CHAPTER 306: CH 305: NOW IT’S MY TURN TO ANNOY HIM!

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The building where the old man’s place is located has two floors.

The first floor is entirely dedicated to his work, but the second floor is where Gerald lives.

After closing the shop, the two of us go up to the second floor.

Old Gerald now seems to have completely regained his composure, but the fact that he has regained his usual attitude is not a very positive change either.

After all, he’s still a cranky, cantankerous old man.

The only explanation the old man gave me while we were going up to the second floor was that we were going to a place with a warm and humid environment, so he advised me to change into a cooler outfit.

However, probably due to my high stats, lately I don’t feel that the temperature changes of the environment affect me much.

So I told the old man that I thanked him for the advice but that I didn’t need it, and I stayed in my usual clothes: a plain linen shirt, some thick and sturdy leather pants, and some low boots of the same material.

He then led me to a room that had seven magic locks on it.

The interior of the room is very simple. It only possesses three objects: a table, a chair, and a telescope.

The telescope is pointed at a specific window in a very specific house.

’That telescope...

So that’s the way he was spying on us...

Haa...

Anyway...

After the scare I gave him with Zariche, I think I can forgive him this...

After all, today he could have died of a heart attack because of me...

At his age strong emotions are risky.’

While thinking these things, old Gerald has started to take out of a storage ring and to leave on the table several things.

"We need to form a team to be able to make the journey we are about to take. Do you have a union necklace?" says the old man, pointing to two of the objects he took out of his ring.

Two simple necklaces with a green gem.

"Yes," I say as I pull out from under my shirt the small chain where I have my own union necklace, the lucky charm Delia made me some time ago and the Perception Inhibitor.

"Good. Then this necklace is not necessary," says the old man and puts away one of the necklaces.

Then he puts the remaining necklace around his neck and motions for me to come a little closer.

When we touched each other’s gems, they shone slightly, announcing that the union was successful.

After a few seconds, I see a small image of old Gerald appear on my interface as the old man manipulates several of the other items I pull out of his storage ring.

[Gerald] [Magic Refiner Lvl 50]

[Curse of Impotence Lvl 14]

[Impotent]

HP=39 (-14) || MP=83 (-14)

Agility=43 (-14) || Strength=44 (-14)

Intelligence=41 (-14) || Luck=10 (-14)

[Resistance]

Physical=8 (-14) || Magic=3 (-14)

Poison=9 (-14) || Curse=6 (-14)

’Hmm, his status has a lot more stats points than I imagined for a simple magic refiner.’

Then, as I continue to pry into his status, I see that among the old man’s most significant available classes are: [Blacksmith Lvl 34] [Great Blacksmith Lvl 12] [Merchant Lvl 26] [Thief Lvl 3] [Warrior Lvl 43] [Barbarian Lvl 5] [Driver Lvl 23] [Rider Lvl 37] [Survivor Lvl 14] [Explorer Lvl 21]

Emir: !!!!

’Who is this old man really?...

Or...

Considering his age, the correct question should be, who was he?...

If he looks to be around 60 years old with those stats and levels...

How old is he really?...

And...

Why do his stats have negative numbers next to the normal numbers?...

It’s the first time I see something like that...

If those negative stats work the way I think they do...

Old Gerald is the first person I know of with Luck in negative numbers...

No wonder he seems so miserable...

Hmm, the number of negative stats matches the level of his Curse of Impotence, so that must be the cause...

And it must also be the cause of that altered state.’

While I am pondering the old man’s status, he has finished manipulating the magic items he took out of his storage ring, and there are now three apple-sized dark stones forming a small triangle on the floor of the room.

The stones are cylindrical in shape and have multiple engravings around the surface.

Then I hear the old man mutter something incomprehensible and I see how, inside the triangle formed by the stones, a column of light is formed, big enough to fit a person in it.

"That’s it. Just step into the light and that will take you where we need to go," says Gerald, motioning for me to go first.

Emir: !!!!

’He really doesn’t plan on telling me where we’re going?...

Hmm...

I’m not very comfortable with the idea of getting into a strange pillar of light...

How do I know that light really does what the old man says?...

I’ve never seen this kind of magical object before...

Although, come to think of it, I can’t say I know much about the subject...

Can I really trust this old curmudgeon?’

"Why don’t you go first?" I ask and I can’t help the wariness I feel seeping into my voice.

"I can’t do that, obviously, due to the fact that I’m the one keeping the magic activated. If I go through it, I’m going to travel to... our destination, and that’s going to deactivate the magic items. You’re not going to tell me you’re afraid, are you?..." says the old man in a monotone at first, but as he speaks, a smirk begins to appear on his face.

"... The person who defeated that Armored Boar and seduced crazy Melisa can’t be cowering for an innocent and harmless pillar of light."

’What he says makes sense...

Old Gerald has no reason to have any ill intentions toward me...

And...

On second thought...

What’s the worst that can happen?’

After those thoughts, I walk toward the light and step inside the pillar.

Instantly I appear in an area free of civilization, with only a few trees and plants for company.

An instant after I begin to notice the area I am in, Gerald appears at my side.

