This was his brilliant idea and one that, if it succeeded, was sure to drown him in unfathomable wealth. When he had been assaulted by the book's content earlier, he had seen the section about magic crystals and the crucial process by which their pristine quality and integrity could be maintained during refinement. Should Anna's information regarding the scarcity of such craftspeople be accurate, this was an opportunity he simply couldn't miss.
The hypnotic, cerulean aura of the skill then began to weave around the gem, its soothing dance soon joined by the arrival of its description. It was a process he found himself increasingly accustomed to, yet remained ever so captivating.
[This is a refined, low-grade magic crystal. Would you like to see its manufacturing process?]
And there it was, the moment of truth, the fulcrum upon which his future might completely change. If this worked, his relevance would drastically increase, serving as a tremendous catalyst for the growth of his burgeoning empire. Whilst extremely nervous, he finally went ahead.
"Yes."
[Analyzing... Success.]
Suddenly, a slew of 'memories' forced their way into his brain. Instructions, tools, abilities — it was all there, a cascade of information that seemed to flow in rhythm with his very thoughts. The sensation was intoxicating, an exhilarating fusion of his consciousness and this alien and precise art. Simultaneously, his heart hammered in his chest, a frenzied drum echoing the thrill of this newfound enlightenment.
But just as he thought that it was over, another line appeared.
[Would you like to refine a magic crystal?]
There was more?! His mind instantly turned into a frantic whirlwind of speculation. If this was similar to how he viewed objects back on Earth, he would be essentially given carte blanche to replicate anything that met his knowledge threshold. However, this all sounded too good to be true, meaning it probably was. There had to be a downside hidden somewhere, further tampering his expectations. Amazingly, all of this had occurred in the blink of an eye, meaning it hadn't been noticed by Alexander and Anna. All they saw was him smiling, still focused on the display.
"What is the price of raw, low-grade magic crystals?"
His tenacity was a surprise to the manager, who had expected her words of caution to deter him. Yet, something kept stirring within her… Was it… excitement? But why? Wasn't this simply another client rushing headlong towards financial ruin? Over the course of her life, her instincts had been honed through trial and error, and even though she trusted her judgement, she found herself at a loss as to why this situation intrigued her so much. Was it the client? The nature of his request? Or a curious combination of both? She had to know and see this to the end.
"Merchant Lloyd, I may sound rude, but I don't think you should buy them."
Her tone held an edge of arrogance, a stark contrast to her prior care and caution, which surprised the scientist. He knew she meant well, but her overstep pricked his pride.
"Answer my question."
His forceful and provocative response made her smile in turn. This man brimmed with conviction, meaning he was either a fool or someone with an astutely calculated plan. For her, this enough since she ultimately only cared about the bottom line. But even if she was now willing to invest in him, she'd also cut ties at the first sign of trouble. This was how she had succeeded so far, and that mantra wouldn't change with him.
"Instead of 10 gold coins, it is 1 gold coin each."
Christopher noticed that her attitude had shifted, with a new openness that seemed to bode well for their negotiations. If he was right, her business acumen was truly frightening. As for the cost — now that was a revelation. A markup of 9 gold coins was preposterous, irrespective of how one might attempt to justify it. Were crafters truly this invaluable?
"Very well! I'd like to acquire 30 raw crystals and 2 refined ones. I believe this should come out at a total of exactly 50 gold coins."
Anna's features stretched into a smile as she courteously bowed, retreating shortly after to retrieve the goods.
"I believe you have a plan with these?"
The General was grinning, knowing full well that Lloyd wouldn't spend so much without having something in mind.
"Of course, and I'll tell you all about it when we leave this place."
A minute passed before the manager returned carrying a compact yet exquisite chest while gesturing them to follow her at the front of the store. She then went behind a massive, white marble counter and invited them to take seats.
"Here's what you've requested. Please verify that everything's in order."
In a swift motion, she unlatched the chest and revealed four compartments that were neatly arranged in a step-like formation.
"The first three layers hold the raw materials, while the last contains the two refined crystals."
Christopher was very surprised by the raw crystals' appearance. They looked like... Rocks. Simple, unimpressive rocks. He was so skeptical he even used
"I'd also like to offer you a discount for your generous patronage."
Her sly proposal caught him off guard, as he couldn't quite understand why she'd offer such a discount. Nonetheless, he admired her boldness and her clear knack for business. His only theory revolved around her trying to secure him as an exclusive customer — a prospect he wouldn't object to, provided that the terms were reasonable. After all, the less exposure, the better. His anonymity policy was something he wanted to prioritize.
"How kind! How much then?"
"40."
This was much more substantial than expected, making him gleefully smile. This woman truly pulled no punches. With it, she was also certain he'd visit again, and hopefully spend in spades. Or so was her gamble at least.
"How would you like to pay? You can do so physically or through the system."
"I'll pay with the system."
A window then materialized and he confirmed the transaction, causing his remaining balance to drop to 59. It was a substantial investment, but he was still buzzing with anticipation at the returns it'd yield.
"Thank you for your patronage. You'll always be welcome at 'The Crystals' Galleria."
Anna's smile shone brilliantly, relieved that she had successfully secured his account. New clientele was hard to come by in such a high-stakes trade, which was why she had personally attended to them in the first place.
"Thank you, but I have one more question. What is the store's policy when it comes to buying back refined crystals?"
Christopher's query initially confused the manager, but not for long, as her eyes suddenly lit up. Was he really going to bring back the finished product? It couldn't be... right?
"As long as the price is lower than ours, we can always come to an agreement."
"Very well. We'll be back as soon as our business permits it."
The engineer intended to leave this tidbit hanging in the air, ensuring that they'd be remembered. He then carefully placed the chest in his inventory, an action that visibly startled Anna. Wasn't this something that was only available to nobility? But a quick once-over of his attire didn't place him in that demographic, despite its strangeness.
And just as Lloyd and Alexander were about to exit the premises, she felt compelled to ask one more thing.
"Where can I contact you if I have another offer?"
The scientist turned around for a brief second before nonchalantly answering.
"We'll be at the United Inn for the next couple of days."