Equipment Store

I waited a little while before the man came back with a box in his arms. He placed it on a nearby table and gestured for me to come over.

"This box might have what you're looking for. It's full of sense concealment equipment, but before I even let you look through it you better show me that you have the means to pay for any of it."

I looked over at the box for a moment before a small flash occurred as a bag of those Spirit Stoned from before appeared in my hand. It was tied at the top, but I loosened it so that he could get a gleam of what was inside. Momentarily I saw his eyes light up before the bag vanished from my hand.

"Now let me look."

"Go ahead, take all the time you need. Tell me if anything seems to suit you though."

He casually went back behind the counter as he looked around his moderately populated store. There were probably 5 other potential customers around peering at his various equipment laid out. This place wasn't something grand after all, it was a store hidden away in an underground city and it wasn't a large one either.

I peeked my head over the box to see a variety of scattered clothing pieces within. One by one I started taking them out to see what they were.Visually they didn't look too different from normal clothing, but I suppose that makes sense.

What kind of person who's trying to conceal themselves would actually want to wear outfits which stood out from others after all?

Everything that was separate from one another had a small tag attached to them with an explanation for what it may do. Simply peering into the box had let me know that some were very short and vague while a few others were even a little long at times.

I picked up one of the tags which had a short description of what it did to read. Pulling it out I realized it was a pair of shoes.

===

Drifts with the wind

===

The tag was short and simple and after examining it by injecting a bit of Qi into it I found out it was actually just a Low-Grade Human tier item. No matter if it was the grade or the kind of item this was, it simply wouldn't help me with my current crisis about it.

'Bah! Shoes wouldn't help me at all right now! Even socks would be better! What does 'drifts with the wind' even mean?'

I took the shoes out of the box before setting it aside to take out the next item.

The description of this one was a little lengthier then the other one. The next item was a light blue woolen scarf.

===

Exhale as silence shall disperse into the surroundings. As light as the sky fluctuates.

===

'Silence? So this scarf makes me quieter? What does the second part mean? Why are these descriptions so vague and confusing?'

With a quick inspection I found that this was an Intermediate-Grade Human tier item. Simply from the grade of this equipment it would be better than those shoes, but it still isn't useful to me.

I tossed it aside next to the shoes and continued my little search.

The next thing I found were a pair of thin transparent white gloves which I immediately became a little excited upon pulling out. The tag even had quite a long description for it as well.

===

As you touch and caress you leave no sense nor feeling. Their reactions dull as they feel your actions are null. Be forewarned no objects shall be taken without them being shaken.

===

'Huh? If I touch someone they won't feel it, but I can't use it to steal anything?

W-what? What kind of glove is this then?! Are the made specifically for perverts or something?! This sounds like it was made specifically for groping people! Only a pervert would buy this!

I-in that case I think I should buy it. It's just for keeping it so other nefarious people won't have it, that's all! Yeah, that's right I'm doing a good deed by buying this item.'

I self rationalized as I already knew how I was going to use it, but I didn't want to think that way.

"Hehe~"

After a quick little inspection I placed it in a new pile. The pair was actually Low-Grade Earth tier, the highest I've seen from the bunch.

Since it was earth tier I had an even higher chance of not being noticed by him. There was absolutely no way I could get a handful of him witrhout him noticing since they weren't even considered true treasures, at least not for me and probably not for him as well.

If these were a human grade "treasure" then a graze on him is probably the absolute most I could get if even that, but he does like to pretend to be a mortal so I could probably touch him with numerous grazes.

With an earth grade I could probably even have a few caresses, but the glove still doesn't disperse any scents so I don't even know if it would be useful or not.

I stuck my arm in once more and pulled out another pair of gloves. This one was a little similar to the gloves just before, but they were a thin transparent pair of black gloves instead. Seeing that the white ones were so good I had some high hopes this would be good too. With just a quick glance I saw that it wasn't as length not that it was a bad thing though.

