Krom City was a small border town on the western edge of the Reno Continent.

Though called a "city," it was really just a desolate little town. There was hardly any farming or trade—only a simple market set up by mercenaries themselves.

Worth noting—Krom City was a nation of mercenaries.

Inside Krom City's station, a teleportation array flickered with purple light.

—An old man and a young boy appeared out of thin air.

Mercenaries had gathered around, discussing the array's usage fees.

Everyone knew the basic material for teleportation arrays was "Origin Crystals."

Countless crystal types existed, each with its own use. Origin Crystals were just one kind, meant solely for activating arrays.

The mercenaries immediately started whispering:

"Hey hey! A purple array? Where’d this rich young master come from?"

"Damn, such a waste. One purple use equals ten of our blue ones…"

"…………"

Ryosuke ignored the stares, his little feet swinging in the air.

"Let’s go, old man. No need to be shy here~"

Apsen nodded, then shot forward at astonishing speed.

Amid the stunned mercenaries, he sprinted away…

Just after Ryosuke left, the purple array lit up again.

A young woman appeared before the crowd. It was none other than—

Kozi from the Mercenary Guild!

After ending her call with the guild president, Kozi had taken leave and rushed straight to the station.

The Imperial Capital’s crowded streets slowed Ryosuke down.

Because…

"Hey, where’d this pretty girl come from?"

"Why not play with us big brothers?"

The mercenaries approached Kozi with lecherous grins. This wasn’t the Imperial Capital; no laws reached this remote town.

Suddenly, blinding purple light burst from the station. A woman stepped out, palm raised.

"Agile, ethereal, levitate, fall, hide, seek…"

Purple light glowed from her fair hand. A small snake floated up, coiled around her palm, then shot off like a purple streak.

"This direction…?"

Kozi’s lips curved up slightly. She leaped away.

"Interesting young master… don’t disappoint me…"

Anyone witnessing this would gasp.

This was the signature move of Luo Hua October Fragrance—ranked third in the Radiant Ten Stars!

Nickname: Serpent.

The most elusive woman among the Radiant Ten Stars. After the last selection, she’d vanished. Who’d guess such talent worked as a trivial receptionist at the Mercenary Guild?…

Meanwhile, Ryosuke and Apsen turned down desolate streets. Noise erupted from an alley ahead.

"Wait."

Ryosuke called out suddenly, smiling at the commotion.

"That must be Krom City’s famous free market. Can’t miss it—let’s go, old man."

Ryosuke was like an excited kid, curious about everything in this new world.

Apsen never disobeyed Ryosuke’s orders.

It was a pact made in the Starting Forest.

The Lost Clan always honored agreements.

Though not peak hours, the market buzzed with stalls. Short on time, Ryosuke riding Apsen just skimmed past—weapon stands, junk stalls, all sorts of goods…

"Stop!"

Ryosuke shouted. Apsen halted obediently.

They stopped at a shabby stall. The seller was an old mercenary, his faded armband unreadable.

Ryosuke’s eyes locked on a strange funnel-shaped iron shield. On the crystal-rich Reno Continent, iron tools had faded from markets.

"Boss, how much for this?"

Ryosuke asked, eyes gleaming.

"Twenty copper coins."

The boss didn’t look up.

"And this?"

Ryosuke pointed to a rolled-edge broadsword.

"Ten copper coins."

"And this…?"

"…"

Ryosuke listed over ten items. The boss answered each, then grew impatient.

"Will you buy or not? Stop picki—"

"I’ll take them all."

"Uh… huh!?"

The boss gaped. Besides the shield and sword, Ryosuke had asked about useless junk.

"Snap out of it! I said I’ll take them all!"

"Oh oh!"

The boss hurriedly calculated, thinking, *Where’d this rich kid come from…?*

"Skip the math!"

Ryosuke glanced at the sky and tossed a blue Origin Crystal.

The boss caught it, stammering, "Enough, enough."

When he looked up, the pair had vanished…

"Ryosuke, why buy this stuff?"

Apsen was confused but sprinted full-speed in Ryosuke’s direction.

"Hehe," Ryosuke grinned mysteriously. "You’ll see soon!"

After ten minutes, they reached the Poison Fog Swamp’s edge.

Ryosuke called for a stop.

"Rest here first, old man!"

"Rest?" Apsen turned, staring at Ryosuke on his shoulder, face full of question marks.

Earlier, Ryosuke had knocked out a wild roe deer they’d spotted.

"No fires in the swamp. Before battle, we must feed our stomachs…"

Apsen froze for five seconds—then roared excitedly, pounding his chest.

He knew: Ryosuke was cooking.

*Wasn’t I lured out by Sima Luan Tong’s barbecue skills?*

"Old man, gather dry wood~ And fetch water!"

Ryosuke ordered, leaping down. Apsen vanished like wind.

Watching the giant, Ryosuke sighed. *Food makes him faster than anyone.*

Then, Ryosuke showed his chef skills.

In his past life, late-night computer sessions led him to master barbecue for nutrition.

He skinned the roe deer swiftly. With the broadsword, he slashed its throat—crimson blood flowed on the blade.

Only freshly killed meat tasted best.

Next: gutting, skinning. Apsen returned, arms full of firewood, jug in hand.

Ryosuke took the wood, channeled Battle Qi—red light flared, igniting flames.

—Primitive fire-drilling.

Apsen clumsily skewered meat on branches. Ryosuke took over, smiling wryly.

Soon, sizzling filled the air. Ryosuke sprinkled seasonings the moment juices surfaced, focused. His expression made onlookers stare.

Ordinary roe deer meat now smelled heavenly…

"Hm? Water?"

Ryosuke saw a puddle by his feet—thought the jug leaked.

But…

Apsen’s mouth hung open, saliva flowing like a tiny waterfall.

Ryosuke broke into a cold sweat…

Ten miles away, a woman hid in grass, unblinking at the silver-haired boy. Her throat rumbled.

*How? Such skills at his age? Learned in the womb?*

She bit her bread angrily. Seeing the boy’s oily mouth, she hurled the bread away. Still rumbling, she glared at the meat in Ryosuke’s mouth…

"Ryosuke, this is for you!"

Apsen pulled meat from his own mouth.

"Fool! Best part of the roe deer—don’t waste it! Eat!"

"I won’t."

Apsen stuffed it into Ryosuke’s mouth.

Ryosuke opened his mouth to protest—but Apsen stood, smiling seriously.

"Eat more, young man! Build some meat!"

Ryosuke froze. His mouth chewed unconsciously.

Strange… it should taste delicious. Why so sour?

"Ahhh!!!" Apsen pounded his chest, roaring wildly.

Ryosuke gulped it down, nearly burning his throat.

"What’s your problem, old man! Scaring people can kill them!"

The words slipped out—bringing to mind a pink curly-haired loli with glasses, who struggled to say ten words straight…

Ryosuke took a deep breath, returning to his cold school demeanor.

"Let’s go, old man."

He walked toward the swamp, not riding Apsen.

Passing by, Apsen grabbed him like a chick, plopping him back on his shoulder.

"Go go go! Ooh ooh!"

Apsen whooped.

"Shut up, old man!"

Ryosuke yelled back, mimicking the noise.

Who knew our Iceflower Evil God Dragon lord had a tsundere side…

Minutes after they entered the swamp, Kozi—hidden nearby—couldn’t resist anymore. She shot out.

Her first target wasn’t tracking Ryosuke.

She pounced on their leftover roe deer meat…