Capítulo 24: Sales
Mom was online later that night. Cody met her in the Sphere, and gave her a hug.
"Hey." Mom held him softly, patting him on the back. "How are you?"
"I'm okay."
"How are your studies?" Mom released him and brought out cookies and milk.
He told her about his day as they ate.
"Crisis Mode? It sounds like you're having fun." Mom actually smiled.
"Fun?" Cody scratched his head. "I'm not sure I'd say that."
"But tell me more about your friends. Tell me more about Melinda and Laila." Mom asked, as he was wrapping up his tale.
"Uh… I already did. What's there to tell?" Cody scratched his head. "One's from a snow planet, one's from a water planet. That's about it."
"No, I mean… what are they like? Their personalities? How do they treat you?" Mom asked, looking oddly keen.
"Uh… they're okay. They're helpful. Not like Na'Sar. I think he's actually trying to get me in trouble."
"Helpful?" Mom paused. "Which girl helps you the most?"
"Huh? The most helpful… Specs, I guess?" Cody frowned. "She sells all the useful stuff."
"That's not what I meant…" Mom began.
"Mom!" Cindy burst in, and that was the end of Cody's conversation with Mom. From that minute on, Cindy had all Mom's attention, chattering at high speeds. Cody couldn't get a word in edgewise.
Then Cyril logged in and had a few things to tell her too.
After that, Dad arrived.
Giving up, Cody logged out and left them to it.
***
When he woke up, he found a blinking icon of an envelope on his room wall.
"Room? What's this?" Cody asked, pointing.
"Incoming message from 'Orb', Academy VR." The room replied.
"Open it."
What came out was a floating projection just like Orb itself.
"Dear Cody, during the Weekend, the Academy is closed and time is stopped except for student events. The Academy event this weekend is a Sales Day at the Shuttle Shoppe. Various Shuttle Shops have sales up to 70% off!
"WARNING: Initial Village SE-T3 is currently in Crisis Mode! All regular shop categories are canceled! Only combat-related goods and sales will be available this weekend! Checking market access for Cody Rivers…
"Crisis Mode categories available in SE-T3 this weekend are as follows; Garage, Garden, Pharmacy, Grocery, and Apparel. Our top Promotional Item for today is the Pharmacy-Enhancement Drug, Bull Strength Energy Stim (1 bottle), a Tier 2 short term energy and strength booster, now 70% off at only 300 credits (normal price, 1000 credits)!
"Orb's Recommended Items for you are; Pharmacy-Supplement, Calcium Deluxe (10 tablets) now 50% off at 15 credits (normal price 30cr); Apparel-Footwear, Industrial Grade Rubber Work Boots, now 50% off at 10 credits (normal price 20cr); Apparel-Sportswear, Commercial Biker Knee Guards, now 50% off at 30 credits (normal price 60cr); Apparel-Accessories, Ring of Light (4 functions), now 60% off at 100 credits (normal price 250 cr). Do drop by the Shuttle Pad today and visit the Shuttle Shoppe while stocks last!"
"Huh." Cody hadn't planned on going back to school on the weekend, but since they had a sales going on, perhaps it would be worth a quick look…
***
He hopped in after breakfast.
The Shuttle Shoppe was actually a fleet of shuttles that occupied the shuttle pad and its surrounding area. Each shuttle appeared to host a specific category of goods.
"Five shuttles?" Specs was there, grimacing at the shuttle pad. "The normal Shuttle Shoppes have a whole lot more. There's usually lots of bright lights, advertisements and decorations, but now…"
"Crisis Mode." Cody summarized.
There were just five shuttles. Each one looked to have been reinforced with extra armor plating. Several armed guards stood around each shuttle, all of them in uniform armor. Two were from Boom Town Security Services, two from Pan-City Securities, and there was even one from a group called A.R.M.D.
The goods in the shops, too, seemed to be completely related to Crisis Mode. The Garage shuttle, for instance, sported modified vehicles, like electric tricycles with metal shields in front. The Garden shuttle had lots of tools that could be used as weapons in a pinch, two entire shelves full of modified garden tools, and empty spaces leaving only circular marks to note where pots and such would normally have been. The Pharmacy shuttle had first-aid kits and combat stimulants out on its display shelves. The Grocery shuttle actually sold smoke bombs and molotov cocktails on offer. As for the Apparel shuttle, it was selling armor or at least clothing modified to provide protection.
Some of the others were already shopping.
"I better get a move on before everything gets sold out…" Cody remembered that the sales was only while stocks lasted. Thinking back, he remembered that Orb had recommended some goods well within his budget, items that sounded really useful, like the Calcium Deluxe tablets. From his research online at breakfast, Cody learned that they were Tier 1 physical enhancement supplements, very good for bones. Apparently, buying them here in the Academy VR would result in actual tablets being sent to his house at Flora.
