The Free Trade City of Aquarius, In the Streets of Aquarius

1st Year of God, Wednesday, 4th Week, Month Of Noah.

The Free Trade city of Aquarius has been widely seen by most as the crown jewel of the surrounding kingdoms. A vibrant hub where merchants and people from different regions and races gather. The city was a place with great cultural diversity, where it was commonplace to see residents indulging in cuisine and fashion from every corner of the continent.

It had everything: multiple bustling industries, a huge social and party life and simply the greatest place to live... if, of course, you looked away from the near weekly bullshit brought on by some of its more eccentric residents.

Anyways, that was all good, life as short as it is was amazing there. A person could smile with glee looking over the towering famous towers of the city's largest Merchants in various parts of the city, standing tall and proud, especially when overlooking the bustling nightlife that never seemed to sleep.

Decades ago when a large Sea Monster tide and multiple Orc Pirate raids happened, almost half the economy went to metaphorical hell.

Many businesses and enterprises suffered and as a consequence the average joe and Jane fell into financial insecurity. One of these businesses/enterprises has suffered greatly and the heads of it have finally made the adult decision to begin business stuff, which starts today in a tall building overlooking one of the main streets of the city.

Walking through the busy streets in the evening as the lights in lamp posts and buildings that shine the streets of the city, giving it a majestic atmosphere, a group of seven men made their way through hundreds of civilians in the crowded streets, weaving among the throngs of market-goers.

Having secured the help of Polities' friend, they had sailed to Aquarius aboard one of his merchant ships. Though the journey had taken several hours, they arrived sooner than expected.

Repaying Arther wasn't difficult as.they handed him a large sack of monster cores from the countless Sea Monsters that the Austronesian Liberation Navy had constantly killed in their waters.

Once they stepped onto the streets of Aquarius, Riley and the others were captivated by the city's splendor.

The city was truly more beautiful with high-rise buildings, far more impressive than the primitive structures of Hollowfall. It could almost rival their modern cities, though it lacked the same technological sophistication.

The group of Special Operatives spotted several enormous towers in the distance, their colossal heights seeming to touch the sky. Even from miles away, the grandeur of these structures was unmistakable.

"Do you like what you see?" Polities asked with a smile.

"I like it. It's beautiful, I’ll say," Price replied.

"Indeed. So, where are we headed?" Woods inquired.

"To the residence, it's just up ahead," Polities responded.

As they conversed, Riley gazed around like a wide-eyed tourist, marveling at the towering buildings with designs he'd never seen on Earth. The others, however, were less impressed, having witnessed even more magnificent sights in cities like the capital city of the People’s State of Xinhua such as Beijing, or another of its major city like Hong Kong, or in the richest country in the Middle East like Dubai. Despite this, they acknowledged that Aquarius held its own unique charm.

As they moved deeper into the city, the group passed by hundreds of bakeries, pubs, and entertainment venues offering a vast array of culinary delights. For those seeking more than just food, there were parks, dance halls, and numerous other recreational spots.

"Not bad," Tavish commented.

Watching the throngs of people bustling between shops, Tavish felt his heart race at the sight of the extensive number of goods glittering under the streetlights. Each item seemed more tempting than the last.

As they continued walking through the streets, the group stumbled upon the city's plaza, and they couldn’t deny it, it was fucking lovely to see.

The cobblestone streets were alive with activity as a stream of Carriages carrying a large piece of luggage rolled past, bustling street stalls offered a myriad of goods, blacksmiths hammered away with vigor, and beautiful women attracted customers to their shops.

"...Not gonna lie, this place is something to behold," Mason remarked as his eyes wide with admiration.

Belinski nodded in agreement. "Yeah, it kind of reminds me of my old home decades ago."

Just then, a beautiful figure caught Belinski’s eye. A beautiful girl of another race, with porcelain-white skin and a bob of golden hair, moved gracefully through the crowd. Her lower body, however, was that of a horse.

She was a tall and beautiful centaur.

"This is truly another world," he mumbled, more to himself than to anyone else.

