Chapter 20: From the shadows
'Hmm...'
I sat on a bench on the side of the street as the sun set.
I had gathered quite a bit of information over the day regarding the prices of goods and services.
The majority of the shop buildings were NPC owned and had higher quality goods whilst the majority of the tents and merchants on the public marketplace were players trying to sell materials and low quality goods.
Of course some NPCs did also sell items on the marketplace but these were mostly cheap goods such as low quality foods, wax candles or low quality equipment.
There were also a few player owned store buildings, it seemed the players had gathered into a large organization called 'guilds' who operate such buildings.
The majority, except one, focused on the merchandise of high quality equipment and monster materials. One guild, however, seemed to have invested upon a large blacksmith. Providing personal blacksmiths services to players and other npcs who are willing to fork out the cost.
A price for a normal iron sword was around 20 copper whilst a steel sword was around 1 silver. There was also a long spear whose spear blade Damascus steel and gilded in gold that was being sold for 25 gold. It was the most expensive item I had seen today.
As for foods, a single copper could buy 5 fist-sized pieces of bread or fruits at half the volume.
Potions seemed to be a luxury as the most basic healing potion was at 10 silvers whilst the most premium 'Second Life Potion' being priced at 1 gold.
A.I had worked hard throughout the day compiling the data of goods so they could be used in the future for comparison.
I had bought quite a lot of various things, mainly consumable items such as foods, potions etc, and had been left with just a bit over 3 gold.
Oh, plus a small bowl of ice cream which I was enjoying now.
Though I was entirely made of data, the foods of this world still simulated the taste and sensation as if they were real. The cold touch of the cream followed by the sweetness enveloping my tongue... A taste that many could resist against.
Sadly there was no chocolate flavor and I had to settle with a floral scent.
The sun had almost set as the lamps of the Capital started to get lit up one by one. Although the majority of the peasants on the southern area used oil lamps, the public roads and buildings were provided with lamps that used magic crystals infused with the light element as a source of lighting.
Magic crystals were crystals that had a capacity to contain mana and a tendency towards energy-type mana. One could imbue it with an elemental mana and it would hold a certain amount which varied depending on the quality and size of the crystal.
As for the crystals used in the street lamps, most were around the size of a gold ball or smaller yet were almost as bright as the household LED bulbs of modern Earth.
I finished my ice cream as the sun had completely set, threw away the disposable bowl and spoon in the nearby bin and started to make my walk back towards the hotel with the goods I had bought in a small linen bag that I had also purchased.
'Once I return to the tower, we'll study and analyze these potions... Hopefully we can recreate them and perhaps even enhance them. We can start a business hehehe.'
[Please do bear in mind, reverse engineering is not my forte.]
'I know, it might be mine though. Who knows until I try it o-'
At that moment.
Pssk!
"Ah!"
I felt a small prick hit the side of my arm as I saw a small needle-like object hanging off my flesh.
"What th-
Pssk! Pssk!
Another two needles flew towards me from a distance as I quickly rolled back, effectively dodging them.
"Obex!"
I directly casted the barrier spell using my own mana, creating a double layer barrier that shielded me from the direction the attack had come from.
"Assassin! Help!". I shouted out as loud as I could and sent out a wave of panic towards the surrounding citizens.
"Tsk." A sharp click of a tongue was heard from a dark alleyway in the distance as a pair of purple eyes appeared for a second before disappearing.
[User's physical avatar has been poisoned. Currently depleting life source at a rate of 0.3% per second and increasing at an exponential rate. Suggestions to seek antidote.]
'I-I bought one from the st..store... The potion...'
My body seemed to be on fire as the barrier spell started to dissipate around the edges.
Whhhiii!
A sharp whistle was heard as I collapsed upon the ground, the barrier spell fully dissipating into the air.
I tried to grab the general antidote within my linen bag but my arm fell down onto the road in a limp manner as my vision started to blur.
I saw a few silhouettes running towards me from the distance as my vision darkened.
-----
"The boy has been hit." A pair was purple eyes could be seen as a hissing voice spoke out.
"Which poison did you use this time Scorpio?" Leo asked, looking towards a dark shadowy area within the room where the purple eyes had sprung from.
"A special one reserved for Magi, it will clog up his mana veins within the body and disrupt him from casting spells or manipulating mana. Kekeke..." The hissing voice chuckled as it replied.
"Scorpio. We need the boy dead. He is a threat to us all, you should know this. That poison isn't lethal is it?" Leo, with a stern look, scolded Scorpio.
"Not yet, but it will be. Sooner or later the mana will overload within his body and burn him up from the inside out, kakakakaka!" A sinister laugh could be heard as the pair of purple eyes and the shadow disappeared from the room.
"I...I guess that works?" Leo, stumped by the sudden leave from Scorpio, pondered for a moment.
"Hela!" Leo called out as a masked female figure appeared beside him.
"You called Leo? You called me all the way here, there must be a reason for it right?" The woman spoke out with a voice that Deus may recognize if he was here.
"I called you so you can fulfill your end of the bargain and grant me a favor, I wish you to tail a boy. An Aether Magus who hasn't grown quite yet. His name is Deus and is currently in the Capital of The Empire. "Find him and see if he's still living. If he doesn't die within 2 weeks. Kill him."
"!!" The woman froze for a second before answering. "Under...Stood. With this, my debt will be paid."
"Yes, your debt is now paid. Go on now, you are dismissed. Don't forget to send a report after you're done."
"As you wish Leo." The woman left as quickly as she had come.
Crkkrk!
"No one will be allowed to foil our plans... It has been a millania... We shall return once again." Leo tightly clenched onto a nearby cup, causing several cracks to appear as he spoke.
He then raised his head, revealing a pair of eyes that still glowed gold but had a hint of red around the edges.
"Soon..."
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone