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-Kafrim Town, Thalassia Kingdom
3rd POV*
They finally arrived at the next town after 2 days of running away. The villagers got exhausted chasing them so they just stopped, though they wondered who selled them. They learned that the name of this town was Kafrim, they got inside using their identification papers that Ascella got from Seginus town. Ascella is now currently going to the Merchant who sells and buys various exotic things. He could only depend on this one since all he got was the rare flowers and plants that he grew in the Paradise. He would be using them as his source of money from now on so he hoped that he merchant would understand its value and buy it at high price.
"Still, you've come here before Tania? You seem to be familiar with this place" Ascella asked while staring at Tania who just smiled. "Indeed... I got a mission to clean someone in this town... so I already know this place" she said with two of her arms on her waist, she became more cheerful compare to her emotionless state before. "I see, you know where I can see those things right? Then let's go!" Ascella shouted with his hand on the air. Genib could only look away, embarrassed from their actions. She still felt embarrassed even though people can't see her. "Oh, I got a solution for your problem. I'll tell you about it later" Ascella added to Genib who was confused by his words.
They walked the place with many people looking at them, Ascella is quite handsome himself as a half mystic being, his charm is definitely above average. Though he just ignore all of the stares since he is more focus on his problems. "We have arrived... This is the place I'm... talking about. This is quite a... big company so it may be hard to talk with the head... but if you let them see your products then I am sure they will let you meet.. him" Tania explained as she gave the information she got when she was on a mission before. She investigated a lot during her mission, that is why she know a lot about this place.
"Let's just try our luck, it won't hurt anyone anyway" Ascella said as they entered the big building. "Welcome to Castor Company, how can I help you?" A young girl welcomed them in the place with a professional smile on her face. "We would like to sell some things, can we talk to another room?" Ascella said as he gave her a smile. This already raised his look about this company, if they let him out just because he look poor then they might a potential partner. "Certainly, what would you like to sell? You sir should already know but this is a company that handles exotic things, I would rather have you refrain from placing normal things here" The girl politely said while bowing her head as she guided them to a simple room.
"Understood, well exotic it is. Here.." Ascella opened his bag before taking some plants in there, most of them were weird looking plants that has abundance of mana in them. The girl was confused first but when she how weird those plants are she stood up, "W-What is this...?" She asked with crazed look on her face, 'Ah.. I see this whole company, even their workers are obsessed with exotic things..' Ascella thought looking at the girl. "I heard that this plant is called Follu—" , "You said Follux!?" Before Ascella could even finish his words, his hand was grabbed by the girl as she exclaimed. "Y-yeah, what's up? How much would you buy it?" Ascella asked clearly weirded out by the girl's action.
The girl saw that as she coughed in embarrassment, "I apologize for the display.. I need to talk about this with my superior first. We are talking about the rare plant that most mages is looking for, this is not something I could handle alone" the girl explained as she left the room. Upon knowing that all of his plants were too rare, Ascella returned most of them back to his bag, he don't want to gather more attention than what he currently have. Gathering too much attention would lead to trouble after all. "Still, there are many magical creatures in this town right Genib?" Ascella muttered while observing the town with mana.
"Why are you asking Genib, she is not a monster like you who could inspect big things like a whole town you know" Genib shook her head in disapproval to Ascella's words. "Monster? Isn't that too much? I should be called fragile young man" Ascella retorted with a smile on his face that only received a sneer from Genib. "Don't you think so Tania? I'm a normal young man right?" Ascella asked Tania who just looked away clearly opposed of the statement. Ascella released a depressed atmosphere from the betrayal as Genib chuckled in amusement.
The door was opened with a bang as a man with a weird mustache and long hair appeared. 'Oh another weird guy has arrived' the three of them thought looking at the man. "Where is it?! Where is the Follux?! Ahh! Its indeed real!" The man kneeled infront of the Follux as he sniffed it many times. He took a eyeglasses from his pocket and inspected it, "Nicole, give me the stone" he asked as the girl from before handed him a thick stone with writings on it. He compared the two before smiling greatly, "Uohhhh!! This is legit! What a miraculous day! To be able to witness the real Follux with my own eyes!" The man reacted dramatically as if the Follux was too shiny for him. The girl is also drooling looking at the plant while panting greatly.
They did that for a few more minutes before they finally notice Tania and Ascella's presence. "Oh, I apologize for my disgraceful appearance... I just couldn't believe that I would have the chance to see this miraculous plant right before my eyes" he lowered his head when he apologized with Ascella just gesturing him to stand up. "So? What does this plant really do? Why is it so precious?" Ascella asked the question making the two of them stunned. "..You have this thing yet you don't know what it is used for?" They asked in baffled tone, "No clue. Explain it can you?" Ascella gestured them to sit.
