Chapter 25: Gold
Kaizen Reiya's eyes flashed. If he could uncover the method the Japanese swordsman had used to kill the King of the Sea, he could soon replicate it and become the first player to slay an Overlord-class monster.
The rewards from the World Will would then surpass all the treasures and techniques he had found in Windmill Village, plus the spoils from destroying the Higuma Bandits.
His previous scavenging of the village and the annihilation of the bandits were, in essence, all preparation for killing the Level 100 King of the Near Shore.
It was about strengthening his power, accumulating wealth, and finally acquiring enough to purchase two Gold-grade items, giving him the means to challenge the Overlord-level monster.
"Enough noise! How many times must I tell you? Do not argue with customers! Treat them like family! How many times?!"
Just then, a middle-aged man with a slight paunch pushed through a curtain, looking sleepy as he scolded the three clerks.
He then smiled at Kaizen. "Esteemed customer, what weapons do you require? Or perhaps a storage backpack? We sell everything here."
"I wish to purchase Gold-grade items from you. Your clerks have been giving me difficulties. Are you not interested in my business?" Kaizen replied with a faint smile.
Before the owner could speak, the three clerks rushed to interject: "Boss, this man is a poor player summoned by the gods! He has no money at all! He's deliberately causing trouble, a penniless beggar! He can't even afford Black Iron, let alone Gold!"
The three clerks looked at Kaizen with utter contempt.
"Are you so sure I can't afford it? Heh. You keep calling me a pauper, a beggar. When you discover later that you can't compare to a single hair on this 'beggar's' head, I wonder how you'll feel."
Kaizen chuckled lightly. Then, his mind connected to his storage backpack. Light flashed before him, and eight hundred chests materialized in front of everyone.
The owner of the Heavenly Blade Forge stepped forward and opened one. A dazzling golden light burst forth—every chest was filled to the brim with gold coins.
"Each chest here contains 10,000 gold coins, totaling 80,000. That should be sufficient to purchase the two Gold-grade treasures in your shop," Kaizen said with a light laugh.
"Im... impossible! How can an outsider player possess so many gold coins?!" The three clerks swayed on their feet, their vision darkening as they nearly collapsed.
Even the shop owner stared, wide-eyed and frozen. "Is he truly an outsider? Where could an outsider obtain such wealth?"
He looked at Kaizen, his eyes full of shock. It took him a moment to regain his composure. His earlier smile had been polite, but now his face was filled with genuine respect. "Honored guest, you needn't spend so much. For our two Gold-grade items, we offer a discount. We accept 60,000 gold coins. Please, put the remaining two chests away."
Bowing to Kaizen, the shop owner then focused, mimicking the method to access a storage space. Golden light flickered, and two Gold-grade items appeared before everyone.
One was a spear gun. The other, a three-pronged harpoon.
Both Gold-grade items were shrouded in a hazy, mysterious aura, giving them an extraordinary feel. Kaizen's eyes shone with bright intensity.
Kaizen made a grasping motion, and the two golden items flew into his hands. He slowly exerted force, channeling combat power into them. Instantly, the golden light intensified, and a surge of golden energy gushed out, painting the entire Heavenly Blade Forge in a brilliant, dazzling wall of gold.
"Truly excellent items. They live up to the name of Gold-grade weapons."
Kaizen handled the golden spear gun and the three-pronged harpoon, feeling their significant weight. Each had to weigh at least two hundred pounds. If he hadn't come to this world and absorbed vast amounts of combat power using the Star-Siphoning Art, he wouldn't have been able to budge them.
Now, with his current strength, he lifted them effortlessly, holding them in his hands as if they were mere sheets of paper.
This sight made the shop owner feel a twinge of regret. He knew the weight of these Gold-grade items best. Ordinary people couldn't lift them at all, yet this outsider player—whom he had initially looked down upon—could handle them with ease, playing with them like simple toys.
After a moment, Kaizen focused his mind. Two streaks of light flashed as the items flew back into his storage backpack.
"Excellent. The deal is done, honored guest. Is there anything else you require...?"
The owner looked at Kaizen, his face wreathed in smiles and respect.
"Nothing else. However, there is one more matter..." Kaizen turned his gaze toward the three clerks.
The owner of the Heavenly Blade Forge snorted, his face turning grim.
The three clerks paled with fright.
Thump! Thump! Thump!
The three men scurried over to Kaizen and knelt in unison.
Slap! Slap! Slap! They raised their hands, striking their own faces left and right.
"Sir! It was we who were blind! We have eyes but failed to recognize Mount Tai! You are magnanimous, sir, please, spare us!"
They continued to slap their faces, begging for mercy.
"We can't lose this job!"
From the moment Kaizen had entered the shop, the three had mocked him in every way, calling him a penniless pauper. Now, he had produced 80,000 gold coins and purchased 60,000 gold coins' worth of equipment without a second thought. The sound of their own slaps echoed through the forge.