If looks could kill, this guy eyes would've killed Rio a dozen times...too bad it can't, maybe if you're a high-level magus but he was nothing but a common human.
If Rio wanted to get information, he would need to scare him. "Mark Trauger, don't look at me like that, I might get scared and end up killing your wife, you should lower your gaze when I speak, don't you think"
His gaze changed from angry to shocked and then he asked shakily "H-how the hell do you know my name". He simply replied "Worry about what you should, and don't worry about what you shouldn't," Rio said
"Don't hurt my wife. I'll tell you what I know". Mark replied sheepishly
It was a throw-in-the-dark that Rio guessed his wife but it was very effective. Rio put down his hand and gestured with his hand to tell him to continue.
"There's a guy about 2 minutes from here, his name is Dolph Fin and he's notorious for his dealing, anything you want he is probably in possession of it, it just depends if you have the money to buy it."
As he explained where it was and how to get there, Rio nodded taking in all the information. "Okay thanks for the information," Rio said before caving his chest in, making his lifeless body drop to the floor.
[Ding! Host killed a 2nd Rank Apprentice Martial Artist and obtained 600 EXP]
"Oh, it seems the EXP increases the stronger the thing I kill is." Rio acknowledged before proceeding to the place the guy informed him to.
Rio had a lot of money on him so money wasn't a problem and he couldn't just raid the place, for someone who is notorious, he is definitely strong or is surrounded by strong people.
Rio reached a shop front, which didn't look that different from a normal shop. He knocked the way the guy told me to and someone opened a little eye shuttle. "What do you want kid". I replied, "I was told that Dolph Fin is selling things that I want and I have money that he wants". The doorkeeper looked at me and closed the shuttle before started hearing a lot of locks unlocking.
'Click'
'Clunck'
'Clack'
It kept sounding 3 more times before he opened the door and gestured for me to come in. As Rio stepped into the door observing the area with his guard up and senses at peak, Rio walked into the shop and found a middle-aged man with a pot belly leaning back on the chair that looked like it would snap any second.
'System analysis' Rio commanded the system
[Ding!]
Name: Dolph Terry
Class: 1st Rank Apprentice Martial Artist
Strength: 2.5
Agility: 1.5
Endurance: 4.0
'It seems his name is just used as a cov-' Rio's thoughts were interrupted
"Oh, it's a little kid, now what would an itsy bitsy boy as yourself need from someone like me". a smug look appeared on the Dolph's face
"I was told that you sell various things, I have money and you have products, let's do business," Rio replied to his berating
He raised a brow and stared at Rio before replying to him "Okay follow me to the back, that's where I have all my items. As long as you have enough money you can buy nearly anything." He said guessing Rio was probably the son of a rich merchant or noble
Rio followed him and they ended up at the door of the storage. He took out a key and entered it into the lock and twisted it, with a push the door opened and Rio saw all types of items arranged where everything was visible. Rio was naturally excited but he maintained his composure.
Dolph turned back to him and gestured to look around for anything that he may want. As he walked into the store, he saw Martial Art Books on a bookshelf, and pills in individual boxes that were labeled with different types of weapons in a corner of the storage.
Rio expected things to be quite expensive since we're doing an underground deal so Rio brought along with him 50 Gold coins. Rio picked out a couple of martial arts that suited his interest, and some pills that could be helpful. He also bought a dagger as he was small so it seemed more like a short sword to him, who knows what could happen it is better to be safe at all times. Rio went back to Dolph and showed him what he picked, while he nodded, he indicated that Rio should follow him back to the counter. When they reached the counter, he tallied up all the costs and told Rio "40 Golds, boy".
Rio brought out 40 Gold and gave it to him while taking the contents that were needed. "Do u have a space ring?" Rio asked him. As if knowing he was going to be asked, he brought out a space ring that was silver in color and had a small little black gem. "10 Gold and it has a size of 2 cubic meters."
"10 Gold for that small space? All I have on me is 6 Gold". Rio replied pretending to be helpless. He stared at Rio for a moment then sighed and nodded. Rio gave him 6 gold, put the ring on his finger while using his consciousness to mark it, and put all the contents he bought in the bag.
Rio was about to leave when he remembered. "Do u have any information about Spirit Stones?". Dolph revealed an expression of confusion. "Spirit stones are what the Mages use as currency, I don't have all day boy go back home, it was past your bedtime".
Rio left that note, "Currency of the mages huh, interesting" Rio thought as he headed back to the manor to start harvesting his items. Rio finally arrived at the manor and saw some guards by the gates, as usual, he snuck through the whole side covered by shrubs to avoid detection, once inside the manor Rio went straight to his room.
When he reached his room, he brought out all the contents and laid them on the bed:
Shadow Shift Martial Arts – Short Burst of Speed Martial Art
Wind Chaser Martial Arts – Long-term speed Martial Art
Mountain Attainment Martial Arts – Increases Strength
Bronze Turtle Martial Arts – Toughen your skin and increase Endurance
Energy Replenishment Pill – Recovers 40% of stamina
Mind Clearing Pill – Clears minds and increases Focus
Mana Gathering Pill – Increases Intake of mana
"The Mana gathering pill was unnamed on the pill box however the system managed to analyze and draw my attention to it, I wonder where they got this pill from" Rio mumbled as he felt more than satisfied with the items he bought, the mana gathering pill is probably a treasure among humans.
And went out of his room and found a safe space to use the mana-gathering pill as it was still the middle of the night and nobody would probably disturb him, Rio could feel like he was about to hit a breakthrough and any disturbance would be detrimental. As Rio sat in the lotus position, popped the Xanax... I mean mana gathering pill and started to cultivate about 3 hours passed before he could successfully breakthrough
"This pill is really amazing; I would probably need a couple more days of cultivation to break through however I could do it in a couple of hours thanks to the pill," Rio said.
[Ding! Congratulations on breaking through to 1st Rank Mage Apprentice...]
[Ding! EXP obtained 3000 for breaking through]
[Ding! Unlocked Mana Stat]
[Ding!]
Name: Rio Casmir
EXP: 3740
Class: 1st rank Mage Apprentice
Subclass: 4th rank Apprentice Martial Artist
Strength: 10.0
Agility: 10.0
Endurance: 6.0
Mana: 5.0
'So that was the stat locked, it seemed I had to reach 1st rank Mage Apprentice to unlock it' Rio thought while nodding his head.