Over the next few hours, they visited several stalls throughout Lizard Alley. Thanks to Robb's precise identification skills, his [Herb Identification] experience steadily increased.
At one stall that specialized in rare plants, he finally found the third item on the list—Drought-Tongue Moss.
It looked like a shriveled piece of grayish tissue, with a crystalline structure spread across its surface. It emitted an unsettling aura.
Its method of acquisition was notoriously cruel—just as Andrey had previously mentioned, it required binding a living person in the desert until they died of thirst, then harvesting specific tissues from the corpse.
Such an inhumane procedure made the moss practically impossible to obtain through legal means—it could only be found in gray zones like the black market.
The vendor was a hunched old woman with sickly yellow skin and deeply sunken eyes, making it nearly impossible to discern her pupils.
"This is genuine Drought-Tongue Moss, boy," she rasped. Her voice was dry and brittle, like a throat long parched from lack of water. "Few people know what this is—fewer still can recognize it. What business are you in, to be interested in such a thing?"
Robb didn't answer directly. He simply reached out to take the glass container.
The moment his fingers touched it, a powerful sensation of thirst surged through him—his throat felt like it was burning from dehydration.
This was the most distinct trait of Drought-Tongue Moss—it induced intense thirst in the person who touched it, mimicking the agony of dying from dehydration.
[Accurate Identification! Herb Identification +2 EXP]
[Breakthrough! Herb Identification (Beginner 50/50) → Herb Identification (Adept 1/100)]
[New Trait Acquired: Rapid Appraisal (Identification speed increased; accuracy slightly improved)]
A strange sensation rushed over Robb. He could feel his ability to perceive and interpret medicinal ingredients had jumped to a new level.
Previously, he needed careful observation, touch, or even sampling to verify the quality and authenticity of a material.
Now, just one glance could pinpoint the key traits—allowing him to judge the item with remarkable speed and precision.
It was like blurry vision becoming sharp in an instant—or a complex musical score simplified into a clear melody. Every detail now stood out vividly.
"What's wrong?" Andrey noticed Robb suddenly pause and asked in a low voice, alert for a potential trap.
"Nothing. Just made a new discovery," Robb replied with a faint smile, concealing his inner excitement behind a calm exterior.
Suppressing the surge of joy from his skill breakthrough, he turned his attention back to the deal at hand.
"It's the real thing, and well-preserved. Ten magic crystal fragments—that's the highest I'm willing to pay."
"Ten?" The old woman gave a dry, mocking laugh. "Do you even know how hard this material is to obtain? Twenty fragments—and that's a discount for someone with your sharp eyes."
Robb shook his head and returned the container to the stall.
"I know the going rate. Even in a place like Lizard Alley, Drought-Tongue Moss doesn't exceed ten. Fifteen fragments—that's my final offer. You'll still make a profit."
After some haggling, they settled at fifteen fragments, which was still lower than Robb had anticipated.
Now that he had secured four of the key ingredients, his money pouch was visibly lighter. He'd spent dozens of fragments—most of his savings.
"I need to find a way to earn more magic stones," Robb thought. "Maybe I can put this new [Rapid Appraisal] skill to work and offer ID services here in the black market…"
As he packed the materials and prepared to leave, Robb noticed a strange gleam flash through the old woman's murky eyes.
It wasn't just the look of a greedy merchant. It was deeper—almost predatory, as if she were eyeing a juicy target.
"Be careful. That old hag's look was off," Robb whispered to Andrey after they walked away. "She didn't look at us like customers… more like prey."
Andrey nodded slowly.
"True. Most people running stalls here aren't just merchants. Many are also spies, bounty hunters… or eyes for bigger players."
Just as they turned a corner, Robb's intuition suddenly spiked.
He didn't look back—but silently released his spiritforce in a ripple to scan the area behind them.
"We're being followed," he said quietly—so softly only Andrey could hear.
"From the footsteps, at least three half-orcs and a goblin scout. They've been trailing us since we left the old woman's stall."
Andrey's expression turned grim. His hand slid casually toward his waist, where a small but razor-sharp dagger was hidden.
"Half-orcs? That's bad… Those things are built like siege beasts. I might be able to handle one, but three? We'd need to lose them."
"No rush." Robb's lips curled into a cold smirk. "Let them think we're unaware. I want to see what they're after."
Andrey gave him a questioning glance but nodded in agreement, trusting Robb's instincts.
They continued walking, pretending to browse stalls and behaving like casual shoppers.
Meanwhile, Robb's spiritual sense stayed locked on their pursuers.
The half-orcs were monstrous in size—even the smallest among them had shoulders twice as wide as a normal man. Their skin was a sickly grayish-green.
Their faces were twisted hybrids of man and beast—jutting tusks, deep-set yellow eyes glowing eerily from beneath bony brows.
But what stood out most was their gear—unlike typical street thugs, these three wore matching leather armor, and carried battle axes at their sides. Their movements were fluid and synchronized—they had clearly undergone professional combat training.
This wasn't some ragtag robbery squad. It was a disciplined mercenary unit.
"This is bad," Andrey muttered under his breath. "They're not random thugs. Looks more like a bounty squad. Well-armed, organized."
"Probably tipped off by that old woman," Robb sneered. "She pegged us as fat marks…"
He scanned their surroundings and quickly identified a narrow alleyway nearby—a dead end with no windows, a narrow entrance, and high walls.
"Come with me," Robb suddenly grabbed Andrey's wrist and led him toward the alley. "We'll wait for them there."
Andrey looked surprised, but followed without hesitation.