Kaito slowly made his way through the second floor of Verdantech Arms, pausing in front of each display cabinet.
Miniature drones designed for precision demolition. Aether-spun tripmines. Compact propulsion rigs. Arc-disruptor shells.
Every single item was either a deadly trap or a mobility-enhancing marvel. And each one seemed tailor-made for the solo survivalists who played the long game.
Almost all of them were to his liking.
In fact, if he could, he would have taken the entire second floor with him.
But the harsh truth hit as soon as his system panel refreshed with price estimates.
"Tsk…"
Even with the bonus coins from the dungeon rewards, auction monopolies, and a portion left from the Echoing Deep victory, his balance barely made a dent here.
At best, he could afford three—maybe five—of these tools. And that was assuming he spent everything.
He gave a slow shake of his head.
Just then, the shop attendant, still respectfully standing to the side, took a step forward.
"Lord Baron, do the items on display not meet your expectations?" she asked softly, watching him with a hint of concern. "If my Lord has specific requirements, I would be honored to make a personal recommendation."
Kaito inwardly smiled bitterly.
How could he admit that he simply didn't have the gold?
He wasn't like those top-tier NPC nobles or city lords who could casually drop ten thousand gold on a whim. Nearly every item here started at a thousand gold, and some soared even higher.
He adjusted his mask slightly and stepped away from the nearest display case.
"No, they're all excellent. I simply have a more specific request."
The NPC woman tilted her head slightly, a polite expression still etched across her face. "Of course, my Lord. Please speak freely."
"Do you have any Cryo-Core Orbs in stock?"
The attendant blinked once, then her smile sharpened ever so slightly.
"You have a discerning eye, my Lord."
Kaito didn't need her to explain.
The Cryo-Core Orb is a grenade model—its detonation unleashes a localized energy inversion field that destabilizes mana flow and shreds projectile accuracy within a ten-meter radius.
Perfect for disrupting spellcasters and ranged ambushes… and even deadlier in confined terrain.
But before Kaito could ask for pricing, the woman shook her head slightly.
"My Lord, items like the Cryo-Core—are sold only in the common section on the first floor. The VIP section does not sell them."
She bowed politely.
"If my Lord would kindly follow me."
Kaito gave a short nod.
The woman turned, descending the staircase with measured steps. Kaito followed, and as his boots touched the black-tiled floor again, a realization dawned.
So this is the VIP section…
In his previous life, he had stumbled upon this workshop when he was already around Level 80 or 90. Back then, without any noble title, he had browsed the first floor like everyone else—amazed at the tools available even in the common section.
And that alone had been a massive windfall.
But now, without even meaning to, he had uncovered the workshop's hidden upper tier…
A floor that the vast majority of players might never see.
It's no wonder those tools were so expensive…
Unfortunately, what hadn't changed was his wallet.
His current funds were still too shallow to afford the elite gear upstairs. All he could do was memorize the layout, mark the interesting items, and return later when his gold reserve had grown fatter.
For now, he would focus on what mattered most.
And the Cyro core orbs—while not flashy—were exactly what he needed.
"Lord Baron, these are the Cryo-Core Orbs you requested," the attendant said, guiding Kaito toward a long counter where several reinforced crates sat behind protective glass. "They are categorized into three tiers. May I know which type you are seeking?"
A flicker ran across the screen above the display, listing the options.
[Cryo-Core Orbs — Tiered Models Available]
Basic Cryo-Core Orb
Effective against monsters below Level 30.
Deals 200 flat energy disruption damage within a 10-meter radius.
Price: 2 Silver Coins
Intermediate Cryo-Core Orb
Effective against monsters below Level 70.
Deals 800 energy disruption damage within a 12-meter radius.
Price: 10 Silver Coins
Advanced Cryo-Core Orb
Effective against monsters below Level 120.
Deals 2,000 energy disruption damage within a 20-meter radius.
Price: 1 Gold Coin
Just a single Intermediate Cryo-Core Orb was enough to instantly kill a Level 5 tank-class player fully equipped with bronze-tier gear.
It wasn't an exaggeration.
Even the Basic Orbs, while not fatal on their own, could inflict terrifying damage when used in groups or dropped into crowded terrain. Their effectiveness multiplied the more reckless the enemy formation.
As for the Advanced model…
This wasn't something ordinary players could casually mess with.
Not only did it deal 2,000 disruption damage, but its effective range of 20 meters was insane. If Kaito had tossed even three of these during his battle with Everhold Dominion, he could have wiped half their frontline in seconds. No elaborate tactics, no positioning.
Just detonate and watch chaos unfold.
But each Advanced Orb came at a steep cost—1 gold coin per unit.
Even for him, that was too extravagant. Especially at his current level.
He exhaled softly and pointed to the display.
"Three stacks of Basic Cryo-Core Orbs, and forty Intermediate units."
He didn't hesitate. He didn't need the Advanced ones… yet.
But after what he was about to do, the Dominion players would be gunning for him harder than ever. Having a few Intermediate Orbs as insurance might save his life when things turned ugly.
A single stack of Cryo-Core Orbs contained 200 units.
Three full stacks would last him a long time—even if he used them aggressively.
The attendant nodded crisply and tapped a rune-slab at the counter.
"Understood, Lord Baron. Please give me a moment."
She turned and retrieved the requested items with surprising efficiency. A few moments later, three small crates and a reinforced pouch of Intermediate Orbs appeared before him.
"Since you are a noble under the current system, our store extends a 10% discount on all purchases."
She tapped the panel again, and the total cost appeared.
Purchase Summary
3 Stacks of Basic Cryo-Core Orbs (200 x 3) → 600 units
Price (2 Silver each) = 1,200 Silver = 12 Gold
30 Intermediate Cryo-Core Orbs (10 Silver each) = 300 Silver = 3 Gold
Subtotal = 15 Gold
10% Noble Discount = 1.5 Gold
Total = 13.5 Gold
"Your total is thirteen and a half gold coins, my Lord," she said with a bow. "Shall I finalize the transaction?"
Kaito didn't hesitate.
"Proceed."
A ripple of joy stirred in Kaito's heart.
In his previous life, even with all his experience and later achievements, he had never once received a discount at this workshop—let alone in the Black Market.
So this is what it feels like to wield a nobility title…
To think that just holding the rank of Baron could shave down prices in a place as lawless and unregulated as the Black Market… It was an unexpected happiness. One he hadn't even dared to hope for.
Of course, this wasn't just about prestige or respect.
Behind the scenes, this benefit was part of a long-standing underground agreement between the kingdoms and empires of Glory and the elusive authorities who ran the Black Market.
After all, the teleportation formations that led to the Black Market were built within the borders of these nations. In exchange for allowing those formations to remain—and not launching full-scale crackdowns—the kingdoms demanded at least a superficial form of control and acknowledgment.
Hence, the policy: nobles of their lands would receive discounts.
It was the Black Market's way of keeping the peace.
Because, at the end of the day, the Black Market wasn't trying to fight a war—it was simply a place for business. And keeping powerful nations appeased helped protect the network's neutrality.
Looks like my title's already paying dividends, Kaito thought, a faint smirk tugging at his lips.