Peak Thirteen Excursion (3)
Liam had just entered this artifact shop, a small one, but with an impressive variety of items that the boy himself was curious about their classifications and uses. Although he had learned the classification of artifacts and resources, he couldn't identify them at first glance.
Artifacts and resources—such as pills, potions, armor, swords—were classified according to their usefulness and efficiency. An item that was useful to a first realm being was called a First-Class item. An item useful to a being in the sixth realm would be classified as a Sixth-Class item.
Items of the same class might have different effects, in the case of a weapon, more destructive or more resistant, in the case of a pill, more or less powerful effects, with more or less visible consequences.
Within the classification of each of these classes, they could consider an item of Low, Ordinary, or High Quality.
"Yes, Senior. As valuable as it is to me today, I'm afraid I don't have the strength to keep it. A treasure has no validity if its owner is not alive to use it," Liam said with a green look on his face.
The old man continued to look at the spear in his hands, touching it like a blind person trying to understand its shape by touch.
Liam imagined it was a method of evaluation.
"I see... A good weapon you have here. A Second-Class spear of High Quality, I'd say. I can pay you three ways for it." He took his eyes off the spear and looked at the scantily clad young man in front of him. "Coins, contribution points, or a ticket you can use to return items of equal value. What would you prefer?"
Liam looked around once more, checking the number of items available in this small shop. This place looked like a small grocery store on Earth, but instead of various items arranged on shelves and in display cases, there were weapons, shields, armor, and other items that Liam didn't even know the names of.
With at least 60 items to choose from, Liam imagined he might get something useful for himself that would protect him better than his spear.
'It might be worth the ticket. It would be easy to hide, unlike coins that might attract attention.' He looked at the old man in silence. 'However, I'm in a demonic sect... I can't just trust this man to keep his word and return the ticket to me.'
Liam narrowed his eyes as he walked silently in front of the large counter at the back of the shop.
'The merit points, however, are more valuable to me. If Merlin and Amos' materials are reliable, merit points are necessary to grow in the sect. Besides, I'm pretty sure I can use them to get resources.'
Merit points should be the most valuable currency in the sect. Hardly anyone would want to spend their points to buy products, but if someone wanted to spend them, they would most likely accept them instead of gold or other currencies.
Doubtful, Liam asked, "How much would you pay me?"
Seeing the look on Liam's face, the man answered, "100 merit points. Or 200 gold coins."
Liam's eyes widened when he heard the amount of gold coins. With 200 gold coins, he could buy a house and live for a few years in Demonpost—the city his predecessor had gone to before the accident and kidnapping that led him to Violent Lake.
'Is that spear worth all that?' Liam turned and brought one of his hands to his face thoughtfully. 'No. It's probably worth even more. This man probably gives it a lower value... He's here to make a profit and I'm an ignorant beginner.
Unfortunately, there was no book on artifact values in the materials I had access to so far.'
For a moment, he wanted to take his spear back and come here only after passing through the library. After all, he would have two days of security to sell the weapon.
'No! That's dangerous! Better to make a bad deal now and avoid too many enemies seeing me with the spear than to attract more attention and get a few extra coins later. This is probably a terrible deal for me, but I can cultivate quickly with the incubus on my side. As long as I stay alive, I'll be able to conquer women other than Mary.'
He took a step back, determined to go through with this deal. "Can you pay me 75 merit points and 50 gold coins?"
With that amount of gold coins, he felt he would have enough funds to start his journey into Demon Gate.
"Hmm, all right." The middle-aged man dressed as a blacksmith smiled as he agreed and put on the counter a small bag with Liam's coins in it.
"You just joined the sect, right? I can't transfer my merit points to you directly. But if you take this contract to the Records Hall, you can add your 75 merit points for free."
Liam had heard about magic contracts and their usefulness in deals like this. Seeing the middle-aged man mark a colored sheet with the number '75' using his identification item, Liam knew he would get his merit points as promised.
"Hmm, have a nice day."
Stuffing his coins into his trousers, he walked away without glancing back, making a beeline for the library, which stood out as the most prominent structure on Street Twenty-six.
As soon as he entered the library, Liam paused to look at the view of the entrance hall, where one could see the large bookcases that reached 12 meters high, where many ladders were available for the students to use.
Although transparent, there was a barrier between the surroundings of the hall and the areas of the immense bookcases.
As he made his way through the area, where at least 200 disciples came and went, or even stood in groups talking, Liam spotted three checkpoints. One had only one guard in an observation position, while the others were better guarded, with much more restricted access.
He didn't need to ask anyone around to understand it. The two best-protected areas could only be accessed by members of the sect who were willing to spend merit points. Anyone could use the less protected entrance.
Fortunately for him, this area seemed to provide access to the largest number of books.
He made his way to the section with the 'level one' sign, passing the guard, an Officer, who was there to keep order and prevent students from stealing books from the Library.
When he saw Liam pass by, the man noticed the student's clothing and identified him as a novice.
He placed one of his hands in front of Liam's path and said, "This part of the Library is free, but you can't take the books from here. As soon as you've finished each of your readings, return it to where you picked it up. Don't talk while you're in the area in front of you, or you'll be banished from the Library."
Liam looked at the masked man and nodded his thanks for the warning.
He would discover later that this 'level one' area contained materials on the laws and customs of the sect and the history of the Demon Gate, but also about the mortal world. It had books regarding geography and history, with information that would make the personal libraries of some of the continent's kings jealous.
A member of Demon Gate, one of the oldest and most powerful forces in Twin Land, had to know such a world well!
Liam would soon begin his reading, intending to spend the next four hours focused on learning more about Demon Gate and what was most important to his survival in this unfriendly place.