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Chapter 103 - Chapter 101: Exrump Corporation

'Damnit! I wish I had more money!'

He had seen so many luxuries in the short moment of shopping that he felt downright broke despite having what many would consider a lot of money

In the end, he selected a fur-coat for 1 Platinum Coin. It was specially enchanted to regulate the wearer's temperature, keeping him comfortable regardless of the weather, no more worrying about sweating through his clothes. He also picked up a stylish set consisting of a shirt, trousers, and boots, all for one Platinum Coin. The set's convenience was a bonus he appreciated.

Finally, he got himself a ring worth one Platinum coin.

However, it has a special effect of possessing a Storage Unit, or a small pocket dimension, he was initially hesitant to get it, because they already had Polities as their storage guy for stashing many of their weapons, but after considering how luxurious it looked, he decided to buy it. Though they already had Polities for such tasks, the added utility made it a worthwhile investment.

'Apparently, all the rich people have something like this,' Riley mused. Since he needed to look at the part, he made the purchase.

By the time Riley reached the checkout desk, Mason and Polites were already waiting for him. Per his instructions, they had each selected a new outfit. Mason had chosen a raven-black hooded robe, which had an enchantment imbued to make him appear larger and more intimidating than usual, while Polities simply wear a pair of new glasses. 

They'd cost two Platinum Coins for some reason, but Riley considered it a good investment.

"Alright. Looks like we're all set."

After paying, the three of them left the store and continued on their way.

"Come again next time!" called the attendant as they exited.

"Oh, we're definitely coming back!" Riley responded. There were a couple of other items he'd had his eye on, but they were well beyond his current budget. Once he saved up enough, nothing would stop him from returning.

——————————————————

"This is the place."

After a few minutes of walking, a towering building came into view, one of the largest structures in the city. 

Of course, it wasn't just tall, dozens of stories high, but also impressively wide. It was clear that a lot of activities went on in this building, and it exuded an air of intimidation, not a place for the faint of heart.

"You actually did business here?!" Riley exclaimed, feeling surprised. Even Polites was shocked that Mason had the nerve to set foot in such an imposing establishment.

This is no mere company they were looking at, this is a fucking corporation.

"Well, I did mention that I was approached by an affiliate who brought me here," Mason explained, trying to justify himself.

"Well… That's true," Polites added, recalling the story.

According to Mason, he had initially been looking for a place to sell the Monster Cores when a man approached him, offering to help with the sale. The man took him to this establishment and guided him through the process.

'That's most likely the one who was involved in the scam…' Riley thought. 

The company must have dealt directly with the so-called Affiliate, who in turn dealt with Mason. He probably pretended to be the seller and got to bargain with the real buyers. By negotiating a higher price and passing on a lower one to Mason, the affiliate pocketed the difference.

'That's how those sorts of people make their money.'

"Shouldn't we be looking for the guy, then?" Polites asked Riley as he seemed to have the same thought as he is.

"Nah, there's no point. People like that are slippery. It would just be a waste of time."

"You've got a point. It would've been easier if I tagged along with my other friend in your home country."

"We only had about 43 elf allies, including your Elf Queen. Most of them were incredibly busy helping other things in the government, so I doubt he or she could have helped."

"Yeah…"

"Now that we know exactly what we're dealing with, we can make a more informed decision."

The fact that no "affiliate" had approached them yet confirmed Riley's suspicion. "We look dangerous and capable, so they won't even dare."

Mason must have seemed like easy prey to the man who duped him due to how uncertain and out of place he appeared.

"Well, the past is in the past. Let's go."

Riley took the first step toward the building, with the others trailing behind. As they entered, they couldn't help but gape at the grandiosity of the interior.

"Why are you gawking? You've been here before, haven't you?" Riley asked Mason.

"Well… not really…" Mason admitted, sheepishly.

Once again, Riley was told something that Mason conveniently left out when he was explaining himself.

Riley's eyes narrowed. "What?! You waited outside and let the affiliate handle everything for you?"

"He seemed reliable! And I was intimidated by the place! In hindsight, I know it was a mistake, but back then…!" Mason stammered, trying his best to justify his actions.

But all Riley saw were excuses. Pathetic excuses.

'My guy really got played…' Riley thought, suppressing a sigh.

In any case, the main store was enormous, filled with an array of Magic Artifacts. It didn't take long for Riley to deduce that Mason had likely purchased his Invisible Necklace here.

