Chapter 8: Half-Star Witch

The spring evening light shone on the sign of the Black Mist House Tavern at the end of La Rambla, carrying a slight chill, with patches of snow still lingering in the corners.

Compared to the somewhat cold weather, the tavern was bustling with activity.

Even from a dozen meters away, Gune could hear the clamor inside.

At the entrance of the Black Mist House Tavern, four unarmed burly men stood at least two meters two tall, each as strong as an ox.

Given the regulations of Harutov Harbor, no one was allowed to carry firearms or weapons on their person, so these men did not have weapons in hand.

But their weapons were placed behind them, covered with black cotton cloth, ready to be grabbed at any moment.

Under Gune's gaze, the supernatural realm of these four burly men was laid bare: four second-order combat-type knights.

This was not particularly formidable power, but for the many supernatural sailors, mostly first- and second-order, these four guards clearly provided enough deterrence to keep the sailors from drinking and causing trouble.

The supernatural abilities of sailors were more evident at sea and on ships than on land.

Gune ignored the four burly men and walked straight into the tavern.

As soon as he pushed open the bar door, noise and the smell of alcohol hit him.

This was a tavern with a spacious and well-arranged interior; three circular bar counters were surrounded by people.

In the center, where the dance floor used to be, a three-meter-high iron cage about seven or eight meters in diameter completely enclosed the area.

At that moment, two small supernatural beasts, about the size of medium dogs, were fighting inside.

Both beasts were first-order supernatural, but their ferocity was no less intense.

One was a feline beast about the size of a lynx.

The other was a four-legged lizard beast that seemed to possess mutated dragon-kin bloodline.

The two beasts were locked in a fierce, stalemated battle.

But clearly, the beast with the mutated dragon-kin bloodline had the upper hand.

Many onlookers were cheering for the two beasts.

Gune sat down in a corner near the least crowded bar counter.

Two or three minutes later, to Gune's surprise,

the lynx-like beast seized an opportunity, biting the lizard beast's neck from behind. Blood flowed continuously, and the four-legged lizard beast with mutated dragon-kin bloodline began to struggle violently.

The more it struggled, the more blood spilled.

Two or three minutes later, the mutated dragon-kin bloodline beast stopped struggling.

At the same time, the lynx beast cleverly tore open the scales on its opponent's neck and began devouring its flesh.

The battle ended; some rejoiced, others worried.

This was a small-scale gambling beast fight; losers would have no money for drinks tonight.

Gune turned around, intending to ask the bartender something.

Hey, young sailor, care for a drink?

A voice sounded beside Gune.

Gune glanced sideways.

What met his eyes was a woman from the southern empire, with a hot figure, a pretty face about seven out of ten, exuding youthful hormones all over.

With a slight release of his source vision, Gune saw through her background.

This woman was a witch—one of the three major supernatural sequences, alongside sorceress and succubus, known as the 'alluring series.'

The supernatural profession sequence 'sorceress' awakens mysterious spells and has uncanny methods.

The supernatural profession sequence 'succubus' possesses innate mental talents for capture and seduction.

The supernatural profession sequence 'witch' excels in flexible and agile close combat; their flexibility and agility are astonishing.

So much so that some nobles, when keeping mistresses, would grant them the 'witch' sequence, making them specialized 'witches' for their service.

Because that astonishing flexibility and agility could be applied not only in battle but also—in bed.

This extravagant trend among nobles naturally spread from top to bottom across the continent.

Few could strengthen supernatural star ranks through inheritance of sequences.

But weakening star ranks—plenty could do that.

For instance, the military, to produce a certain number of 'supernatural soldiers,'

would replicate large quantities of 'weakened one-star' supernatural profession 'soldier' inheritance items, allowing all recruits to attempt acquiring the supernatural profession 'soldier.'

This kind of 'weakened one-star' supernatural profession had almost no potential for advancement.

Those who truly wanted to become supernatural beings would basically not choose such inferior inheritance sequences.

Replicating weakened supernatural professions from core inheritance items with restorative capabilities, and mass-producing 'witch' inheritances, followed the same model and had become a gray industry chain.

To allow more people to meet the standards for 'witch' inheritance, it was said that some witch inheritances had been reduced to only half-star level, and the price was quite low—less than a hundred gold pounds could get a witch inheritance.

Yet even so, just as the military's 'supernatural soldiers' were not numerous,

the number of women who could become 'half-star witches' was also limited.

Even a half-star supernatural sequence required some talent.

Under half-star witch inheritance, the witches who survived were far fewer than those who died.

But these women, in the hands of people like Old Sam, had no choice.

They could only accept the inheritance and await the judgment of fate.

Die, or survive and become tools to earn money more easily.

Even at half-star, the sequence could still greatly enhance the inheritors' appearance and figure after inheritance. Meanwhile, the improvement in physical fitness allowed them to withstand the impact of supernatural sailors.

And those supernatural sailors also liked these half-star witches, at least not worrying about them having strange diseases.

The witch who had just approached Gune was precisely such a 'half-star witch,' produced by the industry chain, extremely weak.

Originally, Gune didn't want to bother with this half-star witch, but on second thought, since she could solicit in Old Sam's place, she was probably somewhat of an insider.

Maybe I can get some information from her.

Being unfamiliar with the place, any bit of information Gune could learn was good.

Gune flipped his hand, and a gold pound appeared in his palm.

He flicked it, and the gold pound flew toward the half-star witch with a crisp sound.

The half-star witch reached out and caught the gold pound midair.

A smile appeared on her face.

She had to earn at least five gold pounds for Old Sam each night, or she might suffer tonight.

It was only afternoon, and she already had one gold pound; maybe she could earn some extra tips today.

Do you like it here? Or find a quiet place? I guarantee you'll be satisfied.

As she spoke, the half-star witch coiled around him like she had no bones.

Another gold pound appeared in Gune's hand.

The half-star witch stopped immediately, staring straight at the gold pound.

I want to ask you a few things, just common questions. If you satisfy me, this gold pound is yours.

The half-star witch looked at the gold pound, then at Gune, a hint of caution appearing on her face.

After a moment's thought, she pulled a chair over and sat down beside Gune.

Buy me a drink, and I won't say what I shouldn't say.

If he asked something he shouldn't, she would slip away, and soon at least six supernatural beings would come to teach this clueless brat what the world's malice meant.

No problem! Gune nodded curtly.