Had I mentioned how much money I had on me today? Exactly 1 silver, 7 bronze and a hella lot of small change. It was enough to keep my daily life running. Most of my savings went directly into the things I saved up for.
I had to forbid myself from buying useless stuff on the market. Since my status of unhealthy food consumption still was effective, I wasn't as fast as usual and saw many sparkly and exciting things I would have loved to buy. But because I tried to earn money and not spend it, I steadied my gaze to look at the trade center and entered the large building.
There were different areas inside the large building. The appraisal-areas had some employed appraisers, who could appraise your goods if wanted. Otherwise one could head to the counter, where you would try to sell your stuff to one of the employees or give it to them to store. They could even be commissioned to auction the items. But mostly, the selling system combined with the storing was the most efficient. You had to pay for a different category of weight or worth and a storing fee. But they would be updated in the selling menu which could compare to a network all players could access if they were in Daystreak or the surrounding lands belonging to Daystreak.
So I didn't show any change in my expression and commissioned for the lesser items to be sold except the bottle of pure gold and the book, because it was too precious and the other was almost worthless and wouldn't make up the cost of listing the product.
The bottle with the hair dye was the ideal object to auction off. Only 2% cost of commission (only for things worth above 10 gold) and a seemingly rare kind of drop. I only found one hair dye which was comparable in price and this was because the seller claimed it would make one's hair coloured like a rainbow. But since it was expensive (and not even permanent) it was still up for sale.
After I listed the items I decided to walk around the market and buy something for Coven and my next picnic.
Maybe they saw as I passed the item to the attendant at the counter, but a group of players circled me. Their eyes sparkling in evil mirth, they surrounded me. I only saw their names and question marks. Fuck.
"Another good item on you?" one of them asked. I inwardly prayed for guards to come and save me from this daylight robbery. Only to feel my hope getting crushed, as a group of guards walked past us and greeted the players politely.
Damn nepotism.
If a player either belonged to a faction or built a good relationship with a faction by doing their missions, they could acquire differing benefits. And some players used it to rob others. Like the situation I was in.
I shrunk my head even more and bumble over the words to make me seem even more incompetent.
"N-no. I-I just g-got this one."
"Better don't lie, trash, or we kill you so long until you're level one again. Accept my friendship request. After you get the money, give it to us. Or you lose a few levels."
"B-But…"
"Do you want to get a taste of losing levels?"
"N-no."
"Good." I accepted the friendship request and hurried away. As soon as I was out of sight, a cruel smile spread on my face. "Fucking idiots." I whistled, as I finished my complaint with the video recording towards the DMs. Then I walked to the magic tower to show them the recording as well. They even gave factionless magicians recording orbs so they could "support" them if they were unjustly robbed. Because most magicians would spend their hard earned money in their tower. It was their main income source. Thieves who threatened their income would be warded off at the best of their abilities. The box I owned normally cost 1 gold and 50 silver. but because I was a magician and did enough quests of the tower, I got a good discount. It was the strategy of the tower to make mages earn more coins, they would then spend on spells, skills, weapons or consumables the tower produced.
An ingenious system. They even established a counter where one could show them "possible thieves". Mostly they were then hunted down by players or NPCs. They either lost a lot of XP from dying while having a warrant (thrice to ten times more than usual) on their heads or were put in prison and had to pay a hefty fee or work in the prison until they could repay the stolen amount plus the adding cost of the lawsuit and the tower's effort to catch them.
It was the most vicious thing that could happen to rogues or players who stole from others.
I handed the recording to the tower, got a new, empty orb and went home.
After eating dinner with Coven and going to my room, my timer reminded me that I was online for 18 hours. Soon, my weekend will be over. Lying on the bed in my room I closed my eyes. A whirling storm of colours attacked my vision and drifted into black. I pushed against the lid of my capsule and looked at the white ceiling above me.
Lightly stretching my muscles, I walked to the kitchen to make myself some instant noodles. The clock was showing 1:34 am. After slurping the last noodle and clearing the bowl, it was shortly before two o'clock. My alarm was set for 6:30 am.
I brushed my teeth, wore my comfortable pyjamas and as soon as my head hit the pillow, I fell asleep. Dreaming of rabbits with green fur, endless skies and Coven welcoming me at the tavern, a smile creeped upon my face.