He didn't even want to ask if his friend had relied on the "affiliate" to get it for him, because the answer was obvious.

'That guy probably lied about the price too,' Riley thought bitterly.

As he walked further into the store, Riley muttered, "The past is in the past," trying to let go of his frustration. He quickly approached the counter, while glancing all across the room to study it thoroughly. The place was efficiently run, with tons of cashiers ensuring no one had to wait in line.

Once at the counter, Riley placed a hand on it and leaned forward slightly, adopting a more intimidating stance.

"I'm here to… sell some products." He said in a straightforward fashion. His voice was deep, and his eyes glowed behind the black Orichalcum mask.

"I see. Please proceed to the far end of the counter and speak to the person there," the woman behind the counter responded with such a dull monotone voice that Riley was convinced his intimidation did not work at all.

'Oof! That's a little embarrassing…' Riley thought, realizing his efforts had fallen flat. The employees here had likely seen all sorts of customers, some good, some bad, some ugly, some far worse over the course of business, so they probably weren't intimidated by Riley's mild efforts as it didn't register as a threat.

Besides, it probably wasn't the wisest thing to stir up conflict in such a high-key establishment like this.

Riley could see his blunder instantly and awkwardly left the counter to proceed according to the instructions he received.

"I want to sell some items. It's very lucrative, so I'd like to discuss with a higher-up if possible—"

"Please state the type of sale. Wholesale or retail?" the man behind the next counter interrupted. He wore glasses and was busy writing some things down, most likely the details related to Riley's request.

"Wholesale," Riley responded, trying to stay composed.

"Please note that wholesale begins at over a thousand pieces. There's bulk retail if that's what you are—"

"I know what wholesale means. Don't insult my intelligence any further," Riley snapped, his eyes glowing with frustration behind the mask.

"I-I apologize," the man stammered.

Riley understood that the clerk was just following procedure, but after a day of seeking an opportunity to assert dominance, this felt like the perfect moment, and it actually worked.

'Whew! Looks like I'm not the one getting the short end of the stick this time.'

"What kind of items are you selling? Raw materials or finished products?" the man asked, regaining his composure.

"Raw materials."

"Could you specify the—"

"Monster Cores."

"Could you name the Gra—"

"As I mentioned earlier, I'd prefer to speak with a higher-up." Riley cut him off, folding his arms to signal that he wasn't willing to answer any more questions.

"This is just due procedure. Please answer the questions you're asked."

"Nah! I don't think so…"

In sales, there was something called bargaining power, which is everything. The one with more leverage set the terms, determined the price, and ultimately reaped the most benefits.

If Riley continued answering these questions, he knew he'd lose whatever bargaining power he had. Therefore, in order to be relevant, Riley had to properly exert his importance.

'I don't want to get duped too.'

Riley took a deep breath. He hadn't been involved in many sales negotiations before, but that wouldn't stop him from doing his best now. There were a bunch of things he hadn't done before, and he managed to scale through them on the first try.

'Fighting demons and monsters is a good example…'

Right now, he was treading on a fine line.

'I have to be careful.'

"The grade is considerably high, and since this is a wholesale transaction, you should know that I have over a thousand pieces," Riley finally spoke. His voice was clear, and his tone was confident.

"I am well aware, but—"

"I am also well aware… of your procedures. However, I have my own. And mine involve dealing with a higher-up for business of this scale." Riley could already see anxiety creeping into the man's expression. He just needed to keep pushing. "We're talking about goods worth hundreds, if not thousands, of Platinum Coins. Are you really qualified to handle such a trade? Will you take full responsibility if anything goes wrong?"

"S-sir, I'm just doing my job…" the man protested weakly.

'I know, man. I know.'

In all honesty, Riley felt a twinge of guilt for putting the clerk through this, but so what? He was sure that if he showed even the slightest hint of weakness, they would take advantage of him without hesitation.

It was a dog-eat-dog world, even in business. Riley had to strike first before they had a chance to do the same to him. Otherwise, he'd be devoured before he even realized what was happening.

"I'm only stating facts. I can't compel you to bypass these procedures for me. You're well within your rights to refuse..." Riley could see the hesitance in the man's eyes.

'Of course, he won't! He can't afford to drive me away and allow me to fall into the hands of a competitor,' Riley thought, drawing closer to the man. He leaned in, his voice dropping to a whisper meant for the clerk's ears alone and the two of them could possibly hear.

