That's right, that's what adventure is like!

As Roland stepped out of the Adventurers' Guild, he looked at the thin book in his hand. The title on it shimmered with golden light in the sunlight, making it particularly eye-catching.

Adventure Beginner's Guide (Broken Rock Town Only)

"This booklet actually costs 1 silver coin. As expected, the association still knows how to make money."

The receptionist was very enthusiastic, and Roland eventually succumbed to her charms and bought the beginner's guide, which supposedly contained information on all the shops and monsters around Broken Rock Town.

"It's excellent value for money and will definitely satisfy all your unique quirks, adventurer!" These were the girl's exact words.

After actually reading through it, Roland was convinced that she was not lying, and that the guide was sufficient for him to handle all matters before and after the adventure.

Weapon shops, inns, medical clinics... including the current prices of all kinds of extraordinary items, and Roland even saw several unique brothels.

Although he was quite interested in a certain prostitute who was said to have succubus blood, Roland touched the few gold coins he had left in his pocket and decided to take care of business first.

The Lame Wolf's Cauldron and Bandages

As a top choice for low-level adventurers to heal their wounds, highly recommended by the guide, this shop reeks of rust, cheap alcohol, and pungent ointments.

The shop owner is a retired medic, and his methods are a bit rough, but they perfectly match the description in the manual: "Although he doesn't treat illnesses, he only repairs, but if you want to forge yourself into tough armor, this is definitely the first choice."

And Roland, for the first time, experienced something more painful than battle.

laugh--

A pot of boiling, bubbling green liquid was splashed directly onto Roland's face. The intense pain instantly made his body tense up, followed by a feeling of numbness and coolness.

"Don't worry, it's just the essence of melted slime, it won't kill you," the shopkeeper Green said expressionlessly, grabbing a brush and quickly brushing away the scabs on Roland's face.

Then, he forced Roland's mouth open and poured a bowl of scalding liquid into it. "Iron Stomach Solution, it will dissolve the waste in your internal organs and then shake them back into place."

"Well……"

Roland was already speechless, only feeling a hot, needle-like current enter his lungs, causing a strong contraction and expansion in his abdomen, followed by a persistent feeling of tightness.

When the heat subsided, he lay back on the table as if he were exhausted, but the lingering pain and nausea from the displaced internal organs were replaced by a deep sense of "solidity".

The results were surprisingly good.

"And finally, it's your arm," Green said, handing Roland a small glass of fiery, rusty liquor. "Blood-burning liquor, pain reliever and invigorating. Don't spit it out."

When Roland heard the word "pain relief," he already sensed something was wrong, but it was too late.

The instant he drank the liquor, Green used pliers to pick up a strange, red-hot strip from the fire and quickly wrapped it around the most severely torn part of Roland's muscles and ligaments.

"Well--"

A sharp pain shot through him as a hot object pressed tightly against his skin, causing fine beads of sweat to appear on his forehead and his entire body to tremble.

It hurts so much!

Fortunately, the pain only lasted for a very short time. The strip began to cool and shrink, then tightly wrapped around his arm, providing strong support and emitting a slightly cool sensation.

"Salamander spine," Green wiped his dirty clothes and tossed a small packet of black powder over. "With the help of coagulation moss powder, it should recover in about two days."

Roland gasped for breath and weakly asked, "How much?"

"Twenty silver coins, no bargaining."

"……OK."

At this price, all the suffering is worth it.

Leaving the shop filled with a pungent smell, Roland headed to the next shop, which was also his main target for the day.

Echo Antique Shop

This shop is located in the oldest part of Broken Rock, sandwiched between a now-defunct candle shop and a fortune-telling house that seems to never open.

The guide only briefly describes it: "Pays taxes as required, has no bad records, caters to a special clientele, and is not open to anyone other than collectors."

When Roland pushed open the dark oak door, the hinges immediately made a long creaking sound, followed by a strange sight.

The light was dim, with only beams of light falling from the narrow, high stained-glass windows illuminating the slowly drifting dust in the air.

The flavor is complex, a blend of old leather, parchment, rusted metal, decaying wood, ancient spices, and an indescribable, faint musty smell.

The items are arranged in a chaotic manner, yet they create a strange balance.

A half-body armor with a sunken chest hangs next to a broken harp. A few strangely patterned coins are tossed on a pile of neatly arranged books. In the corner, a life-size wild bear statue overlooks various daggers, pipes, and a single glove scattered around.

The key is--

The moment Roland entered, a dense mass of translucent writing practically leaped into his vision, with countless words of "extractable" overlapping, leaving him dizzy.

This is not a common phenomenon. Of all the items he has seen so far, only the longsword left by his great-uncle has shown this condition.

Historical sedimentation.

The word flashed through Roland's mind. He tiptoed past the ancient objects on the ground and walked toward the shopkeeper, who had already looked up and was staring at him.

The old man was dressed elegantly but out of fashion, wearing a pair of thin gold-chain glasses. He sat behind a mahogany desk piled high with ledgers and documents, his gentle gaze sweeping over the young guest.

"Let me introduce myself," he said in a calm tone with a calming magic, "I am the caretaker of this shop, you can call me Old Elro."

Although he already knew the name from the guide, Roland still bowed slightly to the elderly man who looked extraordinary to show his respect.

"Please feel free to browse, but please make sure these items are not damaged again."

His voice was soft yet carried an undeniable authority. Roland nodded, then his gaze swept over the items placed around him.

Due to the limitations of the extraction process, he did not examine the bulky and inconvenient items, but instead focused his attention on the smaller objects.

[Faded Ranger Wristband]

Type: Wristband/Tool

Grade: Common (White)

Description: A simple wristband made of tanned dark green thick leather. The edges have been worn smooth from long-term use. There is a hidden compartment on the inside that was once used to store secret messages or maps, but it is now empty.

Extraction requirement: Exploration story ×1

Misfired flintlock musket mechanism

Type: Machinery/Materials

Grade: Common (White)

Description: Taken from a damaged dwarven flintlock pistol, the surface has smoke marks, the core is stuck and can no longer be fired, but the gears and springs still mesh perfectly.

Extraction requirements: 1 story about creation/change

[The Poet's Bloodstained Hairband]

Type: Jewelry

Rank: Elite (Blue)

Description: A dark blue silk hairband, slightly stiffened from repeated washing, with dark brown bloodstains that cannot be completely removed.

Effect: Mana regeneration speed +3%

Extraction requirement: Redemption story ×1