The Player Shop sat at the edge of the Tower District like it always had.
There are Player shops everywhere in every city, countries, continents.
This shop which is in Genovia City was big, loud and crowded with players.
Kael stopped across the street and looked at it for a moment longer than necessary.
The building itself was massive six floors tall, it was reinforced with concrete layered with mana treated steel beams. Large glass panels displayed rotating holograms of weapons, armors, potions and artifacts all spinning slowly like they were begging to be bought.
Above the entrance engraved in bold metallic letters was the shop's name.
->GATEWAY EXCHANGE-<
"Just the name sounds expensive, I hope my loots sell well"
Gateway Exchange was one of the first player shops established after the tower appeared.
Back when the people still thought the tower was a miracle instead of a countdown.
At first, it had been nothing more than glorified Pawn shop, players bringing back monster parts and shiny rocks desperate to convert their danger faced into cash. But over fifty years Gateway Exchange had grown into something closet to an conglomerate Company.
They didn't just buy loot.
They set prices.
If gateway said an item is worth ten million every shop all over the world followed. If gateway refused to buy something people assumed it was cursed, fake, or about to get them killed.
Which meant one thing.
If you sold here you got money.
If you weren't careful you got robbed politely.
Kael crossed the street and walked in.
The moment he stepped through the entrance the noise hit him.
Players arguing with clerks.
Metal clinking against counters.
A loudspeaker announcing updated mana crystal rates every five minutes.
"Mid grade Crystals down three percent....."
"No refunds on bound equipment...."
"Appraisal queues now on floor 3...."
Kael adjusted his hood and walked forward calmly.
Alright, he thought "Lets see how much my loot will sell for"
After Kael stayed in the line for thirty minutes he appeared a the appraisal table near the side and pulled up his inventory interface.
He didn't dump everything out.
That was amateur behavior.
Instead, he reviewed items one by one deciding what stayed and what what to sell for.
Kael glanced at the system log.
[Boss Rewards:
New Title: First Cutter
Warden Core (Dormant)
Architect Residue x1
High Grade Mana Crystals x6]
"First Cutter.." he repeated Quietly.
The title sat there without flair, no stat bonuses. No effects listed.
It did mention that the title effect will be revealed when he enters the tower.
So I will look into it when I enter the tower.
But I feel like this title also means something like Tower's way of saying "We're watching you" isn't it?.
He didn't equip yet.
The Warden core remained locked in his inventory.
Same with the Architect Residue a faint like dust like substance that shinned as if it couldn't decide what state it wanted to exist in.
"Yes definitely not selling on my important loots"
Kael reviewed the items from the Gold chest.
A steel jacket like armor unfolded in his hands lightweight but firm.
Tap Activated.
[Adaptive Reinforced Armor]
[Defense Scaling: Based on the Wearer adaptive conditions]
[Bind Status: Unbound]
"So it grows with me and adapt to the situation in the way I'm in, nice, ok this is staying.
The next item called Weapon Enhancement Module (Compatible to Player Kael)
Tap.
[Weapon Enhancement Module]
[Compatibility: Can enhance any type of weapon either physical or non physical]
[Restriction: One time use]
Kael's fingers twitched slightly.
"It says can enhance any type of weapon either physical or non physical. so my line weapon it is considered has non physical, especially Delimited Edge, this module is basically screaming enhance the Delimited Edge haha. Ok this is staying"
Kael picked up another item called Sealed Artifact Shard (Unidentified)
Tap.
[Status: Sealed]
[Threat Level: Unknown]
[Market Recommendation: Do not sell]
"I'm sensing a pattern here, ok lets see this later, you are staying"
Kael picked up some torn pieces of what looked like a map
[Hidden Map Fragments (Floors 5 - 70]
"Finally something straightforward , but no description of what exactly is hidden fragments, this is staying"
Kael viewed his inventory and thought what he would sell
[High Grade Mana Crystals x6]
[Excess monster materials from floor 1 to 4]
[Abundant Low tier equipment drops]
[One low grade weapon enhancement stone]
He selected the items and walked toward the main counter.
The clerk was a man in his later thirties neatly dressed with a practiced smile that had probably survived more angry players in his lifetime.
