Chapter 639: Revealing His Card.

"I want to know more about the surrounding cave system," Thoren continued without hesitation.

"And I’d like to know how deep and dangerous the trenches outside are."

The moment those words left his mouth, a still silence descended into the chamber, causing the atmosphere that had previously been relaxed to change completely.

Draven’s fingers stopped moving against the stone table, while the faint smile that had been resting on his face gradually disappeared.

His eyes remained fixed on Thoren, as though he were trying to determine whether Thoren understood the weight of the request he had just made.

After a couple of seconds, Draven leaned back in his seat and stared at Thoren without blinking, his expression becoming difficult to read.

Rynna, on the other hand, wore a deep frown on her face, and her fingers unconsciously tightened around her wine cup as she struggled to suppress her growing irritation.

If Thoren had not been Draven’s guest, she might have called him a fool or even taught him a lesson about the value of information in Scarwind Camp.

What Thoren was asking for was not mere information.

It was knowledge they had risked their lives to obtain, information that had cost them blood, injuries, and the lives of their companions.

As a scavenger party, Draven and his people had experienced more dangers than most ordinary awakeners could imagine.

They had entered countless trenches in search of valuable resources, fought beasts that could tear apart an entire party.

Every time they left Scarwind Camp, none of them could be certain whether they would return.

Yet an unknown young man who had arrived at the camp only a day ago dared to ask for such vital information as though it were nothing more than a casual favor. ℯℯ𝘭.

If he was not asking for a beating, then what was he asking for?

Meanwhile, Thoren remained perfectly calm as he sensed the atmosphere shifting between Draven and Rynna.

He understood their reaction, and he was not naive enough to believe that experienced scavengers would casually hand over information they had obtained through countless dangerous expeditions.

Information was a resource, just like beast path, rare herbs, and precious minerals. In a place where survival depended on knowing which paths to take and which trenches to avoid, the right information could save lives.

He had expected this reaction from the beginning. Still, he needed to ask.

He had no intention of wasting several days wandering through unfamiliar trenches when he could obtain useful information from people who had already explored them.

Every unnecessary journey would expose him to danger, and although he possessed powerful undead and abilities that ordinary awakeners could hardly imagine, he had no reason to make his search more difficult than necessary.

Besides, he had not come empty-handed.

Whoosh!

Thoren reached into his inventory, and a beautiful wine bottle appeared in his hand.

He placed it carefully on the stone table.

"It would be insensitive of me to ask for such crucial information without paying for it," Thoren said calmly.

His words immediately caught Draven and Rynna’s attention, causing their gazes to shift toward the bottle.

Before either of them could ask anything, Thoren brought out three exquisite wine glasses and arranged them neatly on the table.

For a moment, both Draven and Rynna stared at the objects without speaking and their expressions changed almost immediately.

The bottle was unlike anything they had seen inside Scarwind Camp.

Draven’s eyes narrowed and Rynna leaned forward slightly before catching herself and returning to her seat.

This was the third floor of the Abyss, a place where countless awakeners struggled to obtain food.

Yet Thoren had casually produced a wine bottle and three glasses that looked more exquisite than anything they had encountered since arriving on this floor.

Where had he obtained them?

How could someone who had only recently arrived at Scarwind Camp possess such things?

Several possibilities flashed through Draven’s mind, but none of them immediately provided a satisfactory answer.

Draven’s expression remained controlled, but his thoughts raced as he examined the bottle. Rynna was equally shocked.

She had initially assumed that Thoren was merely an unusual awakener who had managed to survive the dangers of the trenches, but the items he had just produced forced her to reconsider that assumption.

There was clearly more to him than she had realized.

Watching their reaction, a faint smile appeared at the corner of Thoren’s lips as he opened the bottle and poured the wine into the three glasses.

The liquid flowed smoothly into each glass, releasing a rich fragrance that spread throughout the chamber almost immediately.

The smell was entirely different from that of the Lonely Bloodmoon.

It was rich without being overpowering, carrying a delicate sweetness mixed with subtle fruity notes that seemed to awaken the senses.

Their attention became completely fixed on the wine.

Draven could no longer hide his curiosity.

’Fuck! Where did he get this?!’ he exclaimed inwardly.

He had tasted countless wines throughout his time in Scarwind Camp. However, the fragrance coming from the glass before him was already enough to make him question that belief.

He could not even imagine how the wine would taste.

Thoren finished pouring and gently placed the bottle on the table.

"Why don’t you have a taste and tell me what you think?"

Without waiting for either of them to respond, he picked up his wine glass and took a sip. His movement was so casual that it briefly left Draven and Rynna frozen in their seats.

They had expected Thoren to explain where he had obtained the wine, but instead, he had simply invited them to drink it as though it was the common thing to do.

And that made their curiosity burn even brighter.

Just from the fragrance alone, they already knew this was no ordinary wine, and the fact that Thoren appeared completely unconcerned about sharing it only made them more eager to discover its taste.

Draven finally reached out and picked up his glass.

He hesitated for a brief moment, examining the clear liquid as though he were afraid that drinking it too quickly would prevent him from appreciating its full flavor.

Then he took a deep breath and brought the glass toward his mouth. The moment the wine touched his tongue, Draven’s eyes widened.

A rich, delicate sweetness spread across his mouth, followed by a subtle fruity flavor that blended perfectly with the wine’s smooth texture. There was no harsh bitterness, no unpleasant metallic taste.

Instead, every sip felt smooth and refreshing, leaving behind a pleasant warmth that spread from his mouth down his throat.