The Well of Eternal Imprisonment currency had already begun to spawn.
Monster merchants, naturally, had also appeared on various floors, beginning to move through the secluded areas.
And the first team to encounter a monster merchant was none other than...
Manfred's team, located at the deepest level.
"Someone's there."
Manfred's team, exploring the cold desert of the seventh floor, suddenly came to a halt.
They stared at a figure emerging from the desert before them.
The figure wore traveler's clothing and had withered skin, looking like an elderly man.
Manfred quickly glanced at Rhine.
"It's a monster,"
Rhine responded immediately.
"Stay alert,"
Manfred ordered with a wave of his hand, not attacking recklessly.
After all, with only one individual appearing, it was very likely some kind of trap.
However, Manfred did not sense any killing intent.
"You have the scent of coins on you, though it is very faint."
"But perhaps, I can conduct some business with you."
The monster merchant moved slowly, speaking in a raspy, weathered voice.
"...Coins? Business?"
Manfred only spoke after a long silence.
A monster, doing business.
Such a thing, such a thing!
"You're a monster, and you want to trade with me?"
Manfred spoke with a look of skepticism.
"I only recognize coins. Anyone who holds coins is my customer,"
the monster merchant said unhurriedly.
Manfred still did not trust him and signaled his subordinates to remain alert. After some thought, he pulled out a copper coin.
It was the coin that had dropped from a monster.
"The coins you're talking about... is it this?"
As if catching an intoxicating scent, the monster merchant quickly spoke.
"That's right, that's it."
"If you are willing to trade, we can do so now."
"A reminder, my guest."
"Even if you kill me, I will not drop any goods."
Could he really trade?
Trading with a monster.
With this kind of... monster merchant?
Manfred thought of his own situation. Currently, he might only be able to survive by trading with monsters.
Perhaps this was the only way for him and his family to stay alive.
At this moment, he desperately hoped that the monster before him was telling the truth—that it truly was that kind of miraculous, never-before-seen monster willing to trade with humans.
"Do you have water and food?"
"Of course. If you are willing to pay enough coins, I can sell you any kind of food."
The monster merchant held up two fingers.
"A pound of bread for 2 copper coins; a bottle of water for 20 wood coins."
That's so affordable!
No, wait. These weren't ordinary copper coins, but Well of Eternal Imprisonment copper coins.
He currently only had one copper coin from the dungeon.
Furthermore, he didn't know what the drop rate for these coins was.
"Can external currency be exchanged for dungeon coins?"
Manfred asked without much hope.
"Of course, my guest."
"One silver coin can be exchanged for one copper coin, and one copper coin can be exchanged for one wood coin."
The monster merchant spoke with a smile.
His task was to collect all the treasures of the world for his master.
Coins, treasures, fortunes.
Although exchanging a silver coin for a copper coin seemed a bit off...
But this Well of Eternal Imprisonment currency was money that could buy supplies deep within the dungeon.
He'd do it!
Manfred took out his money pouch and exchanged his coins for copper coins and wood coins.
Then, he used the dungeon coins to buy food and water.
He hadn't expected the supply problem to be solved like this.
Now he believed this absurd scene. In this dungeon, there actually existed monsters capable of communication and even trade.
This dungeon was too eerie.
It was completely different from other dungeons. The further they explored, the more astonishing it became.
If the monster before him could communicate, could he get information about this dungeon from him?
"Do you know where the passage to the next floor is?"
Manfred tried asking.
"If you are willing to pay the coins, I can sell you that information."
"Information is also within my range of sales."
His master had already outlined the scope of what he could sell.
"What!"
"How much does it cost? I'll buy it!"
Manfred spoke urgently.
"It will cost 50 magic crystal coins."
The monster merchant's words left Manfred stunned again. What kind of coin?
"Can I exchange my money for these magic crystal coins as well?"
The monster merchant nodded and held up a finger.
"One magic crystal coin requires 20 gold coins to exchange. However, I don't have enough magic crystal coins on me, so even if you offer the money, I cannot exchange them for you."
Manfred was inwardly shocked.
"20 gold coins."
Twenty gold coins were enough for a family of four to live for half a year in Gray City.
If it were a village outside Gray City, it could even last them several years.
"How do I obtain magic crystal coins?"
Manfred asked again.
"That information costs one copper coin."
Manfred gritted his teeth and pulled out a dungeon copper coin.
"Magic crystal coins are carried by the masters of each floor, and they can also be found in treasure chests."
Manfred pondered.
The "masters" likely meant the overlords, meaning they would drop upon killing an overlord.
Treasure chests were even easier to understand.
"What else can magic crystal coins be used for? Why is their value so high?"
The monster merchant raised a finger again.
"One copper coin."
Manfred finally understood.
This was a monster.
Unlike other monsters that attacked their bodies, this monster attacked their information.
It wasn't that it was friendly to humans; it simply only recognized money.
He paid the copper coin.
"Magic crystal coins can purchase power leaves, magical artifacts, and magic equipment."
"Information on treasure chests, information on floors, floor maps, and information on hidden floors."
"Everything can be purchased, as long as you can afford the price."
Manfred's breath hitched.
Was he joking? In this dungeon, even these things could be bought directly with currency!
"How many magic crystal coins do you have available for exchange?"
"I only have 4. If you want to exchange for all of them, it will cost 80 gold coins."
Manfred turned to look at his teammates. In the end, several of them pooled their wallets together to come up with 80 gold coins.
They successfully exchanged for 4 magic crystal coins from the monster merchant.
Staring at the gem-like magic crystal coins in his hand, Rhine cried out in surprise.
"This mana... how is this possible!"
"What's wrong with the mana?"
Manfred didn't have a mage's powerful mana perception; he only sensed that these coins were very unusual.
"The mana contained within a single magic crystal coin is equivalent to ten times my total mana capacity."
To think it had such an effect.
Not only could it buy dungeon information and treasures, but the coin itself was of incredible value.
Unfortunately, the monster merchant didn't offer unlimited exchanges, so they couldn't obtain a large number of magic crystal coins.
Manfred then bought some more supplies, and the monster merchant wandered away, never once attacking them.
This time, Manfred had bought enough supplies.
Mainly through purchasing information, he had learned that there were very few monster merchants, with only a few wandering each floor.
Encountering one again would depend entirely on luck.
So, he bought everything he needed in one go.
Rate on N.U.
