Title: My First Trading Partner is An Awaken
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Tyler is quite a talker when he describes his knowledge about the shapeshifters. He also warns Henry to be wary of shapeshifters of higher ranks, especially those that can have two and more transformations.
These shapeshifters can deceive the five senses of ordinary individuals and similarly make an illusion to either increase their number or have those victims for meals.
"Anyways, can you ask your friend if he can sell me his detection oil? I will give you the premium price for it." Tyler said.
"You truly know how to earn gold. I will try to ask for it. How much would you offer?" Henry asked. He wanted to know since he perceived that the old man, Mang Dondon, is interested in the F-rank healing potion.
Although, he had stocks of these healing potions of about 240 liters. He used it with his family and private dealing like what had taken place here in Sales Villa. "There is no harm in profiteering, ain't I?"
Tyler offers 5 gold coins per 50 ml of the oil. "Alright. I will try to talk to this grandpa."
"Before we exit, I need to settle out the last agreement pending for completion. I do have some F-rank crystals here. Based on our contract, I am still short of 3,600 pieces of F-rank crystals," Tyler said after reading the pending contract in his substation platform.
"I see. I'm confident that you'll close the deal as I had already paid it in full through salt payment," Henry noted.
His assets are increasing at an insane level which is also the same for Tyler. Although he is still a closet millionaire, his case is as special as he needed to be.
The gold trade alone with the PAL jewelry had made him millions and he didn't even sell a lot of his gold that was just laying in his cabinets and drawers in his room.
"Now, there is another deal with Tyler," Henry thought.
After receiving the F-rank crystals, he immediately stored them in the storage of the trading platform and proceeded to talk to the Shaman who enjoys himself with his tobacco in his handmade piper.
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"So young man, you finally decided to talk to me," Mang Dondon said after dispelling the smoke from his mouth.
"Yep, since you had stripped me off to some of my secrets, I might as well know how you did it," Henry stated, glancing at the old man for inquiry.
The old man laughs.
"I'm sorry, why so serious? Please don't be offended by a senile old man like me. I was just stunned by the lights you gave off when I accidentally opened my spiritual eyes to you," Mang Dondon said, still enjoying his tobacco.
"Yeah, I had just finished talking to my friend and he seems to know about those spiritual eyes that you are talking about," Henry said, confirming Mang Dondon's claim.
"So you have a friend who knows some forbidden knowledge like me. Do tell me, how did you increase your spiritual power like that? Even my old teacher doesn't give off lights like you," Mang Dondon asked.
"You said that twice already, Mang Dondon. I'll tell you if you tell me how to make those boiling oils you had made that detect if those creatures are nearby, I will try to give you an answer to your query," Henry countered.
"Haha. You jest, young man. If you want one of my oil talismans, I can provide you with it," the old man said.
"How much oil can you produce?" Henry asked.
"Hey, don't think life revolves around money. These items are difficult to produce and the ingredients can only be harvested in full moon," Mang Dondon reiterates.
"Really, so it's truly rare." Henry asked.
"Yes, our group alone can only harvest and make 10 liters only and aside from making the oil talisman, we use the same ingredients to make oil for healing curses and other spiritual attacks from those witches and Aswangs," Mang Dondon explains.
"I see, so it's not feasible to harvest a lot for trade," Henry thought.
"How long do you usually use your oil talisman? Was it one time use?" Henry asked the old man who seemed to know why the young man in front of him was interested in this oil.
"No, this oil talisman of mine has been with me for 15 years, or more. I can't remember. But it becomes really effective as whenever these creatures are nearby, it will always serve its purpose." Mang Dondon answered.
Henry had made some calculations and knew that both of them, referring to Tyler, had made mistakes about this kind of talisman.
"So it was a long term use. I thought the oil would evaporate when the oil boiled," Henry asked.
"No, young man. It's not. It will not evaporate. This talisman of mine has been with me for many years, and starts to boil when Aswang is about 50 meters away from me. That's why this bottle is a third filled with the oil so that there is still a space for the oil to boil."
The shaman shows his oil talisman in a plastic bottle. It was a 80ml bottle and the yellowish transparent oil filled in third only.
"With this talisman, I can assess if the Aswang or witches are strong or not either physically strong or spiritually strong," Mang Dondon said.
"Really, then how do you recognize them?" Henry asked.
"It's possible if the target is a single entity but it will be difficult to assess when there is a group of them nearby. So for a single entity, a weak Aswang will only boil the oil on the top portion of the oil."
