Treasure-hunting: Into the Unknown

"If you happen to come across any rare and precious casting materials, you can always sell them to me since I'm always collecting them," Zachary suggested. His materials were always in little to no supply because the Lucky Treasure Combination required lots of materials every day.

"That'll be easy as I have lots of treasure stored in my warehouse. I'll take you there later and you can select whatever you like from my extensive collection," Bruno offered in return. Of course, he didn't want to be stingy towards someone as generous as Zachary.

"Are you not afraid that I'll require all of them?" Zachary asked with raised eyebrows.

"If I were afraid, why would I offer you such a deal?" Bruno replied followed with a boisterous laugh.

"Alright. Thank you." Zachary nodded in gratitude.

"Also, please accept the down payment as a gesture of goodwill," Bruno pleaded as he pushed the gold notes insistently into Zachary's hands.

"Okay." No longer willing to refuse, Zachary immediately tucked the gold notes deep into his pocket without counting them. He then asked, "By the way, do you mind if I take Vivi's goods away too?"

"Go ahead! I don't mind. Those goods supposedly belong to her. But does anyone know who she truly is? It seems her true identity is anything but simple, seeing as she has someone such as yourself for an assistant, wouldn't you agree?" Bruno asked tentatively.

"Bruno," Zachary began, "I don't think it's a good idea to ask questions that you'd rather not know the answer to." He then thought to himself, 'How should you know when even I know nothing about her?'

Bruno no longer prodded into the topic and shifted the conversation to another one instead as they made their way towards Bruno's warehouse of treasures.

Upon entering, Zachary was met with a spacious area filled with various treasures such as pills, manuals on martial arts, herbs, and casting materials. All of these were not common ones, on par with his treasury.

"You have quite an impressive collection, Bruno!" Zachary remarked as he gazed upon the treasures that surrounded them.

"Thank you. If you find anything you like, just take it!" Bruno reminded him.

"I'm only interested in casting materials," Zachary replied. As he chose from the rows and rows of casting materials, he came across two of the five materials he required for the re

that he was a cunning and difficult man to deal with. If he hadn't mentioned the Hatching Fluid as bait earlier, Bruno wouldn't have welcomed him so warmly into his warehouse. But even if he managed to deceive Bruno this time, he knew that he wouldn't be as easy to manipulate the next time. He would have to be just as cautious too.

"It's none of your business!" Vivian loudly retorted.

"If you need anything else, just tell me and I'll get it for you," he promised her, hoping it would calm her down.

"Nothing in this world is for free, so I know you have your ulterior motives. I think I should be less worried about Bruno and more worried about you," Vivian remarked as she cast him a scornful stare.

"Why? Are you afraid I'll eat you up?" Zachary snickered.

"You wouldn't have the guts! And even if you tried, I'd beat the crap out of you!" Vivian shouted furiously.

"Alright. But only if you give me a chance to taste you first," Zachary mocked, indulging in her annoyance.

"You shameless rascal! I'm never speaking to you again." Zachary's words left her flustered. Embarrassment and anger were painted across her face as she shot him one final glare before putting the box away and walking onward.

"We appear to be headed in the same direction. We'll be returning together!" Zachary shouted as he tried to catch up with Vivian, who was doing her best to get him off her track.

In the end, Vivian had no choice but to let him come along with her back to the Xiao Clan Castle. Unknown to them, a pair of sharp eyes continued to watch over closely.