Hurdle of wits 2...

Chiron knew that this was a test of his wits. In all honesty, he did not consider this much of a challenge. The only problem was that he was not sure if he could apply the skills he knew from the other world in this one.

Life in an orphanage had thought him the fundamentals of street warfare. Like any smart person that wanted effective results, he had to observe his prey before striking.

The first thing Chiron did was to patiently observe the shop from a corner. In front of it was a sign that said: "WE HAVE IT ALL. EVEN IF IT GROWS IN HEAVEN."

He also observed the kind of people coming in, and the kind of people working in the shop.

He observed their customer service and the way they received customers. He instantly noticed that people were treated based on status. There was even a particular elder leaving the shop that was escorted out by a maid and a fat man Chiron suspected was the owner of the shop.

This he was sure of because of the man's body language.

Years of having to hustle food on the streets had made him very sensitive to body language. From the high posture of the man, with the proud grin on his face and his relaxed shoulders, Chiron was definitely sure the man was either a manager in the shop or the owner.

This was further confirmed with the submissive behavior of the Sales girl next to him.

Chiron smiled. He had acquired his target.

He approached the shop steadily and went through the doors like he knew his way around the place.

If it was anyone else, it would have been a more advisable idea to find a less experienced worker so that haggling for prices would be better. But Chiron had other thoughts.

Chiron knew that the more successful the business, the shrewder the merchant. This was a rule he learnt a long time ago in his previous world.

This shop was a big one. It was well decorated with flowers and the rich smell of fresh nerve sorting herbs hooked on to the nose on entry.

However, this made Chiron frown.

Unlike the other customers, he understood what was going on. Only entering into the place told him a lot about the owner of the shop.

The nice calming smell although seemed harmless, was actually a means to make customers relax their nerves. If a customer was not agitated, haggling for prices would be more in favor of the merchant.

Most customers did not know that battling for prices started the moment they walked into the shop.

Chiron observed the place as he moved deeper. He was well aware that eyes were on him. He made sure not to do two things.

The first was to look at any particular item on display for more than a second. This would show his interest in that particular thing and would make the merchant watching instantly increase price on the product. The second thing was to make sure he did not act as if he did not know what he was doing.

This would give off the fact that he was not familiar with the prices of the products and would lead to the instant increase in prices.

Yes. As one would expect, this was a battlefield. A special kind of battlefield where wits, body language and even voice intonation were the weapons.

Along the way, Chiron even came across one of the ingredients he needed for his aura awakening ritual, but he passed it by like it was not even there.

He went around the place a little. Like he was looking for something or someone that he could not find.

meanwhile, he was only using this as an opportunity to wait. He was baiting the merchant that had his eyes on him. Soon enough, he heard a voice behind him.

"Excuse me! Can I help you with something?" a nice to hear femine voice spoke up from behind him.

Chiron turned to the voice. It was the sales girl he had seen outside. looking at her closer, he could see that she was pretty but the bags under her eyes told him that she was most likely over worked with little to no rest.

She wore a black and white maid outfit that intentionally revealed her deep cleavage. She smiled at him as she asked him again.

However, Chiron only took a quick look at her and then shook his head, before muttering lowly, "don't worry! its not here. I'll just tell my master that the herbs he is looking for are not here." He turned and walked away.

However, those words were like a bell in the ears of the sales-girl. He had only taken a few steps when she ran after him and stopped him.

"Wait! Wait!! what herbs are you looking for? I'm sure I might be of service."

Chiron paused. A slight grin staining the side of his lips. However, when he turned to her, the grin was gone. It was replaced with a good frown.

On the face of a boy that was barely ten years of age. The frown he carried looked almost comical.

"I said don't worry. You don't seem to have it. I have gone round this shop and I can't find it. If I can't find it, then it means It's NOT HERE!"

Chiron intentionally said that last part loud. This drew the attention of the customers and also the fat man from earlier.

"I said the herbs I'm looking for are not here!" Chiron repeated himself.

Normally, no one would have taken the words of a barely seven year old serious, but this was a business. And everybody regardless of age was a customer. If chiron was saying that a particular herb was not here, then it most likely was not.

Naturally, this was hitting hard on the reputation of the shop to deliver, which was bad for business.

The fat man heard the conversation between Chiron and the sales girl and immediately hurried to mediate the situation.

"Finally! you come to me." Chiron thought to himself....