"A stronger Aswang will boil the oil even further. However, if all the oil is boiling and emitting heat in its container, this means that there is more than one entity nearby for at least 50 meters away from me," Mang Dondon explains the use of the talisman.
"As for the part of the Aswang, when they are near the oil talisman, the temperature in their body also heats up." He added.
"I never knew that such a small thing can do many things," Henry stated as he marveled at the unique role of the oil talisman.
"Yeah, these are just one of the many. Why are you so interested in this oil when in fact your potion is far more powerful?" Mang Dondon asked.
"Just as you said, it's for profit." Henry directly said.
"Ha, I see. You young people these days. You all think for profit. Anyways, how about you exchange it with a single potion of yours for one of my oil talisman," Mang Dondon commented and made a suggestion at the same time.
"Yeah, I noticed that you are also interested in my potion, how come?" Henry asked.
"You… it seems to me that you hold a powerful item but you don't know the extent of its power," The shaman said, glancing at the young man with some strange look.
"I know how powerful it was, I just don't want to emphasize it and I never knew that my concoction is also effective to this kind of ailment," Henry also explains his side.
"I thought so. For your information, your concoction is truly powerful. That lad, Alfredo, might really be dead in maybe a week even with my intervention. Yet, in just a small amount of your concoction, you already forced out that black chick from him."
"Also, it seems that it can also convert any aswang to their pure human form and kill the chick that grows in their stomach," The old man claimed.
He was stunned with such an effect and truly seemed magical.
"You don't know this, but once an Aswang eats human flesh and drinks the blood of a human, the chick will clamp itself to the stomach which inadvertently made them fully fledged Aswang just like what happened to Alfredo," he continued.
"With your concoction alone, any aswang who wanted to revert back to humanity will now be possible!" The old man exclaimed.
Henry nodded and accepted Mang Dondon's claim. He didn't know that the potion had this effect, thus, the potion had raised itself to a higher place in his heart.
"So you had to manage some of those Yanggaw, to revert back to their old self?" Henry inquires.
"Yes. I never fail to do that. It only takes time to do the preparation but I manage to cure each and every time, newly infected individual comes for my help," Mang Dondon answered.
"I see. I'm a bit interested in how you deal with certain things. You seem to speak Latin words too." Henry asked.
"Of course, those forbidden words are effective when casting out demons, curses and other entities. Along with the herbs we had made, it will truly help our patients to recover fast," Mang Dondon's said.
"That's new of me, Mang Dondon. This kind of encounter truly opened my eyes to a new world." Henry sincerely said.
"There are many mysterious ways on how to get involved with the spiritual world. The most common thing is the path that I had to walk. Step by step, I was guided by my teacher until I got used to powers that I borrowed from the natural world," the old shaman said.
"As for you, you have certain ways to. Just follow your path as well since it seems to me that soon, you will also open your spiritual eyes where no deception or illusions can deceive you," the old shaman continued.
"I don't doubt that, Mang Dondon," Henry replied.
"I see. I had checked your body already and you seem to not have any kind of talisman in your body yet you seem to be more powerful even if I activate all my talismen in my body. I'm not sure how you manage to train yourself with this kind of physique," Mang Dondon asked.
"I even theorize that you're half-human since only Encantos emits certain light. But as I inspected, you're a pure blooded human," the old man continues.
"Tsk,tsk. I didn't even notice how you did it, Mang Dondon. Anyways, let's go back to the oil talisman, I would like to agree with your initial suggestion if you're still amenable," Henry reverted back to their initial talks.
"Well, it's up to you. But as I said, our supply is limited. If you wanted it. I can only supply you a max of 5 liters per month." Mang Dondon reminded Henry.
"Deal!" Henry immediately said.
He plans to exploit Tyler with this misconception of this oil talisman. He will try to increase the price as much as possible.
"I don't know why you seem happy but, yeah, I am happy about this deal. I certainly help out more people with the potion of yours by sacrificing just a small one." The old shaman said.
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When Henry goes back to Tyler through the platform, he explains how powerful the oil talisman was and he gives a sample to Tyler.
"Alright, I need to verify your claim. It's timing that I have a month to use before I go back to the Frontline. I might as well prove the value of this oil talisman, Henry."
"If everything you said are true, then maybe, what I had offered you of 5 gold coins for a talisman might be just a drop in a bucket," Tyler said.
"Well, that's good news for me," Henry said.