Nick couldn't believe his eyes and remained staring at the red number.
"Eighteen offers, dear Lord." He took a frigid breath and clicked on the chat icon to view the messages.
Immediately, a dropdown list of various offers appeared.
[Pointer7G8H: Hey, I have a tier-2 baking talent and 75 v-points for your "Location of Pandora's Box." You can sell the talent off to earn the balance.]
Nick read the first message but found the offer to be very similar to the one he rejected last night. He didn't even bother entering the message or sending a reply; he quickly moved on to the next. He was a man with options.
[Pointer2B6J: Is having information in return about Pandora's Box that necessary? How about I share a different secret with you and also add in 80 v-points? Hint: The secret is about tasks.]
"There is a secret about tasks?" Nick read this with widened eyes. This offer certainly intrigued him but he knew many things could be hidden in words.
The pointer priced this secret at about 200 v-points, considering he didn't offer anything else besides the additional 80 v-points; meaning this secret must be mind-blowing. However, the same way Nick set the price of the location of Pandora's Box according to his personal evaluation, was the same way this individual set the price of his so-called secret.
Nick feared that after learning about this so-called task secret, he might not find it worth exchanging for knowledge of Pandora's Box or even worth 200 v-points and would be left feeling stupid and cheated.
In other words, the values of the things sold in the marketplace were relative to the sellers' whims. Given the risks involved with this offer, Nick promptly swiped away.
[PointerAL2B: I offer 110 v-points and a tier-2 utility for "Location of Pandora's Box." Deal?]
"110 v-points. Wow, that's a lot," Nick said, surprised. "But what am I going to do with a tier-2 utility?"
He shook his head, mentally rejecting the offer. He was very specific in his needs, as he already possessed the location of the Pandora's Box vending machine. If he exchanged that information for anything other than how to utilize this existing advantage to its fullest, it would be a massive waste.
'Not just a massive waste, but immensely foolish, and bastardly so too,' Nick thought as he read the next messages.
[PointerG28H: I have 65 v-points and a tier-2 mystery box to offer you. This is a very good offer. I don't think you will see anyone offering anything over 100 v-points upfront.]
[Pointer7652: …]
[…]
Nick read over ten offers and mentally rejected all so far. He was shocked at the offers mere Irregulars made for the location of Pandora's Box. In fact, he began to think that he might have been too generous with the pricing of the listing. That could explain why they eagerly flocked over to make offers.
Of course, he knew that most pointers who saw the listing didn't make offers because they either had nothing of similar value to offer in exchange, found the price too absurd, read the trade requirement in the description, didn't know what the Pandora's Box was and why they would need its location, or all of the above.
Having read and rejected so many offers, Nick took a pause to think. This time, he began doubting himself.
"Wait, what if my requirement is the issue here, and it's too hard to meet? These pointers should know at least a little about Pandora's Box to want to know its location, right? Otherwise, why would they want it so bad?" Nick thought hard, but he couldn't really pinpoint where or how exactly this discrepancy emerged.
After rejecting two more messages, Nick skimmed past the next few messages, and his attention was drawn to the second-to-last message on the dropdown list. He had only glanced at it at first, but its first few words intrigued him far more than the others.
[Pointer8901: I have the answers you want. I will answer three questions you ask in regards to your request, offer you a tier-2 talent you need, and also add 50 v-points for "Location of Pandora's Box."]
The corner of Nick's eyebrow curved upward. 'This fella is definitely unlike the others. But…'
"A talent I need? That's a bold claim," he said with slightly squinted eyes, suspicious.
Nick entered the message and sent a reply:
[Pointer4879: I would like to consider your offer, but I don't understand what you mean by a talent I need.]
This could have various meanings, but Nick thought back to the talents he put on his wishlist, and also what he shared with some acquaintances about his aspirations. Only the latter seemed more logical, so he wondered if someone he knew personally was also a pointer.
As this thought crossed Nick's mind, he instantly thought of the only individual who knew a bit of his affairs and struggles the most over the past three days: 'Kurt!'
Right then, a reply came in.
[Pointer8901: I know what you're thinking, but I don't know you, neither do you know me. I think.]
Nick jolted his neck backward, a bit shocked that the individual even predicted his thought process too.
He wanted to take a moment to cautiously search his apartment for any possible hidden cameras, but he sent a response instead.
[Pointer4879: So? What do you mean?]
[Pointer8901: Before we proceed, I need you to confirm your knowledge of the location of Pandora's Box.]
[Pointer4879: And how will I do that?]
Nick chuckled. "He doesn't expect me to give him the location right away, does he?"
[Pointer8901: I know what you're thinking, but no, I'm not asking for you to hand over the location of the Pandora's Box so easily.]
Nick's smile froze.
[Pointer4879: What's up with you always knowing what I'm thinking?!]
[Pointer8901: That's just how it is when I converse with people I'm smarter than.]
Nick read the latest message, then read it again. "Did this guy just call me dumb?"
[Pointer8901: Yes, I just did.]
The corners of Nick's lips twitched. 'How is he doing this?!'
He wanted to counter, but another message came in quickly.
[Pointer8901: Tell me what your Pandora's Box is.]
Nick ignored the previous provocation and thought deeply about this pointer's request. He had deliberately omitted the 'form' of the Pandora's Box, hoping the person with the information would reveal it to confirm their own knowledge.
But upon reflection, this idea didn't make much sense. If they had to tell him it was a vending machine, he could confirm their knowledge, but how would they confirm his knowledge of the location? It made more sense for them to ask him to confirm what exactly Pandora's Box was, rather than the other way around.
[Pointer8901: You should have realized by now that my request makes sense. Good. Took you long enough.]
Nick clicked his tongue. "That was just a lapse in judgment. Damnit, what a weird person."
He just sighed and sent a response:
[Pointer4879: It's a vending machine.]