Wisdom located a new source for gathering Crystallized Mana after finding out that on Sunny Mountain they had already been harvested.
I left Sunny Mountain after collecting the appropriate amount of medicinal herbs, and made sure to not take all of it.
I went down the mountain, and took a bus at the bus stop.
My next stop was Waterfall Valley. It was a tourist attraction with no inhabitants. The Waterfall Valley was famous because of it's incredible, and beautiful Waterfall view. People often visit this place for peace, relaxation, and meditation. I was on my way to this very place. Not for it's incredible, and beautiful view, but for it's secret. The secret that no one knew about. And, I was going to get the most out of it.
The ride to Waterfall Valley was two hours long. And, with nothing else to do, I scrolled through my cell phone again. I tried to find something good, but couldn't, until a notification popped up on my cell phone of a new S-Class Scythe. A twenty two years old male, John Willson, making him the twelfth (12th) S-Class Scythe in the High Rise City. A twelfth S-Class Scythe that finally emerged after ten years.
It was guaranteed that he would receive contracts from all the big guilds, and companies. Ultimately, it would be his decision who he chooses, and as a result, shifting the power balance of the High Rise City. However, that had nothing to do with me, and it was not something I was concerned about. My only focus was to make sure that I get accepted in the Scythe Academy, by any means necessary.
…
After three hours, I finally reached my stop. The bus driver stopped the bus at the stop sign, and passengers got off from the bus.
I was angry. If I could just get the Crystallized Mana from Sunny Mountain, I would be at home by now, and making mana potions. But no, somebody had to get it before me, and it made me extremely angry. However, I calmed myself. Because, there was no point in being angry, now that I've gotten here, to Waterfall Valley.
I began walking toward a shop called Waterfall Valley Rides. It was two minutes walk away. Not that far to be honest.
The shop offered tourists bicycles. Tourists could borrow bicycles to make it easier for them to travel to the Waterfall.
Some people who came to visit this place went inside the shop before me.
I walked toward the shop, and went inside.
Inside was an old man with white hair, and white beard sitting in a chair at the counter. And he looked to be over sixty years old.
The old man looked stingy.
I didn't pay any mind to the old man's appearance, because it would've been rude of me to judge a book by it's cover.
The shop had many bicycles, and safety gears for travelers. The shop was not small, considering it was run by an old man.
…
"Hey sir, I'd like to rent a bike for one hour."
I said, causally, while taking out cash from my pocket.
"Sure. It'll be 50 WIN."
The old man replied, his tone was that of annoyance.
"WHAT?! 50 WIN?! ARE YOU SERIOUS?!"
I shouted, raising my voice, and accepting it hard to believe.
The people inside the shop were surprised by sudden raise of my voice.
"Yeah. If you want it, it's 50 WIN."
The old man replied, as if what he said was completely normal.
The people inside the shop who were checking safety gears, and bicycles, heard the old man's response, and murmured to each other.
"50 WIN?! Really?!"
"Isn't that a little much?!"
"And, it's 50 WIN per bike!"
"That's practically robbery!"
"If it's that much for an hour, then it'll be 100 WIN for two hours!
"I don't think we should be here any longer."
"Yeah."
"Let's just walk the entire way."
"But, it'll take us hours to go there by foot."
The people whispered, and complained about the price for borrowing a bicycle.
…
The name of the currency of my world was WIN. The name originated after the Nebulous incident when all 51 of the countries of the world united, and fought against the Wormhole Portal Monster when they attacked our world for the 2nd time. After the monsters were dealt with by the help of the Scythes, country leaders, and presidents came together, and formed an alliance called "World International Nations", also sometimes known as "The World Council" and passed down a law that said, "People of Earth, no matter the ethnicity, color, race, background, gender, or religion are to use this international currency from now on, and forever", it was not just this, many other new laws were passed as well. This was done in order for every country, and it's people to be closer to one another. And, reminding the entire world that our enemies are the wormhole portal monsters that keep threatening our world. And that if we don't fight as one, we can't survive.
…
I don't have that much cash right now! What do I do? If I walk, it'll take me forever! And, I don't want to waste any more of my time! This shitty old man! People say don't judge a book by it's cover! But, what is this?! He's eating tourists alive by asking for that much! I definitely judged a book by it's cover very accurately! Either way, I have to sweet talk him into lowering the price. Otherwise I won't be able to get the Crystallized Mana in time, and mom's going to be pissed if I'm late for dinner.
…
I leaned in closer to the stingy old man.
"Okay, look. The people who came to visit this place are thinking of leaving because you're charging that much to rent a bike. If you keep doing this, you're business is going to die out."
I whispered to the old man, hoping he would listen, and do something about the prices.
As I was talking to the stingy old man, people left the shop one after another.
"It's 50 WIN an hour. If you want it, then take it."
The old man said, causally. His expression the same as before, calm.
"You know, I can tell your business is not doing good."
I whispered, again.
"And, how can you tell that my business is not doing good?"
"I mean, look at your shop. Everything is clean, and the bikes, and the safety gears look like they haven't been used in quite some time. It's not just me, anyone can tell just by looking at your shop."
I whispered, again. Hoping that the old man would finally lower the prices, even if it's just for today.
"Erm. What do you mean? My business is perfectly fine!"
The old man said. His tough expression shattered, and changed into someone who's guilty of a crime.
Seeing the look on the old man's face, I thought, "Just one more push!"
"I'm just saying. If you don't do something, your business is definitely going nowhere like this."
I whispered, again.
"Alright! Fine! 45 WIN!"
The old man said, stingily.
"10 WIN"
I said, my expression calm.
"What?! That's too little! I'm not going to lower it that much!"
The old man raised his voice, denying to lower the price.
"Okay. Fine. I'll just walk the entire way then."
I said calmly. I then turned around, and began to walk out of the shop. I opened the glass door, and was about to step out of the shop when the old man finally responded, "30 WIN! How about that! I can't go any lower then that!" and stopped me from leaving.
I smirked, and thought, "just one final push!" And quickly changed my expression before turning around, and facing the stingy old man.
"10 WIN"
I responded back.
"Augh! 30 WIN!"
The old man responded.
"10 WIN"
I responded, not bugging from my initial price.
"20 WIN! That's it!"
The old man said, frustrated.
"10 WIN"
I responded, calmly.
"20 WIN! That's it! I can't go any lower then that!"
The old man responded, even more frustrated.
I turned around, and stepped outside of the shop. The door was about to close when I heard the old man's voice once again.
"15 WIN! Please! Not any more lower!"
The old man shouted, stopping me once again.
As soon as I heard "15 WIN", I went back in the shop, causally, and said to the old man, "Deal", and paid him 15 WIN in cash.
The old man's face turned bright red from frustration, and it could be seen as clear as day.