Nightmare Realm Summoner

“A game?” The shark-like man asked, tilting his head to the side without letting his gaze ever break away from Aaron’s. “Why would I have any interest in something like that? We are not here to play.”

“Everyone is playing,” Aaron replied. He was all too aware of the bids continuing in the background. The price on the Blueprints had once again risen and was 40,000 Credits. But he couldn’t let the stress show in his features. Revealing just how close they were to running out of funds would ruin any chances of bargaining. “The only difference is if you choose to play or not. And you seem to have an interest in energy sources.”

The shark-like man blinked lazily, his eyes moving individually a few moments after one another rather than in synchrony. “And?”

“You bought multiple Riftwarped Cores,” Aaron said. “Something tells me you didn’t quite get all the ones you wanted to. There really weren’t all that many on auction, and you were still bidding even when the last one went up for sale.”

“I have no interest in random scraps that people try to pass off as valuable,” the other man said. His lips pulled farther back. It was impossible to tell if he was grinning or snarling. “Unless you have something of real value, I am not interested.”

In turn, Aaron tossed the man his Spatial Ring.

“Look in that,” Aaron said casually, as if he’d just handed over a potato. “Then tell me what we have isn’t valuable.”

A faint hint of surprise washed across the man’s face as he caught the ring. He glanced down at it. Then he was silent for a moment. Behind them, the bids continued. The price ground up to 41,000 Credits. A droplet of sweat rolled down the back of Aaron’s neck.

4,000 Credit leeway.

“You were the ones selling the cores,” the man said. His gaze lifted back to Aaron. “You have this many?”

“What does it look like?” Aaron arched an eyebrow.

“And you were stupid enough to just throw them to me? I could claim that this was a gift.” The shark-like man rolled the ring between his fingers. “I would have a good argument for it as well. Nobody just tosses something valuable like it’s trash.”

Aaron laughed. “If you want to play that way, then feel free. There aren’t any rules in the game. But don’t think you’re going to get any more. Because if you think we’re stupid enough to put all our best stuff into a single ring, I’m wasting my time here.”

There was a short pause.

Then the other man threw the ring back to him. Aaron snagged it from the air. A flicker of relief passed through him, but he kept it from making it anywhere into his body language.

“Well said. We don’t have to pretend like I’m not interested.” The sharklike man extended a hand. “My name is Bruce. Calling business a game is an interesting approach. But I cannot claim that I entirely disagree. So let us play.”

Aaron almost laughed. Cracks raced through his composure as he used everything he had to keep himself focused.

Bruce? Seriously? You wouldn’t happen to be looking for Nemo, would you?

“Aaron.” He clasped Bruce’s hand. Behind them, the auction continued, and the price reached 42,000 Credits. It had slowed ever so slightly. Slowed, but not nearly enough.

“What are you looking for? And how much more of these do you have?” Bruce asked, nodding to the ring. “I am not without funds.”

“We have as many as you need,” Aaron replied simply. “There’s no limit. Whatever you can afford, we can get you.”

Bruce’s eyes narrowed. “You’re bluffing.”

“Why would I?” Aaron asked. He shook his head. “No bluff here. No need to. We’re not going to ask for an advance payment. You can pay upon receiving the goods. And we don’t mind doing business at a later date either. Just say the amount and pick a spot for us to meet you at. We’ll handle the rest.”

“That is a bold claim,” Bruce said. “Who are you with?”

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“Dirty hands don’t sully gold for long. Just wash it,” Aaron said. “You don’t need to know who we are or what family we’re with. That hardly matters. Do you want the cores or not?”

Bruce smirked. “Oh, I want the cores. How many do you have right now, at the auction?”

“This is all we brought to the auction. Think of it as a taste,” Aaron said. He held the ring up. “A fraction of what we’re actually capable of producing. I’d say there are at least 5,000 Credits worth of Cores in here. And that’s being very, very conservative.”

“They are weaker than the ones that went up for sale.”

“They are a lot more of them as well,” Aaron said. He adjusted the collar of his shirt with a finger. “Don’t try to bullshit me. I’m being nice. There are easily 5,000 credits here. But I’m not going to charge you that. This is just a sample, after all. So why don’t we cut a deal?”

“What kind of deal?” Bruce asked with undeniable interest. His nostrils flared slightly as he leaned forward.

“I like to have a little fun with my promises,” Aaron said. He tossed the ring onto the table beside Bruce. “Double or nothing. Either you get the ring for free, or you pay double what it’s worth. Say — 10,000 Credits. And I’ll guarantee that you get a reasonable price on the next batch you order regardless of how much you want.”

