In the underground workshop of Saint Amanda School, Dorothy sat stunned in her seat, her expression dull, her gaze fixed, not moving, as if she had turned into a stone statue. At this moment, she felt her young mind had received a ruthless shock from reality.
After being stunned for a long time, her brain finally started working again. The first thought that popped into her head was a complaint.
'Damn, didn't this old guy even haggle?'
Dorothy thought this. The price she offered was the result of a long period of careful consideration. From her perspective, it was definitely in the realm of an exorbitant asking price.
This was five secret transmissions! The price of one secret transmission ranged from four to five hundred pound, so five together would be worth over two thousand pound! If you bought a house in Igwinte with that, you could live a wealthy life just by collecting rent! And that Extraordinary item with spatial storage... Could it be that such Extraordinary items aren't actually rare in the secret transmission world?
Dorothy thought this in her heart. Her asking price just now was much higher than her original psychological estimate, intended to increase the bargaining room. Dorothy's psychological bottom line was actually only around two secret transmissions.
Having left room for negotiation and set her psychological bottom line, Dorothy was waiting to haggle with Aldrich for over a dozen rounds. But who knew that Aldrich would immediately agree to what she considered an extremely high premium? This instantly made Dorothy feel like she had lost hundreds of millions.
Dorothy felt like she was asking for the moon, but who knew that in someone else's eyes, she was just like a kitten opening its mouth.
'Ahhh... I feel like I lost so much... Is this guy that rich? I should have asked for more...'
Dorothy cried out inwardly. Although she had clearly received a reward far exceeding her psychological expectations, she still felt like she had lost.
The human heart, isn't it wonderful?
"What's wrong? Miss Mesi Horse, isn't it something to be happy about that we were able to reach a consensus so quickly and complete this transaction?"
Looking at the somewhat stunned Dorothy before Captain, Aldrich said calmly. Listening to Aldrich's words, Dorothy's expression went through a series of complex changes, and then she sighed deeply.
"Phew... Okay, the deal is done. Captain, could you please show me what I want?" Dorothy said this. After thinking for a while, she still gave up on the idea of going back on her word and raising the price, which was disrespectful to the contract. Seeing Dorothy's response, Aldrich smiled slightly in approval.
"Heh heh, as you wish, Miss Mesi Horse."
Saying this, Aldrich got up and walked into the room next to his workshop. After a short while, he returned slowly with a few items in his hand, finally placing them in front of Dorothy.
They were clearly two old books and a small, palm-sized bronze box. The bronze box was round, decorated with various jewels and carvings, and looked quite valuable.
"This is a magic box. Only high-level'Shi' (Stone) craftsmen can make it. Inside is a special compressed space that can hold many items. Several branches of the Stone path at high levels have the ability to create magic boxes. The most advanced magic boxes can contain a city inside."
Looking at the small bronze box on the table, Aldrich continued to explain.
"This magic box is a basic model. It has a total space of 7x7x7, which is 343 cubic meters. I think this should be enough for you. To use it, just open the lid and put things in. Adjusting the yellow gem on top can adjust the size of the entrance."
While speaking, Aldrich began a demonstration. He opened the lid of the bronze box. What Dorothy saw was not the bottom of the box but a pitch-black void. Then Aldrich twisted the yellow gem on the lid, and the opening of the void began to expand. After exceeding the box's own size, the edge of the void was surrounded by a wisp of orange-yellow halo to contain it.
"Note, most magic boxes are made for storage, and this one is no different. So it's best not to put intelligent creatures inside; the environment will severely damage their intelligence. Also, don't let the space inside suffer severe impacts, otherwise the magic box will be damaged and collapse, spitting out everything inside all at once."
After the introduction was complete, Aldrich adjusted the magic box's entrance back to its original state, then closed it with the lid, and looked at Dorothy, waiting for questions.
"A magic box... You said that many Extraordinary of the'Shi' (Stone) rank can make magic boxes, so that means it's not uncommon in the secret transmission world?" Dorothy asked this. Aldrich took out this magic box for the trade so readily, making Dorothy think perhaps this thing was very common and not worth much at all?
"Heh heh... Not uncommon? Miss Mesi Horse, I said only high-level Extraordinary of the'Shi' (Stone) rank can make magic boxes. The rarity of high-level Extraordinary might be beyond your imagination. High-level Stone are even fewer. I can tell you directly, the Extraordinary who can create magic boxes are few and far between in this world, and the success rate of making magic boxes isn't high. The one you have is enough for two Chalk to fight over."
"Huh?"
Listening to Aldrich's words, Dorothy was momentarily stunned. She couldn't tell if what he just said was true or if Aldrich was just bragging.
If this was true, wouldn't she have made a huge profit this time? This was something that could make two Chalk fight, and she got it just for a piece of information?
For Aldrich, was it that this thing wasn't very valuable, or that the information was too valuable?
Or was he simply bragging?
"Alright... Miss Mesi Horse, the items are all here. It's time for you to tell me your information."
Sitting back down on the chair, Aldrich spoke to Dorothy. After sorting out her thoughts, Dorothy began to tell Aldrich about the two Black Rank.
In Dorothy's description, she briefly mentioned that while protecting the victims of the Holy Communion Society, she tracked down two strange Black Rank from outside. They served a Lord called Deer Skull and were ordered to search for a "Stone" Extraordinary in Igwinte. They had now located Saint Amanda School and might make a move soon.
Hearing Dorothy's words, Aldrich fell silent for a moment. He was drinking tea and pondering something, his tightly locked brows showing a hint of solemnity. Dorothy could see that Aldrich truly valued the information about this Deer Skull.
"Finally, are they coming?"
Aldrich sighed slowly and said. Then he looked at Dorothy and spoke again.
"Thank you, Miss Mesi Horse. The information you brought is very useful to me. It will allow me to prepare in advance."
"Captain, do you have enemies coming? And very powerful enemies? Are you planning to evacuate?" Looking at Aldrich before her, Dorothy replied. She had already guessed the general situation. It was clear that Aldrich had enemies coming for revenge.
"Evacuate? Heh... For Stone, abandoning one's position is the most foolish thing to do. It's no different from seeking one's own destruction," Aldrich said with a cold snort, and Dorothy continued to speak.
"Then, Captain, are you planning to stay and confront them head-on? How confident are you?"
"How confident? In my current state, even with ample preparation, maybe around forty percent..." While speaking, Aldrich gazed at Dorothy and continued.
"However, if Miss Mesi Horse, you can stand on my side, I think the chance of winning could be sixty percent. So, Miss Mesi Horse, are you willing to make another deal with me?"
"The reward is a favor from me."