Warlock Apprentice

Tesla’s hand twitched a little when hearing Angor’s words. He looked at Prome, hoping for a proof.

Prome smiled. “The scythe is enchanted with Rune of Sharpen, a very typical enchantment technique.”

Almost everyone in the underground market knew that Prome was a synthesis alchemist. He was clearly trying to tell them that the scythe had nothing to do with him.

Tesla was too surprised to get surprised again now. The only thing he wanted to do at this point was to achieve his goal of buying a weapon. He did not care who the kid was.

“You’re the seller. Sell it if you want. Enough with your reason bullshit or whatever,” said Tesla as he slammed the scythe on the desk in rage.

Angor was calm as ever. “But you’re the one trying to talk reason, right? I placed the weapon in the shop, so obviously, I’ll sell it. Look, I just gave it to you.”

“Do it fast then. We don’t need no reasons!”

“You don’t understand me? Guess I have to say it again. I don’t need a reason. It was you who need a reason.” Angor acted calm even though Tesla was getting furious in front of his face.

“What the f*ck? What do mean by ‘your reason’ and ‘my reason’? You trying to mess us up with your tongue twisters?”

Angor could not help sneering. Dave, Fosah, and Laffitte all shook their heads. Even Prome looked away.

Tesla was still dumbfounded.

Queena quickly whispered, “He’s asking for an offer! Don’t get it complicated!” She began to feel embarrassed as well. “You haven’t had enough? Let’s buy the weapon and be on our way! Boss is waiting for us.”

Tesla finally realized what was going on. He was one saying “money is the reason”, and Angor was asking for money.

And he repeated “sell me sell me!” like a fool… Tesla felt his face burning.

“Shame ya. So you know how to blush? I thought you can’t since you never remember what you said yourself!” Laffitte taunted. Tesla had been calling him “peasant” all the time, so he could not give up the chance to humiliate Tesla.

Tesla’s shame quickly turned into rage. He gave Laffitte a threatening look. “Shut your trap peasant! Or else-”

“Or what?” Prome spoke up with a cold look. “Dear me. Why are there so many people making scenes in my shop these days? You all looking to die faster?”

Prome’s mighty aura as a level-3 apprentice already caused Tesla to flinch in horror. His fame as an alchemist only made it worse.

“I-I didn’t mean that, Master. He used foul words at me, so I-”

“Argue however you like,” Prome frowned. “But don’t you dare attack people for real at my place, or I’ll make sure your days are numbered!”

Tesla was trying his best to remain calm. Now he was losing it.

Angor chose to add fuel at a proper time. “So, your reason? If you don’t have one, leave the weapon and get lost!”

Tesla’s rage built up, but he deflated again when Prome snorted as a warning.

Queena face-palmed herself.

Tesla tried his best to contain his emotion. “I already paid the money. It’s on the desk.”

There were two pouches on the counter, one big and one small. The small one contained 20 magic crystals Tesla paid for buying the Tang Dao, while the other had 100 crystals for the scythe.

Angor picked up the bigger pouch and felt its weight. “Nah, this is not enough to convince me.”

“That’s already a common market price. Ask people if you don’t know the market. Ask the clerk! He must have sold lots of weapons like this. He should know.”

Dave had been feeling really satisfied with Tesla’s misfortune. He did not know how to respond right away when addressed by the man’s question. Tesla was right, that the current offer for the weapon was pretty decent. Actually, it was more than decent, considering how a scythe was not a commonly-used weapon.

Tesla calmed down a little when he did not receive an answer from Dave. He felt his ego returning again. However, he could not show it in front of Prome.

Angor spoke up, “Again, the scythe’s mine, and I need a reason to convince me. The market price is not a regulation anyway. It always changes.”

Fosah spoke along Angor by using his experience as the son of an economy minister, “Supply and demand greatly affects something’s price. The market price may also be manipulated by people.”

Angor gave Fosah a thumbs-up. “So don’t give me the market price. I’m expecting your own price, and it’s not enough yet.”

Tesla, as someone who always knew how to spend money, was just as experienced in the economy as Fosah. “We consider supply and demand on condition that there is at least some demand for the item. Your short scythe is such an uncommon weapon. I don’t think people will buy it at all.”

“Aren’t you here for it?” Angor asked.

Tesla choked a little.

“Don’t be irrational! It’s your honor that someone actually wants to buy it!”

“And of course I can raise my price if someone needs the weapon badly. This is how the market works, no?”

“Heh. I don’t need it ‘badly’.”

“Is that so? See you next time then.”

Angor did not care whether the weapon was sold at all.

“Why you-” Tesla was only trying to gain himself some room for bargaining. He did not expect Angor to end his attempt so fast.

Queena, who had been watching their conversation, leaned down toward Angor to let the boy see her breast area through her collar.

“I apologize for Tesla, little handsome boy. He’s too rash a man, and he tends to cause trouble for all of us. I’ll buy the weapon, is that okay with you?”

“Of course. Your offer?”

Queena put a finger on her chest and spoke in a timid voice, “A hundred crystals from me. Is that good for you?”

Usually, a kid around the age of fourteen or so would easily lose his temper against the temptation of women. At least Queena believed so.

She had no idea that the boy in front of her did not even hesitate for one second when killing Red Butterfly, who was someone who would not lose when it came to beautiful looks.

“No.” Angor was firm.

Queena quickly stopped her seductive movement. “So what price are you expecting?”

Angor did not drag the matter for any longer. “Three hundred.”

Everyone looked at him in surprise. That was three times the original offer. A similar weapon made by the hands of a master would probably cost the same price, and this one obviously was not a masterpiece.

“Damn. Angor’s so bold. But I like it!” Dave thought to himself.

“Three hundred, huh? Really? Just tell us if you don’t want to sell it at all,” Tesla sneered.

The other people were thinking in the same way. Angor’s price was completely unreasonable.

“Of course I’m selling it. Why else would I place it in the shop? I’ll sell as long as you pay enough.”

“But it ain’t worth 300 crystals! Hell, even a hundred is a bit overpriced.”

Angor grinned. “Really now? Let’s see… your boss, what’s he called? ‘Raging Blade’ Naru? He’s waiting for you guys in Sky Tower, right?”

Tesla and Queena both had their pupils constricted when Angor mentioned Sky Tower.

Queena let out a pretentious chuckle. “What are you talking about? I don’t get you.”

“You don’t? It’s fine,” said Angor as he placed the scythe back into its case. “I think the weapon will sell better if I wait several days. Don’t you think so, Mister Tesla?”

“What-what did you know?” Tesla asked.

“You’re asking me now? But didn’t you guys just buy the information yourselves?”

“Information? What information?” Fosah and Laffitte looked at each other, puzzled.

Angor only smiled. “Something that helps me sell the scythe at 300 magic crystals.”

Tesla and Queena both stared at Angor with an uncertain look. “Who the hell are you? And how did you find out?”

“So, you aren’t buying it? But you want to buy it low before the information goes out, right? What, three hundred is too much for you?”

Not knowing what Angor was referring to, the remaining people glanced at each other.

“Someone who believes money is the reason… can’t afford to pay mere 300 crystals?”

Tesla’s face grew red again at Angor’s sarcasm. He was criticizing Fosah in the exact same way, and someone used the same trick against him so soon.

To make it worse, Tesla did not have so much money on him. Besides, for ordinary apprentices, that kind of money was not something easily collected.

“I think you’re on the point. They don’t have the money,” Dave spoke along. He was also wondering what the “information” was, but he was glad he had something to add salt to Tesla’s wounded ego.