…
After wandering the streets of Devil’s Sanctum for several minutes, Izroth came across a building with a sign hung over the entrance with the name “Twin Fang INN” written on it.
The building’s outer appearance was quite ordinary, but it was spotless without the slightest hint of neglect for its care.
‘This will make do.’
Izroth only needed a place to stay away from prying eyes for a couple of hours max; therefore, he was not too concerned as long as he had some privacy.
Izroth walked through the entrance of the Twin Fang INN, and immediately upon entering, he could no longer hear any noise from the busy streets outside.
‘Oh? They’re using a type of noise-canceling magic to block out the commotion coming from outside. If they went this far, privacy should not be an issue.’
Izroth approached the front desk. Sat behind the desk was a young woman who was a member of the zensana race. Judging by the pattern on her feline ears and the tail swaying at her back, Izroth believed the young woman was a member of the leopard subspecies.
However, the left ear on top of her head was damaged—as though half of it had been bitten off by a wild animal.
NPC Name: Parina(Elite)
NPC Level: 58
‘Even the receptionist of an INN is a level 58 elite NPC.’
“Welcome to the Twin Fang INN, dear customer. How long will you be enjoying your stay?” Parina greeted Izroth with a friendly smile and courteous tone.
“Just one day,” Izroth replied.
“One day? Very well. That will be 100 gold coins.”
100 gold coins? With the current conversion rate, that amount equaled a little more than 17,000 RMB!
Izroth inwardly frowned when he heard the price. It was not as if he did not have 100 gold coins to spare; however, why was the price so unreasonably high? If it were a luxurious INN, at the very least, the price could be seen as justified. But, that was not the case.
In the end, Devil’s Sanctum was a lawless city; therefore, their prices did not have to deal with any type of regulation.
“Is there a problem, dear customer?” Parina asked while maintaining her polite tone.
“No. It’s just that the other INNs I visited during my travels did not carry such a hefty price tag.”
“Ah, can it be that this is your first time visiting Devil’s Sanctum?”
“It looks like I’ve been found out. Indeed, it is my first visit.”
Parina could not help but giggle after hearing Izroth’s response. However, she quickly gathered herself as she lightly cleared her throat.
Izroth was taken aback by Parina’s sudden laughter. Could it be that he said something amusing?
“I hope you can excuse my rudeness. It’s just that it has been a while since I met a customer who was so straightforward. Well, it’s fine since it was me you told. But, you should not disclose the fact that this is your first time visiting Devil’s Sanctum to just anyone. There are those who will not hesitate to take advantage of you.” Parina explained.
‘So it’s like that. Though I can’t say I’m surprised. It’s not unusual for someone to be taken advantage of in this type of environment.’
Izroth was no stranger to places like Devil’s Sanctum. After all, lawless lands were not uncommon in the Seven Realms.
“Rest assured—I am not so easily bullied,” Izroth stated.
Parina nodded, “It’s good to have confidence. Just remember that there are many hidden dragons in Devil’s Sanctum. It is best not to get too involved with anyone. Of course, this is just some personal friendly advice.”
She then continued, “As to why our prices are higher than the typical INNs you have encountered during your travels, it is due to this INN’s owner and our customer guarantee.”
“Customer guarantee?”
“Yes. As long as you are a customer of the Twin Fang INN, no one will dare find trouble with you on our doorstep. 100 gold coins is a fairly reasonable price to pay for this guarantee. But, if you are unable to afford it, I can recommend you to an INN that is more in your price range. Though it may be somewhat rowdy.”
‘I see. It is a bit costly, but at least I won’t have to worry about being disturbed. As long as I am not being scammed, I have no issue with the price.’
“No, this place will do. I prefer a more private and peaceful atmosphere.” Izroth said as he removed a small pouch from his inventory with 100 gold coins and placed it on the desk in front of Parina.
Parina checked the small pouch. After confirming Izroth’s payment, she set the pouch on top of a transparent cube located on the right side of the desk. The next moment, the pouch vanished along with the gold coins and a smooth platinum card appeared in its place.
Parina grabbed the card and held it out using both hands as she bowed respectfully and said, “You may choose any unoccupied room. Once you decide, this card will act as a key to that room and only you will have access to it at all times during your stay. It is also proof of your temporary residency at the Twin Fang INN. If you show it to someone that wants to start trouble with you, as long as it’s nothing too serious, they will typically leave you be. Please do not lose it as a replacement card will not be given under any circumstances. When a day has passed, the card will automatically self-destruct and you will no longer be able to access your room. If you wish to extend the duration of your stay, do not hesitate to see me at any time. I sincerely hope you enjoy your stay at the Twin Fang INN, dear customer.”
Izroth gave a small nod as he accepted the platinum card from Parina and examined it.
Name: Twin Fang INN Card(Soulbound)
Status: Unbound
Usage: Can be bound to a room at the Twin Fang INN and used to gain access.
‘It doesn’t seem to be a magic item. If I had to compare it to anything, the closest would be a talisman.’
“I am expecting a visitor later. I assume that will not pose any issues?” Izroth inquired as he put the Twin Fang INN Card into his inventory.
“Visitors are allowed. However, the duration of their visitation is limited to one hour per day. In addition, they are not protected by our customer guarantee.” Parina informed.
“Then, I’ll keep that in mind.”
Parina explained a few more things to Izroth before pointing Izroth him towards the back where the rooms were located. She then offered to guide Izroth to an available room; however, he declined her offer and made his way to the back on his own.
As Izroth entered the back area of the INN, he was greeted by the sight of a long hallway with several doors on both sides of the walls. Some of the doors were awkwardly spaced to the point that it seemed as though the hall itself was missing a few doors.
Izroth walked down the hall to the farthest end and came to a stop before a door with no other doors nearby.
‘This one should be fine.’
Izroth removed the Twin Fang INN Card from his inventory and placed it inside a slot on the door made specifically for the card.
The door lit up as several unrecognizable symbols appeared on the door’s surface.
Zeeeeut!
Before Izroth knew it, he was no longer standing outside in the hall. Instead, he now stood in a spacious room that was cleaned spotless from top to bottom.
There was one bed in the far corner of the room and a desk with a chair on the opposite side.
Near the door was a lamp with a magic stone that provided light.
As for the Twin Fang INN Card, it disappeared from the slot outside and embedded itself onto the inner surface of the door. In fact, the entire door itself vanished from the hallway!
But, it was not actually gone. It merely concealed itself after being occupied.
‘She said if I want to leave, all I have to do is take the card out of the slot.’
The first thing Izroth did was open his system interface and check his messages. However, there was still no reply from Azalea.
‘Still no word. Then, since I have some spare time, I might as well make a few preparations. Perhaps I’ll even find something to hasten my recovery.’
〈System Alert: Welcome to the «Netherworld Exchange», Player Izroth!〉
