19. Building for the Future (4) Hidden Surprise

<Search has detected an anomaly.>

It took all his restraint not to run to where the system was showing the anomaly but he was not sure what he would find and he did not want to expose anything that might be beneficial or dangerous to him to anyone else. It could be a small safe of coin or it could be a stack on incriminating information used in blackmail that someone would kill for. He would wait until they were done and gone before he would try and figure out more about it.

Novum had entered the last room and received a five pings back to back. <Shrewd Eyes - after successfully pricing twenty items to exact value you now have a +2 to Appraise. Perfect items will be highlighted in blue.>

<Item cannot be appraised. Ring - platinum>

<Item cannot be appraised. Broach - copper and opal>

<Item cannot be appraised. Mirror - silver frame>

<Item cannot be appraised. Quartz - purple>

'System why are those items not able to be appraised?'

<User lacks sufficient knowledge of magical items.>

'Thank you system.'

Novum heard Peter call out from the study. "Novum how much will you be willing to take for this entire set?"

Novum walked in saw him looking at the exquisite set of stationary and office items. It even had the stuff for a person to make their own seals. Novum pretended to look at the items a little better but he was really studying the information that he got from the system. "Peter you are not going to like my answer. That is pure gold inlayed with garnets. The gems alone are with almost a hundred gold and the entire set is close five hundred. I honestly do not know where he got it but it is expensive."

"So this set is not just pretty like I hoped it is actually made out of rare materials. I have money but not that much. Hell it would take me years to save up that much money. With this much wealth why would he try to do that to the town?"

The mayor answered, "Peter some men's greed knows no limit. They will destroy anyone that gets between them and another gold coin. Apparently Jim was less of a man than I thought."

"Peter I am sorry about the price. Normally I would not be greedy but I have a lot of plans in the near future that are going to be expensive as well as the cost of the carriage. Please understand."

"I am a business person Novum of course I understand I just am not good with materials and gems that is why I did not realize its value. What about the bracelet here on the mantle?"

The system told him it was thirty gold. "I will sell that one for twenty five gold. It is a real work of art."

"Will you deliver it for that price?" Novum gave him a funny look. "I have a girl in the capitol and I think that she would like it."

"Well if a girl is involved then I will drop it to twenty and deliver it for free since I am going there."

"She is finishing up here studies at the temple and she is going to try and get here as her first church. I am hopeful."

"That is good I will take her the bracelet, as soon as you pay for it."

Peter quickly pulled out his pouch and handed the gold to Novum. "I would like to wrap it before you go."

"Of course. I am not leaving for a few days. I need to make sure that I have everything ready before I go."

"That is all I am going to be able to afford. But thank you for letting me have first pick Novum." Novum gave him a bow of his head but before he could say a word the mayor spoke up.

"I would like the set of four paintings from the living room. There is something about them that I really enjoy."

"Let's go have a look I am not positive about which ones you are talking about." The entered the living room and Novum saw the paintings. The system told him that each one was about a hundred gold pieces but as a set they were worth more. But given the situation he would cut the mayor a deal but it was still not going to be cheap. "I will sell that set for three hundred."

The mayor hissed through his teeth. "That is a lot of gold. Can you put them up and let me sleep on it."

"Of course." He pulled the art off the walls and took it to the bedroom and sat them in the closet. "Anything else mayor?"

"No I don't think so. I might think about a few smaller things in the morning when I come back with the others but for now I will debate on the paintings. Are you headed to dinner?"

"I have a couple things I want to take care of first. I will be along in a bit." The two men left the house and Novum gathered up the four magical items and placed them in his bag out of sight. He needed to know more about them before he would sell them. He might even be able to use them depending on what they were. But for now he would wait. Of course he would take them with him and try to find out what they were really worth but no one needed to know that.

Once he made sure that the magic items and paintings were out of the way he went back to the master bedroom and concentrated on the wall. It took him a long time before he figured out how to get the wall open and he was even more confused when there was not a way to open it. There was no keyhole, lock or even a combination lock that seemed a little advanced for this timeframe. All he could see was what appeared to be a crest in the middle of the door.

