FOURTH, FIFTH, AND SIXTH UPGRADE (2)

Daybreak shone radiantly in the small town. It was active as people incessantly poured in and out of the medieval houses and taverns.

Large timbers curved in an arch were rooted in its entrance. Above, it indicated the name of the small town with large timber-framed letters.

[Welcome to the Town of Arkhe!]

Inside, most houses had two floors with an overhang second floor and an underground floor that was filled with diverse species. Stalls nested in the underground floor, hanging their items on the timber walls with lined-up items arranged on tables and cabinets.

Chimneys rested on Medieval houses of cemented walls whilst wooden shutters ventilate the timber-framed houses.

They were both adorned with tiled canopies.

Stalls of varying commodities satiated the sight of Alab.

There were food stalls, armory stalls, and lastly, his most-favored item stalls.

Subsequently, Alab squeezed into the congested street, being pushed and pushing back the unrest participants.

Eventually, he arrived in a least-populated region. Standing in front of a small house that was deprived of customers, Alab wiped his bare feet on the entrance mat and then entered the bleak house upon neatly scrubbing and cleansing his soles.

The underground floor was dark and cold and the air was humid. Obsolete and rusty products clung on the timber walls and tables alike. Alab counted the items.

"Twenty was still usable while the other 50 were too rusty to be used", Alab estimated.

Eventually, he directed to the counter where a petite girl was at. She was little and was about 5-8 years old.

Her black hair was disheveled and dotted with whitish split ends. Her eyes were round and her cheeks were puffed.

The little girl glared at Alab which was a rather cold greeting to her customer.

Curving her lips, the little girl scorned.

"We do not have any useful item here. Just leave", her voice was cold and monotone.

Alab could somehow figure out the situation why the little girl loathed him.

'It seems that a participant has thrown havoc here', Alab inferred.

Claw marks scarred the broken tables and chairs, slithering up to the timber walls. Some of the items were shattered with some that were on the verge of breaking.

Not to mention the feeble claw marks on the scalp of the little girl.

Structuring his words, Alab muttered in a mild tone.

"I will buy every item in this shop", Alab muttered and then took out a coin from his inventory.

The cold gaze of the little girl immediately gleamed with delight.

"A coin! A gold coin!", the little girl stood from her seat, slamming her arms into the timber counter.

It was her first time seeing a gold coin up close. The illusion of rich scent emitted from the gold coin, wafting to her nose, was materializing in her mind.

The little girl couldn't hold back her excitement.

"Really?! Really?! Are you going to buy all my items?!", the little girl was thrilled to have finally found a gallant customer.

"Yes"

Alab just uttered a word that was enough to make the little girl seize the coin and sprint to pack all the items into a huge sack. When the sack got full, she then organized the remaining items into the table.

Her hands were swift and it was evident that she had mastered the related saleswoman skills by now.

The table brimmed once more and the little girl glanced at the broken items scattered in the floor. Her eyes were cold momentarily and then turned hesitant to Alab.

"It's fine, I will also take the broken items", Alab spoke before the little girl could.

"Yes!"

Brimming with joy once more, the little girl cheered as she shoved the shattered items into the table, not missing even a speck.

"Wooh! It's been a while since I get this tired", the little girl wiped her sweaty foreheads. Her curly long hair was brushed off to one side.

She took a small paper item and immediately fanned herself. The cold air swept through her exhausted figure.

"But, it was fun!", the little girl added and placed the fan back on the table. She then returned to the counter and calculated.

After a short while, she spoke.

"75 E-rank items, 10 of which are shattered. That would be 7,500 copper but I will just give it to you for hmmm", the little girl paused.

"6,000 copper. That's the lowest I can give lest Mom got mad at me."

Respect was now reflected in her soft voice. Her eyes dazzled as she glance at Alab who just nodded his head.

It was considered patronage to buy even the broken items already and the price was certainly generous. The little girl jumped at the sales that had been going downhill for two days now with even conceited participants wreaking havoc in her stall.

At last, she handed the 40 silver change to Alab who was actively storing the items in his inventory. With the table tidied, Alab gripped the sack and directly left the stall.

"Thank you for your purchase! Mr.!", the little girl bowed her head.

Alab strolled through the Arkhe town, skimming stall by stall, checking out for valuable items. However, the congested stalls were displaying nothing noteworthy aside from higher rank items.

Without their ranks, the items would be nothing but a piece of decoration. They didn't spark any potential.

