Isekai Rule #22: If there's a weird old dude selling wonky trinkets, buy them.

A law of life: Wherever people congregate, commerce follows. Stone Claw City was no exception to this rule.

As being the last bastion of large civilization before entering the Wasting Sands, as well as being on top of a complex tunnel network full of goodies to mine, thousands upon thousands of people made it a point to unload goods or load up on supplies in Stone Claw City. Ill-gotten or not, a majority of these items were exchanged in the commercial center of the city, an open air market called the Ingot Exchange.

"I got ten kilos of Thunder Gold! Directly from the Western Caverns! Perfect for armor and blunt weapons!"

"Check it out! I got five major Corporeal class arts available for trade! Looking for arts with Aquarii expressions!"

"A second grade Cyclone Battle Axe! Starting bid at 1000 low grade aether crystals!"

While the Ingot Exchange wasn't the biggest or greatest market in the Stampeding Bison Continent, it was the best in the region. One would think that due to it's remote location that people could easily upcharge and con one another, but the Four Great Powers made sure that didn't happen through a mix of reputation, honor and having their own guards keeping watch over the market plaza.

'Granted that didn't stop them from up-charging their own goods,' Zhen Liu thought as he noticed the exact same types of warhammer being sold by both a random vendor and from a shop owned by the Wolfe Family. The one sold by the Wolfe Family was being sold for at least 1.5 times the vendor's price. Enough to not scare off customers and also enough to create some doubt of quality in the other guy's product.

"Kuu!"

"Impressive right? It takes a lot of control to be able to do that with Iganti aether."

While Zhen Liu was griping about market inequality, Jin Fang and Mini were having fun just wandering about and taking in the sight of all the treasures being sold, travellers looking to make a deal or load up on supplies and performers earning coin by entertaining the aforementioned travellers.

Following Stable Master Ricardo's advice, the trio had made their way over to the Stone Claw Colosseum to see this exhibition match. However, they had arrived a bit earlier than when scheduled match was to take place and had some time to kill. They figured it'd be more productive and fun to hang around the Ingot Exchange than bumming around the colosseum doing nothing.

'Well that's half of the reason for us being here. The other half is a bit more selfish.'

It had only been about a week or so since Zhen Liu created Nepherage and now he wanted to see if he could make another kaijin. While he wasn't sure about all the specifics on the "how" when it came to making, he did remember on the "what" was used in making her.

He needed, as far as he could tell, a "desire", materials, a formula and arts. He didn't have to worry about those latter two thanks to his ring, but he was at a bit of loss at the first two.

'I need a strong..."desire" I guess, for a "core" or whatever that thing was. But it appears just bumming around the market doesn't count so I can cross "greed" off my list...maybe," Zhen Liu thought as he idly stared at his left hand. He remembered an old saying that went, "the love of money is the root of all evil", and figured that an open air market would be a good place to pick up some of that latent desire for money.

So far, nada.

'I can at least find some good materials here I think. Granted I'm not sure if it'll match the quality of 10,000 year old Crimson Jade,' Zhen Liu thought to himself as he and Jin Fang began to browse some of the accessories being sold.

A majority of the items being sold were just pretty trinkets made of mundane precious metals and gemstones, but there were a few made of the more interesting metals and minerals like a Balefire Emerald ring and a Holy Milk Quartz bracelet. Granted these latter items were incredibly expensive and a bit out of Zhen Liu's price range unless he asked the clan itself.

"See anything you like?," Zhen Liu asked as he watched Jin Fang admire some of the more delicate pieces. While most of his memories of Jin Fang involved her being a bit more rough and tumble, there were still moments where she acted rather girly.

"Hmmm. No," Jin Fang said after looking through all the pieces offered, "None of them match my skin tone."

"Right...wait, where's Mini?"

"Kuu!"

Zhen Liu and Jin Fang were initially worried about Mini's disappearance, but they were quickly relieved when they turned to see that she was surprisingly close by.

Mini was currently sitting in front of an old man who was just sitting in the middle of the plaza on a rainbow colored blanket while cutting an apple into slices. Surrounding this old man was all manner of trinkets and knick-knacks that looked relatively plain and weird looking in comparison to all the other vendors. The fact that the old guy was just wearing dusty brown robes gave off the feeling he was just a beggar selling off what goods he had left.

Mini stared intently as the old man carefully pick up the apple slice. Unexpectedly, the old man took the apple piece and presented it towards Mini.

"Kuu?"

"Would you like a piece?"

"Kuu!"

Mini happily trotted over to the offered apple slice and began to munch on the treat. The old man smiled as he watched the little hippo enjoy her snack. She had just finished eating when Jin Fang had finally come over and scoop up the baby hippo.

"Kuu?"

"Mini! Don't bother other people while they're eating! It's rude."

"Kuu!"

"Oh pay no mind to it," the old man said as he waved a raised hand in dismissal, "I still have plenty of apple to eat. I'm not going to miss a single slice."

"We still gotta make up for it," Zhen Liu replied as he came over, "the least we could do is to buy something."

"Oh worry not, feel free to just browse and see what catches your eye."

"Sure thing."

Outwardly, Zhen Liu looked rather humble as he browsed the goods the old man was selling. Inwardly, he was thinking a thousand thoughts a minute as he carefully analyzed every single trinket the old man was selling.

'I have read too many novels and played too many games to not notice a freaking foreshadowing MacGuffin dammit! So let's what cheat items you're selling!"