Chapter 213: Trading Skills That Haven't Improved at All!
After searching the trading district for half a day without finding a suitable weapon, Luke finally gave up.
He had thought about asking his senior, but unfortunately, Yas's team wasn't currently in the Main God Space.
Looking at the stall before him, Luke helplessly rubbed his forehead.
However, just as he turned to leave, the stall owner called out to him.
"Mind telling me what you're looking for?"
The stall owner appeared to be a middle-aged man.
But considering that physical age could be adjusted with redemption/exchange points in the Main God Space, Luke couldn't determine the owner's true situation from appearance alone.
"One-handed sword-type weapons, at least B-Rank, preferably B+ if possible."
"Also... healing items or equipment... skills are fine too, requirement being able to heal lost limbs or fatal injuries."
Luke stopped and spoke, looking expectantly at the stall owner.
After all, daring to stop a customer meant having something good to back it up.
And this stall owner indeed had backing.
He had been watching Luke for a while, noticing how he always looked at weapons first at each stall, all the way up to his stall.
This made him guess whether the other party was planning to change weapons or needed a second weapon.
Judging from the 'sword' at Luke's waist, the demand for sword-type weapons seemed likely.
However, the stall owner never expected Luke's requirements to be so high.
Somewhat embarrassedly putting away the B- Rank one-handed sword in his hand, he said to Luke:
"W-well... I don't have any high-rank sword weapons meeting your requirements, but I can help you with healing items."
Quietly wiping his sweat, the stall owner thought to himself 'Good thing he wanted something else, otherwise this would've been embarrassing.'
"I know someone in the 'Knight Order', he's a light-system knight class."
"Speaking of healing items, anything short of resurrection should be obtainable, just that prices won't be cheap."
"Well, if you're willing, 500 exchange points for the introduction fee."
[PS: I will either use the name exchange points or redemption points. Sorry for confusion.]
After explaining the situation, the stall owner closed his mouth, prepared to wait for the boy to haggle.
The introduction fee of 500 exchange points was high.
Though not exactly malicious, it had some element of overcharging, but trading was always a process of negotiation.
The reason the stall owner quoted a high price was to gain the upper hand in the subsequent price negotiation.
However, after waiting a while, Luke's response truly surprised him.
"No problem, I'll give you 500 exchange points."
This wasn't because Luke... well, actually it was exactly because he didn't know how to haggle.
He was like this before in Orario, and naturally remained the same now back in the Main God Space.
It had to be said that Luke really hadn't improved at all in this aspect.
But he hadn't completely failed to think it through.
At least 500 exchange points wasn't a huge number for Luke.
Most importantly, the person he was being introduced to was from the 'Knight Order'.
Last time Yas had introduced Luke to the four currently largest forces in the Main God Space, and he certainly hadn't just listened and forgotten.
Afterward, he had researched the other forces besides Yas's team, including the 'Knight Order'.
The current Knight Order in the Main God Space was a genuine knight organization.
The team's joining requirement wasn't having a knight class, but swearing to the knight's code under the witness of Main God Space.
Any Knight Order member who violated the knight's code would face punishment from the Main God Space.
If the other party could really introduce him to a Knight Order member, then based on Luke's understanding of the Knight Order, the subsequent trade would definitely be fair and just.
500 exchange points for a guaranteed fair trade opportunity - at least in his view, this price was acceptable.
The stall owner, originally waiting for the boy to negotiate, felt somewhat uncomfortable when Luke agreed directly.
Looking at the boy's confident expression, the stall owner suddenly recalled a question that had occurred to him while observing earlier.
After slight hesitation, the stall owner couldn't help but ask:
"Since you're targeting B-Rank and above equipment, why didn't you ask about anything while looking earlier?"
The stall owner's question slightly stunned Luke, who then replied somewhat puzzledly: "Hm? Why should I ask?"
"...You don't think the displayed items are all we agents have, do you?"
"Uh... but items not displayed means they're not for sale, right?"
Hearing Luke's answer, the stall owner sighed helplessly.
He could now confirm that Luke truly didn't know how to shop at all.
"It's true that displayed items are things useless to agents."
"But many people have some equipment they're just making do with."
Perhaps because he'd earned some exchange points from Luke, the stall owner sighed again and explained:
"Like some agents who focus on skills, they don't care what weapons they use."
"This type of agent usually only looks at rank and attributes when choosing weapons."
"If they're holding a sword, you can buy the weapon from them by offering either a better weapon or a price they're satisfied with."
"That's just one example, but basically many agents have equipment they're just 'making do' with."
Luke listened to the stall owner's explanation and smiled somewhat embarrassedly.
This point wasn't really his fault for not thinking of it - after all, Luke had the "Authority Holder" title bonus, so his treasure boxes usually contained things he could use.
But other agents didn't have this title; a swordsman might get a staff, a mage might get a heavy shield - it was all possible.
Especially with weapons like swords - anyone who wasn't specialized in weapons could use them.
Getting a B-Rank weapon and using it for now, then changing when a more suitable weapon came along later - many agents did this.
...
The transaction finished quickly; since stall trades were protected by the Main God Space, Luke felt assured enough to hand over the 500 exchange points directly.
The stall owner didn't keep him waiting long, quickly contacting his acquaintance from the 'Knight Order'.
Before long, a knight completely covered in armor walked over.
The knight showed no intention of removing his helmet, first nodding to the stall owner in thanks, then making a 'please' gesture to Luke before leading the way out of the trading district.
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