After spending a few moments marveling at their surroundings like country bumpkins, the group decided it was time to find their lodging.

"Hey, guys, check this out!" Woods called out excitedly as he went through each stall one by one.

"Woods, remember, we're not here to shop. We're just passing through to find a place to stay," Price reminded him with a mix of boredom and mild exasperation in his tone as he glanced around the bustling streets.

Arriving at one stall, Woods paused, captivated by a slim necklace adorned with a purple stone. The rest of the group joined him, peering at the necklace before turning to the stall's board to read the information displayed.

==================================

Name : Necklace of Tranquility

Grade: Grade 9 (Level 1)

Description: Allows wearers to have better sleep.

===================================

'This could indeed be useful for an overworked salaryman,' Riley thought to himself.

"Hello, how may I help you?" Woods asked, catching the attention of the stall owner, a man with long black hair that hide his eyes.

"How much is this?" Woods inquired, pointing at the necklace.

The stall owner paused for a moment before replying, "That necklace? 12 gold."

"..."

Woods exchanged a glance with the group and tilted his head slightly. Understanding his silent message, they all moved on to the next stall.

As they walked away, the stall owner called after them, "Um, hey, you want to buy this, right?"

"That's obviously a scam!" Woods shouted back, insulting the man.

"12 gold coins, my ass," Belinski muttered under his breath.

"Talk about daylight robbery," Riley added. "Even if the effect is kinda good, there’s no way in hell that a fuckin’ Level 1 artifact is worth that much!"

Polities couldn’t help but chuckle sheepishly at their outburst. ‘They don’t realize that even cheaper magic artifacts go for at least 10 gold coins.’

Trying to put the unpleasant encounter behind them, the group continued toward their destination.

As they walked, Riley's attention was caught by a few intriguing items displayed at nearby stalls. His curiosity piqued, he narrowed his eyes to get a closer look and read the descriptions.

One item that stood out was a slim straight blade, adorned with intricate black patterns etched deeply into the steel. Although he couldn’t gauge its sharpness just by looking, Riley guessed it was crafted from high-quality steel, exuding an aura of incredible sharpness, as if it could slice through anything.

===================================

Name: Silver Edge

Grade: Grade 7 (Level 6 to Level 7)

Description: An extremely sharp sword that can easily cut through metal.

Cost: 59 Gold

===================================

'Such a fine sword,” Riley thought, “Expensive but still good. But nah, I'm more of a gun person.'

At the next stall, he noticed a variety of rings, bags, and pouches on display. Though it appeared to be a simple shop, something about it made him feel there is more to it, so he decided to read one of the informational boards.

===================================

Name: Storage Bracelet

Class: Grade 8 (Level 3)

Description: A common Item that stores items inside of a pocket dimension. Being a low-level Item, the inside ranges over 1 cubic meter.

Cost: 20 Gold Coin

===================================

‘Dear god! Spatial technology? These items seem more advanced than anything we have. The old nerds in the Science Department would envy whoever made these.’

While the items were impressive, Riley and his team already had their own dimensional storage, thanks to Polities, who possessed a skill that allowed him to store items in a small pocket dimension.

'Items messing up the laws of space and time… I wonder if there have been any catastrophic incidents because of it. But the real question is, how the fuck did they manage to make it?'

Finally, Riley and the team decided to ignore the markets and the intriguing items around them, focusing instead on finding an inn or a rented home.

When they arrived at their destination, they were greeted by a bustling, overcrowded building. Hawkers were selling their wares, and people were shouting all around. The group pushed forward, and after asking for directions, they were pointed toward a line.

Eventually, a clerk-like woman attended to them.

"Good morning, we’re looking for a place to stay," Riley said.

The woman nodded. She observed the group carefully and saw that their clothes and outfits seemed very strange. Quickly, she judged them to be some commoners, and another feeling is... other words, people with money.

"Of course, what kind of place do you need?" She asked eucharistically.

Riley considered her question. His first idea was to find a simple inn, but after a moment's reflection, he decided to ask for something better. They needed a place with at least seven rooms, a bath, a kitchen, and a courtyard for other purposes.

