Chapter 19: Reed Town

Reed Town looked like a bare-bones video-game village. It was nestled in a nature preserve, so it was almost possible to ignore the skyscrapers barely visible in the distance. There was a wooden wall made of vertical logs carved into spikes at the top, and a heavy gate swung open for our arrival.

On the inside, we could see makeshift ladders that would allow archers to fire out from inside the walls.

The village probably took up the area of a football field in all, with most of it being open space.

With a quick glance around, I could tell there wasn’t a Teleportation Circle.

There were small buildings that were probably homes, I could see a “Merchants’ Faction” sign, and a large common area that would feel like a town square, if there were more buildings around.

A few faces stared at us, and the mood of the town was immediately clear. The residents were sad, fearful, and exhausted.

“Welcome to Reed Town,” Ryker said with an apologetic smile. “Feel free to make yourselves at home. Raise your hand if you’re willing to fight, and we’ll talk as we patrol.”

I raised my hand, and so did another member of the group.

“Theo, take her to the armory. Let her pick what she wants. And you—Jarek, right? Do you need armor?”

“I’d like to stop by the Merchants’ Store,” I said, gesturing to the fluffy ball of moss in my arms.

“Feel free,” Ryker said, gesturing ahead.

I crossed the grassy town square, heading towards the Merchants’ Store. It was the nicest building in the town. Instead of roughly hewn logs, it was made of bricks. It had a well-lit window display, showing realistic illusions of health potions, an E-grade sword, and a class change book for an E-rank Ranger.

I opened the door, wiped my feet on an elegant doormat, and glanced around the room.

There was a long marble counter with about five blue crystals inset on the marble, similar to the ones in the auction earlier. Other than that, the room was almost completely empty--there were no shelves of equipment, or actual weapons on display.

“Hello?” I called out.

Samantha said.

Then aren’t they worried about vandalism? Theft?

Teleportation ward? I asked.

I did just that, choosing to wear my Magician’s Robes instead of the orc breastplate.

Compared to the auction, the Merchant’s store was pretty bare-bones. And the prices were far, far higher than the auction.

I nodded, still frustrated, and then clicked the Sell icon.

I put the Hyron Moss on the counter, and I immediately saw some new text appear in the information window.

Analyzing specimen. Hyron Moss Nucleus (E-rank live) identified.

Value: 750,000 coins.

Would you like to sell the Hyron Moss Nucleus? (Y/N).

Samantha said immediately. At first glance, of course, it seemed like a lot of money. It was more money than I’d ever made at the auction. But it wouldn’t be enough to buy a D-rank weapon, and from the way Samantha was talking, the Nucleus should be more valuable than most D-rank weapons.

Once I turned down the deal, more text appeared.

Please wait while we connect you with a merchant…

Just a few seconds later, a lifelike hologram appeared behind the counter.

“Hello! My name is Mrinda, welcome to the Merchants’ Faction Store in Reed Town,” Mrinda started saying immediately. Then he trailed off as he glanced at me. I saw a slight quiver in his wings. Excitement? Fear?

“Oh, I remember you. Jarek, right? You sold the Yanir Flowers. You had quite the insight with your purchases, earlier. How can I help you today?”

Mrinda’s eyes finally fell down towards the counter, and he jumped back, actually disappearing out of view in the hologram.

“Ah-excuse me,” he said, voice quivering slightly, as his image reappeared in my view. His eyes flickered back and forth, as if he was reading something.

“750,000 coins?” Mrinda spluttered. “750,000 coins?” He glanced at me again. “My apologies. Sometimes these automated systems think they can scam anyone in these new worlds… It’s a joke, dealing with someone like you…”

“There we go,” Mrinda continued. “I elevated your customer status to silver. The automated systems won’t dare mess with silver status customers. Now, about the Hyron Moss Nucleus. How does 7.5 million sound?”

Mrinda smiled at me, but I could tell from his clenched hands that he was really trying to maintain his composure.

There were some areas, I knew, that I could never beat Samantha in.

I shook my head at Mrinda. “7.5 million for the bane of Norworld? You know there’s another town not far from here. They have a store too.”

Mrinda’s eyes widened. “You might not know this, but here at the Merchants’ Faction, we also are information brokers. How do you know about Norworld? I don’t mean to pry, but did you find an Inheritance in the tutorial? If you tell me the Inheritance name, I’ll let you take your pick of the E-rank weapons in the shop.”

“I’m not here to sell information,” I said, flatly.

“Of course, of course,” Mrinda said. “20 million, but I can’t go any higher.”

“Raise my status to gold, and it’s a deal,” I shot back, after hearing Samantha’s advice.

“Gold customer status doesn’t fall from trees,” Mrinda started. I glared at him, and he continued, “But I’m sure you know that,” he added, sweating a little. “It’s a deal.”

With a slight hum, the Hyron Moss Nucleus disappeared from the counter, and I was 20 million coins wealthier.

“Can I interest you in any items in our shop?” Mrinda asked. I had the distinctive feeling that he was hoping I would say no.

Samantha said.

“It is my understanding that as a gold ranked customer of the Merchants’ Faction I can make one specific request a year,” I said, pausing to watch Mrinda’s nod. He seemed somewhat concerned. “I would like to commission a Luck Attribute Power-Up,” I said. “I’ll leave you ten million coins as the down payment.”

Mrinda blanched visibly. “Luck Attribute Power-Ups are incredibly rare, and they immediately get snatched up by elites. If you are hoping to unlock a new stat, I would recommend Perception—it’s more affordable, and—“

“My mind is made up. What is the total estimated cost?”

“40 million coins,” Mrinda said. “For a +1 power-up.”

Samantha cut in, before I could immediately try to barter it down.

They won’t rip me off too much? A world-ending threat gets me 20 million, and one stat boost costs 40 million?

Samantha said.

“I’ll have the money in a week,” I said, following Samantha’s directions. How am I going to get 20 million coins in a week?

I nearly choked hearing Samantha’s response. How do you just figure out how to get 20 million coins? And that’s on top of whatever we need to get a teleportation portal up and running.

Before leaving the store, I ended up buying an assortment of E-rank tools, materials, and one blueprint:

Rune Master’s Knife (E-rank): +2 Dexterity; +2 Mana Regeneration per minute

Rune Master’s Ring (E-rank): +2 Dexterity; +2 Mana Regeneration per minute

Explosion Rune Pattern Blueprint (E-rank): Necessary to complete an Explosion Rune Pattern (E-rank). Causes an intense explosion. Single use.

Igneal Ingot (E-rank) x10: An ingot of Igneal ore.

Not long after, I joined Ryker on his patrols along the outer perimeter of Reed Town. Most of the wolves immediately backed away from Ryker as we walked around the perimeter of the wall.

“Do you see the problem?” Ryker asked, gesturing around. “The wolves run from me, and hound everybody else. I tried leaving the village once, to find the wolves’ den, but I had to come back because they started swarming the town—digging under the walls, gnawing holes in the wall, and so on. They haven’t given me a moment’s rest since I founded this place.

“Clark says you’re strong. Says you took down two level 20 giant voles in a matter of seconds. Sounds to me like if you stay here, I can destroy their den, solve the root of the problem.”

I frowned, not even needing Samantha to tell me no. “How about the other way around. Tell me where their den is, and I’ll deal with it. No, let me take Clark and Theo. We’ll take it on together.”

Ryker grunted. “If that’s what you want, then go for it.”

Name:

Jarek

Level:

18

HP:

28/28

Physical Defense:

16 (+2)

Strength:

20 (+2)

Mental Power:

11

Dexterity:

10 (+4)

Agility:

10 (+4)

Perception:

20

Mana Pool:

41

Mana Regeneration:

20 (+6)

Available Points:

0

Coins:

7,500,150,

Class:

Mana Modulator (D-rank)

Profession:

Rune Master

(E-rank)

Titles:

Skills and Spells:

Identify (E-rank)

Mana Modulation (D-rank Core)

Death’s Defier (A-rank)

Mana Sensing (E-rank)

Affinities:

Internal Mana (D-rank Low), External Unattributed Mana (E-rank Low)

Equipment:

Rune Master’s Knife (E-rank): +2 Dexterity; +2 Mana Regen.

Rune Master’s Ring (E-rank): +2 Dexterity; +2 Mana Regen.

Orc Helmet (F-rank): +2 Physical Defense

Magician’s Robes (F-rank): +2 Mana Regen.

Orc Boots (F-rank): +2 Agility

Orlan Blade (E-rank): +2 Strength, +2 Agility

Interdimensional Pouch (E-rank):