The trader looked at me... or at least I think he did. It's hard to tell with him-his face always partially hidden behind that strange, half-shadowed veil. He closed the thick book he was reading with a soft thud, and his voice broke the silence like a thread being pulled tight.
"This is interesting. That code you used... I only gave it to three people."
He leaned forward slightly, fingertips pressed together.
"Yet you're not one of them. It's a special one. So tell me, kid-where did you learn that code?"
...Here we go.
It was starting. From this point on, I had to be careful. Precise. Calculated. If I wanted to get what I came for, every word mattered.
I casually turned away from him, trying not to show the slight stiffness in my shoulders. I walked slowly around the room, my eyes scanning the cluttered shelves and scattered scrolls. My fingers brushed across a dusty spine before I picked up a worn book from the floor.
"Well..." I said, flipping the book open without reading it, "you're called a trader, aren't you? Isn't your code of conduct that a price must be paid for information?"
The trader tilted his head, a subtle grin forming at the edge of his mouth.
"You got that right, dear customer."
He folded his arms.
"So then, what is it that you want? Whether you stole that code or not, doesn't matter now. The one who uses it will be treated as a VIP. So speak."
I let the book drop to my side, walking slowly up to his desk with a quiet confidence. A smirk tugged at my lips.
"Can I get a piece of paper and something to write with?"
His amusement deepened. He raised his hand lazily, and with a flick of his wrist, a quill and parchment floated toward me. I caught them mid-air and began scribbling-a few names, my address. Then, carefully, I folded the paper and looked him straight in the eye.
"As a VIP, I assume my dealings with you will be private. My name kept secret?"
He nodded slowly.
"That is true, dear customer. Trust is the foundation of my business. So... have you written your request on that paper?"
I smiled faintly and held the folded paper between two fingers.
"No, no. This? This is just a greeting. A gesture of goodwill. You could say... it's the price I'm trying to pay."
His eyes sparkled now, like someone watching a particularly clever card trick.
"But dear customer," he chuckled, "you do know that the price is chosen by me, right?"
"I do," I replied, stepping closer, my voice dropping into a whisper-like tone.
"But this piece of paper isn't just a price. It's something you need, not just something you want."
The room echoed with his laughter-loud, open, genuine.
He was enjoying this.
"Okay, my dear VIP. I'm listening. What is it that you want?"
I paused, letting the air settle before I spoke.
"A few bottles of stamina potions, some health potions... and an artifact that can purify poison."
He tapped a finger against the desk.
"Hmm... The potions? Simple enough. The artifact... now that's a different story. It'll take a few days. A rare piece, especially since I don't know what I'm getting in return yet."
Without another word, I handed him the folded paper.
He opened it slowly, scanning its contents. Then his expression changed-subtle at first, but his eyes definitely narrowed.
"Well... this is a surprise. You even know the names of some of my people."
He tapped a line with his finger.
"There's a name here I don't know. And I presume this address is yours. Care to explain why I should care about this paper?"
I met his gaze, firm and calm.
"It's simple. The names you know? They're people planning to kill you."
His smile vanished.
"You must've noticed the symptoms by now. Mana poisoning?"
I leaned in slightly.
"The name you don't recognize-he's an alchemist. Lives two towns over, out in the countryside. Rare class. Might be worth recruiting."
I placed my hand over my chest.
"And the address is mine. That's where you can send what I requested."
I shrugged, forcing a light-hearted smile.
"After all, I'm just a poor, weak, unawakened boy. Can't keep strolling the streets at night. It's dangerous."
The trader stared at me for a long moment. Then, he leaned back in his chair and started laughing.
Loud. Wild. Unrestrained.
"Hahaha! HAHAHA! Oh, this is fun!"
He wiped a tear from his eye and grinned.
"So I presume if I investigate and find out you're lying... that address is your way of telling me I can just kill you?"
I tilted my head slightly and smirked.
"Well, trust is the foundation of your business, isn't it?"
He chuckled, then nodded.
"You're clever. I like that. Very well then, dear VIP... If your information checks out, you'll be well rewarded."
He raised his hand again, and purple smoke began to rise around my feet.
"Now, let's not keep your family waiting."
The smoke swallowed me whole-
And just like that, I was standing in front of my apartment building.
I exhaled slowly, staring up at the moonlit sky.
This worked out better than I thought.
A few days, huh?
I can't wait.