Parking my car at the main road, I proceeded at an ATM station to withdraw cash and stopped by at a shop that sells mask, I picked a simple white plain mask that covets my whole face. After withdrawing, I go through a dark alley and after going through a few twists and turns, I stumble upon a shop with just an ax for a sign. Noticing that there was a cctv in the alley just outside the shop, I put my mask on. There were no public cctvs among these dark alleys, so this cctv is connected to the shop.
Digging through my memory, I remember that this is no ordinary store. Their merchandise are either stolen, unlicensed, or made with foreign material. The perfect place to find what I've been looking for... plus, I've got debt to settle here.
Ding-a-ding
A bell resounded from the door, and a deep, disgruntled voice came from the end of the shop, behind the counter, coming from a scrawny old man. "Take a look around or buy something." The old man said in an annoyed manner, reading a newspaper.
"Aren't you gonna ask for my identity?" I said to him, intentionally deepening my voice looking through his wares at the shelves.
"Hmm? That's new. Are you a loan shark? If not, then why bother. The people who buy here all have dirt anyways." The old disgruntled shopkeeper said. He was right in a way, no sane person would buy at this place, much less approach it. But for me, this place was trustworthy. Although this old man is a bit sly about money, he's someone who's honest about his goods. I thought, recalling the memories I had with this place. This place was the one who provided me and my squad with weapons when the military refused. Of course, that is with a proper price.
"Wow, you really deal with anything here... from illegal weapons to jewelry huh?" I said in response to the voice.
"Yeh, yeh. What do you want?" The deep voice said in reply. Looking around, I see many weapons, from swords to batons. all of them are cold though?
"Do you not deal with firearms yet?" I said thoughtlessly.
"I mean, we do but there are mostly small calibers and they're at the back." The old man said in reply. Interesting, last time I came here in my past life and this place was breeming with firearms. Even Javelins were traded at this place. I thought.
"Why, you gonna buy one? I suggest you don't though, they're unlicensed."
"Should a shopkeeper really be saying to not buy his ware?" I said jokingly, picking up a retractable baton from the shelves titled as defective. Oh these stone? I thought as I picked up a silver stone the size of my palm that was quite heavy for its size "I'll take these two, oh that one and that knife set." I said to him while pointing at a dismantling knife set on a glass display window and a belt at a shelf on the back of the counter.
The old man, picking up the retractable baton. "Hmm, you sure bout this? This one is defective, its way too heavy for normal people to carry. Plus, what you gonna use these ore for? Its even heavier than tungsten. Also those brass knuckles, their heavy too." He said, confused at my selection, while going outback to get the brass knuckles.
"Yeh, that's why I picked it. I'm no normal person afterall." I said to him while looking at the jewelry section, oh this? I thought while looking at a couple's ring with a minimalistic design.
One of the of the rings is a five milimeter pure black steel ring, adorned with a 1/2 carat diamond embedded in. It was a simple design, reminding you of a star in the dark sky. While the other ring had the same size and the same diamond in it, although instead of being pure black. It was a pale silver, the whole ring resembles that of a pale moon. This silver ring, it will suit her...
"By the way shopkeeper, do you deal with custom orders? You know, I bring the materials, you make the item." I asked the old man this, I already know they deal with this stuff but I asked out of courtesy as this was my first time here.
"Yeh, what materials and what do you need made out of it?" The shopkeeper old man asked, punching a few numbers on a calculator, "cash or credit?"
"Heh, I'm no newbie. You don't deal with credit here. Only cold, hard cash." I said, placing down a bundle of cash. "Anyways, it's gorgon leather. I need a jacket made out of it. If there's still scraps, then make me some gloves." I said briefly to the shopkeep.
"Keep the ore, you'll make use of it later. Oh and, do you have any spare car batteries?" I said as I held a metal spear I found lying around and a steel net.
...
"Hey, how did you know we had a workshop here?" The old shopkeeper asked me.
"Let's just say, an old friend introduced me." I said to him as I started to work. It was quite a simple job, just connect the wires to the blade, so electricity can pass through it. Where did I learn this? 5 years in the military with little to no clue when is the next resupply is going to be. You learn to be a little creative and resourceful. Eitherway, I learned various trades due to my time there. Welding, electronic repair, monster corpse dismantling among the many others.
"Hey, what are you doing?" The shopkeeper asked, sitting on a stool with his elbows propped up on the table, supporting his chin. He's probably asking because he has nothing better to do.
