That's right.

He had originally had very high expectations for the system’s store.

After all, in the novels he read before crossing over, the “system” label was synonymous with quality.

Things like superhuman bloodlines, baby nine-tailed foxes, star-crushing warships, and cute maid companions—these were the kind of things that the system always had on offer. There was nothing you couldn't find!

But now, looking at his own system...

One would think it was a trash collector!

Because when he glanced over the available goods, there was basically nothing of real use!

"System! Refresh the stock!"

【Ding! This feature is not yet available. Please wait, stock will refresh automatically at 5:00 PM each day!】

"..."

Lynn took a deep breath, gritted his teeth, and sat back down.

Alright!

Although this was the complete opposite of what he expected, at least it was another channel for inventory, right?

Toxic slime liquid?

Bought!

Maybe it would be useful for crafting poison potions later!

【-50 Skeleton Coins】

A cursed fortune cat doll?

What use could this thing have?! Is my luck so good that I need to buy one to ruin it?

Bought!

Could be a gift for someone later!

【-200 Skeleton Coins】

Baby diapers (tight-fitting version)?

Lynn instinctively glanced at the ghost baby he had placed on the counter (?_?).

Well...

It’s growing so fast, and now that it’s been shaped into a humanoid form, it’d be a little inappropriate for it to remain so bare.

Bought! This actually has some use!

【-50 Skeleton Coins】

Lynn put the diaper on its head.

Immediately, Lynn’s attention was drawn to the fourth item on the list.

【Blood Flesh Growth Potion Formula】: After consuming the potion, it greatly increases injury recovery speed! Materials required: Blood Demon Meat, Attribute-less Slime Liquid, Tyrant Flower, Carnivorous Plant Growth Hormone.

This formula was definitely the best thing on the system’s list of goods.

And it even included the difficult-to-obtain 【Blood Demon Meat】.

This was absolutely worth the price!

【-500 Skeleton Coins】

【-100 Skeleton Coins】

Without hesitation, Lynn purchased both items. Combined with the critical hit potion rewarded by the system yesterday, he now had exclusive formulas for two potions!

But Lynn wasn’t in a rush to brew them.

As an apothecary shop, every now and then, merchants would come by to sell various materials.

And considering the timing, today was the day.

Lynn immediately prepared his skeleton coins and bundled up the large number of severed limbs and broken arms that he had scavenged from the root creature’s teeth.

Outside, the mist swirled, and dark, ominous energy filled the air.

Lynn patiently waited at the door.

Slowly, the sound of creaking wheels and footsteps echoed from the darkness on the street.

A hunched old woman carrying a lantern made of human skin appeared in his view. Her face wore a kindly but eerie smile as she stopped in front of the apothecary shop.

"Young man, got any useless junk to give to this old woman?"

【Ding! You have triggered the quest: Useless Junk (2), Quest Rewards: 50 Skeleton Coins, 100 Basic Experience, Scavenger's Favorability +50, Special Reward x1】

"Yes!"

Upon hearing the system notification, Lynn was overjoyed.

He immediately agreed with enthusiasm and rushed back inside to drag out a large sack.

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"Young man, looks like you've got quite a bit to dispose of this time?"

The old woman's smile seemed even brighter now.

Lynn politely asked, "Granny, would you like me to help you load this onto the cart?"

"Yes, yes! You're such a good lad, thank you!"

The old woman smiled kindly.

Lynn lifted the heavy "junk" onto the cart, and as soon as he set it down, the old woman’s smile froze.

"Root-level... energy?"

The old woman’s face changed, her murky eyes widening in shock.

She immediately felt the immense weight and pressure emanating from the bag on the cart.

Her gaze toward Lynn shifted to one of deep surprise.

【Human Skin Scavenger’s Confusion +10】

Lynn smiled and said, "Maybe it picked up a bit of the aura. Last night, I was examining a customer’s mouth. This is the useless stuff I cleaned out of it. Thought you might need it, so I kept it for you."

The old woman's expression stiffened, and she asked,

"You examined the mouth of a Root-level creature?! Aren’t you afraid it would eat you?"

Her eyes were filled with an even deeper astonishment, as if she had come to realize something about Lynn.

Lynn chuckled and replied, "What’s there to be afraid of? Our Blood Saw Apothecary Shop’s motto is to serve all customers equally, no matter who they are!"

【Human Skin Scavenger’s Reverence +10】

For a moment, Lynn could clearly feel the change in the old woman’s gaze. It was as if she was now looking at a monster.

She lowered her voice, rasping,

"Last night, three Root-level【Abyss Headhunters】came to our area. The one you helped was probably the smallest of them. I advise you to stay away from them; you probably don’t know the danger..."

"Last night, in the Butchery Alley, Soul Street, and Ghost Alley, those three Headhunters wiped out fifteen high-level demon hunters and magic spirits..."

Lynn froze.

"The Headhunter you met last night was probably planning to feed here in Ghost Alley. Looks like you’re the reason we were spared a calamity."

Lynn blinked in confusion and said, "But I thought that customer from last night seemed so cute, how could they be so cruel?"

"...?"

A brief silence.

A gust of wind blew past.

The old woman seemed to hear something shocking and inconceivable.

"Cute...?"

Lynn: "Yeah, pretty cute..."

【Ding! You have left an indelible impression in the Human Skin Scavenger’s heart!】

【Ding! Your notoriety in Ghost Alley has increased by +1】

【Ding! Your notoriety in Ghost Alley has increased by +1】

Lynn wanted to explain further, but the old woman shook her head, muttering,

"Sure enough... in the dark world, there’s no such thing as normal... especially those who look normal..."

Lynn: "..."

【Ding! Congratulations! You have completed the quest. You earned: 50 Skeleton Coins, 100 Basic Experience, Human Skin Scavenger’s Favorability +50】

Then, under Lynn’s watchful eyes, the old woman stretched out her shriveled hand, slowly moving toward her chest.

"Young man, the things you’ve given me are too valuable for me to digest all at once. This is something I just scavenged, maybe it’ll be useful to you."

Creeeeak, creak—

A sickening sound of flesh being pierced reached his ears.

Then, Lynn watched in horror as the old woman reached into her own chest and pulled out a still-beating, blood-soaked heart.

The heart throbbed violently in the air, sending waves of heat into the surroundings.

【Lynn’s Sanity -10】

"Take it," the old woman rasped, smiling.