"Welcome to Gateway Exchange" the clerk said smoothly "Are you here to sell or appraise?"
Kael thought I had already Tap skill for appraisal so no need for it "I'm here to sell and I'd appreciate accurate numbers"
The clerk chuckled politely.
"Of course we pride ourselves on transparency"
Kael placed the first item on the counter.
A high Grade Mana Crystal.
The clerk scanned it.
"Hmm, A very High Purity Mana Crystal, We can Offer you----"
Kael tapped the counter lightly.
The system didn't flash.
[Market Value: 3.2 million Cates]
[Offered Future Projection Value: 1.9 million Cates]
Yes I forgot to mention it, in the world of Solaris when it comes to Tower items the currency is "CATES"
Kael looked up.
"We can offer you 1.9 million Cates"
Kael thought that's what the future projection value said and its very accurate, In times like this Tap skill is very useful.
"You might want to reconsider".
The clerk paused.
"Reconsider what exactly, Sir?"
"The numbers which you said, because it was wrong"
The smile faltered.
"Sir, our rates---"
"---- are updated every five minutes, yes I have the announcement when I walked in, Three point two million and minus commission"
Silence stretched.
"You're well informed Sir..." the clerk said carefully.
Kael smiled under his hood.
The clerk adjusted his terminal and scanned the next item.
A bundle of monster cores.
He frowned.
"These appear degraded, We'll need to lower the---"
TAP.
[Alert: Item substitution detected]
[Attempted Swap: Low grade Core]
Kael's hand stopped the clerk mid motion.
"Don,t" Kael said quietly.
"Excuse me?"
"You just tried to switch my core" Kael continued voice calm but firm "Left hand. Second hand drawer, its a very cheap trick, don't do this in front of players, we can see everything"
The clerks face drained of color.
"That's a serious accusation sir!!!"
Kael leaned forward slightly.
"Then let the camera's check and I don't mind waiting"
A few nearby players turned their heads.
The clerk followed.
"No need for that, must have been a misunderstanding"
Kael straightened.
"Good, because misunderstandings like that ruin reputations"
The clerk nodded swiftly.
The corrected total of all items displayed for selling appeared on the screen.
[10 million Cates]
After everything was tallied, the number settled.
A lot higher than Kael had expected.
He stared at it for a moment. I must maintain my dominant position, but this is my first time seeing so much amount of money, I'm so rich yayyy, control control your emotions.
"That's more than enough for now".
The clerk cleared his throat.
"Your money have been transferred, Thank you for choosing Gateway Exchange".
Kael turned to leave and paused.
"One more thing", Kael said to the security supervisor.
"Yes?"
"You might want to remind your staff, that some players don't need appraisal tools to notice when they're being lied too".
The security supervisor was confused and turned his head towards the clerk and Understood right away.
The security supervisor forced a smile "I'll pass that along".
Kael walked out of the Gateway Exchange.
After some time, The Security Supervisor came towards the clerk "The Branch Manger have called you, come upstairs to the Branch Managers office"
"Yes sir!!!" The clerk nodded and thought 'Shit I have messed up very bad this time, I have been making money from inside pretty good and all have been disrupted because of that one damm player, shittt'.
The clerk entered the Branch Manager Office.
The Branch Manager was an strong Old man who was quietly sipping his tea.
"Yes I have seen it all, please pack your bags and leave , all the money and items have been confiscated, No need of resignation , You are fired"
"Sir pleaseee this is the only jo-----"
"LEAVE" the branch manager said in one word.
The clerk left with head down.
"What a bunch of trash, I don't mind them doing fraud activities, but being caught absolutely bunch of trash"
The Branch Manager called the security supervisor.
"Investigate that Player at all costs"
The Security Supervisor nodded and quietly left.
Outside the sun was beginning to set casting long shadows across the tower district.
Kael exhaled slowly.
"That went better than expected"
His account balance was huge right now.
But this is enough, I need to uncover more secrets about Architect and need to become more stronger.
Enough resting, now its to prepare to climb again.
He turned toward his home.
"For now, its night time , lets have rest and tomorrow go to the tower"