The clerk’s eyes lit up at his request. Only expensive properties had large courtyards, and expensive meant a higher commission for her. Perhaps she misjudged them after all.

"I understand. Let me check our archives to see if we have something that meets your needs," she said, rummaging through a large stack of papers before finally pulling out two options.

"These are the only places in the city that match your requirements. What do you think?"

Without much deliberation, the group chose one of the options, planning to stay for just a month.

But when the clerk heard they were only interested in renting for a month, her expression dimmed.

"One month?" she repeated.

Riley nodded. "Yes, we won't be staying in the city for long."

The clerk shook her head apologetically. "I'm sorry, young man, but our policy requires a minimum rental period of two months."

Riley furrowed his brows as he glanced at the price and fell silent.

It was very expensive.

Although money wasn’t an issue, they had secured a substantial amount from the Black Griffon’s nest and their own resources from Austronesia, the cost was still significant. Riley sighed, ready to concede and pay for two months, when Polities stepped forward.

He whispered something to the clerk while discreetly showing her a small card.

The moment she saw the card, the clerk's demeanor shifted. Her expression became nervous, and she quickly nodded.

"My apologies, sirs. I believe I have the perfect place for you, and the owner has agreed to rent it for just one month."

———————————————————————

Before long, they found a large house nestled among the streets.



It was a beautiful property, boasting a multitude of rooms, a kitchen, an underground hot spring, and a vast courtyard, far exceeding their expectations.

"You won't regret this choice," the clerk assured them, handing Riley a contract. Riley carefully reviewed it to make sure everything was in order, then signed his name.

Afterwards, he paid hundreds of gold coins in advance, as stipulated in the contract, with the remaining balance due upon their departure.

Once the clerk left the house, Riley turned to Polities. "So, what did you tell her?"

Polities shrugged. "Oh, I just mentioned that I have connections with the boss of the North Star Company. Arther's company also deals with inns and rental properties."

"I see," Riley replied.

Polities then asked, "But gotta ask, why did you choose this house?"

Riley shrugged. "Why not? This place is perfect for us,.it's good, cheap, and has everything we need. Plus, it's been a long time since I had a proper hot bath. But we should still stay on our guard."

Everyone nodded in agreement, knowing they couldn’t afford to let their guard down, no matter the comfort.

Even though they were well-armed with guns and supported by a powerful ally who is an Illusion and Spatial Magic User, Melian, the Elf Queen herself, had warned them that there were nearly a dozen individuals in this city who were at the Transcendent Tier 1 level. This made Aquarius far more dangerous than any other place in the Third Civilization Zone, as the city had the presence of such powerhouses that even conventional weapons were almost useless against.

Causing any chaos here would be nothing short of suicide.

After nearly an hour of settling in and unpacking their gear, Mason had something in mind.

"I'm going to buy something at the market. Anyone want to come?"

"Nah, you go ahead," the others responded.

As Mason left, Riley muttered under his breath, "Hope everything won't go bad," and began pulling several objects from his inventory.

He pulled out a set of surveillance drones, planning to deploy five of them to monitor their surroundings, just in case.

———————————————————————

Another hour had passed, and while Team Epsilon attended to their own tasks in different rooms, Mason returned to the rental home. Riley sat him down and made him explain more about the details of his expeditions into the city and what he had learned.

This included the economic state of the city, the transportation networks, and the distribution of goods to other nations. They also discussed the prices of various items in depth.

Much of this information was new to the group, even though they had endured hours of lectures from the elves. Mason's findings were far more detailed than anything they'd heard before.

In addition to his observations, Mason had also sold one of their sacks of Monster Cores, the spoils from the Liberation Navy’s slaughter of nearly a million Sea Monsters during the New Year Tragedy. With the proceeds, he had purchased a magic artifact like a necklace that granted invisibility.

What made it special for him is that it doesn't require Mana to activate it.

However, as Riley processed this information, a sense of doubt crept in. Something didn't sit right with him.

"The Monster Cores sold for 2 Gold Pieces each," Mason explained. "But that's because they were Grade 6 Cores. Lower grades fetch less."

