Chapter 36 - Earth Intermission - 3
Vesper wanders through the shopping mall, stopping at two more gold stores only to receive the same response. Undeterred, he ventures to another store tucked away in the farthest corner of the mall, where foot traffic is sparse, and security is absent. Despite its modest size, the store boasts a lavish display of crystal-like plates adorned with unfamiliar symbols. Strangely, there is no steel barrier protecting the merchandise or the glass showcases.
As Vesper enters, he can't help but notice a suspicious barrel-shaped pipe aimed in his direction. Behind the counter sits a white-haired woman in a Qipao, engrossed in her phone. Her face partially obscured by a front bang, she wears an impressive array of eight gemstone rings. When Vesper approaches, she glances up briefly, her tone brusque as she asks.
"What do you want?"
Surveying the store's decor, Vesper's interest is piqued by the crystal plates emitting an eerie glow reminiscent of the square rune he encountered earlier. Regrettably, he didn't examine the rune closely enough to make a comparison, leaving him uncertain.
"What are those?" Vesper inquires, pointing at the crystals.
The woman raises an eyebrow, studying him before softening her tone. "Are you interested in my handmade decorations?"
Surprised but ultimately disappointed, Vesper sighs, "So, those are yours?"
"Yes, I made them. Anyway, interested in purchasing? They're one million dollars each. A steal for their capabilities!" she smirks.
Vesper, however, has a different agenda. "I'm sorry, miss. I'm here to sell a gold bar. Do you accept unmarked ones?"
The woman's expression hardens. "Show me the gold bar."
Placing the bar on the counter, Vesper watches as she glances at it and sighs deeply.
"30% handling fee. For a 1kg gold bar, you'll get $70,000 in cash. Is that acceptable?"
"30%?" Vesper is taken aback. "Can't that be lowered?"
With a hint of boredom, the woman replies, "Legal procedures, hallmarks, and documentation. You can handle that yourself if you want to. Return when your gold bar is properly stamped."
Vesper hesitates, knowing he lacks the means, knowledge, and time for such procedures. Reluctantly, he agreed, "I'll take the 70 grand option, please."
"Good."
Finally, the white-haired lady beams at him with a bright smile. She snatches the gold bar from the counter and fetches stacks of dollar bills from the storeroom behind her. Fifty-six stacks of papers with Benjamin Franklin's face pile on the counter. Vesper is speechless, gazing at the giant stacks of bills in astonishment as he has never seen this much money up close before.
"Want me to get you something to conceal these?" the woman asks.
Vesper slowly nods and gulps. The woman fetches two brown document envelopes from under the counter and withdraws the money from the containers. After putting all the money in the envelopes, she puts the money inside and places the envelopes on the counter. Adding on top of the envelopes, she hands him a business card.
Vesper silently accepts the business card.
Mary Sue
The name is obviously fake, but Vesper takes it nonetheless. He puts the business card inside one of the bags.
"Say, Miss Sue… I would like to ask you something," Vesper starts.
"Yes?" she responds.
"Can you transfer the cash to my bank account instead? I don't like carrying a lot of money around."
"No can do. This transaction is risky to begin with. We're in a third-world country, not the States. The cops here are all crooked. If they know that I'm trading unmarked gold, even if it's legal, they would come here and extort my money," the woman explains.
Vesper bitterly smiles, as he is also aware of that. The only reason he's here is because of the country's cheap cost of living.
"Well, if you want to, you'll have to deposit that money in your bank account yourself. Besides, you don't have to walk very far. There are several bank branches in the mall."
Vesper politely accepts the gesture.
Before Vesper leaves, he suddenly has the urge to scratch his left eye. He rubs his eye and accidentally activates it while he is facing Mary.
*DING*
A status screen appears, showing the woman's status. The result shocks him.
.
General Information and Attributes
Name: Mary Sue (Alias)
Title: ????
Career: PIA Adjutant, ????
Strength: ????
Dexterity: ????
Vitality: ????
Stamina: ????
Mana: ????
.
Vesper is unable to see though her status!
The white-haired woman immediately locks eyes with Vesper's. She mischievously grins and whispers.
"Dear customer, please refrain from using your rune here. If other survivors realize who you are, you'll be in deep trouble."
"What?! Wait, may I ask you something—?"
Vesper narrows his eyes. Based on the clues, he's certain. This woman is familiar with the trials!
The woman lightly touches Vesper's lips with her fingertip and gently pushes him away from the store.
*BOOM*
The woman tosses the money envelopes toward Vesper, and the steel shutter doors slam shut. She giggles and waves her hands.
"I apologize, dear customer. We're closed. Come back next week!"
"Wait! Can you share what you know about that place?!"
But it's too late for Vesper to catch her attention again. As if the store never existed, everything behind the steel shutter vanishes right before his eyes. Only the money envelopes remain.
Being ushered out of the shop, Vesper picks up the money envelopes and heads to the nearest bank. He deposits all the money into his account while enduring curious looks from the bank clerks.
His phone updates the account balance. Upon seeing the number, Vesper can't help but smile. He's finally getting his life back on track.
'I still have two more gold bars to sell. I should have brought them with me. Oh, well.'
Vesper carefully tucks Mary's business card into his wallet. Tomorrow, he plans to call her and inquire about the trials. For now, he enters the supermarket and stocks up on groceries.
…
Upon returning home, Vesper spends the rest of the day completing chores. He treats himself to a full-course meal for dinner and a few good beers.
At 9 PM, Vesper decides to call it a day and get some rest. He settles onto the cheap air bed. Upon resting on the weary bed, he takes a mental note that he needs to sell the remaining gold bars and get himself a better place to sleep.
*BOOM*
*BOOM*
As Vesper is on the verge of falling asleep, there's a knock on the door. He gets up to greet the visitors.
Unfortunately, before Vesper can even open the door, it crashes open. A group of four men in black vests storms in with a metal battering ram and brandish their pistols, aiming at Vesper.
"GET DOWN ON THE GROUND!" they command.