Chapter 10

Chapter 10. Negotiation

"Sir, you can't just bring anyone up here."

Anyone...?

Well, since I'm E-rank, I guess I technically am "anyone," but it doesn't sound pleasant to hear.

The old man who had been leading me up also spoke in an irritated voice.

"I'm taking care of a customer who's going to buy my weapon, so what's it to you?"

A customer who's going to buy my weapon...?

Then is he the owner of the Hunter shop?

Or a blacksmith who makes equipment?

"Sir...!"

"Tell the boss if he complains, I'll cut off my workshop's business dealings with him. Now, come on up."

"Yes..."

From their conversation, it seemed he was the owner of a blacksmith workshop.

Following him up, there were items on display that looked better quality than those on the lower floors.

"You asked for a recommendation, right? Let's see."

He examined the spear-type weapons one by one.

"Try holding this."

"Yes."

As I took the spear he handed me, a system message appeared.

[Artisan's Long Spear]

[When equipped, Artisan's Masterwork Metallurgy effect: Strength +5, Agility +4, Skill 'Spatial Thrust' available.]

Wow... are these options for real?

It seemed to be a skill effect similar to my Blessing of Dexterity.

Plus, the weight was light.

"It's a spear made from extremely rare special ore mined from the third floor of a Rift."

"It's definitely light. And the options are practically cheating."

No wonder the fourth floor is for VIP customers only.

The items here are on a completely different level from the second and third floors.

How much would a spear like this cost?

I looked at the price written on the spear display stand and froze.

'That's a lot of zeros...'

Counting them, it was a weapon worth a whopping 180 million won.

"..."

I have about 150 million won in my bank account, so the balance is insufficient.

"Is it expensive? It's a masterpiece I created with all my heart."

I shook my head at the old man's question.

"No, it's a reasonable price."

I know equipment is originally expensive.

Moreover, I know equipment with options attached is even more expensive.

More than anything, I couldn't undervalue a work created by the master artisan.

"However, I don't have enough money, so it would be difficult to purchase it."

"Hmm, I see. Then how about an exchange?"

"An exchange?"

An exchange, suddenly?

He looked at me and subtly raised the corner of his mouth.

"You're hiding something, aren't you?"

"Pardon...?"

"Do you know how I make good equipment?"

"I don't."

"It's because of my keen eye. To select good materials and combine them to create a perfectly balanced form, you need not only dexterity but also very good eyesight."

"It's similar to cooking."

"Cooking, heh heh! That's right. Very similar. Are you a former chef?"

"Yes, that's correct."

"I thought so."

He stopped laughing and continued more seriously.

"Have you heard that when Hunters awaken and gain skills, there's usually a high probability they'll gain skills related to their profession or specialty?"

"Yes, I've heard that."

"That's my case too. When I became an Awakened, the first skill I gained was 'Artisan's Metallurgy.' After successfully creating several masterpiece works with that skill, I even achieved a Second Awakening. The skill I newly acquired during that Second Awakening is called 'Artisan's Analytical Eye.' What's interesting about this skill is that it can't only be used when crafting equipment—it can also analyze people's information."

"..."

Why was he telling me this?

Could it be...

"I was told I had a good eye for people even before I gained the skill. But I felt that the way you handled and examined the weapon was unusual. Your touch had a very delicate quality to it."

It's probably because I'm a fine dining chef, so my movements carry a certain refinement.

'It's what my masters corrected in me. They said a fine dining chef should exude refinement in every single movement and gesture.'

Perhaps influenced by that, my Dexterity stat was very high from my first awakening.

To notice that, the old man really must have a good eye.

"So I asked you about your Hunter rank, and you said E-rank."

"I really am E-rank."

"So I used my Analytical Eye skill to check whether you were really E-rank. Sorry for looking without permission."

I knew it.

'That's quite the skill with no respect for privacy.'

I wasn't angry that he looked at my information without permission.

I was just surprised.

The old man continued.

"But surprisingly, you possess an 'Ancient'-grade storage skill I've never seen before, and you've even achieved a Second Awakening. For such a person to be E-rank—that doesn't make sense. There must be a reason you're hiding it."

He can tell that much?

It seems he's peeked at my entire Status Window.

Instinctively, I became wary of the old man.

"Are you threatening me? Trying to force a sale?"

"Heh heh! Threatening? No, I'm just curious because you seem like an interesting fellow hiding something."

"Then will you keep my secret?"

"Depends on what you do."

You said it wasn't a forced sale, but it is, isn't it?

The old man continued.

"I'm curious about what's inside your Ancient-grade storage. If there's something valuable enough to exchange, I'll pay the cost of this spear instead and take what you have."

Ah, so that's why he suggested a trade.

Seeing the information that I possessed an Ancient-grade Dimensional Storage skill, he must have expected there might be something special inside.

"If I tell you what's inside, will you really keep it secret?"

"As long as you don't lie."

"I won't."

Keeping the old man's mouth shut comes first.

'I didn't have anywhere suitable to sell it anyway.'

It seemed like it could be a decent deal.

"I don't have anything major—two High-Grade Magic Stones, one Mid-Grade Magic Stone, and the horn and hide of a Monster called a Drake that resembles a dragon."

"A Monster resembling a dragon...? Is that true?!"

He suddenly shouted.

