"You're nuts," muttered Elion, the young elven merchant. "I am nuts!"
David smiled, satisfied as Elion finally relented after their tense exchange. He had expected the negotiation to be tougher, but it could barely be considered a minor challenge to convince Elion compared to the rest. The elf's business instincts prevailed, just as David had hoped.
Revealing his ID slate as proof of his Rift Boss kill, showcasing the power of [Holy Touch], and materializing his soulbound weapon had all steered the discussion in his favor. David had argued that supporting him and other combatants could boost Elion's reputation across Arc—a point the elf seemed to grasp.
Elion nodded in apparent agreement but downplayed the value of reputation, reminding David that it wouldn't matter if Arc ceased to exist. Convincing the elf to stay and support Arc rather than abandoning the Sanctuary had been the real challenge.
If Elion left, his reputation was bound to crumble, and he'd also face a steep fee for breaking his contract with the Pantheon. His relationship with the gods would certainly suffer, and they were unlikely to do business with him in the future. Still, Elion had made it clear he could live with that.
Regardless, the pained expression on Elion's face revealed his inner struggle. David guessed that, for the merchant, survival came first, closely followed by profit. Elion had repeated that sentiment often enough for David to understand his priorities.
"You don't have to hand out your goods for free, but what about giving me a nice discount? You could do the same for others if you'd like to strengthen Arc's defenses," David suggested, sensing an opportunity to strike.
Elion opened his mouth to respond, but David gestured for him to stop. "Listen to what I have to say first, please."
The elf's cheeks reddened slightly, but he nodded, complying with David's request.
"Since you're willing to sacrifice everything to survive, why not offer discounts to earn everyone's favor? Selling your goods at a small profit could strengthen your reputation across Arc. You wouldn't make much money, but the benefits outweigh the downsides."
David wasn't naturally a schemer, but his words seemed to work. He watched Elion's expression shift, realization dawning as the merchant weighed the risks.
The downsides of leaving were enormous—survival would be his only gain, and there would be no return after abandoning the Pantheon. David could only guess whether all elven families were as obsessed with pride and legacy as Melach's, but if they were, Elion faced exile and his family's disapproval. He would lose most of his wealth to pay the penalty fee for breaking his contract, and his future prospects would be bleak.
Elion caught David's gaze and gave a slight nod, a reluctant acknowledgment of the plan's appeal.
"You're a sly fox," muttered Elion.
David shrugged. "I'm merely a human."
Elion snorted. "Don't even think about getting anything for free. I'm leaving with profit today!"
"Yes, yes." David waved dismissively. "Get your stuff out and show me your treasures!"
Elion cursed under his breath but complied, unpacking his goods.
"Do you want to create a sign to provoke the other merchants?" David asked lightly. "Maybe you can push them to lower their prices too."
David didn't expect much, but Elion nodded after a moment, his expression flickering between frustration and satisfaction as he eyed the other merchants.
He doesn't want to become friends, David thought. That is understandable—no sane merchant would want to be around someone threatening their revenue.
He shrugged. There was no need to become Elion's friend. If they survived the day, that would be more than enough.
"So, what do we have here?" he muttered, rubbing his hands eagerly as Elion retrieved his goods.
After a few minutes, the stall was set up again, and dozens of valuable items were spread across the wide-open space. A sign was placed prominently:
Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
Are you brave enough to fight the Horde, but your equipment is lacking?
Visit my humble shop and upgrade your equipment.
Mass Discount for all brave warriors! Horde Discount! Special Event!
David thought the sign was over the top, but it seemed to do the trick.
A handful of restless-looking Protectors saw the sign and approached the stall. Even Protectors fiercely negotiating with other merchants began to take notice as more "brave warriors" inched closer to the stall boasting discounted goods.
David smiled in satisfaction. His move was bound to change something. It would have been worth it, even if he had no money to make purchases. Still, David was happy his pouch was full.
The more combatants upgraded their gear, the stronger their combat prowess—and everyone's chances of survival rose with each new piece of equipment. The tactic was similar to the Familia's attempts with serums and potions.
Equipment might not be everything, but it was one of the easiest ways to significantly enhance combat prowess.
"I'm not sure what the other merchants will say to this," Elion muttered, "but the Familia might take notice. Maybe they'll even reward us if this helps!"
David didn't know enough about the Familia to comment. Instead, he focused on the merchants' reactions.
Some merchants still glared at Elion, while others seemed to be working on their signs to attract more customers. A few merchants froze, their expressions twisted in anger as they stared at Elion. David paid them little attention. Instead, he was intrigued by a handful of merchants who started smiling.
Did they finally realize that taking a small loss now might save everyone later?
"You were planning to buy something. What do you need? I don't have many pieces of armor. Most of it is plated—nice to protect your body, but quite heavy—and I doubt you're looking for something like that," Elion said, pocketing the money he'd just earned from a trade.
David watched the elf turn away from some customers and noticed a subtle shift in Elion's posture. He seemed just a touch more relaxed, though David couldn't pinpoint why.
"I have various Basic Skill Slates, some starter gear—which you probably won't need—and some better weapons that would pair well with the bound weapon. Dual-wielding daggers could work well, or perhaps a shortsword or saber paired with your obsidian-colored blade."
"You think I'm a Warrior?" David asked smugly.
He smiled as Elion looked him over from head to toe. "You're not a Warrior?"
"Do you have the starter gear for Clerics? I don't know what they usually get, but I want one of those," David answered instead.
Elion squinted, his gaze sharp and skeptical. "Are you kidding me? You cannot be a Cleric!"
David shrugged. "Do you have it or not?"
"I do…" Elion turned and returned with a small amulet made of an unfamiliar white metal that radiated holy power. "You can stop joking."
"How much is it?" David ignored Elion's questions.
"I can give it to you for free if you tell me your actual Class," the merchant replied, looking like he didn't belief a single word.
David thought this was overkill, especially since Elion should already be aware of his Class. He had coated his hand in [Holy Touch] earlier but did it again anyway, "I showed you earlier. Isn't your kind known for a high affinity toward magic and spirits? Holy power should be classified somewhere close."
Elion's eyes widened briefly before his face tightened with displeasure.
Did he finally realize his mistake?
"I'm a Cleric," David chuckled and pointed at the Cleric Amulet. "And that is mine now."
Elion muttered something under his breath but handed over the Cleric Amulet as promised.
David put it on and inserted his holy power. The holy power coursed through the amulet once and returned to him without doing anything. The amulet didn't start glowing or exploding. However, while there didn't seem to be an immediate effect, David perceived something else. It was a subtle change, but he could feel it clearly.
The holy power flowing through the Cleric Amulet was noticeably easier to control.
That would have been much better to have at the start of the integration, David noted.
Then again, having to adapt quickly had helped David master holy power faster. If he'd had the Cleric Amulet from the start, maybe he wouldn't have come this far.
It could have ended differently, but David wasn't mad that he'd started without gear. Perhaps it had been for the best.
He cleared his throat and smiled mischievously at Elion.
"There are a few things I want to buy," he said, licking his lips. "You're selling me your goods at your purchase price. Right?"
Elion's eyes narrowed, and he shook his head. "I need to make some—"
"Right?" David leaned forward slightly, the energy of his holy power intensifying as a subtle aura radiated outward.
"I hate you," Elion cursed under his breath.
"I love you too."