It was incomprehensible.
This street should be a food street, right?
But the hawkers' shouts felt like they were subverting Chen Yu's understanding.
Were these things really made by Homo sapiens?
Such resounding slogans!
Leg-Dropping, Eye-Staring Pill, your ultimate tool for sudden death.
Diarrhea, Fecal-Discharge Soup, your prescription for constipation!
Not to mention the "Stinky Fish and Rotten Shrimp" or "Stinky Seaweed," which he had heard being hawked for quite some time. Only the caramelized chestnuts seemed like something a human could eat, though their slogan was also...
"Fine,"
"The smell you caught earlier was probably caramelized chestnuts. If you'd told me you fancied something like a Leg-Dropping, Eye-Staring Pill, I really would have beaten you."
Chen Yu whispered, glancing sideways.
At this moment, Hei Dou was also looking at the "food street" ahead with an expression of disbelief. The confusion swirling in its large eyes made it clear.
It didn't understand either!
"Uh, yes, caramelized chestnuts, right?" Hei Dou's confidence wavered as it muttered, "These caramelized chestnuts are supposed to be edible, right?"
"Let's go take a look."
Chen Yu coughed lightly and slowly walked into the food street, which was shrouded in a strange aura.
"Ah, esteemed sir, would you like to buy some stinky fish and rotten shrimp!" As soon as they stepped in, a vendor holding several baskets of stinky fish and rotten shrimp shouted, "This is pure stinky fish and rotten shrimp, absolutely none of it is fresh. If you buy from me, you won't be cheated, and you won't be fooled."
"Sir, two bottles of authentic three-year-old stinky-foot-rubbed pills, perhaps?!"
"How about some Diarrhea, Fecal-Discharge?"
The enthusiastic shouts sent chills down Chen Yu's spine.
Something was definitely wrong!
How could they say those things so confidently? Were such goods normal in the underground world?
Did orcs have such tastes?
No way!
It was unlikely, wasn't it?
He had encountered orcs before, and they seemed normal.
"No, no, no, you don't need to~!"
Chen Yu waved his hand and walked straight to the caramelized chestnut stall at the very back.
"Ah, esteemed sir, are you buying chestnuts?"
The vendor selling caramelized chestnuts was a sharp-mouthed, monkey-faced fellow. He seemed to have a tail behind him, resembling the monkey tribe.
Seeing Chen Yu stop at his stall, his face broke into a wide smile.
"Caramelized chestnuts," Chen Yu said, pointing at the black, indistinguishable lumps in the basket. "Caramelized with sugar?"
"Absolutely!"
The vendor's eyes widened as he pointed to the baskets in front of him.
"For diarrhea, for fainting, for splitting headaches, for weakness, and we've even developed a new product recently." The vendor glanced around slyly and took out a few items from his waist, "These are for estrus and aphrodisiacs. They work for humans or beasts, with immediate effect. Just one lick and you'll feel it."
"Huh?!"
This was not right.
This was very not right.
This vendor wasn't selling caramelized chestnuts at all!
"Sir, don't disbelieve me, it really works!" the vendor whispered, "I gave one to my big yellow dog, and he's been standing for two days. If you don't want to eat it yourself, go to a tavern room. While the ladies aren't paying attention, slip one into their cup, and she'll be yours!"
The vendor nudged Chen Yu with his arm, a suggestive smile on his face.
"Uh..."
"Esteemed sir, if you still don't trust me?" the vendor whispered, "You don't look like you're from this city. You don't need to be afraid. I'm a long-time stall owner here, everyone knows me. If you really think it's unreliable, just buy one to try. It's not expensive anyway."
"How much?"
"10 gold coins."
"What?!" Chen Yu was stunned. "What are you talking about? 10 gold coins for a broken chestnut, and you think it's not expensive?"
"It's worth the price."
The vendor whispered, "Those ladies in the tavern, if you want to take them out, it costs dozens of silver coins. Some even cost gold coins, right? And many won't even go out with you. With our product, she'll cling to you, and then she'll be yours. Do you still think it's not worth it?"
"You're actually selling medicine, aren't you?"
"Hey, don't talk nonsense. I'm selling caramelized chestnuts," the vendor said seriously. "Selling medicine? It's just that our products here are a little special. Beasts can eat them, and people can eat them too! Looking at your attire, you must be a mercenary. You shouldn't ask this. Even if you're not from our city-state, other city-states have these goods too. Which city-state are you from?"
Chen Yu didn't answer, but he had a general idea that this place was like a black market.
It was just...
Not underground, but out in the open.
Mentioning beasts specifically, it was likely that these were meant for beasts. Then the earlier diarrhea, fainting, and the like were explained.
They were purely for drugging beasts in the wild.
Stinky fish and rotten shrimp.
The smell of these rotten products was stronger, more attractive to beasts.
Alas!
At this point, Chen Yu finally understood.
"Fine, your caramelized chestnuts, outsiders can't see through them, right?" Chen Yu pointed at the chestnuts in the basket. "If I give these chestnuts to someone else..."
"Absolutely undetectable!"
The vendor thumped his chest vigorously, guaranteeing it.
"These are normal caramelized chestnuts, fried with black sugar. No matter who looks, even if you bring an alchemist, they won't be able to tell there are any additives."
"How much for these chestnuts?" Chen Yu asked.
"Ah?"
The vendor was taken aback and tentatively asked, pointing at the chestnuts on the table.
"You want to buy these chestnuts, not my new product?"
"How much~"
"Well, these chestnuts, they're 10 copper coins each, cheap," the vendor said a bit sullenly, clearly losing interest as he didn't make a big sale. "How many do you want? I'll pack them for you."
"All of them."
The vendor's eyes widened, pointing at the baskets of chestnuts.
"You want all of them?"
"Yes."
"Then..." The vendor's expression immediately turned excited. He coughed lightly and said, "Well, one basket has about 100 chestnuts. I'll sell them to you for 1 gold coin per basket. What do you think?"
"Here~"
Chen Yu took out four gold coins and placed them on the table, picking up the small baskets.
"They're mine now."
The vendor, who was holding the gold coins, nodded instinctively. Chen Yu directly put the small baskets into his bracelet. Just as he was about to leave, the vendor grabbed him again.
"Is something wrong?"
"Sir, I... I don't mean anything else, I just wanted to ask, do you... really have no interest in the new product?" The vendor held out the chestnut in his hand again. "It absolutely works, believe me. You don't look like you're short of money, just buy one to try. How about this, I'll give you a deal, 8 gold coins, just to make a friend."
"Immediate effect?"
"It absolutely has an immediate effect. They will certainly rush to you desperately."
"Alright, give me one." Chen Yu took out another eight gold coins. Seeing the gold coins, the vendor's face lit up with joy. "Sir, please take good care of it!"
Chen Yu took the chestnut, wrapped in cloth, and put it into his bracelet.
But unexpectedly—
A faint, low whisper reached his ear.
"Disgusting!"
--
Author's Note:
Good evening, eat heartily!