As morning finally dawned, Finn found himself stopped at the gate by Avon, with Jett standing beside him.
"Good morning, Finn. You remember Jett?" Avon greeted him, while Jett smiled innocently.
"Good morning, Father. Of course I do; we just met yesterday," Finn replied rudely. "What do you want?" he asked Avon as he attempted to walk past them.
"You're going to the fairright? Take him with you, show him around," Avon replied, smiling as he blocked Finn's path.
"Huh?" Finn was caught off guard. "No way. No way I'll be seen with trash like..." Before he could finish his sentence, he noticed Jett giving him an unusual smile. "Alright. Let's go, dumbass," he grumbled.
They left the estate and walked in silence for about ten minutes.
"Alright," Jett finally broke the silence. "Brief me. How is everyone?" he asked.
"What are you, my boss?" Finn retorted.
"Maybe," Jett replied with a smile.
"Alive. Apparently, we all got sent here as children of either nobles or important families," Finn explained, still looking at Jett.
"Wonderful. I might actually get to meet them here," Jett remarked.
"Might." Finn added.
"Why?" Jett asked, "Too shy to come out?" he added jokingly.
"Most of them are very important nobles, and you won't be able to get close to them with your current status," Finn replied with a wicked smile.
"I know that much. I'm not really here for them anyway," Jett sighed. "Let's go to the fair. We have more important things to do," he declared, slapping Finn's head. "We're going to get some good items."
*****
In the bustling fairgrounds, laughter and music filled the air as people of all ages were taking part in the festivities. Colorful tents lined the pathways, each offering a unique array of goods and entertainment. The aroma of freshly cooked treats wafted through the air, enticing passersby to indulge in the culinary delights on offer.
Adventurers showcased their skills with flair, engaging in friendly competitions and demonstrations to impress the crowds. Some boasted of their ranks and levels, while others proudly displayed their best items obtained from epic battles and quests.
"What are we really getting?" Finn grew curious and asked as they strolled through the lively fairgrounds.
"You'll see. Just keep quiet and let's have some fun," Jett replied with a mischievous grin. They continued walking until they reached a deserted alley, diverting from the bustling main thoroughfare.
"We're going the wrong way. The fair is that way," Finn pointed behind them, visibly annoyed. Walking into a desolate alley with someone he barely knew wasn't his idea of fun.
"Yeah, yeah. I didn't come here for the fair. I came here to do business," Jett explained, scanning the alley as if searching for something. He activated his skill to survey the surroundings as they ventured deeper into the alley.
"Do you know WAR BOUND from our world?" Jett asked suddenly, halting in front of a dead end adorned with ten peculiar markings.
"Yeah, I played the game, but I never really tried clearing it. This whole world seems very similar to the game. I only played with the merchant class, and surprisingly..." Finn began to explain.
"Your character's name was Finn Emberville?" Jett interrupted, inspecting the markings closely.
"How do you know that?" Finn was taken aback.
"Unlike you, I know a lot of things, now shut up and let me work," Jett replied tersely before he started to touching the markings one by one in a distinct order. They began to glow, and as he finished, they merged to form a clear message: "YOU MAY ENTER." With a rumble, the walls disappeared, revealing a shop devoid of customers.
"What just happened?" Finn looked around, unable to believe what he had just witnessed. "A hidden shop? Just like in video games."
"Hope you brought some money," Jett remarked as they approached the counter to speak with the shopkeeper.
"So you're actually planning on robbing me," Finn shrieked, stepping back to create some distance.
"I guess you're saying you don't want anything?" Jett relaxed on the counter, looking at him.
"I do have some money, but what's the rush? We can always come back some other time," Finn replied nonchalantly.
"Not really. This place can only be accessed once per person and never gets restocked. Plus, the items here are one of a kind. So, how much did you bring?" Jett stretched his arms.
"Umm, 500 gold coins. You could have said something earlier," Finn replied as he brought out a small bag from nowhere, eyeing Jett's outstretched arm.
"500 hundred? That's a lot of money for a kid like you to be walking casually with," Jett smirked. "Give it here. I'm officially robbing you." He gestured for Finn to come closer so he could collect the bag before turning to look at the shopkeeper, who had been quiet the whole time.
The old man, holding a stick probably for walking, finally spoke up. "You seem to know a lot, boy. How can I help you?"
"I'm here to save you, actually," Jett replied, causing the old man to break into laughter.
"Hmm, and what do you mean by that, child?" he asked Jett while stroking his beard, then turned to Finn. "You have a peculiar friend."
"We're not friends," Finn shrugged.
"Let's go shopping. Check if you'll see something you want. Most of these items are useless, but since the budget is 500 gold, I won't hold back," Jett declared, heading to explore the scanty store. There were a few enticing items, weapons, wands, spell books, armor, ingredients, and other valuables. After inspecting for a while, Jett returned with a few items, among them two distinct-looking swords, some rings and earrings, every ingredient and gem he could find, and a few stones with weird carvings.
Finally, Finn joined in, dropping everything he thought was valuable. "How much will all these cost?"
"Add these, compared to what you got, mine are nothing," Jett suggested.
"No way," Finn disagreed.
Jett's devilish smile widened at Finn's powerless response. "No? I don't recall asking for permission, now, did I?" he taunted, his tone laced with mischief.
"Tch," Finn muttered helplessly, realizing he had little ground to stand on against Jett's antics. Arguing further would only lead to another confrontation, something he wished to avoid at all costs. "How much will everything cost?" he inquired, resigning himself to the inevitable.
"2500 gold coins," the old man replied with a warm smile, oblivious to the brewing tension between the two companions.
Finn turned to Jett, finding him smiling as though he anticipated something. 'This rascal,' Finn thought to himself, taking a deep breath before activating his skill.
[Market Value S]: User can purchase any item with an 80% discount and sell anything for 30% more than its original market value.
"Are you sure?" Finn asked again, his eyes locking with the old man's. "Check again."
"Oh, my mistake. 500 gold coins," the old man corrected himself, his confusion evident.
"Alright, that's a good deal. Here you go," Jett interrupted, handing over the bag he had swiped from Finn earlier.
The old man collected the money with gratitude. "Thank you, child. Pleasure doing business with you," he said, counting the coins to ensure they were all there.
"You gave him everything!" Finn exclaimed angrily. "Didn't you bring any money?"
"Oh, right. I did, but we're not done yet," Jett replied calmly. With a swift motion, he retrieved a storage pouch he had with him and emptied its contents onto the floor, revealing an array of mana stones and other items drops.
"Where did you get all of this?" Finn asked incredulously, eyeing the items scattered before them. "These are item drops from monsters, right? You're still too young to be hunting monsters, let alone collecting this many."
"I'll explain later. Right now, I need you to help me free this old geezer," Jett said, his expression turning serious as he directed his attention back to the shopkeeper.
*
*
*
Finn is surprisingly compliant. I guess his first impression was just an act.