As long as it's not a deep-seated grudge, on the Sea, there's nothing a single drink can't solve. If not, then two!
Hearing Lex offer to buy drinks, the three fighting men stopped. The strong Adventurer shouted, "If we're drinking, let's drink Lanti Proof! If it's something bland like water, like Zarha, I don't want it."
"As you wish."
Lex pointed at the counter, "Give everyone here a glass of Lanti Proof, put it on my tab."
The Bartender said with a troubled expression, "You are?"
"Rayleigh!" Lex loudly called out the name, then walked to the bar, grabbed a handful of banknotes, roughly 1 pound, and threw it on the counter. "Tell me if it's not enough."
"Alright, sir."
The Sea is not short of generous people, but it's rare to see someone like Lex, who, upon arriving for the first time, treats everyone to a drink.
For a moment, countless gazes, both overt and covert, fell upon Lex.
Lex also ordered a glass of Lanti Proof. It was a strong liquor, with a high alcohol content; drinking it felt like his stomach was on fire. Lex exhaled and exclaimed, "Invigorating!"
"Looks like you just made a big fortune."
An old voice sounded beside him.
Lex looked over; it was an old man with sparse white hair, only a thin layer remaining. He was tall and strong, his muscles still firm, and his light brown eyes were not cloudy but bright and sharp.
He also had a glass of Lanti Proof in his hand, clearly benefiting from Lex's generosity.
Lex nodded fearlessly, "That's right, the Sea really is a good place."
The old man chuckled, "The great Sea is indeed good, but don't you think you're being a bit too ostentatious?"
Lex shrugged, "What does it matter?"
The old man glanced at him, "Aren't you worried that people are constantly eyeing your wallet?"
Lex slapped the Blood Praise on the counter and smiled, "I don't mind if someone wants to give me money."
The old man paused, then said, "Young man, you certainly have guts. There's an interesting gathering in a while; you might be able to buy what you want there. Are you interested?"
Is he referring to a Beyonder gathering?
Lex looked around, then nodded, "Of course."
"He'll take you down in an hour." The old man pointed at the Bartender behind the counter, then left his chair, raised his glass, "Thank you for the Lanti Proof."
After he left, Lex asked, "Who was that gentleman?"
"He's our boss, 'Giant' Ozil," the Bartender said with a hint of pride.
Lex then realized; he hadn't expected the commotion he caused to attract the attention of the Fragrant Leaf Tavern's owner. This was good; it saved him the trouble of asking about the Beyonder gathering.
At this moment, three or four men came forward, thanking Lex for the treat while trying to pry information from him with various conversational tactics.
This was exactly what Lex wanted.
After casually brushing them off, Lex, feigning mystery, told them, "Do you know, something big is about to happen in Bayam."
"What big thing?"
"These past few days, the Golden Dream will be visiting Bayam," Lex whispered, then laughed heartily and took a gulp of his drink.
The men looked at each other. One of the shorter men gasped, "You mean Iceberg Admiral is coming? Why is she coming here? Is she crazy? Isn't she afraid of being surrounded by the authorities?"
Lex shrugged, "I just got this news. As for why she's coming, I don't know."
"Besides, even if she comes, she won't do it openly. I think even if the authorities know this news, they won't catch her."
"Oh, and don't spread this news. I don't want to get into trouble with 'Iceberg Admiral'."
He burped, smiling half-jokingly.
"Of course, of course."
"Absolutely, absolutely."
The men agreed on the surface, but they weren't thinking that way. What they were thinking was to spread this news as soon as possible. A Admiral wouldn't visit Bayam for no reason. Maybe, just as this fool said, something big was about to happen in Bayam.
As for Lex, the 'fool', he chuckled inwardly, then ordered another drink.
An hour passed in a flash. Lex glanced at the Bartender behind the counter, "I want to attend that gathering. How do I get there?"
"Follow me."
The Bartender called another person to take over his work, then led Lex through the hall, into a card room, and under the watchful eyes of several guards, down a hidden staircase.
Soon, an underground area appeared before Lex's eyes.
Like the Evil Dragon Bar in Tingen City, there was also an underground market here.
It sold herbs, essential oils, ancient books, Charms, and various occult materials. In addition, there were all sorts of guns and ammunition, and even ancient muskets and lead bullets, which greatly broadened Lex's horizons.
Arriving at the other end of the underground market, the Bartender knocked on a closed door with a rhythm of four short and two long taps.
Inside the room, only a single candle was lit. It was on a lamp stand near the wall, its light barely illuminating the small room.
The Bartender pointed at the robes, masks, and other items hanging and placed on the table, saying to Lex, "You can disguise yourself, or not."
Lex cautiously put on a classic black robe and a beautifully patterned mask, then nodded, indicating he was ready.
At this point, the Bartender was no longer responsible for leading. This job was taken over by the guard in the room. Under the guard's guidance, Lex passed through a dim corridor and arrived at another room.
This room was large and luxuriously decorated. The floor was covered with carpets from the South Continent, and there were lamp stands with golden gleam on the walls. Lex scanned the room and, at the guard's signal, found a sofa and sat down.
Nearly twenty people, both men and women, gathered in the room. Some were disguised, while others attended in their original appearance.
The bar owner, 'Giant' Ozil, sat in an armchair. After about ten minutes, he chuckled and announced, "Everyone, let's begin."
Lex leaned back on the sofa, not rushing to propose a transaction. He quietly observed.
He saw several initial sequence potion formulas appear at the gathering, but no one bought them. Lex was initially puzzled. It wasn't until later, when a few transactions occurred, that both parties carefully inspected the items or materials provided by the other. Throughout the process, Ozil, as the organizer of the gathering, did not provide any notarization.
This made Lex realize that this gathering seemed to lack a notary and a powerful Seer. Items or materials could still be identified through one's own experience, but potion formulas could not.
Given that the authenticity could not be guaranteed, no one would easily spend several hundred pounds to buy a formula that might be fake.
After several transactions were successfully completed at the gathering, Lex cleared his throat and, in a low voice from behind his mask, said, "I need Dark Flower powder, at least 10 grams."