Kasso tapped his knuckles on the table, producing a distinctive metallic sound.
His right arm, made of metal and crystal, gleamed under the light, and each joint was intricately designed to an astonishing degree.
"If you need truly high-purity energy crystals, the stuff ordinary explorers bring back might hardly meet your requirements."
Kasso said softly, his gaze unconsciously sweeping around the tent:
"I know a special collector who specializes in collecting high-energy materials from the fourth layer and below, perhaps he can meet your needs."
"Oh? Who is it?" Reynolds asked curiously, apparently knowing little about this "special collector."
Kasso’s mutated blue-white eye showed a subtle expression:
"Aize, an elemental lifeform almost unrecognizable after being transformed by the Abyss."
Reynolds’ expression immediately turned complex:
"That half-mad ’Flashing Vortex’? I thought he had long retired from the trade circle."
"On the surface, yes." Kasso murmured:
"But for certain clients, he still opens up his collection. Of course, provided he finds you sufficiently ’interesting.’
Ron noticed the subtle tension in their conversation.
Clearly, this collector named Aize was not an easy character to deal with.
"Elemental lifeform?" Ron raised an eyebrow: "I thought they rarely ventured into Abyss exploration."
Kasso let out a short laugh:
"That’s true, but Aize is an exception, he was not born an elemental lifeform.
Before becoming an elemental lifeform, he was already a mad Abyssal Explorer.
Later, during an incident within the fifth layer, his physical body was completely obliterated, yet his spirit fused with one of his Abyssal Treasures, eventually forming the bizarre entity he is today."
"If you want to meet him, I can lead the way." Kasso continued:
"But I must warn you, engaging with Aize... may not be pleasant.
He hardly uses conventional language, instead relies on direct energy fluctuation to convey thoughts.
For most beings, this mode of communication is extremely uncomfortable, potentially causing temporary mental confusion."
Ron contemplated for a moment, weighing the value of acquiring high-purity energy crystals against potential risks, then nodded:
"Lead the way."
Kasso entrusted the remaining ordinary trades to an assistant and then led Ron and Reynolds out of the main trading area.
They passed through a narrow passage, arriving at a more remote section of the outpost.
Ron seized this opportunity to carefully observe the Abyss Explorers around.
These adventurers bore various degrees of mutation marks on their bodies, creating a peculiar character gallery.
A tall woman passed by them.
Her arms were unusually elongated, and her skin exhibited scale-like patterns that, depending on the angle of light, shimmered with a metallic sheen.
Her gaze lingered slightly as it passed over Ron, displaying scrutiny for the unfamiliar face.
"Zania, from the Mercury School." Reynolds introduced softly:
"Once abandoned by her Master due to aptitude issues, she joined the Abyss Exploration Team a few years ago, and has since become a somewhat famous Material Hunter. Thanks to the significant gains from Abyss exploration, she managed to obtain the ’Key Potion’ to advance as an Official Wizard.
Her mutation is called ’Twisted Skin,’ capable of absorbing and redirecting physical impacts to some extent, a mutation type unique to the Abyss."
A pair of brothers haggled at a nearby stall.
They had similar faces, but one of them had the right half of his face entirely covered by some black crystal, with eerie purple light flickering in his eye socket;
The other appeared normal but revealed excessively sharp teeth when speaking, with a voice carrying an unnatural echo effect.
"The Nicol brothers, a well-known duo in the Abyss exploration circle." Reynolds continued introducing:
"The elder’s ’Crystallization’ has persisted for five years, remaining on half his face, a rare suppressive ability among explorers;
The younger one’s vocal organ and corresponding nerve mutation allows him to communicate with certain creatures on the second layer of the Abyss, providing them with information many people cannot access."
"Interesting..." Ron commented softly, his gaze sweeping over the crowd’s diverse mutation features:
"From my previous understanding, these mutations are not entirely random but related to the explorer’s personality, talent, and even subconscious preferences."
"Indeed, that’s part of the allure of Abyss exploration." Reynolds agreed, nodding. Clearly, he was a beneficiary as well:
"The influence of the Abyss indeed has some ’selectivity,’ not merely destroying or distorting but amplifying, in some twisted manner, the traits deep within the affected person’s heart."
He pointed to a corner where a peculiar-looking old man stood.
His skin was like shriveled bark, and his deeply sunken eyes emitted a faint green glow.
Around the old man, various strange plants seemed to sense his presence, their vines gently swaying as if expressing closeness.
"Montero, the ’Plant Speaker.’" Reynolds explained:
"He was once an ordinary gardener from a small town at the Abyss Edge, with no extraordinary talent in botany.
But in an accident, he was captured by a mutated plant and remained inside it for three whole days.
By the time explorers found him, he had undergone deep mutation.