"Shew stone! Just two silver coins!"
"Simple electronic components that make your car play music in the wilderness again! One silver coin!"
"Selling Academy test slots, a B2-level spore..."
The hawker's voice echoed through the bustling market, one catching Zed's attention as he roamed the crowded streets, his face concealed beneath a poker mask.
He halted his steps upon hearing these words closely.
"You mentioned an academy test slot? How does that work?"
Zed asked, and directed his gaze towards a young blond boy leisurely perched on the hood of a pickup truck. With a toothpick dangling from his lips, the boy shot back an impatient response, exuding an air of nonchalance.
"It means exactly what it sounds like."
A furrow formed on Zed's forehead as he considered dismissing the shady peddler, brushing him off as a swindler. However, his step was interrupted when another blond figure emerged from beneath the vehicle, donning a Henley shirt and wearing a conciliatory smile as he brushed off the dust from his face.
The boy's face bore a striking resemblance of about 70% to this man in front of Zed.
"Hold on a moment. Please bare with my boy. Here's the case. Our family has an extra test slot for the academy, but we lack the funds to pay the tuition. So, we thought of leaving it to someone in greater need, an Awakened, in return for some money..." the man explained, his words laced with embarrass.
Zed's gaze shifted from the boy, who simply clicked his tongue and walked away, deep in his own thoughts.
"So, he's the one who can't afford the tuition?"
Zed raised an eyebrow, a flicker of intrigue sparking within him. This opportunity seized his attention.
With the mask firmly in place, there was little at risk for Zed to explore this avenue. At most, he would part ways with a B2 spore. It's a manageable loss. The class structure of spores, unlike that of beasts or Awakened individuals. For example, the basic control spore"After-Class Punishment - B2" Zed held might just be enough to handle B2-level Awakened individuals and monsters.
However, it still majorly depended on the interplay of powers among the Awakened individuals and the lineage of the monsters. This was aslo the reason why he was so eager to enter the academy and learn.
Ever since devouring the words of "Comprehensive Overview of the Awakened System," Zed had struggled to find further literature on the subject. It became increasingly evident that those in power sought to control and curtail the dissemination of knowledge concerning Awakened individuals.
The blond man continued to talk about the discounts with a face full of flattery, pretending to be good-natured. However, Zed could see through the man's soulless eyes These kinds of people were common in the wilderness, wearing deceptive masks and most enjoying killing unsuspecting companions while they slept.
But Zed didn't care at the moment. He didn't mind if this opportunity was just a father and son's act. He simply tossed a silver coin and added a B2-level Speed Boost spore.
"Take it. Make sure I can participate with the mask," Zed said, his eyes scanning the man beneath the mask.
"Thank you for your generosity sir... Now that we've received the payment, we'll provide the best service. Let me find someone to drive you there," the man replied, mentally relieved. He tugged at his collar and signaled someone on the other side of the market.
Before long, a black car pulled up on the street.
"Come on, ma'te. I'll take you to the testing si'te," said a heavily accented Newford man, he pointing in the direction outside the wall, added:
"We'll make a round trip before nightfall."
Zed glanced at the seller beside him and saw the old father waving at him with a cheerful smile.
Zed didn't say anything more and simply went about his routine of loading his weapon and preparing his spores. He was ready for a fight, even if these people were trying to play with him.
Today, he had come prepared with enough spores, and he had read all cool down on his abilities, all for the sake of finding a thick one.
But what funny most was the direction the car was heading. It was right next to his Bloodline Camp.
"How the hell that the academy was conducting tests in my backyard and I don't know?"
Zed's mind churned with dumbfounding. Thoughts of safety momentarily faded into the background as he grappled with this newfound.
The wheels rolled slowly, gradually moving away. As the sound of other peddlers' shouts drowned out, the blond boy reemerged from behind the pickup.
He walked up to his "father," who was still mechanically waving, and slapped him across the face, causing his eyes to snap open.
"Not good enough. No no...These eyes look like they haven't slept in weeks, no one would believe it."
After speaking, he pried open the man's hand, pocketing both the spore and the silver coins, then pinched his nose dragging him returned to the side of the car.
At that moment, a girl with golden hair also approached from behind the pickup, wearing a pair of excessively exaggerated teardrop-shaped earrings.
"Brother, is what we're doing really right?"
The boy glanced at the girl and tossed the silver coins to her.
"That stuff was leaving outside the city and can't be brought back for weeks. Who knows which gang left it there? And who knows which will find it first? We need to make money quickly before other Awakened find it. That simple. We shouldn't waste this chance..."
"I'm talking about the academy tests... Is it really okay to deceive others like this?"
"Enough! You know how strict those academies are! Out of a hundred Awakened individuals, not even one might be able to get in. This is just to make your competitors give up. It's for their own good. Since you've got this opportunity, you should keep it."
The boy impatiently waved his hand and used a marker to change the sign from "One B2 spore" to "One C1 spore," pointing at the back of the vehicle.
"Go quickly. Let's try again. If we can catch a few more cows, we'll have enough for your tuition. By then, I won't have to leave the city, and you can focus on studying in the academy. Once we're no longer afraid of others, we'll move to an even larger city."
Upon hearing this, the girl opened her mouth, then closed it again, eventually she closed her eyes and nodded silently.
The "father" by the boy's side moved and bent down, then slipping under the pickup again.