===

A sense is a wonder so come under. Combine the two and the choice of sense is for you.

===

'Why do all these descriptions just sound like crappy cryptic poems? The first part means nothing to me, but that second part clearly refers to some second part. A part which I believe just so happens to be the pair of white gloves I put aside.'

After examining the gloves they happened to be a pair of Intermediate-Grade Earth tier items.

I picked up the two pairs with one in each hand to compare them. In the end I concluded that I was worth a try to see if it worked or not. I set them aside as I sorted through the rest of the box.

..

In the end nothing was as interesting as the gloves I found. Most of the other equipment seemed to be trying to rid themselves of sound, some got rid of sight, and even fewer tried to get rid of touch. As for any that specifically targeted taste and smell they weren't even here I didn't find a single one.

In total there was probably 17 items, most of which were an article of clothing.

'Am I going to be able to afford these? Now that I think about it I only have 120 Low-Grade Spirit Stones. Isn't that usually the average price of an Low-Grade Human tier sword? This won't be enough for it will it? I suppose I can just check and if needed I can always come back later with more money.'

I strolled up to the counter with the two sets of gloves. The shopkeep was standing there with a faux smile, quietly watching all the customers in his store until he noticed me approaching. He stood up a little straighter as I came forth.

"Ah! You found something you like? Let's see now… oh two sets of similar gloves? Will that be all?"

"Yes"

"Hmm, let me see them then."

He extended his hand out and I obliged, handing over the gloves.

"Oh, wait a minute it's these gloves! Someone's finally buying them? I've already had them for years, but I guess no one cares. I'll tell you what, I've had them for so long and no one wanted them before so I'll give you a huge discount. Just 120 Low-Grade Spirit Stones and I also have a little job I wish for you to complete."

'120? T-that's exactly how many I have though? Does he have some means to count them all when I showed him the bag earlier?'

"What is this job?"

I felt like these gloves would be helpful, so I decided that as long as this job wasn't too outrageous then I would take it. If it was really too much I could always come and pay with more money or I could try and just steal it from him if need be.

"It's simple really. In the deep alleys of the western district there's a house with about 5 people. They all need to die. Outside their house is a wooden carving of a horse hanging about. That's how you'll know if you reached the right location."

"You want me to kill 5 innocent men?"

"Innocent? Tch! They're anything but innocent. It's the whole reason I'm down here in the first place! Those bastards took everything from me and I need them to die. It was a miracle that I was even able to have anything for this shop in the beginning. Anyway, I just need them dead okay? It shouldn't matter too much to you right? If you're here your morals are skewed anyway right?

Just think of them as a bounty for you and your reward being these gloves."

"But you have guards at the entrance of this building, why don't you just hire mercenaries?"

"You don't think I've tried? It's just that no one strong enough is willing, they say the pay I give out is too little and I'm not going to sell everything I own just for them to do it. I want them to die, but I won't be going down with them.

On the other hand there are those who are willing to take it, but they would simply be marching to their deaths. The men were all in the Essence Gathering Realm from what I've heard.

Those pairs of gloves are actually the only Earth Grade treasures in my entire store. I'm not that rich a man. Since you want these gloves and I want those men dead I believe we could make a very nice transaction that's mutually beneficial. I give you a massive discount and you kill them, so do we have a deal?"

I thought about it for a moment before eventually deciding that I might as well. My conscience was staying clean as their description was horrible so far and I got the gloves afterward. Plus, this man was also giving me the chance to test out my weapon on people, what was there to hate about this deal.

"Alright, I'll do it."

"R-really? T-thank you, thank you! Wait, one moment!"

The man hurriedly ran into the back of his store for a few moments before returning with a makeshift map.

"Here, take it! I've marked the location on the map, just follow the street signs and eventually you'll reach their little area. The building is a little more secluded so there won't be too much traffic there.

Just so I know you did it I want you to bring back their headbands. They should each be wearing a red headband."

I nodded as I exited the store.