"Electrifying the spear." I say as I solder a wire to the spears tip.
"Why?" He asked, as if bored out of his mind.
"Hmm? If I answer, can I get a freebie when I buy one thing?" I told the shopkeeper, running the wire through the handle and bounding it with electrical tape, not like I was expecting a positive result.
"Yeh sure, why not. I already overcharged you for the stuff you bought earlier anyways." The old man said in a bored tone.
This damn geezer...
"What are gargoyles known for? Despite being D-class monsters, they have the defence of C-class, able to block small calibers easily. Their materials are a rare commoditu on the market because they are usually peppered with bullet holes to be subdued." I said briefly while working on the spear.
"They are the sizes of goblins at most and they are stationed in a nest, guarding something. Which is why they are difficult to handle." The old man said.
"Right, then what if you're in a place where your guaranteed to be able to fight them one on one?"
"Then, it's a different story. But still, you'll need armor piercing bullets, my store doesn't offer that."
"Their skin is like armor, some part are uncovered. So tell me, what happens when I stick this into a gap and turn on the switch." I told the shopkeeper, it has been known for quite a while that gargoyles have kinks in their skins, although nobody would be insane enough to come close to a monster just to test it out.
"Their insides would be fried... I see, heh... You're an insane bastard." The old shopkeeper said with a chuckled at the end.
"Bingo!" I said as I turn to him and mimicked a finger gun, shooting at him. Finally done with my gargoyle hunting weapon, putting the car battery in a backpack and making sure all the wires are connected, flipping the switch in the handle.
Bzzt
Oh, it works.
"Still, gargoyles lives in nest and don't seperate. How are you gonna fight them one on one?"
"That's for me to worry about. Just ready your tools, I'll come back for my freebie." I said to him confidently as I walk back to the main lobby area where all his wares are, before taking a look at the counter and seeing a stack of business card lying there as I took one.
"Heh. Fine, go on your way." The old man said, shooing me away from the counter.
"By the way, old man. What's your name?" I asked, waving the business card around with my left hand and my other hand holding the spear.
"I'll tell you when you come back with the gorgon leather, kid." The old man said to me, noticing I was intentionally deepening my voice.
"Sure, I'll be back. See ya!!" I said as I open the doors to the outside world, Don't worry. I'll be back Old Connor, I won't let you be bored again...
...
That kid, it feels like he's known me for quite a while. With the way he speaks to me and jokes around.
"Heh. I must be getting bored as hell. To think I'd feel this sense of camaraderie over a kid still wet behind the ears."
...
[Defective Tungsten-alloy Retractable Baton: Weapon
Weight: 3.5 kg (7.7 lbs)
Description: A baton made of tungsten-alloy made for personal self defense against monsters. It looks like a normal retractable baton. A higher concentration of tungsten was used in its creation, which made it unweildingly heavy.]
[Heavy stone: Material
Description: An ore found in dungeons. It has a silver luster and is denser than tungsten. Because of its property, it has been used in many industries although weapon making is not one of them. As they make a weapon much heavier, making it unwieldy even by professionals.]
[Steel net: Item
Weight: 6 kg (13.2 lbs)
Description: a steel net used for monster hunting. It can contain D-class monsters for a while.]
[Modified steel-tipped electrified spear: Weapon
Weight: 8 kg (17.6 lbs) - spear only
Description: A steel spear made for monster hunting, it is tougher and sharper than regular spears and has been modified to have electricity running through it by attaching and soldering a car battery through it.]
[Utility belt: Item
Description: A belt that can hold many tools and items.]
[Razor glass dismantling knife set: Item
Description: A knife set made from razor glass. Razor glass is a type of ore found in dungeons. Equipment made from this material cannot endure shock well and can shatter easily if not handled properly but it has the ability to slice up to C-class monster materials. As such, it is often used in dismantling equipment and is handled by professionals that can use it well.]
[Gargoyle: D-class monster
Description: A monster the size of a child. It can fly and has the defense of a C-class monster, which makes it a formidable opponent among those in the D-class category. They are rarely alone when they hunt and are usually in groups of three. Their community function similarly to an ant colony, as such they are territorial and will not come out of their territory if there is enough food for the colony. It will kill anything that it sees come into their territory, even if it is stronger than them.
Notes: Territorial monsters, do not approach.]