"Where did you bring me, old man? There’s nothing here," I say as I mentally expand my interface map to figure out where we’ve appeared.

But before I finish finding us on the map, the old man says, "This is just an intermediate stop. Look in that direction, boy. That’s where our destination is."

I look in the direction the old man points and see, several dozen kilometers away, a thick, massive concrete wall surrounding a city.

At the entrance of the wall, there is a long line of people and carriages.

’This place looks familiar...

Where have I seen this wall before?’

Just then I manage to find my position on the map.

We are in a place near Silver Thread City, capital of the Ephire Kingdom.

Emir: !!!!

’How?...

What?...

Who?’

Momentarily stunned by what I am seeing, I am unable to think straight.

Silver Thread City is miles and miles away from Danes City.

Such is the distance that an average Traveler would need at least a dozen trips to reach this place, due to the fact that he has to stop to replenish his mana reserves.

But Gerald isn’t even a Traveler.

’Magic items like that... Surely they’re highly controled and illegal for normal people.’

"Where did you get those stones from? Do you have them for sale?" I ask, checking the ground.

’Now I understand how he gets the materials to keep his business going...

Danes City is too humble a town for a Magic refiner to have a thriving business...

Even more so considering that Gerald is an illegal Magic refiner, which is not under the kingdom’s regulations...

In fact...

He probably sells in Silver Thread City most of the things he creates...

His business in Danes City is a much bigger facade than I had initially thought...

It’s brilliant.’

At my question, the old man simply smiles slyly and starts walking in the direction of the city. "I see you’re quick-witted, boy. Looks like I won’t have to explain where we are."

"No, you don’t have to. I know we are in the Ephire Kingdom. But you didn’t answer my questions," I say as I start walking after the old man.

"They’re not for sale. And about how I got them... Let’s just say it’s better you don’t know," says the old man with a rough tone.

"Clearly those things are illegal," I say, trying to get him to reveal something more about the mysterious stones.

"Yeah... what’s up with that? My business isn’t very legal either... And yet you’ve bought several of my products..." says the old man defensively, giving me an irritated look.

"... And if we’re going to talk about illegal things, that sword you carry on your waist is the most illegal and dangerous thing I’ve ever seen in my life."

"Yes, I know. I wasn’t planning on lecturing you, or anything like that. I just... I was wondering where you would have gotten something like that." I say innocently, trying to get on the positive side of this cranky, cantankerous old man.

"Ahh... Well, don’t think about it anymore and we’ll both be a little happier..." says the old man in a growl.

’I don’t think you’ll be able to recognize what happiness is, old man. Not even if it manifest itself physically in front of you, dancing naked.’

"... I’ve already clarified that I don’t want to talk about it. Besides, aren’t you curious about the reason I brought you here?"

’Haa... There the old man has a point.’

"Fine. You win. Where are we going? And, before you say anything, don’t you dare answer ’to Silver Thread City’!" I say, mimicking his tone of voice.

"What do you know about the Ephire Kingdom, boy?" asks the old man, ignoring my question.

"I know it’s a bigger and older kingdom than the Castemira Kingdom. And I also know that it is a place where clothing with magical properties is produced. That... That’s all I know," I say, as I’m suddenly surprised at how little I know about the kingdom responsible for the existence of the legendary bikini armor.

’I should have done some research on the kingdom that is responsible for such a masterpiece...

But...

Even if it wasn’t for that, I still should have done it, considering my plans for the king of the Drial Cenit Kingdom.’

"Clothing with magical properties is not the only thing that is produced and traded in this kingdom. The Ephire Kingdom is a peaceful realm that values trade above all else. This is a place that trades in... almost everything you can imagine..." he says, while for an instant his gaze slips away in the direction of Zariche.

"... The point is that, a few days ago, a... friend informed me that today there was going to be an auction with very interesting objects in a certain establishment in Silver Thread City. The auction starts at noon, so if we are lucky and find someone to drive us to the city, we will arrive just in time."

It’s still very early in the morning, but we are a considerable distance from the city, so I guess the old man must be right in his calculations.

"Are we going to an auction? Then... What was all that mystery about?" I ask incredulously.

"Yes, we are going to an auction. I know you’re a rich boy, judging by the amount of money you’ve spent in the past on my business. That’s why I thought you might like the experience..." says the old man, apparently very annoyed by the tone of my voice.

"... And about the mystery thing... When you’re my age, you’ll understand why I didn’t tell you anything so far."

’What kind of answer is that?!’

The old man doesn’t say anything more about it, but the irritating, silly giggle that escapes him is proof enough that he didn’t say anything to me at first simply to annoy me.

’Well, now it’s my turn to annoy him!’

After stopping, I pull my Wind Brazier out of my inventory, causing it to appear right in front of the old man, forcing him to stop.

The old man stares in amazement at the three-meter-diameter magical object with a small tornado at its center.

"Don’t worry about finding a carriage. I can get us pretty close to the city in no time," I say and, without another word, begin to lift the old man and me into the air next to the Wind brazier.

"What the he- buajh"

The old man tries several times to say something as we start rapidly approaching the city, but he has to stop each time as he retches from the sudden feeling of weightlessness.