Selling Loot

After a day passed, Hendrix stood upon a hill gazing at the gigantic Refugee camp below. It seemed not to end as the residents within scurried to and fro.

'I made it. I wonder where the market is.' Hendrix thought before he walked downward into the premise, surveying the area within for anything remotely like a market.

As Hendrix wandered, he saw primarily ragtag and decrepit homes where people lived. However, everyone gazed at him while narrowing their eyes, seemingly watching his movements. Some held knives in their hands, and some looked around frantically.

'What's going on here? Maybe I should ask for directions.' Hendrix thought while walking through the street towards a hooded figure sitting on the road.

"Hey, do you know where the market is? I'm a traveler passing by for cash." Hendrix asked the person.

The hooded figure turned around and removed its hood, revealing an older woman.

"Just head to the west young man, can't miss it." The older woman explained before placing the hood back on, pulling out a large piece of bread, and eating it.

"Alright, thank you." Hendrix replied civilly before following her instructions, following the street to the west.

Afterward, Hendrix continued on the street until he came across a decrepit stone building, where an armored figure guarded the door to enter. Above them was a sign which read, Shopping Plaza.

"Hello, may I enter the place?" Hendrix politely asked

The armored figure turned its head to Hendrix.

"Are you here to buy or sell?" The figure asked a question of their own.

"I'm here for both." Hendrix replied civilly

"The entrance fee is three Pyrite Coins. One for buying and Two for selling your wares here." The armored figure stated

"Okay, I'll pay then." Hendrix stated before, willing three Coins to appear, and surprisingly that worked before he went on his tiptoes and reached his hand up, placing the money on the counter barely.

"Enjoy your time here, merchant." The armored figure stated before motioning Hendrix to enter.

Hendrix obliged, and after entering, he saw a plaza partially filled with people on mats, with their wares in front of them. And they all seemed to be well off and dressed casually.

Meanwhile, guards patrolled the premises, apprehending intruders or people causing trouble. Additionally, they occasionally bought something as well.

Hendrix eventually began looking for an empty mat and spent five minutes searching before sitting down on the mat and displaying all the feathers he had collected. However, he didn't advertise vocally like most but waited patiently for a possible customer to arrive.

Eventually, after an hour, he decided to take a small risk.

"Hey, guard? Want to try my product? I'll pay you a single Pyrite Coin if you do." Hendrix suggested and offered while grabbing a feather and holding it towards the guard.

"Huh? Will you pay me to try your product? Alright, that's free money. So what do you need me to do?" A guard smiled, realizing he could earn a coin for doing something so small.

"I want you to try to cut this feather in two with your weapon in front of many people. And make sure to tell them that I'm selling the feathers." Hendrix stated

"Alright, I can do that." The guard agreed before taking the feather and heading toward the other guards.

"Hey, I'm going to advertise this guy's item. Can you guys announce something?" The guard asked.

"No, that's against the rules. You risk exile for this." One of the other guards threatened while drawing her spear.

"Wait, wait, the merchant is willing to pay each of us a Pyrite Coin if we help him." The guard stated while smirking.

After hearing this, the six guards widely smiled before rounding up many customers and telling them to wait in front of Hendrix's mat.

'I guess my risk worked.' Hendrix thought while watching the crowd grow in size.

"Now I'll show you how strong his feather is." The guard stated before swinging their sword at it with all their strength. However, to everyone's shock, neither the blade nor the feather was damaged.

Meanwhile, in the crowd, the lead guard thought of something.

'Wait, isn't this feather type from the Vultures that kill many travelers?! How did he get so many? Vultures use their life force to create this! I must get them all, either by trade or force." The lead guard thought before she began pushing through the crowd quickly.

***

Hendrix, however, began to frown when the number of people wanting the feathers got extreme. And once he saw the lead guard, his face turned solemn.

"Sir, I've come to buy all the feathers off you. I'll give you one Pyrite Coin per feather. However, please follow me for the payment." The lead guard offered

[You have received a common quest.]

[Cash it in.]

[Quest completion Requirements]

1) Sell your feathers to the lead guard and follow him for payment.

[Optional Objectives]

1) ???

[Failure Penalties]

There is no penalty for this type of quest.

[Rewards]

1) One Pearl Coin

[Optional Objective Rewards.]

1) ???

[Will you accept?]

[Y/N?]

'Wait, will I get this quest for every task I receive? I don't want quests flooding me.' Hendrix thought, sweat dropping before getting up, putting away the feathers in his sack, and following the lead guard.

"What's your name? Uh, small one?" The lead guard asked while continuing to walk and nodding to all the guards under his jurisdiction as they walked past.

"I'm Hendrix, and yours?" Hendrix civilly answered.

"I'm Walter. When we arrive in my office, we'll finalize the transaction."

"Alright, Walter. Did you perhaps hear of my wares from your subordinates? Or just from gossip or rumors from the passers-by?" Hendrix questioned while raising a brow and walking with his cane.

"I learned it from my subordinates. We would normally have to detain you for bribing a guard. However, after hearing and seeing your exploits. I don't think it's a good idea to offend someone who can gather so many." Walter explained with a chuckle.

"Heh, alright. However, once I finish, can I buy a map to the Okrian portal?" Hendrix asked while smiling.

"The Okrian portal? Well, that's only a legend. I mean, the government abandoned us on the Crown Plane after they destroyed the way into the portal. Sometimes I wonder how this camp lasted for a century. Especially with the world-ending terrors on this plane." Walter replied while frowning.

"I'd like to buy one as well." Hendrix reiterated his question.

"Alright, however, it's on the house. Eh, it has no value; hence sure. But we are at my office now." Walter stated before opening the door so that Hendrix could enter.

Hendrix entered the room before he stood on the floor, not bothering to make an effort to climb the chair.

"Hendrix, do you need help?" Walter asked with his brow raised.

"No need. I'm ready to begin our trade. I have one thousand three hundred feathers. So you'll give me the same amount of Pyrite Coins, right?" Hendrix asked

"I see. I must head to the treasury and see if we have enough to pay you. If not, we'll compensate with other methods. Stay in here until I return." Walter stated before smiling and leaving the room.

'This seems fishy. I hope I don't have to deal with nobles or someone like one. That won't end well for me.' Hendrix thought, feeling irked.

After thirty minutes passed, and Walter returned while carrying a chest along with a guard.

"Here's the Coins. Just trade the feathers, and these will be yours. Also, don't give my subordinates the bribes, or you're going to prison." Walter stated.

Hendrix obliged and gave Walter the feathers and received the coins. Hendrix then told them to place the chest out in the wilderness, away from prying eyes. After they did so, he took all the coins out and put them in his special Coin inventory.

[You have completed the common quest: Cash it in.]

[You have received a pearl coin.]

'How many coins do I have in total?' Hendrix thought, hopeful.

[You have 2 Pearl Coins and three hundred and eight Pyrite Coins.]

Hendrix nodded before he returned to the refugee camp.

'I should honestly save my money, I have nowhere to put materials, and my sack only has room for so much. I can survive off of varmint meat, so I should go.' Hendrix thought

[Warning]

[Please wait until at least a third of your classmates arrive before continuing down the path to the Okrian Portal. If you don't comply, you will have failed the third part of the quest and will suffer the corresponding consequence]

'Well, I guess I'll have to stay here. I don't want that time teacher to go after me in revenge.'