Chapter 5 - Pawn Shop?

Lam stared at the two golden coins and seven silver ones nestled in his palm, a whirlwind of thoughts swirling in his head. This entire encounter felt ripped straight out of a fantasy novel he'd read just last week. The armored knight, the magical door, the strange new world – it was all too unbelievable.

A mischievous grin spread across his face. Maybe, just maybe, he was the protagonist of his own fantastical story now. Visions of epic battles, dazzling magic, and a harem of beautiful women filled his mind. He'd become rich, powerful, everything he could ever dream of.

But reality quickly doused his enthusiasm. A sharp pang of self-awareness cut through his daydreams. Here he was, a recent NEET graduate with a physique more suited for lounging than leaping into battle. How could he possibly be the valiant hero of his own story?

With a sigh, he picked up the coins. Two gleamed a rich gold, while the others held a duller silver sheen. He'd never seen anything like them before, so different from the quarters and dimes he was used to. Curiosity piqued, he pulled out his phone.

After conducting a quick search, Lam discovered that the price of gold was seventy dollars per gram. He was shocked at this revelation and wondered if the coins he held in his hand could truly be worth that much. Upon closer examination, he noticed that each coin had an intricate emblem and a portrait of a stern-looking man with a flowing beard.

It was evident that these coins held not just monetary artistic value as well. Lam realized that the internet could not provide him with an accurate appraisal of their worth and decided to visit a pawn shop to get a better idea.

Despite the fantastical events of the night, the rest of Lam's shift stretched on in its usual, monotonous way. He found himself instinctively reaching for his phone, the glowing screen a familiar comfort in the face of the extraordinary.

He scrolled through social media, the lives of his online acquaintances a stark contrast to the adventure that had unfolded just hours ago.

As the night deepened, Lam forced himself to tackle the more mundane tasks. He restocked shelves, his mind replaying his conversation with Heinz. He mopped the sticky floor, the rhythmic swish a counterpoint to the racing thoughts in his head. Finally, the clock struck five.

The familiar jingle of the store door announced the arrival of Grandma and Linda. Grandma gave Lam a warm smile. "You look tired, Lam," she observed. "Busy night?"

Lam chuckled nervously. "Busy enough," he mumbled, avoiding eye contact. He couldn't very well tell them about a knight from another world.

Linda, chimed in, "Anything exciting happen?"

Lam shook his head. "Just the usual. Restocked the snacks, cleaned up a couple of spills."

Grandma patted his shoulder kindly. "Well, you did good, Lam. Head on to your room and get some rest. We can hold down the fort for a while."

Lam nodded his thanks, a wave of exhaustion washing over him. He retreated to his small room, the weight of the day's experience finally settling on him, as he drifted off to sleep.

Eleven o'clock sunlight streamed through the window. He stretched, the exhaustion of the previous night finally ebbing away.

Downstairs, the familiar aroma of freshly brewed coffee filled the air. Grandma Clara greeted him with a warm smile as he shuffled into the kitchen. "Morning, sleepyhead," she chirped, placing a steaming mug in his hand. "You look like you needed the rest."

Lam took a grateful sip, the caffeine jolt awakening his senses. "I did," he admitted.Emily, Linda's mischievous five-year-old daughter, joined them for lunch. As she devoured a plate of pancakes, syrup dripped down her chin. Linda, as usual, took turns with Grandma Clara for lunch

.After a hearty lunch of sandwiches and Grandma Clara's famous potato salad, Lam indulged in a playful session with Emily. They built a majestic castle out of blokes, Emily's infectious laughter filling the room. Finally, with a sweet kiss on his cheek, Emily said she was off to play with her friend Sarah.

Lam was taken aback by Emily's kiss. "WOOOOOOOOOOO, this uncle will protect you till the end of the world," said Lam to himself. This was the first time that Lam had ever felt loved by someone outside of his family, and he was overjoyed.

Upon seeing Lam's stunned expression, Grandma couldn't help but giggle and say, "Good for you, uncle!"

"Hehehe" said Lam It was then he remembered the coins. He glanced at Grandma Clara, "Grandma," he started, "I think I might head out for a while."

Grandma Clara looked up from her newspaper, her eyes twinkling. "Of course, dear," she said, her voice laced with understanding. "Don't worry about the store. We can handle things here for a while."

"Thanks, Grandma," Lam replied, a wave of gratitude washing over him. He grabbed his jacket and headed for the door.

He remembered the pawn shop he'd spotted yesterday – Pawn Moon: Gold and Bronze. With renewed determination, he hailed a passing bus and settled into the worn red seat.

The ride to the pawn shop wasn't long. As Lam stepped through the door, a wave of stale air and the faint scent of old paper washed over him. The shop was dimly lit, with cluttered shelves overflowing with an eclectic assortment of objects. Behind the counter sat a man – the complete opposite of what Lam had envisioned.

This man was bald, with a rotund belly bulging over his belt. He wore a garish Hawaiian shirt that clashed spectacularly with his thick, black-rimmed glasses. As Lam approached, the man gave him a wide, gap-toothed grin.

"Hi there, young man!" he exclaimed, his voice sounding a bit higher than expected for someone of his stature. "Welcome to Pawn Moon! My name is Bigglesworth. What can I help you with? We have a wide variety of items available here, although not everything, of course," he added with a playful smile. "But we certainly have a lot to offer!"

Lam swallowed back his initial surprise. This wasn't the wizened expert he'd imagined, but he figured anything was worth a shot. "Uh, hi," he stammered, trying to project some semblance of confidence. "Actually, I have something I'd like to sell. It was, uh, my grandpa's collection."

Lam showed some coins to Mr. Bigglesworth, who examined them closely with a magnifying glass and expressed interest in their historical value. He suggested that an expert be called to inspect the coins and Lam agreed to have them checked out.

Lam watched with nervous anticipation as the expert named Thad meticulously examined the coins. The silence stretched on, broken only by the soft hum of the fluorescent lights overhead. Finally, Thad straightened up, a curious glint in his eyes.