Oren was at the Pharmacy. He'd gone straight for the Enhancement Drugs section, grabbing a whole bunch of Bull Strength Energy Stims. Cody wasn't too sure about those stims. Cody much rather preferred to follow Orb's recommendation. Cody also considered the Extracetemol Plus tablets for a minute. These were powerful painkillers, and they were on half-price offer. But in the end, Cody decided to save his credits and only bought the Calcium Deluxe.
Then, he went to the Apparel department.
Laila was there, at the Clothing section, which offered Chameleon Hoodies (waterproof) at 200cr (normal price, 450 credits). "Hi, Cody! Did you come for a hoodie?"
"No, actually, I was going to look at the Knee Guards." Cody explained. "And the Work Boots."
Orb had also recommended the Ring of Light, but 100cr seemed like a rather steep price to Cody. He only had 277 credits to his name. Oh wait; 262, since he bought the Calcium Deluxe.
The Biker Knee Guards and the Rubber Work Boots would set him back another 40 credits, leaving him with just 222. Was the Ring of Light really going to be worth it?
He briefly consulted Laila on the issue.
"It might be." Laila considered. "The Ring of Light is more than just a shiny ring. It's a rechargeable four-function light emitter, with narrow beam, broad beam, lamp and beacon modes. The beacon mode is especially rare; it emits really bright flashes that can be seen for miles away under the right conditions. I've even seen sailors use beacon modes on similar rings to blind people they're fighting with."
"That's really going to hurt my credit account, though." Cody grimace.
"It'll cost more than twice as much if you miss this sale and try to buy it normally later." Laila pointed out. "So if you want it, get it now, not afterwards."
Cody sighed and paid up for one. Laila, likewise grabbed one for herself.
Other than that, Cody also wanted a proper weapon. Bashing cave moles with a Practice Sword was all very well, but fighting off Mole Serpents bigger than himself needed much more serious weaponry.
"Orb, can I buy a better sword around here?" Cody asked.
"Referencing: Tier 2 goods access. The following swords are currently available for you to purchase at Initial Village SE-T3;
1. 240mm Sushi Sashimi Knife (Cobalt Alloy Steel)
2. Deluxe Grade Chef Knife (45 Layer Damascus)
3. Chomper Cleaver…
"I said, swords, not kitchen knives!" Cody protested. "And what are their prices?"
"Reassessing." There was a short pause. Then, "Swords available to you here are as follows;
1. Trainee Practice Sword – 10cr
2. Stainless Steel Garden Machete – 50cr
3. Hunter's Edge (Butterfly Steel short sword) – 90cr
4. Militia Gladius (Synth Steel short sword) – 120cr
5. Shock Stabber (Electrified short sword) – 220cr
6. Shock Slasher (Electrified long sword) – 300cr
7. Second-hand Guardsman Saber (Energy barrier function – uses power cells) – 330cr
8. Easthill Ancestral Broadsword Replica (Military-grade Plasma Steel, has Energy Barrier function – uses power cells) – 500cr
9. Rusty Great Sword Found In Mine (Unidentified functions) – on Auction, closes in 12:25:19. Current Bid – 511cr
"Okay, stop, stop!" Cody raised both hands. "Just tell me whether anything further is going to be more expensive."
"The list is sorted by order of price." Orb supplied helpfully.
Cody scowled. With only 122 credits in his account, there was no point drooling over better weapons. "What's up with this Butterfly Steel thing?"
"While lacking in durability, Butterfly Steel has the advantage of being lightweight."
"In other words, good for cutting meat or camping out, but not good for a fight." Cody shook his head. "Forget the Hunter's Edge. It looks like the Militia Gladius is my only option. Tell me about it."
"The Militia Gladius is categorized at Tier 3. It is a standard provisional armament for all militia volunteers."
"At least it's a proper weapon, not some gardening tool like the machete." Cody muttered.
"Error: the machete you considered a gardening tool is classified as a proper weapon by the Academy VR."
"But the Gladius is a better weapon, right?"
"The Gladius is made of tougher materials and weighs twice as much. Whether that is better or not depends on the user." Orb hesitated, then helpfully supplied, "In any case, the garden machete is categorized as Tier 2, one Tier lower than the Gladius."
"There! That proves it!" Cody decided. "Hey, Orb? Just out of curiosity, what's the best sword in the village?"
"The currently highest rated sword on sale in Initial Village SE-T3 is Crystal's Mod Practice Sword +3, registered as a higher Tier 4 weapon."
"Mod? What's 'mod'?"
"It is short for 'modified'."
"She modified a practice sword?! What does +3 even mean?"
"It means she added three functions to the weapon. The exact functions in question are patented."
Cody paused. He raised his practice sword. "So, in other words, this practice sword in my hand now… can be modified and upgraded until it reaches Tier 4 strength?"
"Correct."
Cody allowed himself a small grin. "Well, then, I'm going to find Crystal and ask her about sword mods."
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