"Hmm.. this plant is the most precious plant for the human race.. because as long as a person eat it, they will be granted the chance to become a mage! This plant will disintegrate in your body and turn into mana, once you have that mana you can use magic without needing the help of the spirit in the atmosphere!" The weird man explained while Ascella and Tania just listened. They understood why is was so precious. "You will become a mage that is more special than the current 8 mage our kingdom has" the man finished his explanations with that. "Now let me ask you.. will you still sell this thing to me?" He asked with serious tone.
"Wait, introduce yourself first. I don't want to negotiate when I don't even know the person I am talking to" Ascella said stopping the man. "Oh right, I apologize I got ahead of myself. I am Julius Castor, the owner of this company, pleasure to be your acquaintance" Julius said smiling. "I am Magnum" Ascella lied without flinching. "Mr. Magnum, I would like to ask again, are you still going to sell this plant while knowing its capabilities?" Julius asked with graveness on his tone. "Ah yes, how much would you buy it from me?" Ascella just shrugged his serious expression making both Julius and Nicole dumbfounded by his reaction. "I am grateful that you think that way! Then how about 10?" Julius started his offer.
"10 isn't that too smal—" Ascella immediately refused, "As expected! It was too small. Forgive me, then I'll raise it to 20, how about this sir?" Julius changed the offer making Ascella frown, 'So the price is just this much huh? Whatever I'll raise it to maybe 30' he thought. "This is a rare plant you know? Make it atleast 30" Ascella suggested. "I apologize but were doing business here not charity, the last offer I could give is 25.." Julius gave his last offer with hope on his eyes. If this doesn't work then he will use his own personal money to obtain this plant. "...Fine, I'll take that" Ascella accepted while thinking that 25 gold coins is too small for a rare plant. "Yes! Thank you for the deal! We will gather the 25,000 gold coins right now, please wait a moment!" Julius said.
Ascella and Tania's brain stopped when they heard those words. '25,000!?' a few gold coins could already build a whole village then what about that amount!? Their mind was running too fast that their body just gave in. They could only wait in the sofa with unbelieving expression on their faces. "Is this real.. Ascella?" Tania asked with her mouth twitching. "I also don't know.." Ascella said as he pinched Tania's cheek making the girl flinch from the pain. "Why did... you pinch me!" Tania complained as Ascella just chuckled bringing the mood back to what they previously have.
Julius returned with a sack of coins with him. "Uh.. won't we get too suspicious carrying that thing with us?" Ascella asked while pointing at the sack. "Anyway, Julius.. would you like to have a business cooperation with me?" Ascella said with serious look on his eyes. Julius saw that as he ordered the others to get out of the room. "With the cunningness in your eyes, you should probably already know what I am.. many things already gave it away.. so? Would you like to be my partner?" He said to Julius who closed his eyes. "Normally I would avoid any connection with people who don't have any records at all but since this is a Mage we are talking about I am definitely in!" Julius gave his answer as he reached his hand towards Ascella who accepted it.
"So? How did you know I was a mage?" He asked, "Hmm I already suspected it when you showed this plant with us but hearing you nonchantly ignore the benefits of the plant means that you already ate something similar or you are already a mage.." Julius gave his observations to Ascella who just smiled. "Great observation skill you have.. I'll trade more of those plants to you in exchange you will hide anything about us.. I am sure that those two fools are already looking for us anyway" Ascella said as he remembered the two people that Tania mentioned before. He could already guess that they found connection about him to Tania so they should be looking for their group right now.
"..Did you perhaps offend some nobles before coming here?" Julius asked carefully since he might be dealing with some kind of criminal here. "Offend? That's too much, do I really look like a person who could do such a gutsy thing?" Ascella just laughed Julius question who started to sweat. "Then.. what did you do?" He continued asking with nervous look on his face, "Just kind of left some troubles for them. They are not really a problem so you can just ignore them" Ascella waved his hand to assure Julius who is not convinced at all but just moved on. "Very well, I'll take care of your names and handle your problems.. but we still need to talk about more unique things you have there" Julius said almost drooling as he stared at bag that Ascella have.
After the Ascella and the others left the room only bringing a small pouch of gold. They left the huge amount their wealth in the company, Ascella will think of a solution of it before taking it all. Carelesly bringing sack of coins under the watchful eyes of many people will only bring unnecessary attention. Specially when they already wreck havoc to many places just a few days in their traveling.
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