Riley recalled what Polities had told him about the pricing of Monster Cores and Magical Artifacts. They were categorized into nine grades based on their worth, with Grade 9 being the lowest and Grade 1 the highest. Grade 6 Cores came from Level 7 to 9 monsters, making them reasonably valuable.

"Two Gold Coins, huh…?" Riley muttered.

One of the first things Riley had asked Polities during their time in the nuclear submarine and in Hollowfall was about the currency and economics of this new world that his Motherland had found itself in.

In this world, transactions were made using coins from Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum.

A single Bronze Coin was enough to buy a low-budget meal. Two or three would get you something nicer, and five would leave you with a full belly, at least for the average person.

As a result, an average man spent about 10 Bronze Coins to survive a day. This was, of course, not accounting for accommodation and other similarly important factors.

100 Bronze Coins translated into a Silver Coin, which was roughly the average weekly wage of a working adult in this world.

100 Silver Coins equaled 1 Gold Coin.

With a Gold Coin, you could rent a good house for a year. Rarer did commoners get to use Gold Coins, so it was reserved for merchants and high-class individuals in society.

As for the Platinum Coins, they were only used by the wealthiest Merchants, Nobles, and Royals.

100 Gold Coins translated to 1 Platinum Coin, and with just one of it, one could build a house, buy prime land, or engage in top-end business.

A single Platinum Coin could make an average man set for life.

"Two Gold Coins seems like a lot," Riley remarked.

"Seems? It is a lot!" Mason shot back.

"You sold an entire sack of Monster Cores we brought, right? There were a few hundred in that sack. That should translate to about 600 Gold Coins."

"Yeah. It totaled up to 680, actually."

That was 6 Platinum Coins and 80 Gold.

"And how much did you pay for that magical necklace?" Rey asked with narrowed eyes.

"About… 180 Gold Coins…"

That meant he had 5 Platinum Coins left.

Riley leaned in, “Do you remember what the elf said about making magical artifacts? They mostly require monsters, especially their cores.”

"Y-Yeah, I remember," Mason replied, though his stuttering suggested he didn’t fully understand the process.

"For example, the necklace you bought likely uses a Monster Core from a magic beast who relies on Invisibility. The Core will be converted into the essence of the necklace, while being powered by a Mana Crystal to activate its effect."

Other materials like Adamantite, known for its excellent Mana conductivity, would also be involved.

"The point I'm making is that Monster Cores are very essential in crafting magical artifacts. So it doesn’t make sense that the Monster Core of a Level 9 Magic Beast would only be valued at 2 Gold Coins, given its rarity."

When considering the transportation cost necessary to bring Grade 6 Cores from distant regions which had them, and the other conditions of commerce, such as time and certainty, it was clear that whoever had a direct source of Grade 6 Monster Core straight from the kingdoms, was encountering a sweet deal.

Such a merchant could either resell the Cores for a much higher price or manufacture magical artifacts at a lower cost.

No matter how you look at it, they would have a significant advantage.

"That’s why the Cores should have been more expensive…"

Mason’s brow furrowed in genuine curiosity. "So, what are you saying exactly?"

Riley sighed. "Obviously, you’ve been scammed."

———————————————————————

'Mason was a sharp and professional guy, but sometimes I forget he's shit at currencies and economics…'

Right now, Riley was walking down the city street with Mason and Polities for some help, and he could sense the awkwardness in the air around Mason.

'I guess that's why they were able to take advantage of him so easily…' Riley thought, a reminder of why he had committed to studying this world very thoroughly before deciding to interact with its denizens.

Mason had jumped the gun, and as a result, he had ended up being scammed.

'I'll have to make sure the same thing doesn't happen again…' Riley resolved, which was precisely why he had brought Polities along to begin with.

Right now, Riley was currently wearing clothing that they considered to be a more fitting disguise compared to the two.

At the same time, he also wore a black mask he had designed during his time aboard the nuclear submarine.

