Hearing Gusoin ask the price, Eve was delighted; she knew this man could afford the Executioner.
"My senior said the lowest is 20,000 End Coins, no bargaining."
The price made many first-time explorers sigh at how expensive purple gear was.
Most first-tier explorers used Fine Gear, and only the better-off could afford Rare Gear. Most earn just four to five thousand End Coins per world.
Faced with purple gear costing ten or twenty thousand coins, even top first-tier explorers could only dream.
"Sure, let's trade."
Gusion agreed without bargaining. He knew it wasn't Eve's, and the price was fair.
As a nearly max-rated purple item, Executioner's market value was easily over 20,000 End Coins—up to 25,000 in some cases. Clearly, the owner needed cash urgently.
"Thank you, Goshujinsama~"
Eve breathed a sigh of relief at closing the sale. She'd dreaded haggling.
They exchanged goods and payment, and Gusion left satisfied.
However, his luck seemed to run out. He didn't find any more bargains for several hours in the market.
Passing Eve's stall again, she called out to him.
"Goshujinsama, didn't find anything you liked?"
Eve was packing up.
Gusion nodded. "Got anything else good?"
"You know my level. Executioner was the best I had. But if you have money, try the lower commercial district. The supporter shops there have a wider selection—just pricier since they're not in a hurry to sell like us."
"Thanks for the tip. I'll check it out."
Gusion thanked her and left quickly. Gusion's advice gave him a new idea.
As she said, supporters rarely enter mission worlds and spend a lot of time in the End Space, mainly producing goods, so they don't need quick sales.
Explorers' time in space is short, and mission worlds are very dangerous, so they must quickly liquidate useless equipment for combat power.
This is the point of the trade market—a place for explorers to exchange loot, each taking what they need. Usually, there's no profit, so goods are relatively cheap.
But the commercial street below belongs to supporters. The commercial aspect means shops aim to make money, so their equipment is pricier.
Explorer gear comes from two sources: mission worlds and treasure chests. Both are unreliable for quality or suitability.
Supporter shops, however, offer a full range of gear and even custom orders—perfect if you have money but can't find the right equipment.
Gusion soon arrived at the commercial street, which was bustling. He sensed that many there were stronger than him.
Commercial street is open to all explorers, regardless of tier, so high-tier explorers often visit.
The first time Gusion entered the space, he didn't visit because he felt he couldn't afford anything.
Now, just walking a short distance, he was amazed.
Every imaginable shop was there, and the supporter business was incredibly specialized.
Shops sold equipment, recovery items, support items, bloodline items, skill scrolls... There was even an area just for equipment, subdivided into main weapons, sub-weapons, armor, footwear, accessories, etc.
There were also lifestyle and entertainment shops—restaurants, bars, etc.
He even saw a scantily clad girl handing out a pink pamphlet as he passed.
A quick glance showed things like "Full Service," and "Half Service"—he didn't understand any of it.
In short, the commercial street was far more prosperous than he'd imagined. This was the supporters' hub and a paradise for wealthy explorers.
He noticed that equipment was indeed about 20% more expensive than the market, and the big-name shops catered to high-tier explorers—not for him.
He'd entered a department store, and the staff inside all had higher stats than him...
The gear for sale was of unheard-of quality, with price tags so big he didn't even want to count.
So he left the main street to check out smaller shops, more suitable for lower-tier explorers.
Soon, he spotted a small shop with no staff, just a girl at the counter, chin in hand, daydreaming.
As Gusion approached, the sailor-uniformed girl perked up, giving a businesslike smile.
"Handsome, would you like to buy a bed?"
"A bed?"
Gusion paused and checked the sign above the door—"Custom Orders."
He thought it was a custom equipment shop. Was it actually a furniture store? Did he get it wrong?
Inside, the shelves were indeed full of shrunken furniture, mostly beds...
"Oh, I thought this was an equipment shop. Sorry to bother you."
Gusion turned to leave, wondering who in the End Space would buy a bed. Was he insane? Shouldn't money be spent on self-improvement? The default furniture in his room was just fine.
"Wait!"
The sailor girl hurried to stop him. Her shop had been open a month with zero sales.
She moved to block Gusion.
"We do sell equipment, and I can make custom orders!"
Gusion sized up the baby-faced girl, thinking she didn't look like an experienced supporter—and with her selling furniture, could she really make equipment?
"Please come in and look. I'm really good at what I do!"
She tried to pull Gusion, but the End Space prohibits explorers/supporters from forcing each other, including pulling or pushing.
"Fine, I'll take a look."
Gusion followed her to the back shelves, noticing there was equipment after all, just hidden behind the furniture.
"Legendary?"
Gusion's eyes lit up. "You made these?"
The sailor girl put her hands on her hips, chin up, looking proud.
"Of course! So, honored customer, want to buy one?"
Gusion shook his head. Legendary gear was too expensive, but he'd underestimated this girl—she was a master craftsman.
All the gear he saw was max-rated legendary, with powerful effects and no useless fluff—a testament to her skill.
It was a pity she was obsessed with selling beds. With her skills, why not focus on equipment?