Sarah was a genius.
Growing up in a poor home, she was always fascinated with fabrics and all the different kinds of clothes.
All the clothes and fabrics she yearned for.
All the clothes and fabrics she couldn't have.
To fulfil her dream, she invested herself completely in books and studies. That was the only way she knew how she could become rich and buy all the things she wanted.
Graduating on top of her class, she went on to pursue her higher education and ended up doing PhD in her field.
A PhD on different kinds of fabrics that Terra Beasts form and how they differ from each other. She did intensive research on the topic and ended up with groundbreaking results.
Her work was so good that she was awarded a global prize for it.
Riding her wave to success, she opened her own little shop, her own little heaven, surrounding herself with the fabrics she loved.
When the news got out that she opened her own little shop, lines and lines of investors formed in front of her door, all wanting to invest in the next big clothing brand.
But to her, her shop was sacred. It was something very personal to her. So she refused to share it, with anyone.
And that's where her downfall started. Angry after being rejected, soon all the investors and businessmen grew afraid of her potential. Afraid another player would raise in the already saturated market.
So they all came to a decision together. If they couldn't have her, they would destroy her completely.
Soon, all her suppliers started cutting contracts with her, all her customers started cancelling their orders, and the friends she thought would stay for life all cut off contact with her.
Without new supplies, customers, and support from anybody in the market, her little shop, it ended up becoming deserted.
Sarah was a genius. But she underestimated the darkness of the human heart.
Today was the last day of her shop, before she sold everything inside it at a wholesale price. But she felt unwilling.
Maybe it was her luck, or just fate at work, but a new customer walked in today. Seeing a new variant type of wool, her old habits kicked in again, and she ended up purchasing it.
As she watched what seemed to be the last customer of her life, Sarah felt unwilling.
Sarah was a genius, yes. Sarah was a genius of hard work. And she'll be damned if she didn't give it all to save her shop.
So she made one last desperate attempt, betting it all on the unknown stranger, hoping it would change her life.
"You said you... Have a farm, right? If you have more of the same quality wool, sell it to me. I'll buy them all!!"
Hearing this, the stranger paused for a second, his face marked by hesitation. But soon enough, the hesitation gave way to determination as he spoke the words.
"You want Wool, right? Sure, I can provide it!! I'll provide as much as you want!!"
Sarah was a genius, and she made a bet on a stranger. And that bet changed her life forever.
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After signing an agreement with Sarah, Raiden walked out of the shop with a bounce in his steps, as he looked at the bonus money in his bank account.
But this happiness was soon evaporated, replaced by another tension, due to the stress of fulfilling the agreement.
He had made a bet with his future on the line, and if his guess was wrong, he would have to sell the farm directly. But he didn't regret it. Such chances never came often.
So instead of going home, he put a new navigation path on his phone, walking towards his new destination, with Woolie in his arms, who was eating an ice cream happily.
Soon, he arrived in front of the same familiar rundown shop, before walking in. Immediately, the bustling atmosphere of the shop hit him in the face as he saw people forming circles around and gambling with eggs, just like last time.
Maybe it was his luck, but the same staff that greeted him last time saw him and her eyes lit up as she made her way forward towards him briskly.
"Greetings, Mr Raiden. Are you here to visit Master Tobias again?" She greeted him with the same professional tone as before, but her tone was a tad bit softer this time.
"Hello, beauty, I did not come to visit Old Man Tobias this time; I am actually here for you."
The staff girl felt confused, blinking rapidly, before asking hesitantly. "Um.. You are here to see me?"
"Yes, I am here to see you!" Hearing this, the girl felt troubled and already started to think of ways of how to politely reject him, without offending him.
Just as she was doing mental gymnastics, Raiden spoke further.
"More specifically, I am looking for your help. I don't want to trouble Master Tobias with such a small task. Do you sell Terra Beasts here? I am talking about Woolie, specifically." He said, holding Woolie up, who greeted her with a friendly wave.
The girl let out a sigh of relief at his words before patting her chest confidently.
"Such a small thing, you can just leave it to me, sir. Please follow me."
With that, the girl started leaving the shop, making Raiden confused.
As if anticipating his confusion, she spoke without turning back towards him.
"Our Master Tobias owns several stores, and the one we were in was made exclusively for Mysterious Gambling; the neighbourhood store is the one that actually sells grown-up Terra Beasts."
Hearing her words, the confusion in Raiden's heart was cleared up as he thought to himself.
'Tch, that old man is really rich. Maybe I need to visit my sugar mommy, Aria, again and pay her back. It's not like I have any other motives or something.'
As if feeling guilty of his own thoughts, Raiden shook his head and started walking faster towards the new shop, wondering what the future would hold for him.