Tarkan stepped into the trade shop, only to be greeted by a level of hustle and bustle far exceeding that of the Terra building.
Unlike the orderly, official atmosphere there, this place felt raw and alive, filled with the clamor of negotiations, exchanges, and occasional arguments.
He approached the counter, where a clerk
without saying much simply pointed him toward a nearby tab screen
"Scan and select what you want to purchase," the clerk said flatly.
Navigating the interface was very straightforward.
The tab screen displayed three main categories, Potions, Weapons, and Artifacts.
His eyes immediately went to the Weapons section clicking it.
What he saw next nearly knocked the breath out of him
The screen displayed a lineup of used weapons, each listed with its name, type, condition, and price.
The shock wasn't from the quality, he expected it, but from the price tags.
--
Listed: 6 days ago
Rusted Iron Sword
Type: One-Handed
Durability: 20/100
Rarity: Common
Notes: Basic, reliable, but easily outclassed
Price: 25 Gold
--
Listed: 5 hours ago
Cracked Bone Dagger
Type: One-Handed
Durability: 12/50
Rarity: Uncommon
Price: 12 Gold
--
Listed: 2 hours ago
Worn Brass Knuckles
Type: Unarmed
Durability: 40/80
Rarity: Common
Price: 7 Gold
--
Listed: 2 hours ago
Splintered Wooden Club
Type: Two-Handed
Durability: 20/50
Rarity: Common
Notes: Primitive but effective in stuns
Price: 15 Gold
--
Listed: 1 hour ago
Cracked Slingshot
Type: Ranged
Durability: 25/60
Rarity: Common
Notes: Uses small rocks as ammo
Price: 7 Gold
--
Every item looked like trash, leftovers once owned by Ascenders who had either upgraded or deemed them useless to bother keeping.
Instead of throwing them away, they brought them here, hoping to get a few bucks in return.
Tarkan stood still, trying to mask the myrand of emotions rising in his chest
He had imagined this moment differently. He'd come in fantasizing about picking a good weapon, maybe even a potion or two, and heading into the field without activating the Timer.
He wanted to gain experience the normal way, without shortcuts.
But reality had other plans.
A weapon with only 20 out of 100 durability cost 25 Gold
Twenty-five Gold.
Back in Tharn, he remembered learning that 1 Gold coin could feed a family of five for two whole months.
That meant 25 Gold could feed the same family for over two years.
And yet, here it could only buy a discarded sword a piece of junk.
He swallowed hard, feeling a wave of frustration and helplessness.
That crushing feeling of being poor something he had always despised was settling in again.
He hated it, Hated being reminded of his past and the things he did just for a square meal.
His fingers hovered over the display, He had hoped to get a sword.
He was used to swords, they felt natural in his hands.
But, with only 10 Gold to his name, the options narrowed drastically.
In fact, only two items were within his reach
--
Worn Brass Knuckles
Type: Unarmed
Durability: 40/80
Rarity: Common
Price: 7 Gold
--
Cracked Slingshot
Type: Ranged
Durability: 25/60
Rarity: Common
Notes: Uses small rocks as ammo
Price: 7 Gold
--
Gritting his teeth, Tarkan selected the Worn Brass Knuckles. As the name suggested, it was worn, scratched up, and plain, but at least it was something.
Something he could easily use, Something he could fight with, It wasn't what he wanted, but it was better than nothing.
He clicked the "Buy" button and was prompted to input his ID.
As soon as he did, his balance dropped to 3 Gold Coins.
With a deep breath, he walked toward the retrieval area.
But something made him pause.
He suddenly remembered he needed a mask to cover his face, his shirt wasn't a reliable option.
Returning to the tab, he navigated to the Items section and found a few masks available.
Most had odd designs and flashy gimmicks, but he ignored them all.
He picked the simplest one, a plain white mask.
Which cost 2 Gold.
Inputting his ID again, the system deducted the coins, leaving him with a pitiful 1 Gold Coin.
Tarkan stood there, motionless for a few seconds, His mood plummeted looking at his balance.
"What's with this shitty luck of mine? It was like he killed a billion people in his past life?"
He retrieved both items from the pickup section.
The mask felt light in his hands, smooth and silky.
He put it over his face, It fit well enough.
he slipped on the brass knuckles which were heavier than they looked but were very comfy and secure when equipped.
With everything in place, he stepped outside the trade shop.
The sun outside was no different than it had been when he walked in.
He navigated his bracelet to Comprehensive Beginner Guide to Monsters which was also part of the package gifted by the terra association.
It was time to solve his first and most pressing problem, money.
He needed strength, Fast.
He didn't have the luxury of lazing around. What happened in the Terra building wouldn't repeat itself again, Not if he could help it.
It wasn't just about the humiliation or the unfair treatment by the officer.
Not that he wasn't pissed or angry about it but no matter the situation, Tarkan always made sure to think with a clear head.
He already knew he had no power to harm that officer, not for now at least
But he would.
Even in his past life, he never left any grudges unfinished, No matter how small.
And this time would be no different
He would make sure both of them paid.
...
..
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Serlom_Boni
Thanks alot for the powerstones.