It was crafted from Orichalcum, and it fit his face perfectly. He had done this little side project to pass time, so he hadn't expected it to play such an important role now, because Polities stated that it perfectly concealed an individual's Mana, making people mistaken for his power to be hidden by the mask.

That is unless it is a stronger individual or someone possessing a Magic Artifact that could bypass the disguise.

Anyways, besides all that, his cloak was raven black, obtained by sewing a dark robe he acquired in Hollowfall, combined with the fur of the Black Griffon they had killed in the cave earlier.

He had learned a lot of commonplace and handwork techniques from studying, so it wasn't very hard to do these things.

"Is that very comfortable?" Polities asked, stealing a glance at Riley.

His face was currently obscured with his mask, so it was pretty much impossible to tell what kind of expression he was making.

“Not really…” Riley responded to the question.

The Black Griffon’s fur was very bristly, and they also didn't smell nice now that he was a little sweaty.

"But it's better than wearing those noble clothes. They always look gay to me."

Once Polities heard this, he instantly regretted asking his question.

"Touché…" He whispered.

After walking together for a short while, Riley couldn't take the silence anymore. He glanced at Mason, who was now completely silent, and gave a short sigh.

"We should probably head to a store for a change of clothes first."

Mason nodded immediately with relief evident in his eyes.

The streets of Aquarius were bustling with people, but Riley quickly spotted a high-end clothing store nestled within a sleek building. It looked like the kind of place where only the wealthy shopped, and judging by the affluent patrons going in and out, Riley's instincts were correct.

The streets in Aquarius were awfully crowded, but Riley quickly spotted a high-end clothing store nestled within a sleek building. It looked like the kind of place where only the wealthy shopped, and judging by the affluent patrons going in and out, Riley's instincts were correct.

'We need to look very presentable for the people we're going to meet…'

With no other options in sight and knowing the importance of appearances, Riley chose the shop. As they entered, he was slightly underwhelmed. The store didn’t hold a candle to its counterparts on Earth. It had a certain charm, but it lacked the opulent ambiance and extravagant displays he was used to from back home.

'I never visited high-end places in Austronesia, but even the regular stores there were better than this place.'

He couldn't fault the people here, though. Comparing this world to Earth was inherently unfair.

They were soon greeted by an attendant who guided them through the store and answered their questions with practiced politeness. Thankfully, no one asked them to remove their masks.

'They must be used to serving anonymous customers…'

"I’ve got Platinum Coins, so show me the good stuff," Riley blurted out bluntly, tired of the mediocre items they’d been shown so far.

"A-ah! Right away, sir!" The attendant stammered before leading them upstairs to the true VIP section.

In this place, all items began with 1 Platinum Coin. Not only was it much better designed than the ground floor, each was meticulously packaged and clearly of higher quality.

"You two, find yourselves good-looking clothing," Riley instructed Mason and Polities. "Nothing over two Platinum Coins."

For Riley, he planned on restricting himself to the same budget.

…That was until he actually began shopping.

——————————————————

'Damnit! I wish I had more money!'

He had seen so many luxuries in the short moment of shopping that he felt downright broke despite having what many would consider a lot of money

In the end, he selected a fur-coat for 1 Platinum Coin. It was specially enchanted to regulate the wearer's temperature, keeping him comfortable regardless of the weather, no more worrying about sweating through his clothes. He also picked up a stylish set consisting of a shirt, trousers, and boots, all for one Platinum Coin. The set’s convenience was a bonus he appreciated.

Finally, he got himself a ring worth one Platinum coin.

However, it has a special effect of possessing a Storage Unit, or a small pocket dimension, he was initially hesitant to get it, because they already had Polities as their storage guy for stashing many of their weapons, but after considering how luxurious it looked, he decided to buy it. Though they already had Polities for such tasks, the added utility made it a worthwhile investment.

‘Apparently, all the rich people have something like this,’ Riley mused. Since he needed to look at the part, he made the purchase.

By the time Riley reached the checkout desk, Mason and Polities were already waiting for him. Per his instructions, they had each selected a new outfit. Mason had chosen a raven-black hooded robe, which had an enchantment imbued to make him appear larger and more intimidating than usual, while Polities simply wear a pair of new glasses.