Alab entered and exited item stalls, unable to find even the tiniest tempting item. He decided to stop by a food stall when the sun was at its highest in the sky.

The aromatic scent of served foods made the participants ask for more. Alab skimmed through the menu.

There were menudo, pinakbet, Laing, and of course, the highly crucial food on his palate - brown rice.

Alab found it odd that Filipino cuisine was being served in this stall. Still, he wolfed down without further thought as the alluring scent of food teased his rumbling stomach.

With a bloated stomach, Alab roamed once more, checking out the neighboring food stalls that served another cuisine from Earth. There were also foreign foods that Alab dared not to try. Partly because he didn't find it appetizing, and partly because he had to conserve his coins.

He had about 50 silvers left combined. Some of which were from his regular hunting of monsters.

At the end of the town, Alab reached another congested region. He was quick to squeeze in and reach the forefront, heading right into the underground floor of the house. His body was just tiny and built for this occasion.

Inside, Alab's eyes were cheered by a myriad of small cylindrical glass containing varying fluids. There were red, green, and blue fluids.

Instantly, Alab checked the items.

[Health Recovery Potion (D)

Description: Can recover the user's health and heal minor wounds.

Effect:

- recovers 1000 health]

[Exhaustion Recovery Potion (D)

Description: Can recover both physical and mental exhaustion mildly.]

[Mana Recovery Potion (D)

Description: Can recover the user's mana.

Effect:

- recovers 1000 mana]

Looking at the items, Alab's eyes were pinned on the last item. It was the cylindrical glass containing a blue liquid.

"Of course, this item should exist in this world", Alab mumbled.

He then shifted his gaze to the price below only to cause fluctuations in his expression.

"5 silvers each?"

The potion cost so much. With his little coins remaining, Alab could buy 10 potions at most. These were definitely not enough to convert a hundred items.

As Alab lined up at the counter, a familiar back of a tall woman with blonde hair and fair skin obscured his sight. Alab had seen this figure many times and as he thought, when the woman turned, her beautiful and angelic face was revealed.

"Alab! I don't know you are here?!", said Anastasia.

Her tattered clothes were now discarded. She wore a new red leather cuirass, black bracers, and black sleeves and leggings underneath.

All didn't restrain her movements. She could stretch her feet and arms with utmost flexibility. Further, the armor accentuated her beauty, gleaming her with a modest yet fierce female knight aura.

Unlike Alab, Anastasia was holding a bunch of diverse potions. She just had so many coins to spend. At this thought, Alab steeled his mind.

"Anastasia, can I borrow some coins?", Alab didn't care about shame.

Widening her eyes, Anastasia was filled with gladness. She was keen to help her teammates and now a chance had come. Ecstatic, she responded.

"Sure! How much do you need--"

"50 gold coins", indeed, Alab knew no shame...

He didn't hold back and indifferently stated. There was no ounce of shame on his face.

Anastasia was stunned at his sudden and unexpected requests. It was even fair to call it absurd.

Still, looking at the enigmatic face of Alab, Anastasia knew that he was not kidding around.

'He needed that many coins?! What for?---'

"Will you lend me or not?", Alab cut off the thoughts of Anastasia, urging her for an answer. The line was getting shorter and it would be their turn soon.

Anastasia blinked several times as she composed herself. She knew that it was futile asking Alab for reasons and that it would be unkind to revoke her words. Anastasia couldn't help but recall the scene two days ago when they departed with Alab.

"If you need money, just tell me", Anastasia muttered, wriggling her pouch of gold.

"Argh! I should not have said that!", Anastasia regretted her words.

"Don't be shy to say NO. I won't be mad or disappointed."

'You definitely will!'

'Now you are making me feel worse! Huhu'

Anastasia wept inwardly. However, she could no longer undo her words. Steeling her emotions as she knew that Alab would use them sparingly to elevate his power anyways, Anastasia gradually succumbed.

She took a pouch of gold coins from her inventory and handed it to Alab. Brushing off her hesitant face, Anastasia flashed a gentle smile.

"Just make sure to use that wisely, okay?", she patted the shoulder of Alab and then placed her potions into the counter. She then moved to the side as she took her change. Alab slid into the counter.

She believed that Alab would spend it with utmost care. He was not the impulsive type after all.

However, as she wrapped her potions and turned her head, she saw Alab talking to the saleswoman.

"That's 50.5 gold coins, all for mana potions", Alab muttered...