Andrey gave a slight nod, a subtle, knowing smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.
"My friend and I are looking for some rare materials—planning to write a new 'guide.' You know how academic research always needs the odd ingredient."
The dwarf's gaze shifted to Robb, sizing up the unfamiliar face like a merchant appraising merchandise.
"A new face, huh? Doesn't look like the kind who'd be into 'guides.' More like someone who locks himself in a room and buries his nose in books."
"Don't be fooled by appearances, my old friend," Andrey said calmly, sliding a magic crystal across the table. "He might surprise you with the kind of insight he has in certain fields."
The dwarf's hand darted out, covering the fragment. His stubby fingers made it vanish up his sleeve with practiced ease. A faint smirk tugged at the edge of his beard.
"Not much surprises me anymore these days, Your Highness. But if you say so, well… now I'm curious."
He hopped off his stool and motioned for the two of them to follow.
"Come. Let's talk in the back. A quieter space is better suited for scholarly discussions."
They passed through the noisy tavern, slipping by patrons immersed in drink or loud conversation, and entered a narrow corridor.
Dim oil lamps hung on the walls, casting eerie shadows. At the end of the hallway stood several identical wooden doors.
Otto pulled out an oddly shaped key from his belt and carefully inspected the doors before selecting one. He inserted the key into the lock.
The moment the key slid in, faint runes on the door lit up, then quickly dimmed.
With a click, the lock disengaged, and the door swung open.
Inside was a small, circular room. Maps and dried herbs hung from every wall. The air was heavy with a peculiar scent—a mix of dozens of herbs blending into a strangely soothing aroma.
In the center sat a round table surrounded by chairs, and on the table, a softly glowing magic crystal lamp cast a warm light.
"Take a seat, gentlemen," the dwarf said as he locked the door behind them. Climbing onto a high-backed chair made for his height, he looked down at his guests:
"Now then—tell me exactly what kind of 'materials' you're looking for. In here, we can drop the cryptic talk."
Robb looked to Andrey, who gave a small nod indicating it was okay to speak freely.
Taking a deep breath, Robb pulled out the glowing parchment from inside his coat.
"We're looking for these."
Carefully, he revealed only a few of the less-sensitive items on the list: Moonshadow Bat Heart Ash and Crystalline Moss.
Otto took the parchment. As he read, his thick brows slowly lifted, his sharp blue eyes glinting with interest and surprise.
"Oh? This is no ordinary materials list."
His fingers brushed over the shimmering text as he glanced between the two of them.
"Especially this 'Crystalline Moss'—that's been in ridiculously high demand lately. Prices have tripled, and even then it's nearly impossible to find."
"Why?" Robb asked instinctively, then immediately realized the question might be treading on sensitive ground.
The gray dwarf gave him a long look, his lips pressed into a firm line beneath his beard.
"Trade secret," he finally said. "Let's just say it's not something we share with clients."
He paused, as if weighing his next words.
"But yeah… the rare materials market's been wild lately—especially anything wizards are after."
He waved his hand dismissively.
"Anyway, back to business. I can help you track these down, but it won't be fast—and it won't be cheap. Better brace yourselves."
"How much are we talking?" Robb asked directly, cutting through the fluff.
"You want an estimate?" Otto counted on his stubby fingers.
"Even if you only want one of each item, you're looking at at least 170–180 magic crystal fragments. And a few of these might require full crystals to trade."
He squinted at Robb, clearly trying to gauge the boy's financial weight.
"Single items? Most folks aren't willing to sell them that way."
Robb frowned. That price was way beyond his budget.
Had Lady Elena overestimated his resources? Or had she simply misjudged the current market surge?
After a moment's thought, he said, "We'll buy them in batches. Let's start with the easier ones."
Andrey stepped in smoothly, tone relaxed but watchful.
"If we can get some samples, we'll probably need to verify the quality first. In places like this, it's always smart to comparison shop."
"Oh?" Otto turned to Robb, his blue eyes narrowing with curiosity.
"You know how to verify materials? At your age, you don't look like someone with enough field experience."
Robb remained calm and confident.
"I've picked up a thing or two in alchemy."
"Interesting… Very interesting."
The dwarf rubbed his thick beard, producing a soft rasping sound. A grin spread across his face.
"Usually when alchemy apprentices come to the black market, they hide under a cloak and bring a certified appraiser—terrified of being recognized."
He studied Robb with a measuring gaze.
"But if you can identify them yourself, that makes things easier. Still…"
He paused, a gleam of mischief in his eye.
"Talking big isn't the same as proving it, kid."
From beneath the table, Otto pulled out an ornate wooden box, its surface carved with intricate runes glowing faintly with magical light.
"Lucky you—I happen to have some stock on hand today. Want to take a look? Let's see how deep that 'alchemy insight' really goes."
Robb felt a ripple of tension, but nodded.
"Gladly."
He could sense this was some sort of test—but he had confidence in his abilities.
Otto opened the box. Inside were several crystal vials and small pouches, each carefully arranged.
The light in the room refracted off the bottles, casting shimmering patterns on the walls and adding an air of mystery.
"Check this one." Otto held up a vial filled with a gray-brown powder, giving it a gentle shake.
"Should be your 'Moonshadow Bat Heart Ash.' Fresh stock—high quality."
Robb took the vial and began his analysis, activating his [Herb Identification] skill.
He gently tilted the bottle, letting the powder catch the light.
Real Moonshadow Bat Heart Ash should be silvery-gray with a faint blue luminescence under light.
More importantly, it emitted a distinct magical resonance—a kind of subtle pulse that those with sharp senses could feel like a tremor in their core.
But the sample before him, though similar in texture, lacked that magical vibration.
Its color was too muddy, more like standard mineral dust, or perhaps a low-grade extract from multiple rounds of refinement.
As he worked, a notification flickered in his mind:
[Forgery detected! Herb Identification +1 EXP]
Robb looked up calmly.
"I'm afraid this isn't the real thing."