They’d cost two Platinum Coins for some reason, but Riley considered it a good investment.

"Alright. Looks like we’re all set."

After paying, the three of them left the store and continued on their way.

"Come again next time!" called the attendant as they exited.

“Oh, we're definitely coming back!” Riley responded. There were a couple of other items he’d had his eye on, but they were well beyond his current budget. Once he saved up enough, nothing would stop him from returning.

——————————————————

"This is the place."

After a few minutes of walking, a towering building came into view, one of the largest structures in the city.

Of course, it wasn’t just tall, dozens of stories high, but also impressively wide. It was clear that a lot of activities went on in this building, and it exuded an air of intimidation, not a place for the faint of heart.

"You actually did business here?!" Riley exclaimed, feeling suprised. Even Polities was shocked that Mason had the nerve to set foot in such an imposing establishment.

This is no mere company they were looking at, this is a fucking corporation.

"Well, I did mention that I was approached by an affiliate who brought me here," Mason explained, trying to justify himself.

"Well… That's true," Polities added, recalling the story.

According to Mason, he had initially been looking for a place to sell the Monster Cores when a man approached him, offering to help with the sale. The man took him to this establishment and guided him through the process.

'That's most likely the one who was involved in the scam…' Riley thought.

The company must have dealt directly with the so-called Affiliate, who in turn dealt with Mason. He probably pretended to be the seller and got to bargain with the real buyers. By negotiating a higher price and passing on a lower one to Mason, the affiliate pocketed the difference.

'That's how those sorts of people make their money.'

"Shouldn't we be looking for the guy, then?" Polities asked Riley as he seemed to have the same thought as he is.

"Nah, there's no point. People like that are slippery. It would just be a waste of time."

"You've got a point. Would've been easier if I tagged along with my other friend in your home country."

“We only had about fifty elf allies, including your Elf Queen. Most of them were incredibly busy helping the government, so I doubt he or she could have helped.”

“Yeah…”

"Now that we know exactly what we’re dealing with, we can make a more informed decision."

The fact that no "affiliate" had approached them yet confirmed Riley’s suspicion. "We look dangerous and capable, so they won’t even dare."

Mason must have seemed like easy prey to the man who duped him due to how uncertain and out of place he appeared.

"Well, the past is in the past. Let's go."

Riley took the first step toward the building, with the others trailing behind. As they entered, they couldn’t help but gape at the grandiosity of the interior.

"Why are you gawking? You've been here before, haven't you?" Riley asked Mason.

"Well… not really…" Mason admitted, sheepishly.

Once again, Riley was told something that Mason conveniently left out when he was explaining himself.

Riley's eyes narrowed. "What?! You waited outside and let the affiliate handle everything for you?"

"He seemed reliable! And I was intimidated by the place! In hindsight, I know it was a mistake, but back then…!" Mason stammered, trying his best to justify his actions.

But all Riley saw were excuses. Pathetic excuses.

‘My guy really got played…’ Riley thought, suppressing a sigh.

In any case, the main store was enormous, filled with an array of Magic Artifacts. It didn’t take long for Riley to deduce that Mason had likely purchased his Invisible Necklace here.

He didn’t even want to ask if his friend had relied on the “affiliate” to get it for him, because the answer was obvious.

‘That guy probably lied about the price too,’ Riley thought bitterly.

As he walked further into the store, Riley muttered, "The past is in the past," trying to let go of his frustration. He quickly approached the counter, while glancing all across the room to study it thoroughly. The place was efficiently run, with tons of cashiers ensuring no one had to wait in line.

Once at the counter, Riley placed a hand on it and leaned forward slightly, adopting a more intimidating stance.

"I'm here to… sell some products." He said in a straightforward fashion. His voice was deep, and his eyes glowed behind the black Orichalcum mask.

"I see. Please proceed to the far end of the counter and speak to the person there," the woman behind the counter responded with such a dull monotone voice that Riley was convinced his intimidation did not work at all.

