Chapter Fourteen: Planning my First Mission(1)

After collecting my letter, to which the secretary was the bald woman who was touching my hair early that day. She laughed at my face upon giving me my suspension letter.

"Look who got suspended !"

"Look who got hair!"

I knew I was definitely making enemies as she immediately broke down in tears. This wasn't helping my Charisma stats.

Walking back home, and I had a lot of ideas running through my mind. But first, I needed to do something. I walked into a prints shop.

"Hello there can I help you ? "

He was a young man, about my height but older in age, his facial features told me so. After explaining to him what I wanted and watched how he was baffled at the empty pages, he looked me up and down before trying to guess my motives.

"School projects ?"

"Yes, school project."

He smiled and began to work.

"Your bill is $10 for a copy. And $50 copies would be $500, no bargaining. "

I nodded my head before walking out.

In this world, gold was the universal currency. While in the human realms, paying with gold coins was also acceptable as well as physical cash. They were also other forms of payment, in kind or in kindness. In kind was simply you doing something in exchange for the goods or services gotten. In kindness, was simply you owing a debt due to been unable to fulfill the former. And a debt on one's head wasn't a good thing, as it could be redeemed at anytime.

I walked back home to get the cash, which was exactly all I had to my name. The girls were absent, I had no idea where they went to.

It was $1000, equivalent to a single gold coin.

As I passed through the market, where I last stole from a shop, I actively tried to avoid been seen.

"Hey boy! Watch it!"

A trader hauling his wares almost bumped into me, as I crossed his path slowly.

I moved along, watching with keen eyes and that of wishes, as I coveted another man's property. What can I say, I'm a thief.

"Seems the golden haired chap has decided to buy something once for himself. " I heard a quite familiar voice which brought back memories, event that had made me feel embarrassed. I turned to the lady behind me, and once again I had to admit she was a pretty damsel, a damsel that could easily kick my ass.

"Pay up what you stole from us. "

She was straight to business as usual. I knew what she was talking about, but I feigned ignorance. Of course she was the bakers daughter, and out running her wasn't an option as my last attempt was not only unsuccessful but also embarrassing.

"Alright, alright. How much was it ?" I asked spitefully as it pained my heart to be parting with my hard earned money, to be paying for my sins later.

"That will cost you five hundred."

"Five hundred ? How much is the shop ?" I asked incredulously.

Snap!

I heard the cracking of her knuckles, a nervous smile now on my face.

"Alright, five hundred, you say ?"

"Nothing less, you could drop more." She replied with a pleasant smile.

I counted out five $100 notes and handed it over to her.

"Here you go, ma'am"

"C'mon now, boy we are almost the same age."

I stared at her face, her full blonde hair and well toned body. She was definitely a stunning beauty, but she lacked the demeanor of someone in their early twenties. I definitely wasn't buying what she was selling, but I needed her. For something.

"I got a job for you, if you're interested. The pay is rewarding."

"And how much are we talking ?"

"Five gold coins. "

"That's $5000, huh ?"

"Yes."

She stared at me for a while, contemplating in her head what I believed was a postoperative answer.

"Alright then, what's it ?"

"Walk with me."

Few minutes I parted ways with her alongside with the ash tray in her possession as she quickly left to get to work. I smiled as I remembered the principal mocking me 'But sir, I don't have a parent. ' I couldn't wait to see his face soon.

"Hey good man, I'm done with your books."

"Ohh nice."

Quickly I packed the books into a worn out napsack as I parted with my last five hundred.

"Hey." I got closer to the man, my voice barely audible.

"I got something I want to sell. Something flashy, real gold, ornamental gold."

He stared at me for a bit before responding.

"Legal or illegal "

"Illegal"

"It will cost you more or less. "

"Sorry?"

"More to see the buyer or less the initial amount to be sold. "

I paused for a moment as I contemplated which one was worst. More to see the buyer was the lesser evil as I would still get close to the original price for the good I was about to sell, just that I would have to pay to see the buyer. But the less initial amount, simply meant I won't pay a dime in order to see the buyer but I would be selling the good at a lower price than usual as the middle man had to be settled either way.

My hands in my pockets and coming out empty automatically choosed the second option for me.

"Less the initial.."

The man stared at me before suddenly laughing.

"Alright. Because of you patronising me, I wouldn't charge a middle man fee. I'm the buyer, so what's the good all about."

I heaved a sigh of relief, a smile on my lips.

" Thanks brother."

I pulled out the golden wristwatch, my last prized possession, dropping it on his table and it gleamed under the light rays in the room.

"This is one fine specimen."

The man pulled out a one eyed glass, what was it called again, binocular ? No, a monocular handheld loupe. Seconds later and he was smiling more than me. This made me a little bit wary, as I quickly looked around, ensuring some hidden ninjas weren't blocking the entrance door and ready to pounce on me. He didn't sense my slight discomfort as the gold wristwatch must have really stolen his attention.

"Where did you get this lad ?"

"Now, you know I can't say sir. "

"It's magnificent! Truly magnificent!"

"Yeah, I know. That's why I stole it. So how much can I get for it?" I asked as he gave the item further scrutiny.

"How much you selling?"

"Twenty grand."

"Five thousand."

"Five! C'mon man, we talkng about gold here."

"Ten, take it or leave it."

I contemplated the ten for a brief moment before rejecting it completely.

"Fifteen ."

"Twelve ."

"Alright deal." His hand outstretched for a shake, as I shook it firmly, sealing the deal.

"Now could you wait a moment, let me put this away and get your cash."

"Uhh..no..no. let me hold unto it. You get the cash, I hand it over, the moment the cash touches my palms."

The man smiled at me wryly, before raising his hands in acceptance. I smiled as he walked into the back of his shop.

It was simple, I could be robbed if the opportunity presents itself, and this was an opportunity for the man. Illegal goods exchanges hands faster than legal goods at the point of sale. And in some cases, they aren't paid for. It's simply someone stealing what was stolen. And who would you report to, the police ?

Of course I knew that if I had allowed him to walk away with my gold watch, I would definitely end up standing there until I realized I have been robbed. And in this case I wouldn't blame myself as it would simply be a case of faulty judgement due to happiness of getting a good deal. One of the reasons you don't make judgements when happy, sad or angry. One's emotion must be in a state of equilibrium before taking decisive decisions.

He came out with a smile, I counted my money in front of him, checking the date and specific signatures to avoid counterfeit notes. He noticed this.

"You're one peculiar kid I must say."

"I have been in these streets good sir, walked, lived and breathed it in." I waved an imaginary cap at him before quickly walking away. Just in case the police were tracking the pork seller stolen gold wristwatch.