บท 18: Invitation to the Tradewind Merchant's Clan
"Silver hair, red eyes, pale white skin. So, you are a Vampire with a frost elemental bloodline," the dwarf said, stroking his beard with a smile on his face.
"Yes, I am a vampire with a frost elemental bloodline. That aside, do I even know you?" Kuber asked with suspicion, raising an eyebrow.
"No, you don't know me since this is the first time we have met... haha," the dwarf replied, laughing uncontrollably. He dragged a chair near Kuber and sat down with a grin.
"Ahem! So, you are a vampire, a merchant, and a newbie. I must say, this is a really bad combination," the dwarf stated, studying Kuber with a stern expression.
"Why would you say that, Mr. Dwarf?"
The dwarf paused, stroking his beard again with narrowed eyes. "That's because newbies like you are a prime target for slave merchants. A vampire with the merchant class would definitely fetch a good price."
Kuber's eyes widened in surprise, and he took a deep breath to calm himself. "What do you mean by slave merchants? Aren't they banned in a place like this?"
"You fool! Do you think this is a vacation spot? You're still wandering around freely because enslaving or killing newbies is banned for the first 10 days after they enter the tower. What do you think will happen after 10 days?" the dwarf replied with anger, his nostrils flaring.
Kuber silently listened to the dwarf's angry words while contemplating the gravity of what he had just learned. The angry dwarf described gangs like the Shadowfang Syndicate, which kidnapped and sold newbies to slave merchants for profit. The primary targets were individuals from beautiful species such as elves, vampires, and fallen angels. These unfortunate captives were often turned into sex slaves for the wealthy.
"So, you're saying that there are women who want to buy sex slaves, and I should be cautious since I might be a target?" Kuber asked with a concerned expression, his eyes flickering.
"Who said only wealthy women would be interested in purchasing someone as pretty as you? There are men who would pay exorbitant prices for a sex slave of your quality," the dwarf replied casually.
Kuber and the dwarf exchanged a silent gaze, words unspoken yet conveying a multitude of thoughts.
"I see... uhm... I'm not sure what to say," Kuber stumbled over his words, his nervousness causing him to break into a sweat.
"That's precisely why you should consider joining my 'Tradewind Merchants Clan,' boy. We specialize in selling the finest quality Aurablades and Aura Battlegear. So, what do you say?" the dwarf proposed, offering Kuber an alternative path.
The dwarf said with a confident look on his face. To him, it was clear that Kiber had no choice but to join his clan in order to protect himself.
"No, I don't work for someone else, but it's others who work for me," Kuber stated firmly, causing the dwarf's eyes to widen in astonishment. It seemed Kuber had a different plan in mind, one that didn't involve aligning himself with the dwarf's clan.
The dwarf's confident expression faltered at Kuber's response. He had expected Kuber to be more cautious and agree to join his clan for protection. However, Kuber's unexpected rejection took him by surprise.
"Wha... What are you saying, you brat? Do you even realize how tough it is to survive in this world? You're no longer in the dimension you used to be. This isn't a place to take lightly. What if the Shadowfang Syndicate tries to capture you?"
The dwarf's annoyance was evident as his forehead vein throbbed with frustration. He couldn't believe that a newbie who hadn't even been in the tower for more than a day was rejecting his offer so confidently.
"I'm quite confident that I can take care of myself. As for the Shadowfang Syndicate, I'll handle them too. Do you want to make a bet?" Kuber's expression turned confident as he gazed at the dwarf with a mischievous grin, hinting at some unknown plan he had in mind.
"Sure, let's make a bet. If you can disband the Shadowfang Syndicate, then I'll give you 100 iron credits," the dwarf declared confidently, his smirk showing his certainty.
He believed he would easily win the bet, considering the formidable leader of the Shadowfang Syndicate was a level 23 giant. However, due to the first-floor restrictions, the leader's stats would have been reduced to the level they were at during level 10.
"Alright, then it's a deal," Kuber agreed, extending his hand for a handshake. The dwarf hesitated, carefully eyeing Kuber's hand before ultimately deciding to shake it.
After the handshake, Kuber turned to leave the library promptly, while the dwarf remained seated with a sour expression on his face.
"Are you absolutely certain about this bet, Master?" a black figure emerged from the shadows, its humanoid form featuring red eyes, dark black hair, and a black mask covering its face.
"Do you really believe that brat can accomplish something as dangerous as offending the Shadowfang Syndicate? You're well aware of how dangerous those individuals can be. Follow him in secret, and step in to save him when they attempt to capture him. This way, he'll have no choice but to join our clan voluntarily," the dwarf instructed the shadow figure, his expression stern.
"Yes, Master. I'll proceed accordingly," the shadow figure replied before disappearing into thin air soundlessly.
The dwarf offering Kuber an invitation to his clan was none other than the 7th-floor branch manager of the Tradewind Merchant's Clan. Comprising mostly dwarfs, the clan specialized in manufacturing Aurablades and Aura Battlegear. They held the 42nd rank in the Merchant Rankings—an association ranking that evaluated the wealth and market influence of independent merchants and merchant clans.
The dwarf had come to the first floor upon learning about the appearance of a vampire newbie with a unique merchant class. His information had come from the guides at the summoning station, bribed by the dwarf himself.
Leaving the Merchant Association building behind, Kuber set off in the direction of the inn where he was staying. Walking through the crowded streets, he felt a wave of exhaustion washing over him, a result of all the unusual events that had unfolded throughout the day. A sigh of relief escaped him as he anticipated the prospect of a good night's sleep at the inn.
"What a challenging day it has been. Dealing with all these strange occurrences and people has left me utterly drained. A relaxing bath would definitely help me unwind," Kuber mused to himself, a genuine smile appearing on his fatigued face.
Amidst his thoughts, a subtle tremor coursed through the ground, accompanied by a faint, distant rumble. The structures around him emitted soft creaks, and a light clattering of objects resonated in the air. However, this trembling was not caused by an earthquake—it was due to the heavy footsteps of a colossal being, towering at least 16 feet in height.
As the giant approached Kuber, the bustling street fell into silence, the crowd attempting to avoid the immense figure. Stalls on the street were quickly dismantled to create a clear path for the colossal being's passage.
The colossal being stood before them, a towering figure adorned in a black fur jacket that accentuated his imposing presence. Muscles rippled beneath his skin, and he carried a massive one-handed axe with an air of formidable strength.
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