Overlord: Welcoming the Birth of the King
Chapter 70: Brothel·Purple Secret Medicine Hall, Selling

Ding ding~

"Creak."

The door opened with a clear chime of bells.

"Madam Marishi, long time no see." A smiling voice came through, causing the plump middle-aged woman behind the counter to instinctively look up.

"Do you still have rooms available?" Tang Zheng arrived at the small inn where he had previously stayed.

"We do."

"It's you?" Madam Marishi briefly froze upon seeing Tang Zheng before recalling him.

However, she immediately noticed the small ghost hound following behind Tang Zheng and involuntarily took a step back.

"Don't worry, it won't cause any trouble," Tang Zheng said.

"I hope so... but there'll be an additional silver coin fee!"

"No problem."

As an inn just one street away from the Adventurers Guild, Madam Marishi was clearly worldly, having seen all sorts of adventurers and travelers.

"Here are five silver coins, same two-person room as before."

Tang Zheng took four silver coins from his pocket and placed them on the counter, then changed his tone to ask:

"After I left, did anyone come looking for me?"

Madam Marishi deftly collected the silver coins, rubbing them slightly in her hands as she spoke without looking up.

"I believe a woman came by once." At this point, Madam Marishi finally raised her head, her eyes carrying a hint of implication:

"If I remember correctly, she was from the 'Purple Secret Medicine Hall,' young man."

Hearing this, Tang Zheng's expression remained unchanged, maintaining only a faint smile: "I have some business to attend to first. Please keep the room for me, Madam Marishi."

"Don't worry."

"When you return, the room will be thoroughly cleaned." The plump woman's cheeks lifted in a peculiar smile.

After leaving the inn and walking on the street, Tang Zheng's smile had completely vanished.

"Purple Secret Medicine Hall,"

Tang Zheng murmured the name.

Though the name included "secret medicine," it was actually one of E-Rantel's three major brothels.

For solving men's "problems," calling it "secret medicine" wasn't entirely inappropriate.

"Eight Fingers." A cold smile played at Tang Zheng's lips.

An organization capable of extending its influence throughout the entire kingdom—Eight Fingers was indeed a formidable force.

However.

That was for the Tang Zheng of a month ago. With his current strength, unless Eight Fingers sent their Six Arms...

Now wasn't the time to visit the Purple Secret Medicine Hall. He wasn't so reckless as to charge in immediately upon hearing some news.

The prostitute they sent was just a minor character. For such an establishment to become one of E-Rantel's top three brothels...

Tang Zheng didn't believe it lacked local backing. Even City Lord Panasolei might be receiving a cut.

In the anime, even when the Slave Division's leader was captured alive and handed to the Golden Princess, the nobles still released him—proof of Eight Fingers' deep entanglements with the kingdom's aristocracy.

Not just the Purple Secret Medicine Hall, but the other two major brothels—"Heavenly Full Moon Pavilion" and "Amber Honey"—might also be under Eight Fingers' control.

Rather than barging in like some hotheaded fool, Tang Zheng preferred they come to him—which was why he chose his former inn.

As for now.

He had more important matters to attend to.

First was the money problem. After spending five silver coins, he only had six gold coins and two silver coins left.

With this paltry sum.

He couldn't even afford the cheapest mithril-alloy weapon capable of channeling magic, let alone pure mithril.

Fortunately.

His harvest from the Great Tob Forest wasn't insignificant. Just the two ghost hound bone chains were quite valuable. Then there was the entire black-green giant serpent—though its massive size made processing more troublesome than the bone chains.

Of course, the most valuable.

Were the two large baskets of herbs those high goblins had personally delivered.

After leaving the inn, Tang Zheng turned into a nearby narrow alley.

When he reemerged, he was carrying a heavy-looking black bundle.

Whether E-Rantel had a black market, Tang Zheng didn't know. But major cities typically had various guilds beyond just the Adventurers Guild and Mages Guild.

Like the Herbalists Guild, Merchants Guild, etc.

While buying or selling through the appropriate guilds could fetch better prices, the paperwork was notoriously cumbersome.

So most hassle-averse adventurers found it simpler to let the Adventurers Guild handle everything—just with an additional fee.

As he approached the Adventurers Guild.

The street grew increasingly lively and noisy.

Through the open doors came constant boisterous shouts.

Adventurers clad in plate armor and chainmail lounged casually around the sturdy wooden tables filling the guild hall.

Others wielding bows, staves, or dressed either provocatively or completely covered moved about the space.

Tang Zheng's black-robed appearance was utterly commonplace within the guild.

Yet.

His entrance immediately drew numerous gazes. The small ghost hound was indeed eye-catching.

While some adventurers kept magical beasts as companions, they were decidedly uncommon.

"Damn it!"

"Hasn't the Adventurers Guild given any explanation yet?"

"What happened in the Great Tob Forest? Even goblins have disappeared."

"Bastards!"

"I was counting on trading goblin ears for coin."

"...!"

Drunken complaints erupted from one corner of the hall, sparking murmurs of agreement.

Tang Zheng's impassive expression twitched slightly.

He'd nearly forgotten—while E-Rantel hosted many adventurers, few were truly powerful.

Most low-level adventurers relied on goblin hunting to make ends meet.

Though Tang Zheng had slain many goblins, it was insignificant compared to the forest's total population.

Yet his massacre's ripple effects—making the remaining goblins go to ground—had created unexpected problems.

"Ahem."

Clearing his throat softly, Tang Zheng joined the queue at the counter.

He'd considered trading some goblin ears for coin but now abandoned the idea—presenting large quantities under these circumstances would raise too many questions.

Soon, his turn came.

Thud!

Without ceremony, Tang Zheng heaved his substantial bundle onto the counter with a heavy thump: "I need to sell these two bone chains."

The brown-haired receptionist—wearing a headscarf and modest clothing, appearing barely twenty—offered a professional smile as she opened the oversized package.

Two pitch-black bone chains with metallic luster came into view.

Seeing them.

The woman visibly startled. When she touched them, their apparent heaviness contrasted strangely with their actual lightness.

"One moment please."

Her expression immediately turned serious. Bowing respectfully, she hurried away.

Meanwhile, others in the guild noticed the unwrapped black chains on the counter.

"Is that—a ghost hound's bone chain?"

"Hiss!"

"That's premium stuff."

"So that's a juvenile ghost hound—I thought it looked familiar!"

"With your skills, don't pretend you've seen one before!"

"Last time these appeared was half a year ago, wasn't it?"

Murmurs spread through the crowd as many reassessed Tang Zheng with newfound wariness.

Ghost hounds weren't creatures ordinary adventurers could handle—most had never even seen one.