Bartering For Medicine

Five days have passed since Brian started bartering in the Auction House. There was not a single day where he did not visit to change his item for another.

During that grueling time, he was also busy trying to teach his daughter the language of monsters. There was progress but it was very minuscule. In those five days, Paia could only say thank you, good morning, goodbye, and introduce herself in monsters language.

It is not because his daughter is a slow learner or anything. Instead, it was because Brian was a horrible teacher. The fact it is the System doing the translation on his part made it difficult to teach others. So he ended up asking Raine for a favor to teach Paia some words when they visit their place for their children's playtime.

For their financial status on the other hand, they still have money. But without work, there is no way to refill their necessities later on. Raju offered him some work, but he just told him that he has some plans. He will join them if only his plan failed so Raju rest easy knowing that his friend did not forget his responsibilities,

The plan Brian is talking about is actually proceeding to the right path until yesterday. When in quote the silhouette behind the barter service told him, "There is another rule in our service… An individual can only fulfill a request twice a week… And you already have your fair of share this week."

It was obvious that the rule was made because of Brian. They do not want the list to be empty because of a single person exchanging everything as soon as he received the item. With that being said, he still plans to visit the Auction House later.

His current item was a bottle of medicine that can cure low-level curses or alleviate slightly many high-level curses. He asked Raju what the value of it and he answered that it was about 250 gold coins.

Brian was amazed knowing how much it can be sold into. To earn 250 gold from just bartering is a feat to achieve when he started with a ring five days ago. His goal was 300 gold coins so he was almost there.

He has already inquired at the Association for the land price. Along with it, he and his daughter are now formally citizens. Although he cannot be an official merchant until he opens up his own store under his name.

Now what he needs is to find 50 gold or maybe more to build his foothold. So after leaving his daughter to the care of Raine, he left for the Auction House. He already trusted their family to take care of his daughter while he was away.

As much as he wants to let her accompany him throughout the whole day, it is not good for a little girl to walk under disdainful stares every time.

The path heading to the Auction House was already familiar to him. It was not weird that he memorized all stores and activities in the center of business for Soliel City since he has been going in and out of it for the past few days.

As a merchant, he is also trying to view the world as a person of business. Looking for possible opportunities here and there.

What he can conclude during his week of observing was that he can say the opportunities were plenty. Unlike back on Earth where it would be difficult to have a solid place in the business world because of the competition, this place was like a baby still learning how to walk.

However, he cannot say he will immediately do an amazing job if he just has the capital. In the end, he was still in an unfamiliar world with a new community and society.

The thing he should first focus on is completing the System's quest.

"You again? I thought I told you yesterday our new rule…" The silhouette he has been meeting for what seems to forever do not welcome Brian at all.

"I'm not here to fulfill any request today. This time, I am going to put my item on the list."

"Hmph!" The silhouette gave up and provided Brian a paper and pen to write his request. If only it can charge him for more than 50 copper coins,, they would probably have done it.

Brian did not mind the other party being annoyed at him. Thinking about what he wants, he decided to just be concise as possible. So his request poster looked like this,

[Have: Miracle Powder – Low tier]

[Want: Anything with the value above that can be sold for 300 gold coins]

'I guess that's very clear… Even though it's more than 50 gold compared to the market price, someone will still want to trade for it because of the medicine's lack of supply.'

Satisfied with what he wrote, he gave it to the silhouette behind. The other party cursed out loud when they received it making you wonder what them so mad.

"How shameless! So this is what you have been doing here…!"

"Can I not write that for my want?" Brian was genuinely worried if something is wrong. There was a rule that did say the money should not be involved. Maybe also when writing for the want, money should not be raised.

Fortunately for him, the silhouette said, "No, there are no problems it's just… Just get a job next time. This place is not for earning money."

"Ok, got it." Brian accepted their advice. He also understood that what he was doing is a bit unconventional so he does not have anything to dispute.

He separated with the vial of powder medicine he has on hand in hopes that within seven days, he will be able to complete everything. He will somehow find something to do when he is free. Maybe he would go and tour the whole city this time.

While he was thinking about his unexpected open schedule, a familiar face entered the room.

"Greetings Miss Evelyn… Looking for the same thing as usual."

This is the first time Brian saw the silhouette greeted someone by themselves. It shows how the birdwoman who just came in and the same birdwoman he met five days ago, is someone important.

Evelyn, as Brian knew recently, is still rocking with her red theme. What she was wearing was different from what Brian saw when she met her the first time although it makes you wonder if all her clothes in her wardrobe are all red.

"Is there someone who has Miracle Powder this time?"

"You're in luck Miss Evelyn. That dear human over there placed his request a minute ago."

'Oh~ looks like I don't need to wait for seven days to finish my quest. Lucky! But why does she needs it when she can probably buy some outside?'

The first thing that comes out of Brian is the scarcity of Miracle Powder. Unless the woman who asked needed a lot of this medicine, he cannot think of any other reason why she will go over here.

There was no more reason to leave the Auction House so Brian just waited until Evelyn's transaction was done. He was not sure what he would be getting since his request was very broad, but it does not matter as long as he can sell it.

When the vial of medicine was on her hands, she turned around and look at the human who supposedly requested money technically. She remembers the face of the little girl the father accompanied, but she was not able to look at his face properly.

"You have more where that came from?" Asked Evelyn inquiring about the Miracle Powder.

"Sorry to disappoint but that was all I have."

"If you got some Miracle Powder, just come here the same day and the same time. I'll gladly buy it directly from you with money." She left those words before leaving as fast as she came in.

What she was offering was good. Too bad Brian does not have any way of getting that powder anymore.

Since he has no way of taking advantage of the offer, all that what was left is to claim his item worth 300 gold then he can finally be done with this bartering routine.

***

Inside a carriage that can only be ridden by the richest nobles, the same woman who recently came out of the Auction House was leaning on the closed window frustrated.

"There are rumors that a Variant Mantis have appeared near the borders of Mandaue. Its rise should create an army of Mantises that produce the needed ingredients for Miracle Powder. The Variant has also the key ingredient for a high-tier version of the medicine. If we can get it, then master-"

A gust of wind forced the coachman to stop talking. That magic with killing intent came out of the passenger seat. And Evelyn was the only one on it.

"I already know. My family is paying you to just drive around. I do not need a useless chit-chat."

With those words, the whole trip was silent.

Despite her indifference to the coachman's words, she was thinking about the same thing. The Variant Mantis is the last and best option for what she needed to do.