Chapter 118. Trading with Brutes

Nugie was a little disappointed at the texture of those blocks but was still intrigued by the fact that it was so resistant and could be crafted into stone tools.

"So you're saying that those blocks are like our blackstones?"

You can craft without those blocks? I didn't even know.

"Seems so, and from their reaction I could tell they had an abundance of them."

"I heard those people don't have rivers of lava, can you believe such a horrifying world? How can they take care of their striders without lava, and do they just freeze to death in their world?"

That was an interesting perspective from someone that never seen the Overworld.

"I don't know I've never seen it, but I'm sure they have their own methods of survival like us."

"That's true, so how much for those blocks."

"One golden nugget per block."

"Are you trying to rob me here?! Who would pay such an absurd price for blocks that I can take it from the walls."

"It may not be as precious as you'd like, but imagine what the others would think once they know you have blocks from another dimension, think of this, you'll be special in the whole bastion."

This made him stop and think for a little.

"That's true, but it's still too expensive for something you can sell it to someone else as well, one nugget for six blocks."

"Are you trying to rob me now? I would lose gold if I make this deal, one nugget for two blocks."

"That's still too high, how about we meet in the middle four blocks for one nugget."

"Three and that's my final offer."

"Deal! How much do you have?"

"Two stacks currently."

"Give them all to me."

With this, I made 42 golden nuggets at the cost of two stacks of the most common block in the Overworld, it was a net profit all around.

"Does your Bastion have a specialty that I can buy?"

Nugie was satisfied with that trade he just made and was much more willing to talk with me.

"We don't have a lot of items that are special to our Bastion, what's the main difference between us and the rest is the fighting arena."

"When is the yearly match going to happen?"

That was a little disappointing.

"In about six months from now on. Are you interested in joining traveler?"

No amount of gold in there is tempting enough for me to get in.

I probably used more gold in the past months than what they made in three years.

"Unfortunately I don't stay this long in one settlement, so I'll have to refuse the offer."

"What are you looking for then?"

I thought for a little, what items they had around?

Gold for sure, Blackstone, quartz, ender pearls, string, redwood, meat, leather and I think they threw obsidian blocks in the game as well from what I remember.

But after I looked at the lava pit with the cage in the middle of it, an image came to mind.

"Do you sell Netherite?"

"That's useless scrap? Our elders have it but it's going to be hard to convince them to give it to you. I don't even know the reason they keep holding on them, you can't craft anything with them, and the only good thing about them its it's resistance to lava."

So they do have it but don't know their value, just like in the game, they keep holding onto golden tools and armor.

"Can you guide me to them, I'll try my luck?"

"Sure, I'll do it for one golden Ingot."

Then reached his hand towards me expecting the payment.

Frustrated I paid him the price and he took the gold with a stupid smile on his face.

We didn't need to climb the stairs, instead, we went into one of the long hallways at the lower level until we could see older people just hanging out and talking with each other.

It felt like a retirement home, but no nurses were here to help those old people.

But I could understand why as well, while they looked old they weren't frail, I could see all of them walking, running, and jumping like they were young, the only difference that I saw was that they tired more easily.

I guess this could be a result of a warrior tribe, all of those muscles keep you healthy when you're old as well.

"Nugie! You came down here to sell us some junk again?"

One of the elders looked at my guide with amusement.

"Those are not junk Worrior Brick, they are just unique items that I found while I was hunting."

The others started to laugh while paying attention to us.

"Like that boat, you tried to sell us, it just got burned when it was too close to lava."

"That was an accident, and I didn't come for that, I brought someone that is looking for you."

Everyone suddenly looked at me and their eyes were not friendly anymore.

"Why Is he so armored up? Is he trying to intimidate us with his wealth, or does he want to challenge us for our own wealth?"

Why did they think that I was trying to pick up a fight?

"I've come in peace Warriors, I'm a traveler that goes from Bastion to Bastion looking for opportunities to trade, I've heard you have some Netherite and was wondering if you're willing to trade for it."

Everyone seemed to be more suspicious of me once I said that.

"Why would you want such items?"

"People from the bigger settlements collect them as a novelty."

Once they heard that everyone seemed to calm down and went back to their business.

"We don't have any for trade stranger, go try your luck in another bastion."

"Are you sure, I'm willing to trade two gold blocks for one ingot!"

Everyone stopped what they were doing and looked back at me, even Nugie looked at me with shock at how much I was willing to pay for one ingot.

