บท 25: Looks Like We've Got Company

"I will. Take care, Auggie," Sophia said as her smile faded slightly with concern. She always worried about him, especially with the long hours he worked.

August grabbed his bag and rushed out the door after rubbing her hair affectionately in a final farewell.

...

The factory was loud and chaotic as usual. August joined the line of workers, his friend Derrick giving him a nod as he arrived. They fell into their usual routine, moving crates and operating machines, each task a mind-numbing repetition of the last.

But today, August's mind was elsewhere. His thoughts kept drifting back to the potential sale he had set up after his shift. The Bronze Shortsword he had extracted from the game had garnered some interest. After posting an ad online, he'd received a message from a prospective buyer who seemed willing to pay the price he'd set—one hundred thousand dollars.

If he could sell it, he'd have 20% of the money he needed to pay off Damon. It wasn't enough to get rid of the debt collector completely, but it was a start.

Derrick noticed his friend's distraction. "You alright, man? You've been kinda quiet today," he said, wiping sweat from his brow.

August nodded. "Yeah, just... thinking about something. I might have a way to make some decent money soon."

Derrick raised an eyebrow. "Oh yeah? Not some shady deal, I hope."

August chuckled. "No, nothing shady. Just a business opportunity. If it goes well, it'll help with the debt."

Derrick gave him a knowing look. "Well, I hope it works out, man. You deserve a break."

The hours dragged on as they continued their grueling work, but August's mind stayed focused on the meeting after his shift. He had arranged to meet the potential buyer at a neutral location—a small café on the other side of town. He chose the place carefully, somewhere public enough to avoid trouble but quiet enough to discuss business.

The minutes seemed to crawl by as the day went on. August's hands moved mechanically, lifting heavy crates and operating machinery, but his thoughts were miles away.

He couldn't shake the sense of unease that came with dealing with strangers for large sums of money. He had been in the business world for decades so there usually was no nervousness attached to it, being a seasoned businessman.

However, this world was more dangerous than his previous.

There were always risks when it came to game items brought into reality. Some buyers were genuine, but others could be dangerous—players with supernatural abilities looking to rob him or worse.

Still, he couldn't afford to be paranoid. This was a chance he had to take. He needed the money, not just for himself but for Sophie.

She deserved a better life than this—better than scraping by and constantly looking over their shoulders for debt collectors like Damon.

August glanced at the clock on the factory wall. Just a little longer. He had spent hours planning every detail of the meeting, going over possible scenarios in his head.

If the buyer was legit, this could be a game-changer. If not... well, he'd have to be ready for that too.

Derrick nudged him as their shift neared its end. "You're looking pretty intense, man. Got a hot date or something?"

August smirked. "Something like that. Just gotta be on my toes."

Derrick chuckled. "Alright, just don't forget to breathe."

As the final whistle blew, signaling the end of their shift, August felt a rush of anxiety but calmed himself quickly. He grabbed his bag and gave Derrick a nod. "Catch you later, man."

"Yeah, take care, and good luck with that 'business opportunity' of yours," Derrick replied, giving him a thumbs-up.

August left the factory, his heart beating a little faster with each step. The sun was beginning to set, casting long shadows across the streets. The meeting time was drawing closer, and he knew he had to be prepared for anything.

He took a deep breath and started making his way toward the café.

...

The café was quiet, with only a few customers scattered around, sipping coffee or absorbed in their own business.

It was a small place, the kind where one could have a discreet conversation without drawing too much attention—or at least that was what August had hoped for. He had chosen this location carefully, but the unease in his stomach didn't go away.

He'd never dealt with selling a game item in reality before, and he knew there were risks.

His contact had arrived earlier and sat in the corner with his hood pulled up slightly over his face. The man looked unremarkable—mid-30s, with an average build and nothing particularly intimidating about him.

His gaze darted around the room, his body language radiating nervous energy. August, with part of his face obscured by a scarf, approached the table slowly, eyeing the man critically.

'Is this the guy?' August thought to himself as he took the seat across from him.

'Doesn't look like much... but who knows?'

The man's eyes shifted to August, giving him a quick once-over before he sat up straighter, attempting to hide his own nervousness.

In his mind, doubts swirled— 'Is this a hoax? No one actually sells real items retrieved from Enders Light for a hundred thousand dollars. They go for millions.'

"Are you the one selling the Bronze Shortsword?" the man finally asked with a low and cautious tone.

August nodded slightly, not wanting to reveal too much. "You're here to see it, right?"

The man hesitated but nodded. "Yeah, but... honestly, I wasn't sure if this was real. A bronze-grade weapon from Enders Light... well, you know it usually sells for way more than what you've listed."

"That's because it's bronze," August replied, his voice calm but firm. "It's rare, sure, but it's not one of the high-tiered items like silver, gold, or anything higher. A hundred thousand dollars is fair for something like this."

The man's eyes narrowed slightly, still unsure. "I'm just scouting for my boss. He's the real buyer, but he needs to know if this is legitimate before we move forward."

August reached into his bag slowly, his senses on high alert as he pulled out the bronze Shortsword.

The moment the blade caught the dim light of the café, the other man's eyes widened in shock. He leaned forward, clearly taken aback by the sight of the real game item.

The bronze sword was incredibly smooth. Its metallic sheen glinted with the faintest trace of magical runes etched into the blade—a typical feature of even the lower-tiered items from Enders Light. The weight of it, the way it subtly radiated power, made it unmistakably authentic.

August kept his grip firm on the sword as he allowed the man to inspect it from a distance. He knew the game too well to let anyone else handle the item—things could go sideways in an instant.

"It's real..." the man muttered, astonishment creeping into his voice. "I can't believe it..."

August nodded. "Now that you've confirmed, I expect payment. A hundred thousand dollars—clean and quick."

The man pulled his gaze away from the sword, his mind still reeling. "Like I said... I'm just the scout. My boss is the one with the cash. Once I tell him this is real, he'll definitely want to buy it."

August's expression remained neutral, but inside, a wave of suspicion washed over him. 'Just a scout? Why isn't the buyer here himself?'

He pulled the sword back, stowing it carefully in his bag. "I can't guarantee I'll still have the sword by the time your boss is ready to buy. There's a lot of interest, and I'm not holding onto it for anyone."

The man's eyes widened in panic. "Wait, please! Give me a little more time. I swear, once I tell him, he'll be here with the money. He's serious about this—he'll pay."

August stood up calmly but decisive. "I'll be around. But I'm not making any promises. If I get another buyer, the deal's off."

The man scrambled to his feet in desperation and anxiety. "Please, just a little time! I'm telling you, my boss will definitely buy it!"

August simply nodded once, giving a curt farewell before heading toward the door. He could feel several eyes on him as he walked through the café. The glint of the sword had attracted more attention than he had wanted. He didn't need to look around to know that people were already speculating about the weapon.

'This isn't good,' he thought to himself. 'Too much attention.'

As August exited the café, the cool night air hit him, but it did little to ease the tension building in his chest.

He kept his head low and made his way toward the train station, quickening his pace as the uneasy feeling from earlier returned. Something felt off—more than just the suspicious behavior of the buyer's "scout."

He casually glanced over his shoulder as he walked, his eyes scanning the darkened streets. That's when he noticed them—two shadowy figures lingering in the distance, their pace mirroring his own. They weren't obvious, but they weren't exactly subtle either.

'Great,' August muttered under his breath. 'Looks like we've got company.'