‘Oof! That’s a little embarrassing…’ Riley thought, realizing his efforts had fallen flat. The employees here had likely seen all sorts of customers, some good, some bad, some ugly, some far worse over the course of business, so they probably weren't intimidated by Riley's mild efforts as it didn’t register as a threat.

Besides, it probably wasn't the wisest thing to stir up conflict in such a high-key establishment like this.

Riley could see his blunder instantly and awkwardly left the counter to proceed according to the instructions he received.

"I want to sell some items. It's very lucrative, so I'd like to discuss with a higher-up if possible—"

"Please state the type of sale. Wholesale or retail?" the man behind the next counter interrupted. He wore glasses and was busy writing some things down, most likely the details related to Riley’s request.

"Wholesale," Riley responded, trying to stay composed.

"Please note that wholesale begins at over a thousand pieces. There's bulk retail if that's what you are—"

"I know what wholesale means. Don’t insult my intelligence any further," Riley snapped, his eyes glowing with frustration behind the mask.

"I-I apologize," the man stammered.

Riley understood that the clerk was just following procedure, but after a day of seeking an opportunity to assert dominance, this felt like the perfect moment, and it actually worked.

‘Whew! Looks like I'm not the one getting the short end of the stick this time.’

"What kind of items are you selling? Raw materials or finished products?" the man asked, regaining his composure.

"Raw materials."

"Could you specify the—"

"Monster Cores."

"Could you name the Gra—"

"As I mentioned earlier, I'd prefer to speak with a higher-up." Riley cut him off, folding his arms to signal that he wasn’t willing to answer any more questions.

"This is just due procedure. Please answer the questions you’re asked."

“Nah! I don't think so…”

In sales, there was something called bargaining power, which is everything. The one with more leverage set the terms, determined the price, and ultimately reaped the most benefits.

If Riley continued answering these questions, he knew he’d lose whatever bargaining power he had. Therefore, in order to be relevant, Riley had to properly exert his importance.

'I don't want to get duped too.'

Riley took a deep breath. He hadn’t been involved in many sales negotiations before, but that wouldn’t stop him from doing his best now. There were a bunch of things he hadn't done before, and he managed to scale through them on the first try.

'Fighting demons and monsters is a good example…'

Right now, he was treading on a fine line.

'I have to be careful.'

"The grade is considerably high, and since this is a wholesale transaction, you should know that I have over a thousand pieces," Riley finally spoke. His voice was clear, and his tone was confident.

"I am well aware, but—"

"I am also well aware… of your procedures. However, I have my own. And mine involve dealing with a higher-up for business of this scale." Riley could already see anxiety creeping into the man’s expression. He just needed to keep pushing. "We’re talking about goods worth hundreds, if not thousands, of Platinum Coins. Are you really qualified to handle such a trade? Will you take full responsibility if anything goes wrong?"

"S-sir, I’m just doing my job…" the man protested weakly.

‘I know, man. I know.’

In all honesty, Riley felt a twinge of guilt for putting the clerk through this, but so what? He was sure that if he showed even the slightest hint of weakness, they would take advantage of him without hesitation.

It was a dog-eat-dog world, even in business. Riley had to strike first before they had a chance to do the same to him. Otherwise, he’d be devoured before he even realized what was happening.

"I'm only stating facts. I can't compel you to bypass these procedures for me. You’re well within your rights to refuse..." Riley could see the hesitance in the man's eyes.

‘Of course, he won’t! He can't afford to drive me away and allow me to fall into the hands of a competitor,’ Riley thought, drawing closer to the man. He leaned in, his voice dropping to a whisper meant for the clerk's ears alone and the two of them could possibly hear.

"Thousands of Platinum Coins... Can you handle such a loss? You'll be responsible for all of this, right?"

With a wide smile on his face, Riley watched as the man began to tremble.

‘Gotcha!’

Riley knew a company of this magnitude would have special arrangements for customers who were exceptions. Outliers would not be subjected to the standard procedure that everyone went through. Riley recognized this and desperately desired to be among the exceptions.

That was because they had the bargaining power.

"I-I understand..." the man stammered.

