NEC Chapter 17: The Frenzied Ticket  

Chen Mo tried offering more money. 

The young centaur guide had mentioned that a ticket to Whitestone typically cost two silver coins, or equivalent furs, ores, or something else the dwarves might value. 

Raising the price was the most straightforward solution he could think of, and it seemed his only option. 

He pulled out a heavy coin pouch and, with deliberate care, placed silver coins one by one on the greasy wooden table in front of the dwarf, each coin landing with a crisp clink. 

Three coins, four, five... With each additional coin, the dwarf’s fingers twitched almost imperceptibly. 

Not far off, the camp buzzed with wandering adventurers and mercenaries. As the pile of gleaming silver grew, predatory gazes latched onto Chen Mo’s back like vultures, but he was too desperate to care. He kept stacking the coins, betting everything. 

Clink, clank! Finally, seventeen silver coins formed a small tower. Chen Mo upended the pouch, spilling the remaining copper coins onto the table. The brassy coins bounced and spun, creating a jarring yet melodious clamor. 

The sound seemed to itch at the dwarf’s greed. A glint of avarice flickered in his eyes, but within seconds, he shut them tightly, almost painfully, and shook his head firmly. 

Chen Mo glanced at the centaur guards nearby, their towering two-and-a-half-meter frames looming over him. Their presence quelled his fleeting urge to pull out his gun and press it to the dwarf’s small head. 

“Pointless, little guy!” a teasing voice called out. 

“Our Cloudmist Domain has reserved this airship. You could offer him a gold coin, and he still wouldn’t dare let you board!” 

Chen Mo turned toward the voice. A group was crossing the chaotic dock area toward the boarding ramp, their refined attire and orderly steps starkly contrasting the dusty, mismatched gear of the surrounding adventurers. 

It was the aristocratic team that had healed him the previous night. No wonder they could afford to charter the entire airship. 

For other adventurers, crossing such a lavish group was unwise. They could wait for the next ship and scrounge extra income around the Gloomy Forest in the meantime. 

But for Chen Mo, this was a matter of life and death. 

His eyes quickly scanned the group, locking onto Paven, the captain who had coordinated with Kaga last night, clearly the team’s point person for external affairs. 

“Sir... Swordsman! We met yesterday!” Chen Mo raised his voice. “Thank you so much for the healing last night! I’m truly grateful!” 

“I have an urgent matter and must get to Whitestone immediately! Could I... could I have a corner on the airship? I promise I won’t cause any trouble!” His shout drew the attention of the entire Cloudmist team. 

“Hey! It’s that little skeleton guy from yesterday!” 

Today, Lady Frost wore a fitted, light blue hunter-style swordsman outfit, her hair neatly tied into a ponytail secured with a delicate cloud-patterned silver clasp at her chest. Silver-threaded cloudmist embroidery wound from her shoulders to her wrists, her belt cinched an elegant waistline, and tight breeches tucked into knee-high boots. She radiated a spirited air, a far cry from the dreamy girl of the previous night. 

Blinking her big eyes, she looked excitedly at Chen Mo and the quietly standing Little White. 

“Why not bring him along? He seems so pitiful, and his skeleton is so interesting!” 

“My dear Lady,” Linda, the chief attendant, stepped forward to rein in the enthusiastic young noble. 

“Please temper your curiosity and kindness. An unknown necromancer is hardly an ideal travel companion.” 

“Captain Paven, please politely decline him.” 

“Ugh... fine...” Lady Frost tossed her hair, muttering under her breath, “Then... when we get to

Qinglan City, can you find me a summoner who can call up skeletons to play with?” 

“My dear Lady,” Linda’s voice carried a hint of indulgent exasperation, “if the Marquis learns of your fascination with bone racks, he’ll be most displeased.” 

As the young lady bickered softly with her attendant, Paven gave Chen Mo a polite smile and shook his head, rejecting the offer of more money despite Chen Mo’s emotional pleas. The hightier swordsman turned to board the airship. 

“Captain, what about these?” Chen Mo pulled two thin gold sheets from his pocket.  

Paven paused, his gaze landing on the gold, a flicker of surprise in his eyes. 

With a high-tier swordsman’s keen senses, he could tell the gold was of exceptional purity. Combined with the pile of silver and copper coins Chen Mo had already offered, it was unusual for a lone necromancer to carry such wealth. 

Paven’s mind conjured a string of dramatic possibilities. 

But no matter the offer, he wouldn’t risk even the slightest danger to his lady. 

Out of respect for the status implied by such wealth, Paven prepared to decline more courteously. 

Then, something on the gold sheets caught his eye. 

Moments later, Master Locke, the healer and alchemist, arrived. The old man squinted, meticulously examining the gold sheets under the sunlight from every angle. 

The sheets bore an intricate design: a five-clawed golden dragon, rampant and fierce. 

On such small surfaces, every scale, whisker, and claw was vividly detailed. Behind the dragon, frosted cloud patterns swirled. 

The gold itself was valuable, but not enough to sway a master like Locke. However, the craftsman capable of such work was rarer than a master alchemist. 

What’s more, the two sheets bore identical patterns. Even with Locke’s eyes nearly tearing from scrutiny, he couldn’t find a single flaw. 

Laser-precise nano-carving, flawless to the tiniest detail. 

“You’re sure you want to trade these for a ticket?” Locke asked. 

“Yes, yes! I’m sure!” Chen Mo saw a glimmer of hope. 

“Wait a moment.” 

Locke clutched the gold sheets tightly and hurried to Lady Frost and Linda, whispering animatedly, gesturing with fervor. 

Shortly after, Chen Mo received word: he and Little White could board. 

“This is your cabin. You’re free to move within the rear section of the ship. Unless it’s urgent, please don’t approach the front cabins.” 

“That includes your summon!” 

“If you need anything, call for the ship’s attendants.” 

The team had marked a clear dividing line on the airship. Chen Mo’s valuable offering had earned him passage, but it also deepened their wariness of him. 

Chen Mo didn’t mind. Getting on the ship was enough. He settled into his cabin, content to sit quietly with Little White. 

Meanwhile, in the airship’s VIP cabin, Locke carefully held the gold sheets, explaining their significance to Lady Frost and Linda with barely contained excitement. 

“I’ve never seen such craftsmanship. These identical patterns almost feel like they were replicated by magic.” 

“But magical replication is crude, nowhere near this precision.” 

“The details are flawless. These are top-tier gifts. Presenting them to any lord would yield far more than mere wealth.” 

“And this design is unique.” 

“It resembles the great beasts of Crimson Tide Bay, but without wings, with five claws, and capable of flight. It defies the anatomy of any known creature, even the laws of nature.” 

“So, I believe this is a totem.” 

“A symbol of some ancient family or tribe, painstakingly carved onto precious metal as a mark of heritage.” 

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