CHAPTER 42: SHOPPING

Richard couldn’t resist taking a closer look at the plate-like object, so he stepped into the shop. A few others were also browsing inside, most of them middle-aged, around forty years or older.

For people in such remote regions, it was usually around that age when they first managed to step into the Aether Will Realm.

Even so, that was enough to turn their previously ordinary lives into extraordinary ones.

Most visitors were there to examine weapons or books containing Arcane Arts. They seemed uninterested in the artifacts on display.

The reason was simple—almost all the artifacts being sold had unclear functions.

Buying them was like gambling: paying a high price first, only to study them later, and in most cases, discovering nothing of value.

Of course, if someone actually understood the true function of one of these seemingly useless artifacts, then the price asked could be considered dirt cheap.

Richard finally stood in front of the display case, getting his first close look at the plate.

At first, he thought it was made of glass, but upon closer inspection, it was actually clay that had been hardened and polished until it became so smooth.

Its price tag read fifty Nature Spirits—far more expensive than Richard had expected, since he only carried fifteen.

"Boy, are you interested in this plate?" The shop owner, a thin old man dressed in luxurious robes, asked with a broad smile.

He probably assumed Richard was the son of a wealthy family, already being trained in magic, and even given Nature Spirits to shop for magical items.

After all, despite his shabby clothes, Richard’s delicate face and clean skin often gave him an air that overshadowed his poor appearance.

Moreover, the Nature Spirits stored in his pocket were something the old man could sense, so naturally, Richard seemed capable of making a purchase.

When coming here, Richard had intentionally moved his Nature Spirits into his pocket.

"I want to buy it, but I once saw an item like this in Night Valley City for only ten Nature Spirits. I thought it would be cheaper here, but who would’ve thought it’d be so expensive," Richard replied, causing the old man’s smile to freeze.

"Nonsense! Who would sell it for ten Nature Spirits? I bought it myself for forty!" the shopkeeper said in disbelief, though his eyes betrayed the feeling that he might have been duped by whoever sold it to him.

He thought this way because Richard didn’t seem like he was lying. After all, a seven-year-old child wouldn’t make up such a story just to lower a price.

"Hahaha! Ford, looks like you’re not that great at the artifact business after all! If something like this was being sold for ten Nature Spirits in Night Valley City, that means it had no value whatsoever. Shops there often put items on display at such prices just to fill their shelves, without any expectation they’ll ever sell. If you ask me, you should just give that plate to the boy," one of the older visitors laughed, mocking the shopkeeper.

Ford’s face turned purple and red, as if his head had been set ablaze.

"Impossible! I bought this from a trustworthy magus!" he retorted.

"Even if you bought it from a magus, that doesn’t mean he knew it wasn’t useless. But if it’s from a Night Valley City shop, then there’s no doubt. Hahaha..."

"..."

Meanwhile, Richard quietly made his way toward the door.

"Boy, wait!" Ford suddenly called out.

Richard stopped and looked back with an innocent, questioning expression.

"If you really want the plate, I’ll sell it to you," he said.

"It’s too expensive," Richard replied.

"Then what price do you want to pay?"

"I can only afford five Nature Spirits."

Upon hearing this, Ford’s face twitched as though he were about to cry.

But who could he blame?

Before he realized it, his head nodded even as his mouth spoke the words.

"Fine, five Nature Spirits."

Richard quickly pulled out five Nature Spirits from his pocket and handed them over, while the old man accepted them with a scowl.

"Give me the plate," Richard said.

"Calm down," the old man muttered, taking the plate from inside the display case before handing it to Richard.

It wasn’t very large, but it turned out to be surprisingly heavy.

Richard carried it with a smile and left the shop, while the shopkeeper glared at the five Nature Spirits in his hand with an expression full of resentment.

"Damn it..." he cursed.

"Ford, you’ve only got yourself to blame," the older man from before remarked again.

"Hmph, better than ending up with nothing," Ford said bitterly, trying to comfort himself.

Richard wandered into another part of town, already wanting to return to his village.

He could feel an even stronger connection to the plate now, but this wasn’t the right place to examine it.

Nor was he sure he could uncover its mysteries on his own.

What he needed was a safe place where he could study the plate properly.

But before that, he had to dispose of Damon’s corpse.

That was tricky, considering how crowded every part of town was.

It didn’t take long, however, before he found a spot—a noble’s abandoned carriage by the roadside.

Passing by it, he only needed to slip his hand through the window for a moment. Damon’s corpse fell inside from his Storage Artifact.

With that done, Richard left Apple Town quickly.

Outside the town, he gave a whistle, and Athena came trotting out of the forest toward him.

Meanwhile, back at Ford’s shop, a startling figure arrived—the city lord himself, Liam, a man with neatly combed blond hair.

Ford rubbed his eyes in disbelief that the city lord had come.

But even more shocking was the guest who accompanied him—the young man with messy curly brown hair, no more than fifteen years old, who had previously visited the shop without buying anything.

Ford remembered him clearly; he had come before Richard.

"Ronan, where is it?" the city lord asked the youth.

"Here." Ronan pointed at the display case, only to freeze in shock when he saw it.

"Where is it? Old man, where’s the plate that was here earlier?" he demanded of Ford.

The city lord’s brows furrowed as his eyes shifted toward him.

Ford stammered in confusion before answering truthfully, "It was just purchased... by a child."

"What? Where is that child?!" the city lord suddenly barked.

"He left a while ago," Ford said nervously, finally realizing something was wrong.

That plate... could it actually be priceless? To the point where even the city lord himself came looking for it? Ford couldn’t help but wonder.

"Describe him to me..." the city lord ordered, already knowing what needed to be done.