Novum assumed it was a magical seal and the only thing that he had that was magical was the coin. He pulled the coin for the property out of his pocket but nothing happened. He was about to give up when he remembered that he still had some things in his bag that belonged to Jim. He pulled out the small bag and when he looked inside he saw a ring that had a crest on it that matched the crest on the door of the safe. He pulled the ring out and held it up to the door. The door glowed for a second and then swung open.

Novum looked inside and found two rings and a small pouch. He looked in the pouch and saw that it had about twenty platinum pieces inside. He was not sure about the rings but given they were in this hidden safe he had a feeling that they were not good. He put them with the other items to be identified when he was at the capitol. He was about to close the door when he saw a piece of paper on the bottom he picked it up and a super thin silver looking coin fell out. Novum looked at it and realized that it was a property coin. He had not been here that long but he had never heard of a a silver one. He held the coin and then looked at the letter.

Master Stewart, The coin was acquired and Magistrate Long managed to unbind it. I would highly discourage using this coin and Magistrate Long was lived and swore on his very life that if we tried that again he would self report and take all of us with him. That being said the golden girl is safe and secure for now and the family has started paying their fair share. Keep and eye out for her brother he is livid at the situation and has sworn to find where you are hiding and rid this world of you. Your loyal servant Henry.

<Quest Identified - Find out more about this letter and coin.>

Novum put the letter and coin in his pocket and headed out to try and get his hands on a couple of carriages to take him to the capitol. The old that ran the shop was making a few last minute notes in his ledger when Novum walked in. "Good evening sir."

"Good evening young man. What can old Sammy do for you?"

"I want to rent your carriages to go to the capitol and back."

"It is fifty gold for that. Fifty gold each." The man gave him a toothy grin.

"I can buy a carriage for that. You do realize that right?"

"Maybe in the capitol you can but here it is fifty gold a wagon for the trip."

"Eighty, and if you refuse that I will ride to the capitol and buy two carriages."

"Fine eighty." Novum got a ping and knew that it had to do with his reputation with the man. He honestly did not care since he was planning on building a carriage for himself this winter.

"I will pick it up the day after tomorrow." He pulled out eight platinum and put them on the counter. The old man's eyes lit up at them and he wondered just who this young man was.

Novum headed towards the restaurant and was surprised that there was no line. He walked up and opened the door and saw that they place was still busy that there just happened to be no line. The little girl was smiling and walking around out front helping people. The difference since Jim died was amazing and her smile could light up a room. "Good evening Mr. Novum there is a spot at the bar if you would like it. And we are out of the special already. They heard about the special and came early. That is why there was no line."

"Thank you for the information and I will sit at the bar." Novum crossed the distance and several of them gave him a wave and he returned them. He sat at the bar and automatically an ale was sat down in front of him. He smiled at the young girl that worked at the bar. "Is there any chicken left?"

"I am sure that we have a couple left. I will get that right out to you. And you sticking with ale or something a little stronger tonight. You are here this late so you are obviously not going back tonight."

"I will stick with ale for now and see how I feel in a bit." He took a long pull of his ale and enjoyed it after his long day.

Novum felt a nudge on his arm. "Young man that girl talked more to you just then than she has to me in a month. I think she might like you."

"I did not realize that, that was considered talkative. Thank you for the information." He turned back to his ale and thought about it. He got to thinking that he had not been on a date with a woman that was not his ex wife in over twenty years. He was a little out of practice. But given his apparent age being nervous and awkward with a girl would be normal. Maybe it would be something to consider when he got back from the capitol.

After he finished his meal and a couple more drinks he walked back to his house. He did not feel right sleeping in that perverts bed so he grabbed a blanket and curled up on the couch in the other room. It was way softer than what he was used to and he quickly fell asleep. The sun coming through the window the next morning woke him up and he felt well rested and ready to go.