Bruce tilted his head to the side. He studied Aaron for several unbearably long moments. On the auction floor behind them, the price of the Blueprint reached 43,000 Credits.

2,000 left. Move your ass, man!

“I haven’t seen many successful merchants gamble their profits away,” Bruce drawled. “Not the ones that stay successful for long.”

“What can I say?” Aaron asked. “I’m feeling lucky. Are you in or not?”

“What game?” Bruce asked. “I am not about to take what is obviously a rigged challenge.”

Aaron grinned. “Flip a coin. We’ll both call it in the air. Whoever calls it right wins.”

Bruce narrowed his eyes. “I flip?”

“You flip,” Aaron said with a nod. “A complete game of luck.”

“Why not one with some skill in it?” Bruce asked. “Don’t you at least want a challenge out of it? We could play something considerably more interesting. It would give more time to get to know each other as prospective partners better as well.”

Aaron snorted. “Why do either of us care about that? You don’t care about me. I don’t care about you. I care about your money. And you care about my Riftwarped Cores. Let’s not make things more complicated than they need to be. And if I’m going to be honest, I hate the whole challenge-everywhere idea. It’s a pain in my ass. I want life to be easy. Straightforward. And, when I can get it, painfully convenient. I’m not a fighter. I’m a bum.”

Bruce burst into raspy laughter. “Most merchants are. But I’ve never heard someone so openly admit it before. You’re willing to risk everything on a single coin flip?”

“I am,” Aaron said. “I’ll just be standing over here and praying with all my might to get lucky. I assume you have no issue with that?”

“Depends. Does praying involve you stepping over here and physically messing with the coin flip?” Bruce asked with a smirk.

“I’m going to stand right over here,” Aaron replied. “And I will be using every single scrap of my being to seek success. But I’m not going to budge from this spot.”

“Feel free. But only so long as I get to call the flip,” Bruce said. His grin grew wider. “Lazy people should be prepared for others to take advantage of them. The victor is never the one who sits passively on the sidelines. And luck doesn’t exist. Everything in this world is skill. Power. That and resources. You have one, but it remains to be se if you have the other I’ll give you your business. But I think I’ll be taking this ring for free first.”

Aaron shrugged. “Take your coin out. I doubt you’d accept anything that I give you. Let’s just get this over with. I’ve got a meal waiting for me back in my room.”

Bruce extended his hand. A coin materialized between his fingers. He held it up in the air so Aaron could get a good luck. “You want to inspect it?”

“Don’t need to,” Aaron said. “The result will be the same either way. Besides, this is a gift. That is… if you’re skilled enough to take it. I don’t mind losing out a bit of profit to show face to a customer.”

Bruce smirked. “Then I will gratefully accept your offering. I looking forward to doing business with you.”

Then he flipped the coin.

***

“45,000 Credits!” Alex called.

His stomach clenched into a knot. He’d waited for as long as he possibly could have before he’d spoken. Sofia had clearly been about to call the auction.

This was it. They couldn’t go any higher.

“Come on,” Mite muttered, staring at the door. “Get your ass back here, Aaron.”

“Hey,” Wess said. “Don’t worry. Maybe Room 8 will tap out now—”

“46,000 Credits!” the woman called.

Everyone glared at Wess.

“Whoops,” Wess said. He rapped his knuckles against the side of his head. “My bad.”

“Fuck,” Alex said. He shot another glance back at the door, then looked back to Sofia. She was watching their room. It was a good thing she wanted to stretch the auction on for as long as possible. But even still, there was only so much time she could sit around before she had to call the sale to Room 8.

His hands clenched.

Sofia tapped her foot on the ground. She waited a few more seconds. Then she shrugged, turning away. “In that case…”

Come on. Where is—

The door flew open and slammed into the wall with a loud bang.

“10,000 Credits,” Aaron said, skidding into the room.

“50,000!” Alex yelled before he’d even finished speaking.

Sofia paused. She looked back to them. Then she glanced over at Room 8.

Silence hung over the arena. Alex clenched the paddle so hard that the wood creaked beneath his grip. He waited a second. Then another. And another. No more words came.

Sofia dragged it on for a little longer. She raised her hands, pausing as if to try and bait out one last bid. Then she grinned and clapped them together.

“Sold! The Endbringer Culverin Blueprint goes to Room 3!”