Three days and four nights. That was the last time I slept after gaining those damn five thousand gold coins. Why? That was because I was scared someone would barge into my shop and steal them from me. Although I already hid the money well, having money left me paranoid. Everyone knew how much money I had!
"I know, Bedo. I will sleep today." I lazily slumped to the rough floor like a withering plant behind the counter. "God... I am at my limit."
The day after the auction, I had a few people come into my shop. But alas, they weren't looking for anything in particular. They just bought anything as a souvenir. Yes. Someone even bought my display rock as a fucking souvenir, since this place was where that infamous psychopath was sold.
I rolled to my side until I was lying on my back. "Not that it irked me, since I still earned a few silvers from the past three days. It's better than expected." I already expected that I wouldn't have a customer for the first few weeks, but that public auction still gave my business some exposure.
"Yes, Bedo. I will sleep but hear me first. You see, I just had a random thought on how to maximize the potential of the promotional boost..." I frowned as Bedo interrupted me in the middle of my sentence. "What?"
'Room.'
"You think I need a proper room to sleep in? Why would I use our money on something like that? Bedo, in business, reinvesting is the way to expand our business. You already told me my resourcefulness is a disaster, but hey! Someone even bought your poop!" I shrugged while staring at the ceiling. "I know you think it's better if I should build a room instead of just sleeping behind the counter, but that is not our priority."
"Ammon, not good."
A deep sigh slipped past my lips. "You're like my wife, Bedo! Stop nagging me, alright? Just rest and sleep, goddamn it! You keep worrying about me when I am fine — I am sane." I frowned when Bedo frowned.
For some reason, even when Bedo was a pile of rubbles now, I could feel his emotions. Hence, I could envision the face he was making. Also, I could understand what he was implying even when he would only speak a word.
"Fine," I said in defeat, clicking my tongue in irritation. "I will build... I mean, I will look for someone to help me build a room where I can rest. Happy now?"
'Bedo happy.'
I shook my head and lied still on the floor. "Take care of me while I sleep, Bedo. If someone is here to kill me, wake me up. I will disintegrate them before I undergo that pathetic state again."
Just as I closed my eyes to rest for a bit, since my head was already throbbing, I heard Bedo speak again. I opened my eyes, brows knitting.
"Someone is coming?" as soon as those words slipped past my lips, I heard a knock from outside the door. "Don't refuse blessings, Ammon. Don't refuse the blessings."
I chanted those words like a spell as I dragged myself up. I underestimated the power of sleep, as I felt like I would collapse anytime soon. Good thing I was used to the cruel world of Aslesia and Earth that I could still stand and do the hell I do.
When I reached the door, I peeked at the slight gap between the door and the jamb to see who it was.
"The hell?" I mumbled while frowning. "Aren't these mages?"
I narrowed my eyes and studied the woman knocking on the door. God... she was fine. If I wasn't aware of the people in this world, I would simp for this woman. But with my current disposition, I had no energy in doing that. I needed to be rich — filthy fucking rich and then focus on Bedo's recovery. Not that he was dying, but it gave more dramatic reasoning.
'Well, I guess they needed my shop's help. I wonder what they want.' I shrugged as I wouldn't know that if I don't open the door. So, I opened the door while shutting my one eye since the light hurts my eyes.
"Yes?" I held on to the door, leaning my side against the jamb while staring at the woman standing in front. My eyes veered towards the people behind her — there were seven of them, all covered in a brown cloak.
The woman pulled her hood down, revealing her stunning face. Her long and thick lashes fluttered ever so tenderly, but the sharpness in them remained.
She raised her eyes to me, sporting a poker face. "This rock came from here?" she inquired, opening her palm.
I raised a brow and glanced at her palm. My face instantly twitched upon recognizing the rock Bedo and I was just talking about.
I cleared my throat and smiled. "Did you come here to buy one?" — of course, she wouldn't, I told myself.
In my head, I assumed this woman would speak about anything but reasonable arguments. Did she come to tell me how dare I sell a rock to an innocent person? How could I stomach deceiving others? Well, surprise, surprise. She knew very well I sold a person, so selling a stone shouldn't be surprising.
"Yes." My train of thought suddenly froze when she answered with conviction. "Not just one, but if you can tell me where you found this particular stone, I will give you more than five thousand gold coins."
Holy... hell.