Chapter 6 - Weak?

In the opulent Alexia Kingdom, Heinz faced a group of suspicious-looking merchants from the prestigious Merchant Guild. They were amazed by the quality of the goods he brought. Heinz tried to reassure them.

Heinz was sweating despite the cool air, and he forced a smile. "Gentlemen," he began, trying to sound calm, "it's a pleasure to be here."

One of the merchants, a portly man with a jeweled cravat, interrupted him. "Pleasure? We wouldn't call it a pleasure, lad. We call it highly unusual."

Another merchant, a woman with a hawk-like nose and a string of pearls around her neck, added, "Indeed. The quality of the goods you brought… well, let's just say it puts our current stock to shame."

Heinz held up his hands. "Now, now, there's no need to get upset. It's just a bit of salt, sugar, and some… spices, I believe."

"These aren't 'a bit' of anything, young man," the portly man said, his voice laced with accusation. "These are superior goods, the likes of which we haven't seen before. Where did you acquire them?"

Heinz, with a strained smile, attempted a different approach. "Gentlemen," he said, regaining some confidence in his voice, "I'm sure you understand that discretion is of utmost importance in the trade world. The source of a seller should not be questioned, particularly when the goods themselves are of such high quality."

The woman with the crooked nose scoffed. "Young man, discretion has limits. These products aren't just 'high quality,' they are a game-changer. If this sugar becomes widely available, the price of other sugar in the kingdom will drop. The same is true for the salt and these exotic spices. If this becomes a common sight on store shelves, we could all face bankruptcy."

Heinz felt a cold sweat trickle down his spine. He was trapped between a rock and a hard place. Antagonizing the Merchant Guild wasn't the wisest course of action, but spilling Lam's secret shop was even more unthinkable.

Thinking fast, he opted for a more nuanced approach. "Look," he began, his voice taking on a conciliatory tone, "I understand your concerns. These are indeed extraordinary goods, and naturally, you'd like to know their origin. But believe me, it's not as grand as you guys think"

"What do you mean by that?" the woman with the hawk-like nose echoed, her voice laced with a hint of skepticism.

Heinz nodded solemnly "The dungeon where I obtained these treasures is located in the western mountain of the Alexia kingdom. You can attempt to clear the dungeon, but I cannot guarantee that you will find this same drop."

"So, you stumbled upon these… spices by pure luck?" the portly man inquired, a hint of amusement creeping into his voice.

Heinz feigned a sheepish grin. "Pure, blind luck," he confirmed.

Merchants exchanged glances. It is imperative to note that dungeon loot drops are highly unpredictable. Adventurers must understand that there is no guaranteed way to predict what will be obtained from a dungeon. While some may leave with rare treasures, others may leave feeling disappointed.

"Very well," The woman with the crooked nose conceded, her voice carrying a hint of disappointment. "We won't ask any further questions. But keep this in mind," she continued, "if these spices become a regular purchase, we may need to have another conversation. Regarding the things you've brought, we'll buy them all from you." She threw a bag of coins at Heinz.

Heinz felt the weight of the coins in his hand and quickly left the merchants' place with a smile, hoping to appease the Guild.

A young woman with emerald green eyes doubted Heinz's claims about his dungeon story, noticing a nervous twitch in his eye and a forced casualness in his movements. "Interesting," she murmured to herself, a hint of a smile playing on her lips.

Lam left the pawnshop and checked his phone. He saw that he had $80,000 in his banking app. He was shocked but also relieved. Lam thought about Bigglesworth, who had offered him a low price.

Thad estimated that his items were worth around $130,000, but Bigglesworth had cut it almost in half. Despite this, Lam didn't feel bitter, as he had traded everyday items worth $20 for a life-changing sum of money. 

A wide grin stretched across Lam's face as he pocketed his phone. With a lightness in his step, he decided to forgo the bus and walk home instead, savoring the warm afternoon sun.

His carefree stroll was interrupted by a sound that sent a jolt of anger through him. It was a choked sob, muffled but distinct. He quickened his pace, following the sound towards the familiar park where he rested before. There, under the shade of a large oak, he saw a scene that made his blood boil.

Emily, the sweetest little girl he ever met, sat huddled on a park bench, tears streaming down her face. Towering over her were three kids, their faces twisted with cruel amusement. One of them, a lanky boy with a greasy mop of hair, snatched her backpack and tossed it onto the ground.

Lam didn't hesitate. He stormed towards the scene, his initial joy replaced by a surge of protective rage. "Hey!" he bellowed, his voice echoing across the park. The kids turned, startled, their jeering faces breaking into sneers as they saw him approach.

"What's the matter, loser?" the lanky boy spat, shoving his chest out in a mock challenge.

Ignoring the boy, Lam knelt before Emily, his anger tempered by a wave of concern. "Are you alright, Emily?" he asked gently, offering her a hand.

Emily flinched at first, then slowly took his hand and allowed him to pull her up. Her face was flushed red, and her eyes were red-rimmed. She looked down at her scuffed shoes, refusing to meet Lam's gaze.

"What were they doing?" he asked, his voice hardening as he glared at the three kids.

The lanky boy stepped forward, a smug grin spreading across his face. "Just teaching this little orphan some manners," he said, his voice dripping with malice.

Emily's shoulders slumped further. Lam's hand clenched into a fist. Orphan? What did he mean by that?

"What are you talking about?" he demanded, his voice dangerously low.

Emily, tears welling up in her eyes again, mumbled, "I don't have a father. They call me a bastard child."

Emily's mumbled confession hung heavy in the air. The lanky boy, emboldened by her silence, puffed out his chest. "See? She admits it herself! Bastard child!" he crowed, his voice dripping with spite.

Before Lam could react, another voice chimed in, echoing the cruel accusation. "Yeah, everyone knows she's a bastard. No wonder nobody wants her."T

he words struck a raw nerve in Lam. He couldn't hold back any longer. Fury surged through him, temporarily eclipsing the shock of Emily's revelation. With a roar, he lashed out, a stinging slap connecting with the lanky boy's cheek.

The boy yelped, tears springing to his eyes. The world seemed to slow down as the other two bullies gaped in stunned silence. Just then, a new figure emerged from the shadows beneath a nearby tree – a burly man with a shaved head and arms the size of tree trunks. He stormed towards them, his face contorted in rage.

"What the hell did you do to my son?" he bellowed, his voice deep and gravelly.

Lam froze as he faced the grown man. He tried to explain the situation, but his words came out jumbled.

The man didn't wait for an explanation. With a ferocious growl, he lunged at Lam, his fist connecting with Lam's jaw with a sickening crunch. Lam crumpled to the ground, the taste of blood metallic in his mouth. Pain exploded in his jaw, radiating outwards. He lay there, a defenseless ragdoll as the man rained down blows.