Shana followed Feto through the labyrinth of ancient trees, arriving at a dim, lightless cave.

Hiding in a cave isn't the best choice, Shana thought to herself. If it's a dead end, we'll be in even more trouble!

Just moments earlier, Feto had been carrying her through the forest, fleeing pursuit. After running for a while, Shana noticed only three werewolves were chasing them, so she suggested turning around to kill them. But Feto argued that fighting would expose their location—those three were just what she could see; once they engaged, thirty or forty more werewolves would swarm them. He refused to fight, so Shana had no choice but to agree. Then they'd found this hidden cave, and Feto had pulled her inside.

The witch and guard walked about a hundred steps into the cave, only to be stopped by a gray stone wall.

Oh no! Dead end!

"I told you so," Shana said.

Feto turned around, frustrated. "Looks like we have to go back! Ugh, wasted time! Let's hope we don't run into werewolves on the way out!"

"Remember this from now on! Listen to your witch! Don't always think you're right, got it?" As they turned back, Shana didn't miss the chance to "lecture" him.

Halfway back, Shana suddenly spotted a dark hole under a damp, protruding stone at her feet. She grabbed Feto's arm urgently.

"Feto! Look!"

The guard immediately knelt down, listening by the stone for a moment, then tossed a small pebble into the hole. A crisp clatter echoed up from the darkness below.

"What do you think?"

"There seems to be another passage down there. Should we check it out?"

"Hmm…" Shana's brows furrowed. "Uh, you decide!"

"Didn't you say I should listen to the witch?" Feto smiled.

Oh, you're throwing my own words back at me! Shana pinched his waist. "From now on, you're as good as dead!"

The witch and guard jumped into the hole, following a pitch-black passage forward for dozens of steps. The light was even dimmer here, limiting their vision, but Shana could clearly hear the gurgle of running water and smell the earthy scent of damp, rotting leaves. There's fresh air flowing—this can't be a dead end.

Shana walked ten more steps, and the space suddenly opened up. She found herself beside a small waterfall, water trickling through a crack in the rock above and spilling into a dark pool beside it. The cave had a hidden paradise inside!

Shana's eyes widened as she stared at the sight. She climbed down from the waterfall's ledge and approached the pool, curious to see what lay within.

"Watch out!" Feto grabbed her arm and shouted, "Who's there?"

Someone? Shana jumped, focusing her gaze to scan the area—but saw nothing out of the ordinary. There's no one else in the cave?

"Show yourself!" Feto called into the shadowy pool.

In the pool! Shana locked her eyes on the dark water. Sure enough, ripples spread across the surface, and with a splash, a shadow leaped out like a phantom of the night, landing on the pool's edge.

There really is someone! Shana quickly pulled a vial of poison from her pocket.

The figure across from them had sallow skin, appearing slightly older than Feto. He wore tight black leather that clung to his agile, muscular frame; though his belly was a little rounded, he exuded a sense of rugged strength. Thank goodness it's not a werewolf! Wow, he's in great shape—no worse than Feto! Seeing he was human, Shana relaxed slightly, then found herself comparing his physique to the guard's.

Feto roared, "Who are you?"

"This is the funniest adventure in two hundred years!" The man held a glowing spherical object in his hands. "Since I came beyond the Wall, I've dug through eighteen damn wild pools, and finally caught a Bubble Puffer in this mucky hole! Heh heh heh, interesting! So interesting!" He did a backflip in mid-air.

Shana had thought the burly man would be a ruthless villain, but his voice was full of manic glee. The contrast left her stunned. What's he doing?

Then she noticed the glowing sphere in his hands was expanding—at first no bigger than an apple, it quickly grew to the size of a watermelon.

"Watch out! That's a Bubble Puffer—it explodes!" Feto pulled Shana back several steps until her back pressed against the cold stone wall, then held his silver round shield over her head, shielding her tightly behind him.

Explode? Shana didn't fully understand what was happening, but seeing how Feto prioritized her safety, a warm feeling surged in her heart.

"Heh heh heh, no need to panic! Watch this!" Purple smoke billowed from the man's hands, and in an instant, the glowing sphere vanished into the mist.

Shana's eyes widened. Is he doing magic tricks?

"A Bubble Puffer isn't a white wolf—its explosion isn't that powerful. Besides, you're hiding so far away, it couldn't reach you even if it blew! What're you scared of?" The man clapped his hands, grinning at the two divine humans. "Now it's in my Magic Satchel—mine! I won't sell it for less than a thousand Golden Glow Coins or a hundred Obsidian Shards! Heh heh heh…"

Shana realized the small, oddly placed bulge at his waist must be the "Magic Satchel" he mentioned. What a strange man! If he puts that bubble in his bag, won't it explode?

She grew curious about him and called out, "Hey!"

The man rolled his eyes. "What? You wanna buy the Bubble Puffer?"

Shana said, "That thing you caught explodes—who would buy it?"

"Heh, you don't know a thing. Bubble Puffers are volatile, but if tamed, they're powerful weapons. Lots of people want 'em—especially the Faceless, the assassin guild in Golden Harbor. They'll pay twice the market price! Heh heh heh…" the man laughed.

"You're right—Bubble Puffers are valuable, but they're extremely hard to find. Only someone obsessed with money would trek to the harsh frozen lands beyond the Wall, searching every wild pool to catch such a rare creature just to sell it." Feto stepped forward, his voice clear. "No one but a legendary black market merchant would go to such lengths."

"Heh heh heh…" The man threw back his head and laughed. "Well said! Well said! I love money! As long as the profit's high, I'll do any business, make any deal! Are you two here to trade? Wilder, black market merchant, at your service!"

Shana exchanged a glance with Feto. She'd heard her senior sisters talk about black market merchants: greedy, unscrupulous types with endless tricks up their sleeves! But she'd never met one in person. She'd never expected her first encounter with a legendary shady merchant would be in an unnamed cave beyond the Wall. Do they really do any kind of business…?

Just then, a sharp werewolf howl echoed from outside the cave. Oh no! The werewolves are closing in!