"Thousands of Platinum Coins... Can you handle such a loss? You'll be responsible for all of this, right?"

With a wide smile on his face, Riley watched as the man began to tremble.

'Gotcha!'

Riley knew a company of this magnitude would have special arrangements for customers who were exceptions. Outliers would not be subjected to the standard procedure that everyone went through. Riley recognized this and desperately desired to be among the exceptions.

That was because they had the bargaining power.

"I-I understand..." the man stammered.

"Good." Riley straightened up, resuming his earlier posture as he waited for the clerk's decision.

"Please give me a moment." The man hastily scribbled a few notes on a piece of paper, then raised it from the desk. "I'll call someone to attend to you properly and inform them of the details you have given."

"Good." Riley would be lying if he said his heart wasn't racing.

'I'm not going to get in trouble, right?'

He'd heard plenty of unsavory stories about the business world, deals gone wrong, betrayals, even deaths.

'Fuck me. Why did High Command had to send us normal humans to a fucking world filled with continent-busting superhumans and monsters? I am not getting paid enough for this,' Riley thought grimly.

For weeks, he'd wrestled with doubts about this mission, uncertain if he could pull it off. But now, there was no turning back. He had to maintain his stoic front, no matter what.

'I had to do this. I had to go this far,' he reminded himself.

The clerk tore the paper from his pad, and it quickly dissipated into the air.

'A Magic Artifact, huh?' Riley noted, realizing the information written within was most likely been relayed to whoever was coming to meet him.

"Please go upstairs. You may enter the first room to your right. Someone will come and attend to you."

Riley smiled. "Good." He nodded, and he and his companions proceeded as instructed, leaving the dazed clerk behind, visibly relieved.

'And that's how you do business!'

——————————————————

The room where Riley, Mason, and Polities were directed was elegantly appointed. The walls were painted a pristine white, with tons of colorful murals that added a touch of artistry to the space. A modest chandelier hung from the ceiling, casting a warm, inviting glow over the room, while plush sofas arranged in a 'U' shape beckoned them to sit. At the center of this arrangement stood a sturdy desk, commanding attention

"You two, stand," Riley ordered, dropping into one of the chairs with an air of authority.

"What for?" Mason asked with a frown.

"That's your punishment for wasting our Monster Cores and getting scammed," Riley replied sharply.

"And me?" Polites inquired.

"For being annoying and racist."

"...Fair enough," Polites conceded.

Mason glanced around the room, trying to shake off the unease. "This place looks nice. It's designed to make customers comfortable, but also to intimidate them," he observed.

He wasn't wrong. The opulent surroundings were clearly meant to tell the establishment's incredible wealth, subtly reminding visitors of their place. For anyone who wasn't confident in their standing, the room would be more suffocating than inviting.

'Not us, though…' Riley thought, his mind briefly drifting to the treasure trove of Monster Cores they had, and a smug smile instantly coursed through his lips. With so much potential money in his grasp, there was no way he wasn't about to be frightened by luxury.

'Heh... we've got this,' he mused.

Not very long after they arrived in the room and made themselves comfortable, the door slowly creaked open and a man stepped in, his smooth brown hair neatly styled, and his formal attire, a waistcoat and all, complementing the professionalism he represented. 

However, what caught Riley and the others off guard were the two large tusks protruding from the corners of his mouth.

It's an Orc.

But not just any Orc. This one defied the stereotypes Riley had come to associate with the species. Mostly they were supposed to be green, big, dumb, aggressive, weird British accent, and INCREDIBLY violent. But this one before them was refined, almost human in his appearance, and radiated intelligence. If anything, he looked like he could engineer a rocket, not swing a club.

'Probably a Half-Orc,' Riley speculated, 'Caused by whatever weird magical evolution of this world. But what about humans? It is stated that they lived in this world long before the Orcs even appeared, and yet they hadn't changed one bit while these Greenskins grow literal dicks just to rape people.'

Anyways, aside from all that, the Half-Orc, outfitted with a number of expensive-looking Magic Artifacts, exuded a level of sophistication that made even Riley's expensive Platinum Coin attire seem modest in comparison. 

Frankly speaking, the earlier skepticism from the clerk now made perfect sense, there were levels to wealth in this world, and Riley was just beginning to understand how deep the rabbit hole went.

And right now, Riley was at the bottom of the food chain.

"Good evening, gentlemen," the Half-Human and Half-Orc said with a smooth and confident voice. "My name is Elom Tusk."

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