominance.

If the Black Lotus Guild had hidden its headquarters there, beneath an entire mountain range, then they had chosen their location well. It was a place where even the boldest powers thought twice before treading carelessly.

"Thank you for all the information you’ve shared," Max said as he rose from the cushion, his voice carrying genuine weight. "And thank your master for me. Tell him... I’ll visit him someday."

"Young Master Max, take care," the woman’s melodious voice replied softly, yet there was something in her tone that suggested both respect and curiosity.

Max gave a faint nod, even though she couldn’t see it, before turning and making his way out of the small chamber. The heavy curtain swayed slightly as he left, and soon he stepped back into the vast circular hall of the Obsidian Order’s tower.

Outside, just beyond the towering doors, Princess Lyra was waiting for him amidst the flow of the crowd. Her eyes immediately found his. "How did it go? Were you able to pay for all the information you wanted?" she asked, her tone carrying both curiosity and a hint of concern.

Max gave her a small, almost knowing smile. "Yeah," he said simply, though the weight behind his words was far greater. "I got everything I wanted from them."

As they stepped out of the towering structure of the Obsidian Order and into the noisy, bustling atmosphere of the Central Hub, Lyra glanced sideways at him. "What do you want to do now?" she asked, her tone casual but her gaze still studying him, as if gauging whether his meeting inside had gone as planned.

Max smiled faintly, the kind of smile that hinted at plans already forming in his mind. "I want to sell some things," he replied, letting his eyes sweep over the lively scene before them.

All around, the open streets were lined with rows upon rows of stalls—some simple wooden tables draped with colorful cloth, others reinforced with fine metal frames, their counters overflowing with goods. Merchants shouted prices, buyers haggled, and the air was thick with the scent of exotic spices, burning incense, and freshly polished weapons.

Without wasting time, Max moved toward one of the larger, more reputable-looking stalls near the outer circle of the hub.

The owner, a stout man with sharp, calculating eyes and a merchant’s smile, immediately straightened upon seeing Max approach. "Welcome, welcome! What can I help you with today, young master?"

Max didn’t bother with pleasantries—he reached into his storage space and placed a bundle of rare herbs onto the stall’s counter. The herbs were vibrant, their leaves shimmering faintly with residual energy. "I want to sell these," Max said calmly.

The shopkeeper’s eyes lit up at the sight, but he quickly masked his reaction, leaning in to examine the goods. "Hmm... not bad, not bad," he muttered, touching a stalk of Bloodleaf Root and inspecting a glowing Moon Orchid. "I’ll give you... fifty thousand PQ for the lot."

Max raised an eyebrow, his voice cool. "Fifty thousand? These alone are worth more than that."

He picked up the Moon Orchid and turned it slightly, letting the faint silver glow reflect in the merchant’s eyes. "This one blooms only under starlight once every decade. And this—" he pointed to a cluster of Flame Lotus buds "—is fresh from a Fire Vein spring. You’re trying to rob me."

The shopkeeper chuckled nervously. "Hehe, young master, you drive a hard bargain. Alright... seventy thousand PQ."

Max shook his head. "Two hundred thousand PQ. That’s my price for the entire set."

The merchant almost choked. "Two hundred thousand? That’s—"

"—The fair value," Max cut in sharply, his tone leaving no room for argument. "You know you can sell these for double that in the right market. I’m saving you the trouble of hunting for a buyer."

The shopkeeper hesitated, his fingers drumming against the counter. After a long pause, he sighed. "Ninety thousand PQ. Final offer."

Max’s expression didn’t change, but he began gathering up the herbs. "Then I’ll find someone who actually appreciates their worth."

"Wait!" The merchant’s eyes darted to the herbs, greed flickering in them. "One hundred and fifty thousand PQ. That’s the best I can do. Any higher and I’m cutting into my profit."

Max studied him for a moment, then finally gave a short nod. "Deal."

They exchanged goods and credits swiftly, but Max didn’t stop there. He moved through the hub for nearly an hour, visiting different stalls and specialty buyers, selling off the rare herbs and treasures he had collected from the secret domain.

He was careful to split his sales among several merchants to avoid drawing too much attention, and he pushed hard during negotiations, forcing the shopkeepers to meet his prices rather than settle for low offers.

By the time he was done, the weight in his storage space felt lighter, but his gains were far greater—he had amassed a total of two hundred thousand PQ from the sales.

Max allowed himself a small, satisfied smile as he turned back to Lyra. "Alright," he said, "now we can move on."

"To where?" Lyra asked, tilting her head slightly as the crowd of the Central Hub flowed around them.

"To the Hunter Association," Max replied with a faint smile. Then, turning fully toward her, his eyes sharpened. "But only I will be going there. Princess Lyra, I need you to head to a different region and do something for me."

Her brows lifted in curiosity. "Where?"