After all, it was just a piece of equipment, and in a few months, it might be obsolete. Spending tens of thousands—or even hundreds of thousands—of credits could be justified for something truly exceptional, but for a million? That required careful thought. No matter how wealthy someone was, money didn't just fall from the sky.
Kaito's gaze lingered on the price tag of the Mysterious Iron mask before him, his expression flat, almost pitying, as he looked at the stall owner as though he were looking at a fool. "Your hemostatic grass… it's not worth tens of thousands of gold coins per bundle," he remarked casually.
The stall owner's face darkened. "I'm doing business, not swindling people, alright? Look at this mask—it's growth equipment. You think five thousand gold coins is expensive? Really?"
Kaito froze for a moment before lowering his head to properly inspect the Mysterious Iron mask he had almost dismissed at first glance.
Mask of Nocturnis (Mysterious Iron)
Level Restriction: Level 10
Defense: +10
Energy: +10
Special Effect – Devour: Absorb equipment of the same grade to increase its completion rate and enhance its stats. (Completion: 0/100)
Only now did he realize his earlier oversight he had been so taken aback by the five thousand gold coin price tag that he hadn't even bothered to check the mask's properties. And now that he had, his surprise shifted into interest.
Growth equipment was rare, extremely rare. In fact, the only other piece he had ever personally encountered was the Solstice Blade, which currently hung at his side. Even then, he had only obtained it because he possessed the hidden class Magic Swordsman.
Without that prerequisite, the treasure chest that had granted it would have produced an entirely different reward suited to his class at the time. That memory alone reminded him just how special such items were; their potential was limited only by the user's dedication and the resources they were willing to feed into them.
Kaito's eyes narrowed slightly as he traced a finger over the mask's edge. Something like this, in the right hands, could become far more than a mere disguise—it could evolve into a weapon of anonymity, a shield against recognition, and an invaluable tool for both survival and strategy in Glory.
"Absorbing equipment of the same grade to improve its rank… is this thing tailor-made for me?"
Kaito's eyes lingered on the Mask of Nocturnis, his earlier skepticism melting away as the implications sank in. Growth equipment—true growth equipment—wasn't bound by the limits of ordinary gear. If nurtured properly, it could remain viable until the day Glory's servers shut down. For a moment, he almost forgot about the outrageous price tag.
His gaze drifted to the special effect again: Devour. With a gleam in his eye, he asked casually, "Can it be cheaper? Five thousand gold coins is… a bit steep."
The stall owner didn't even blink. "No. Not a single coin less. I won this equipment in a lottery. If you can't afford it, I'm not selling."
Kaito resisted the urge to click his tongue. The man's tone made it clear he wasn't bluffing. Still, with Kaito's high forging success rate and the amount of gear he could produce—or acquire—feeding this mask's growth would be a straightforward task. It really did feel like it had been made for him.
The stall owner, catching Kaito's lingering interest, added smugly, "Look carefully—it's growth equipment. If you can't afford it, maybe someone else can."
Kaito's lips curled faintly. "If I'm not mistaken, when you first obtained it, it was a blank equipment, wasn't it? When upgrading from blank to Mysterious Iron, what was its initial completion? Ten points? Fifty?" He leaned in slightly. "If it's fifty, then maybe the price is fair. Some can double that quickly, and if a rich boss nurtures it right, it could climb to Dark Gold… maybe even higher. In that case, five thousand is acceptable. But if it started at ten points? Well… to reach Gold rank, you'd need to pour in at least ten thousand gold coins. Tell me—who in their right mind would afford that?"
The stall owner rolled his eyes, unimpressed. "That's not my problem. If you can afford it, then tens of thousands of gold coins isn't much. If you can't, there's no point in wasting breath. The price is five thousand— not a copper less."
Meeting a wall of stubbornness, Kaito felt the first twinge of frustration. He was greedy for the mask—no point denying it—but his funds weren't unlimited. He weighed his options for a long moment before finally asking, "Do you accept credits instead of gold?"
The stall owner shook his head instantly. "Not happening."
It was no surprise. With the price of gold coins climbing rapidly on the official exchange and the trend was still rising. The stall owner clearly knew that gold coins were far more valuable than flat credits. Why would he exchange something that appreciated daily for currency that stayed fixed?
After the stall owner firmly rejected Kaito's offer to pay in credits instead of gold, Kaito's gaze lingered on the Mask of Nocturnis, his mind racing for another angle. He was dejected, but not ready to give up. While he was still thinking, the stall owner suddenly spoke.
"Hey… are you Raen?"
Kaito looked up at him, frowning slightly.
"So, are you really interested in my mask?" the stall owner pressed.
"Yes," Kaito admitted with a small nod. "I'm a little interested—but your price is far too expensive."
The stall owner's expression didn't change, even after recognizing who Kaito was. Maintaining such calm despite knowing Kaito's reputation meant one thing—this player had confidence in his own abilities.
Kaito's thoughts shifted as he glanced over the man's armor and noted he was a warrior. An idea came to him. Without a word, he retrieved the Dark Blade he had recently acquired from the cultist.
The stall owner's eyes lit up instantly. He leaned forward, examining the weapon's attributes closely, his interest plain as day.
"Your name's Raen, right?" he said after a moment. "I've heard about you. You're the one who single-handedly defeated Everhold Dominion. With your strength, this growth-type mask would be perfect for you. You could raise it to Gold, Dark Gold, maybe even higher. If I were you, I wouldn't pass up this chance."
Kaito narrowed his eyes and smirked faintly. "So you think I'll definitely buy it… and that's why you plan to raise the price?"
"You might be mistaken," Kaito shook his head then continued evenly. "I do have an interest in the mask, but that doesn't mean I have to buy it."
Now, both men understood the other's game. The stall owner wanted the Dark Blade. Kaito wanted the mask. The verbal sparring began.
The stall owner chuckled. "Honestly, I know this mask won't sell to anyone else. The cost to cultivate it is too high. Effort and reward don't match, and most people can't afford to invest in it. Even I wouldn't keep it. So, selling it to you is the most logical choice."
Kaito raised an eyebrow. "Sounds like you're forcing a sale."
"Since we understand each other," the stall owner replied with a smile, "I won't beat around the bush." He lifted the mask slightly, then glanced at the sword in Kaito's hand. "I've taken a liking to that Dark Blade. How about we just trade? No extra gold needed—straight swap."
Inside, Kaito's excitement surged, but outwardly, he kept his expression neutral. "Deal."
The exchange was quick. Kaito handed over the Dark Blade, while the stall owner passed him the Mask of Nocturnis. Both men walked away satisfied—each certain they'd gotten the better end of the bargain.