Capítulo 19: Chapter 19 : The Interesting Youngster

Inside the box Lucas took out was a metal bracelet with a red gem in the middle. The bracelet was designed so well that it was aesthetically pleasing just to look at. Being a girl and a less young one with not much worldly experience, the girl couldn't resist being attracted to the jewellery.

The elderly man frowned at Lucas' actions, but when he glanced at the reed gem in the middle, he couldn't help but raise an eyebrow. Although it looked like a gem, on closer inspection, one would realise that it was actually metal. This was a rare and valuable metal known as Red Iris stone. It was called a stone because of its outward appearance, but under further scrutinization, one would find out that it was a metal.

Seeing this expensive piece of metal in a bracelet, the old man couldn't help but study Lucas once again, trying to figure out who he was.

"I like it." The little girl said this as she left the old man and approached the trinket box.

Even though Lucas was a stranger, she wasn't scared and instead had her focus on the bracelet the whole time. Lucas couldn't help but lament at how naive she was, but that helped his case.

"What do you want?" The old man ignored the girl and stared at Lucas with a solemn expression.

There was no way someone would give out a bracelet with Red Iris stone and ask for nothing, even if the piece was just the size of a thumbnail. What's more, the elderly man could see that the craftsmanship used in making this ornament was exquisite. Although there wasn't much stellar energy in it nor any stellar matrix on it, so much so that one could say it's a failed product, it was the purest form he had seen in an item in the entire West Wing district. If the blacksmith who crafted this piece of jewellery had imbued more stellar energy into it by etching runes or a formidable stellar matrix on it, the bracelet would easily become a top-tier vestige.

At that moment, Lucas came under the same pressure as the man in the store and couldn't move his body. But he wasn't afraid.

"Nothing really. Like I said, I just want to give my thanks for the help." Lucas calmly replied.

"Using a vestige with Red Iris stone?" The old man scoffed, clearly not believing Lucas' words.

Lucas smiled, but still spoke calmly, "If you don't believe me, so be it. I found your actions helpful and decided to thank you with a handcrafted item of mine. I could see that you were of great standing, so I had to show more honesty and thought with my gift. Sir, you shouldn't think too much about it."

The old man was surprised when he heard this. Not because of Lucas' reasoning, but a claim he made.

A handcrafted item of mine.

This meant that the skilled blacksmith who made this vestige with such pure stellar energy was actually the young man before him? The old man couldn't help but be shocked.

In Eretre, the classes of metalworksmen was divided into two: Blacksmiths and Vestige-smiths. The former dealt with metals, whether ordinary or special. The latter made vestiges out of these metals. This might not seem like much, but the difference was.

Blacksmiths simply made weapons and even the best of their creations could only produce a trace of stellar energy using special metals. However, vestige-smiths could imbue stellar energy in any of their creations by relying on either formidable runes of other/ancient civilizations or stellar matrices which was the culmination of hyuman technology.

Most vestige-makers were vestige-smiths and only few blacksmiths had enough skill to rival them or come close. The bracelet had a trace of stellar energy; the criterion for defining a vestige. For a young man like Lucas to be able to achieve this without relying on runes or stellar matrices, his skill was the real deal.

"How come I've never heard of you before?" The old man asked.

"I just moved in and haven't opened my store yet. That will be tomorrow." Lucas replied.

"Alright." The old man nodded. He glanced at the little girl who was taring at him with puppy eyes. Although she had dashed towards the jewellery for a closer look, she wouldn't take it unless he agreed.

"Go ahead." The old man smiled at her with a gentle expression, a direct contrast to how he dealt with other people.

"Yeh!" The girl rejoiced and immediately took the bracelet, ignoring the box even though just like the bracelet, it also had a trace of stellar energy.

Clearly, she fancied the bracelet not for its properties but just its appearance.

Lucas couldn't help but sigh and at the same time rejoice that a knowledgeable figure like the old man was here otherwise his plot would have failed.

Indeed, everything that was taking place was a plan of Lucas. The system wanted him to run a store, so in the long run, profits would be a focus of his. Considering the isolated location of the store as well as the existence of reputable competition, it would be hard for Lucas to stand out. So, he had to utilise ingenious methods to steal customers.

The elderly man and the little girl didn't seem like ordinary people. Based on how they carried themselves, the little girl was probably born into money and power while the old man wield it.

Using one of his experimental products to win the favour and attention of such characters could be described as an investment. Originally, Lucas couldn't do such out-of -the-blue, but the excuse of appreciation for prior aid offered worked really well.

As for why he was confident that he had won the elderly man's favour without the latter asking any question in particular, it was based off their actions and reactions.

"Is there anything else, young man?" The old man asked.

Knowing that the old man was hinting at his departure, Lucas replied with a slight bow, "Nothing. Thank you, sir."

"Alright." The old man responded and left with his daughter whereas Lucas now had a smile on his face.