"Good." Riley straightened up, resuming his earlier posture as he waited for the clerk's decision.

"Please give me a moment." The man hastily scribbled a few notes on a piece of paper, then raised it from the desk. "I'll call someone to attend to you properly and inform them of the details you have given."

"Good." Riley would be lying if he said his heart wasn't racing.

'I'm not going to get in trouble, right?'

He'd heard plenty of unsavory stories about the business world, deals gone wrong, betrayals, even deaths.

‘Fuck me. Why did High Command had to send us normal humans to a fucking world filled with continent-busting superhumans and monsters? I am not getting paid enough for this,’ Riley thought grimly.

For weeks, he’d wrestled with doubts about this mission, uncertain if he could pull it off. But now, there was no turning back. He had to maintain his stoic front, no matter what.

‘I had to do this. I had to go this far,’ he reminded himself.

The clerk tore the paper from his pad, and it quickly dissipated into the air.

‘A Magic Artifact, huh?’ Riley noted, realizing the information written within was most likely been relayed to whoever was coming to meet him.

"Please go upstairs. You may enter the first room to your right. Someone will come and attend to you."

Riley smiled. "Good." He nodded, and he and his companions proceeded as instructed, leaving the dazed clerk behind, visibly relieved.

'And that's how you do business!'

——————————————————

The room where Riley, Mason, and Polities were directed was elegantly appointed. The walls were painted a pristine white, with tons of colorful murals that added a touch of artistry to the space. A modest chandelier hung from the ceiling, casting a warm, inviting glow over the room, while plush sofas arranged in a 'U' shape beckoned them to sit. At the center of this arrangement stood a sturdy desk, commanding attention

"You two, stand," Riley ordered, dropping into one of the chairs with an air of authority.

"What for?" Mason asked with a frown.

"That's your punishment for wasting our Monster Cores and getting scammed," Riley replied sharply.

"And me?" Polities inquired.

"For being annoying and racist."

"...Fair enough," Polities conceded.

Mason glanced around the room, trying to shake off the unease. "This place looks nice. It’s designed to make customers comfortable, but also to intimidate them," he observed.

He wasn’t wrong. The opulent surroundings were clearly meant to told the establishment’s incredible wealth, subtly reminding visitors of their place. For anyone who wasn’t confident in their standing, the room would be more suffocating than inviting.

‘Not us, though…’ Riley thought, his mind briefly drifting to the treasure trove of Monster Cores they had, and a smug smile instantly coursed through his lips. With so much potential money in his grasp, there was no way he wasn't about to be frightened by luxury.

‘Heh... we’ve got this,’ he mused.

Not very long after they arrived in the room and made themselves comfortable, the door slowly creaked open and a man stepped in, his smooth brown hair neatly styled, and his formal attire, a waistcoat and all, complementing the professionalism he represented.

However, what caught Riley and the others off guard were the two large tusks protruding from the corners of his mouth.

It's an Orc.

But not just any Orc. This one defied the stereotypes Riley had come to associate with the species. Mostly they were supposed to be green, big, dumb, aggressive, weird British accent, and INCREDIBLY violent. But this one before them was refined, almost human in his appearance, and radiated intelligence. If anything, he looked like he could engineer a rocket, not swing a club.

‘Probably a Half-Orc,’ Riley speculated, ‘Caused by whatever weird magical evolution of this world. But what about humans? It is stated that they lived in this world long before the Orcs even appeared, and yet they hadn't changed one bit while these Greenskins grow literal dicks just to rape people.’

Anyways, aside from all that, the Half-Orc, outfitted with a number of expensive-looking Magic Artifacts, exuded a level of sophistication that made even Riley’s expensive Platinum Coin attire seem modest in comparison.

Frankly speaking, the earlier skepticism from the clerk now made perfect sense, there were levels to wealth in this world, and Riley was just beginning to understand how deep the rabbit hole went.

And right now, Riley was at the bottom of the food chain.

"Good evening, gentlemen," the Half-Human and Half-Orc said with a smooth and confident voice. "My name is Elon Tusk."