Chapter 35 - Earth Intermission - 2
Late afternoon, Vesper opens his eyes and wakes up from a long sleep. He drags his feet off his bed and opens his computer to check the clock. It's 3:50 PM. He realizes he has slept for over 12 hours and has missed his streaming schedule.
Vesper is startled. He rushes to his computer and prepares his camera for live-streaming for a moment as he remembers that he didn't stream this morning. But as soon as he remembers the three gold bars in his inventory chest, Vesper laughs.
"Why should I care about my pitiful streaming career?!"
He dashes into the washroom and takes a bath. Afterward, he changes his clothes to a T-shirt and jeans. After all, he doesn't want to cosplay as a grim reaper. He then takes a gold bar with him.
Leaving the apartment, Vesper is welcomed by the blazing afternoon light. In Southeast Asia, the average summer temperature is 39-45°C or 102-113°F. Vesper starts sweating as he walks through poorly maintained alleys and sidewalks while being bathed in the afternoon sunlight. His white t-shirt gets so wet that Vesper can get himself a bucket of sweat.
Fortunately, his destination is a shopping mall. After entering the building, he enjoys some refreshing air from the air conditioners, though his back is still drenched.
'Where is the store?'
Entering the mall, Vesper searches for a gold dealer store. In Vesper's current country, shopping malls always feature at least one gold dealer shop as this business is popular among the locals. The malls also provide extra security layers for the stores, ensuring safe transactions.
Vesper visits the biggest gold store in the local shopping mall. When he arrives, there are already a dozen traders waiting in a queue. When a security officer notices Vesper's approach, he asks, "Sir, what are you looking for?"
Vesper smiles at the security officer, "I'm here to sell some gold bars."
"Oh, please queue here, sir. We're very sorry. These days, the gold price is spiking, so we have more customers than usual."
"Understandable. Thank you."
Vesper follows the local etiquette and waits at the back of the long queue to enter the store. He hums and pats his pockets, ensuring that the gold and his wallet are there.
…
After waiting for 10 minutes, it is finally Vesper's turn. He enters the store and approaches the empty counter, where a female employee has been waiting for him.
"Welcome, sir. How can I help you?"
Vesper pulls out a gold bar from his pocket and places it on the counter, "I would like to sell this, please."
The employee casts a glance at the gold bar. Then, she frowns.
Usually, every gold bar is marked with a refiner's stamp, a serial number, purity grade, and weight. However, Vesper's gold is too clean and smooth.
"Certainly. Do you have a receipt where you bought this or a proof of ownership?"
"…Receipt?"
"Yes. If you purchased this gold bar from a vendor, we can verify the source of this gold bar faster, and we can offer a better price. You see, this gold bar has no serial number. We can't accept it unless it has been verified."
Vesper dryly laughs. This is his first time trading gold, so he has no idea about the local procedure. However, he doesn't understand why the vendor rejects it.
Seeing Vesper's complexion, the employee bitterly smiles and explains.
"I'm so sorry, sir. We have a policy of not accepting any gold bars without hallmarks of proof of ownership. It's illegal in this country to exchange unverified gold."
She lied. There are no such laws, but her store doesn't want to take risks of unwanted complications, such as fraudulence, money laundering, stolen goods, or international smuggling.
Vesper is crestfallen. He nods and sighs. "Okay. Never mind then."
"We're very sorry, sir." The woman politely bows.
Vesper has no choice but to take the gold bar and leave the store. Still, he hasn't given up yet. As the shopping mall features multiple gold shops, he tries his luck elsewhere.
…
10 minutes later, Vesper arrives at another store, smaller in size. The queue is shorter, and there are fewer employees.
When Vesper shows his gold bar to the store's owner, he gets the same response.
"I'm sorry, sir. We don't trade unmarked gold," the big-bellied man rejects.
"But in the US, it's legal." Vesper refutes.
"This is not America, sir. This is my store. We don't wish to take risks with… illegal activities."
"But my gold is legit!"
"Then, please show us proof of ownership, sir. We need to know the source of this gold bar before we can accept it," the big-bellied man insists.
Vesper deeply sighs. He lies, "I inherited this from my deceased grandfather. Unfortunately, I don't have any documentation."
"I see."
The big-bellied man sizes up Vesper, staring at his long messy hair for a moment. He comes up with an idea, inwardly smiling.
"Sir, if you're willing, I can take it off your hands. However, the exchange price will be significantly lower, if you're interested."
"How much lower?" Vesper frowns.
"For 1 kilogram, about $10,000."
"…THAT'S A RIP-OFF!" Vesper is enraged.
"We're sorry, sir," the vendor sneers and slightly bows.
Vesper snarls at the man, takes the gold bar back, and turns around, stomping away in frustration and searching for another store in the shopping mall.
.
.
After Vesper leaves, the man pulls out his phone and swipes it. The screen displays a contact list named "Collector."
CLICK
"What's up, Boss Pom?" said the Collector on the line.
Pom smirks as he takes his time checking the CCTV footage from his cameras. He took several pictures of Vesper's face with his phone.
"A foreigner is trying to sell an unmarked gold bar. He visited my store just now, and I want you to follow him. I'll send you his photo."
"Okay, boss. Just following? What about the usual?"
"Follow him home. If he isn't a second-generation young master from a prominent family, proceed as usual."
"Alright, boss!"
Pom smirks and hangs up the call, then sends the photos of Vesper to his subordinates.