2 The First Customer

Antique Treasure Shop chapter 2

Mari, after years of owning a shop on Earth with its many snobs and rude people, had learned to keep her friendly smile despite what was said.

If things were to get physical or threatening however, her husband, (a former special operations soldier and influential man) would be all too willing to make a stand... and get rough.

Mari had now realized that she was on her own for the most part. Even with the System's claim that she would be safe in the shop, and her own power was enough to deter people.

She decided to keep things peaceful as possible to the best of her ability.

"I'm Tia and this Dirk!" Tia was a lot more social it seemed. "We're here to have something translated," the girl took the initiative as she could tell Dirk was a little uncomfortable.

Mari beckoned the girl, the System has explained the Skill system in this world. She knew now that with the System her appraisal and business related knowledge was already at its maximum. So she didn't actually have to use Skills.

Tia walked up to the elder and took out the three scrolls and three silver coins or 'truts', "These are the items, and your pay." Using the Skill [Translate] wasn't like the Skill [Identify], which was far more common.

[Identify] only told the user what the item was and what it was for. [Translate] explained in detail the uses and the history of an item, as well as what it was.

It was widely accepted that one Trut was required before an appraisal, and that after the appraisal was completed, the Skill user would be payed again this time at 3% of the item's Grand Market & Auction price!

The GMA was the largest trade organization in the world, and had iron authority over how shops and appraisals worked.

Mari knew this, and despite her not really agreeing, the System informed her that this was the norm, and refusing may offend people.

After taking the coins, Mari examined the scrolls for a moment, she was surprised to find that the words on the scrolls greatly resembled the symbols used by the ancient greek back on Earth.

"Interesting..." she muttered as she read through it. Unknown to Mari, her eyes had begun to glow with blue light. Both Tia and Dirk noticed this immediately, however.

Mari cleared her throat and looked up, the light in her eyes had disappeared.

"These scrolls are actually a three part Skill book," The two adventurers were startled, Skill books could sell for a great deal!

"What skill is it?" Tia asked excitedly, but Dirk kept silent, they didn't have much money on them at the moment.

They kept most of their savings in the Adventurer's Administration Bank.

If the book was worth a lot... they may not have the money to pay the appraisal fee. If they couldn't, they would have to trade items of equal value and if they didn't have items of equal value... the appraiser would take the item for themselves!

Dirk didn't think the scrolls would be worth much at all. So he was a bit worried at this point.

Mari was oblivious to his worries, and smiled at Tia. "These scrolls contain a Cultivation method known as the Seedling of the Forest."

Both Tia and Dirk were shocked! Wood Element Cultivation methods were extremely rare!

"The GMA price...?" Dirk asked with a gloomy look.

"At this moment..." Mari stooped and grabbed a blank hardback book from below desk, every shop like this was given one.

After placing the three scrolls on the cover for a few seconds, she opened the book and looked through the words that had appeared on the previously blank pages.

Mari frowned slightly making Dirk even more anxious. "It seems there's only an estimate, Seedling of the Forest has yet to appear in the GMA."

Dirk's eyes widened, and Tia covered her mouth, since there was no existing price, the scrolls would be auctioned. Minus the 3% of the appraisal cost and the GMA's 15% fee... The two would be getting the remainder.

"What's the estimate?!" Dirk whispered.

"12,000 gold royals." Mari's reply was bland, but to the two low ranked adventurers it sounded like the voice of a God. Both Dirk and Tia's savings over the last 5 years was little more than 600 royals...

20 times that amount could let the two live comfortably for the rest of their lives.