Suddenly I saw a hint of greed appear in the eyes of everyone around me, which made me take out my enchanted diamond sword.

Everyone stopped and looked with confusion at my sword.

They didn't know what was made of but it was enchanted and that was enough danger by itself.

"Leave that man be, or you'll all die by his blade."

An old voice spoke from the back of the group and everyone moved to let the old man walk through.

He was truly someone that I could call old, he had a hunched back, and a robe made of leather, on a closer look I saw that it was enchanted, he walked with a support stick and he had a white beard.

I wonder how ancient he was to look like this.

"But Elder Flame, we are greater in number, I'm sure we could rob him if we unite."

"You probably could, but nobody traveled the Nether without a few tricks in his inventory. Leave him be, I don't want bloodshed to be spiled."

Reluctantly the others put back their weapons and grumbled to themselves, nobody dared the defy the old man.

"You, stranger! come with me."

I still held the sword in my hand not knowing what to do, should I follow him or run away. I was pretty deep into the bastion I didn't think I could get far without everyone jumping on me.

I looked around once more, for any escape routes, and unfortunately, the only way out I see is through digging.

The old man seemed to have a certain influence over the brutes, and since he stopped everyone from trying to rob me, I should give him the benefit of the doubt, so I slowly followed him while being ready for any incoming attack.

But until we arrived, nobody made a move against me, just kept their distance.

We arrived at the end of the tunnel where a huge doorway was built.

Beyond that, I could see a large room decorated with mushroom lights, vines, different kinds of wood, and some leather couches.

This old man was living pretty comfortably here and was rich as well.

With slow movements, the old man got on his couch and exhaled loudly.

"So what brought you to this small Bastion outsider?"

"I didn't come here specifically, it was just my luck to stumble upon it."

"It's hard for me to believe that someone from another dimension came here just by pure luck."

What is he talking about, how does he know that I'm from another dimension?

Wait, from which dimension does he refer to exactly, the Overworld or my old world?

"I don't know what you're talking about old man."

"Just your unique appearance would be enough for those who know about the other would to recognize you, but the fact that you have that blue sword showed your true origins."

So he was talking about the Overworld, that's good.

"I'm surprised that you recognized me, not a lot of people would even know what sword I'm holding in hand."

"It's no wonder, I just know about it since my grandparents told me stories of their grandparents of times when your people walked more often around here, and their weapons and armor were so powerful that ten warriors were needed to defeat one. But for unknown cause the portal was broken and we weren't visited anymore.

With time we took over the base and made it our own, but the chief still fears the return of your people and hoards all the riches to himself."

This is a ruin?!

Wait is that portal connected to the ruins that I found?

That could be a possibility since the distance between the Nether and the normal world is vastly different.

"I really did come with the intention to trade, I didn't even know there was a ruined portal in here, it was just a coincidence."

One that I'll probably use to get some items if I want to.

"I see, so you're only looking for Netherite ingots, what's the use for them if you don't mind me asking."

"You don't know? I thought you didn't want to sell it to me because you knew."

The old man let out a sigh.

"The only reason they wouldn't sell it to you is because those are given as medals of honor by the Chief himself. Whoever did something great for the Bastion is reworded with such Ingot, everyone down here has one as such, it's an honor to have one, and nobody is willing to trade for it."

I see, so that's why they reacted like this, the Chief must've gotten a few of them from the ruins, but since he didn't know what to do with them, he just gave them as loyalty tokens.

"Why are you telling me this? As you said yourself I'm not from this world."

"Young man, not a lot of people like me tend to live such a long life, through my years I learned a few tricks to keep me alive and out of trouble if possible, and my instincts tell me not to make you an enemy."

There was a saying in my world 'Fear the old man in a profession where people die young' and I felt like that quote was referring exactly to people like him, and I couldn't stop respecting the old man.

"Old man, what you're saying it's true, your people don't have a good reputation so I didn't expect to have a diplomatic discussion."

The old man smirked knowing what I was talking about.

"And it's indeed true that those ingots could be valuable in the right circumstances, and even if I told you their uses I don't think you could make use of them, do you still want to know what those are?"

The old man sat in silence for a few minutes thinking.

"I'm too old to have such dangerous knowledge, and it's not like I could use it, so you don't have to tell me."

That made me relieved, I started to like the old man and I didn't want to use this knowledge as leverage to get a few Ingots.

"But I'm willing to trade one of my Netherite Ingots for a price."

This took me by surprise since I didn't expect him to bring this up.

"What would you like in exchange?"

The old man only gave me a smile.