Hearing that exclamation, an employee standing at a distance glanced this way.

"Sir, your voice is too loud."

"Ah, I understand. But is that really true? You have the hide of that thing called a Drake?"

"Yes. It's not intact due to sword cuts, but I have it. But do you know about Drakes?"

"I've heard from a friend. He said there was a Monster resembling a Western dragon on the third floor. He said its hide was so tough and hard that when he shot an arrow with enough force to pierce steel, it just scratched the surface and bounced off. He told me about the experience of nearly dying."

That makes sense.

It was caught because it was Ria.

'Even if she went up against an S-rank Hunter, I don't think Ria would lose...'

Then again, in the world I live in, it hasn't even been a year since Hunters appeared, but in the world Ria lived in, knights or Mages who use Mana have existed for a long time.

Naturally, the foundation they've built is different.

Among them, Ria seems to be exceptionally strong even in that world.

"Can you show me proof?"

"Easy."

"There's CCTV, so let's go to the restroom."

"...Okay."

After entering the men's restroom and closing the door, I cast Acresia.

Then I took out one piece of Drake hide.

"Ooh...!"

The old man's eyes lit up when he saw the Drake hide.

"Is this truly the hide of a Monster called a Drake that resembles a Western dragon?"

"Yes, that's correct. Would you like to examine it?"

"T-thank you."

He took the Drake hide and touched it.

"Oh, it's lighter than I thought."

Soon he tapped it with the back of his hand.

Tang tang-!

It sounded like tapping steel.

"Hide with this kind of hardness... I could make leather armor with defense equivalent to heavy armor or better."

He liked it more than I expected. Then I might be able to make a good deal here.

Should I start negotiating?

"You wanted to exchange, right? I'll give you four pieces. Plus, I'll add 8 million won in cash."

"What? Four pieces? That's barely enough to make even one set of armor. Besides, there are many sword marks on the hide, so it's hard to give it good value. With this condition, the value drops to 20 percent or less compared to normal hide."

"Then let's make it five pieces. The reason there are so many scratches from cuts is because it was so difficult to catch. I guarantee that even if someone else catches a Drake, it'll be difficult for hide in better condition than this to come on the market."

"Hmm hmm! Then I'll take six pieces and 8 million won in cash."

"Six pieces is difficult. I need to have armor made for myself and my companion later."

Among the hides I had, the only intact pieces suitable for making leather armor were fifteen pieces, each four feet by four feet.

'If it's difficult to make armor with four pieces, considering making mine and Ria's, I need to settle with five pieces.'

At my words, the old man pondered deeply, then said.

"Then do you have anything else?"

"I do, but this is also quite expensive."

From Acresia, I took out the Drake's horn this time.

"By the way, this horn can be used as material to make bows better than water buffalo horns or even Minotaur horns."

"Ooh...!"

The old man examined the horn.

His appearance overlapped with my own when I'm excited about encountering new ingredients.

"The dark color gives it a better luster than Minotaur horns, and it's smooth without a single crack. That's proof of its excellent hardness. Tapping it, I can tell it's solid inside too."

Fortunately, Ria hadn't damaged the horn.

Then I can negotiate a good price.

"Then instead of cash, let's trade with five pieces of hide and the horn. I can't go any further."

After I made my final offer, the old man, who had been pondering for a moment, nodded.

"Fine. Even if I lose a bit, it's been a while since my creative desire has surged like this, so I can pay that price."

"Thank you. And if it's all right..."

"Heh heh! I know without you saying it. You want to commission equipment for yourself to wear next time?"

Experience really can't be ignored.

He catches on to everything.

"Yes, not right now, but later."

"Understood. Here's my business card."

I received a business card from the old man.

[Samjin Workshop - Artisan Oh Cheon-seok (Representative)]

I'd never heard of Samjin Workshop before.

However, I had heard of Artisan Oh Cheon-seok.

From the Sword Saint documentary I watched while eating.

"Are you by any chance the artisan who made the Sword Saint's sword, sir?"

"Heh heh! That's right. The person I mentioned earlier who shot an arrow at the Drake was the Sword Saint himself. I also made that fellow's bow."

"Ah..."

The old man is a bigger figure than I thought.

If it's a spear made by such a person, I trust it even more.

The deal was completed in the chairman's office, and Oh Cheon-seok immediately paid for the spear.

After finishing the purchase, I came out.

"Let's go to where my car is."

"Okay."

I opened Acresia at his car and took out five pieces of Drake hide and the horn and loaded them.

"Then if you acquire rare materials again next time, contact me anytime at the number on the business card."

"I will."

***

I returned to the hotel and checked the supplies I needed to enter the Rift.

I checked whether anything was missing from the items I'd written densely in my notepad.

I even thoroughly checked the cooking ingredients I would sell there.

"Good, this should be enough."

Then I took out the spear I'd purchased today and wiped it with a cloth.

"If it weren't for the Drake hide and horn, I wouldn't have even dared to purchase it. All hail Lady Emeria...!"

She said she was repaying me, and she gave me far more than I gave her before leaving.

"I hope she's traveling safely."

Well, Ria is strong, so she'll probably be fine.

As long as she doesn't get ambushed, she won't be caught off guard like before.

When I first met her, she said the reason she had such severe injuries was because she'd been ambushed.