10 Chapter 10: Appraisal
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As Alex began to line up for the entrance fee, he saw someone flew directly above the borders, as the guards on the outpost saluted briefly to that person. After that, more and more began to fly from above. Curious, he asked someone in front of him. It was an old man full of white hairs
"Sir, they didn't line up and flew directly, why so? Also, do you know how much the fee for entering the city?" he talked respectfully, not just because of his respect for elderlies, but also the strength of that old man. A Sky Immortal!
From looking around the people, he learned through their stat panels about the power levels of the world. Peasants and slaves alike, all have strengths the same as him, a human immortal. Next are merchants, those people clad in rich clothes and extravagant appearances, and he even saw kids about 15-17 years old stronger than them, as earth immortals. Sky Immortals on the other hand, are those either from small sects, or families, or a leader of a squadron of guards.
"Young lad, it's the first time I saw your face, so I'll assume you're not from here. Only aristocrats, renowned schools and great sect people can do that. Or if you have the strength of a Sovereign (Kings, Emperors and Rulers), you can directly bypass this strenuous queueing. Also, the fee here is 1 high grade spirit stone."
Alex nodded and said his thanks as he calmly looked at those people flying directly above the borders. As soon as his turn was up, he regretfully paid for a single high grade spirit stone, which is equal to 1 shop point. Luckily, the newbie gift gave him 10 of those, so he still has 9 high grade spirit stones to himself.
As he entered, he saw a very bustling city, sellers and customers quarrelling, shop owners advertising their products, hawkers and street fights with people betting around.
"Come! Freshly hunted Sky Immortal Black Cat! Corpse still intact and the core undamaged! Only for 3 superior grade spirit stones!"
"Top Earth grade pills! Available only here in my shop, first come first serve!"
"Hey, this sword is fake, you said it's sharp it can cut Earth grade armors like tofu, but why is this the one that broke like a twig!? Give me my refund!"
"I bet 10 high grade spirit stones for that masked guy!"
Alex shook his head as he heard the noise. Luckily, he has the system to help him automatically translate the language of the aboriginals here. And also, with the help of the system, he saw his destination, a mission tavern!
Entering the place, he saw numerous people either submitting their completed missions, or looking for some available missions meant for them.
Looking at the enormous board full of papers, he began searching for a mission suitable for him. After looking around for 2 minutes, he snatched the paper and read
[Appraise a treasure!]
- I need someone to appraise one of my treasures as I don't know it's origin. I already have hired appraisal masters but to no avail. If you think you're suitable, come give it a try, come to this address ************. For confidentiality, I will put up a formation that randomizes the appearance and aura for the two of us.
Reward: Unknown
Suspiciously looking at the mission paper, he thought hard whether to accept or not. Surely, higher risk equals higher rewards. After a while, he decided to accept the mission, as he believes the appraising powers of the system.
Alex began making preparations, bought something from the shop that costs 7 points, and then went to the designated address.
Before entering the dilapidated place, he looked at the item with shrewd smile as he drank it and went inside. As he entered, he felt the space distort as he began feeling being probed by someone.
He found two seats, and a single round table on the center. He noticed one of the seat was occupied by someone with a mask. Thinking, he concluded that this is the person that handed the mission.
"Are you the appraiser that accepted the mission from the tavern?" The masked person calmly said to Alex, as he began to touch the ring on his hand.
"Yes, can you show me the item?" Alex replied as he exclaimed 'Wow, even my voice changed, this formation is really awesome.'
The man touching his storage ring nodded and then a rusted sword appeared on the table. Due to the rust, the runic lines engraved on the weapon looked like bulging veins. Aside from rust, the edges of the blade is also chipped. From it's arm length size, Alex concluded that it's a short sword or rather a long dagger from it's appearance.
"Can you tell me what is this? I have a feeling it's a good treasure, as I acquired it and felt it's undulating pulse of slumbering strength."
"Alright." As Alex nodded and looked with apt focus on the weapon on the table
[Brax' Dagger of Darkness - Damaged (formerly Red)]
State: 0/100 durability
- Draws the power of the evil archaic beast Brax of the Darkthorne Tribe to call on shadow undeads to fight for the summoner.
- Summons available:
Shadow Skeleton (Peak Sky Immortal) (0)
Shadow Ghouls (Immortal King) (0)
Shadow Knights (Immortal Emperor) (0)
Shadow Lich Kel'Thuzad (Supreme Immortal) (0)
Shadow King Nefarim (Half-deity) (0)
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Materials for restoration: Heart of an Ancient Human (1), Darkness Stone (3), Kindle of Netherflames (1)
Spirit Cores (100)]
Without changing his expression from the outside, Alex roared in his mind 'Fuck! Jackpot! This ass is so damn lucky, even if it's damaged, a red item is still red!' as he continued to touch and feel the item.
'Icy, can you look for these items..' Alex said in his mind excitedly as he waited for the system to look for their corresponding prices at the shop.
[Searching finished. The prices for the items are:
Ancient Human Heart: 1.5 billion points
Darkness Stone: 400 million x 3 = 1.2 billion points
Kindle of Netherflames: 800 million points
Spirit Cores: Unavailable
Excluding the spirit cores, the total comes up to 3.5 billion points, host.]
Like a cold basin of water splashed right on his face, Alex woke up from his rich fantasies as he shuddered from the price of reparing the damaged red item.
'WWWHHHAATT?!' Unable to hold his pretense anymore, his mouth hang low with bulging red eyes. He blurted
"Are you fucking kidding me!?"
The masked man looked at him, dumbfounded, about his sudden outburst. Fidgeting, the masked man hurriedly said to Alex
"Did you found any clue? Have you gotten it's origin? What grade is it?.."
The masked man's numerous questions woke Alex up from his shock, as he coughed lightly and calmly said
"K-khrm(1), friend, do you wish to know the information about this item? I suggest you be preparing for your payments for me in advance, and also make it higher. Also, since you've talked about confidentiality, if you divulge to others the information about this item, just pray to your ancestors that you will keep your corpse intact."
Alex warned him thoroughly with soft and strong voice of persuasion. Even though he doesn't know this masked guy, he feels sympathy for him, having such cursed item. As he said that, he began activating the item he drank before he entered the meeting place.
[Deception Liquid (Blue)
- Consumption will result to emit aura one stage higher than the opposer. Does not induce suppression, or harming effect.
Duration: 00:00:29:59]
What he didn't know, was that his sympathy for him was misunderstood as a threat by the masked man.
"This fellow.." the masked man began unleashing his peak Emperor aura, to subdue him and tell him the origin of the damaged item, if he even knows the truth. From his probing, before the appraiser sat on the chair, he learned the strength of his adversary.
A human immortal! A lowly human immortal is messing with me, a peak Immortal Emperor! All he wants is to deal with this fellow, once and for all, for shitting on his prestige as a renowned Emperor!
Alex, who was the subject of the oppression, only felt a cold wind passing as it disappeared in an instant. He was still calmly looking at the masked man, waiting for his answer.
The masked man, on the other hand, looked at Alex in horror, as his peak Emperor aura vanished like a puff of smoke, as he began to sense a strong aura coming from Alex. Even though the aura didn't suppress or harm him in the slightest, the strength of the aura still made him frightened as cold sweat began streaming down his forehead.
'A-a .. A Supreme Ruler!!'
(1) Not a reference. It's my representation of the sound of coughing. Bear with it, fags.
