Chapter 52: The Merchant Ramol

Nathan went around the store along with everyone else, looking and prodding at whatever they could. Ramol stood in attention watching and waiting, with an expression that screamed “Ask me anything”.

Nathan picked up one of the weapons and compared it to his sword, it had a lot to be desired. Most of the weapons and armor around his shop weren’t bad, it just, if this were a game, it could be compared to the starting town weapon shop. Leather armors, Short sword, Bandanas, it was a shop for beginners.

Nathan glanced over to the shop keep, he was staring at Nathan, the same expression he was getting in town. Ramol jumped out of his stupor, once he realized he was staring.

Ramol: “T-take your time, only the finest here.”

Nathan: “Actually, were not here to make a purchase.”

The smile on Ramol’s face vanished, replaced with a look of despair.”

Ramol: “Oh……..I see, well was there anything else I could help you with?”

Ash: “Well, I not sure if you can, after seeing this place.”

Ramol: “I see, yes with such an appearance, it would be hard for anyone to, but let me decide rather I could help you or not.”

Nathan: “Hmm, well, I was trying to sell off this sword, but I been having problems a with finding a buyer.”

Ramol: “Oh, but there are many merchant that would buy weaponry in Loegrey.”

Nathan: “Yeah, but they weren’t any good deals.”

Ramol sighed heavily, he remember getting customers like this.

Ramol: “I’m sorry, but maybe it was just the quality of the blade, just because you believe the blade is better than it should be, doesn’t mean it actually is.”

Nathan couldn’t refute that comment, but at the same time he wanted to say it was because he could tell when someone is lying. Nathan grabbed his sword and tossed it to Ramol. Ramol looked the sword up in down, it was indeed a fine blade, in fact he had never seen such a fine sword. Maybe there was some truth to what Nathan was saying.

Ramol: “Examine.”

Nathan: “Oh.”

Ramol: “Huh, ah your surprised, it’s not often you see someone using Examine ability?”

NAthan: “Huh yeah, I was told that it was really rare.”

Ramol: “It is, most merchants need an appraisal tool in order to see the stats of any item. I one of the few lucky ones who obtained it.”

Nathan: “Huh, lucky you.”

Ramol examine the blades stats and went wide eyed. He looked at Nathan and to everyone else in his group. His expression was similar to all the others keep, but there was something else.

Ramol: “………Is this really your sword?”

Nathan: “Excuse me?”

Ramol: “I was completely wrong about what I said, and I can now see why ask the other merchants were looking like that. They probably thought you were an idiot.”

Nathan: “What did you call me?”

Ramol: “I’m sorry, could we speak on the next room, just you and me?”

Nathan: “Why?”

Ramol: “I want to clarify something, please.”

Anais: “Sounds suspicious.”

Ash: “He could just talk out here.”

Ramol placed his hands together and bowed his head. Nathan looked him up and down, he couldn’t feel any hostility.”

Nathan: “……………………..Fine.”

Ramol handed the sword back and headed toward a room deeper inside, ushering Nathan to follow him. Nathan turned to Iris, she had remained quiet this entire time. Though she can’t be seen, her voice can still be heard so if someone’s around, she can’t speak. Nathan and Iris entered the room, while the other three waited out in the main hall.

Ramol shut the door wants they entered in then ushered Nathan to a seat. Iris landed next to Nathan, sit on the armrest of the chair.

Ramol: “Sorry about this, this is not something I normally do.”

Ramol shut the curtains, dimming the room, but it was still bright enough to see.

Nathan: “No, its fine, so what about my sword that makes everyone make that face?”

Ramol: “First, let me ask……..are you a thief?”

Nathan: “What, of course not.”

Ramol breath out deeply.

Ramol: “Yeah, figured as much, no one who’s a thief would be dumb enough to try to sell this blade in broad daylight.”

Nathan: “Huh, insulting me, right in my face.”

Ramol: “I am terribly sorry, I really don’t mean to insult. But, why would you so callously, sell this sword?”

Nathan: “I need the money, it’s really all I have.”

Ramol: “Money, something like this is worth so much money, even if I was a noble, I couldn’t afford it and if I could, I would never use it.”

Nathan: “It’s that great?”

Ramol: “Of course it is, blade like this doesn’t even exist anymore.”

Nathan: “What’s so special about it?”

Ramol: “Ah I see, th other owners didn’t tell you.”

Ramol leaned over the table, as if he didn’t want anyone else to hear.

Ramol: “This sword……..has stats.”

Nathan: “…………..What?”

Ramol: “Its true, it even has a few abilities.”

Ramol looked at Nathan, as if he had told him the secrets of the universe. But Nathan didn’t understand.

Ramol: “More importantly, this blade doesn’t have a durability meter, it doesn’t have to be sharpened in order to stay in top condition.”

Nathan: “So?”

Ramol was flabbergasted when he heard that.

Ramol: “What do you mean so, a blade like this doesn’t just appear every day. It’s one in a million.”

Nathan: “Really, but I have a ton of them.”

Ramol: “WHAT!?”

Nathan: “Yeah, swords, spears, bows, rods, even armor and accessories, I have plenty more to use.”

Ramol: “Absolute nonsense, no one would have such a huge stockpile of weapons.”

Nathan waved his hand, he pulled out another sword, one with the same stats as the one he was selling. Ramol nearly jumped out of his skin, seeing the blade appear out of thin air.

Nathan: “See?”

Ramol: “Wh-Wh-Where did that just come from?”

Nathan: “My inventory, that where I keep all my stuff.”

Ramol: “Your what?”

Nathan: “You know, A Spatial Rend Gem”.”

Ramol: “SP-SPATIAL REM GEM!?”

*Bam*

Iris jumped from the sudden outburst. Ramol had thrown himself backwards, tumbling comedically across the floor in his shock and smacking his head on a nearby desk. He held his head in pain, while Iris held Nathan mouth shut, preventing him from laughing.

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Ramol: “The same Spatial Rem Gem, the legendary item of infinite space for storage. The same item that said to have vanish, for nearly four thousand years?”

Nathan: “(Uh-oh) Yeah.”

Nathan messed up again, another item he didn’t realize was legendary, was now revealed to another stranger. He really need to find out exactly, what he should and shouldn’t mentioned. Right he had to find a way out of this mess.

Nathan: “I didn’t know they were legendary.”

Ramol: What, how could you possibly not know?”

Nathan told Ramol, about the sleep curse, how he had been asleep for such a long time, that the thing he knows as common, are legends as of today.

Ramol: “Ah, I get it, so you had just woken up recently?”

Nathan: “Yes, I not aware of the last five thousand years, I know mostly nothing.”

Ramol: “Okay, things are starting to make since, but you should be more careful. If what you say is true and you have a huge stockpile of such weapons, you shouldn’t tell anyone.”

Nathan: I’ll keep that in mind, but I already waved the sword to every store owner I passed on the way here.”

Ramol: “That’s not too bad, as it goes now, only the Merchant Guild probably knows. They will just hound you to sell it to them. The worst will probably be the Thieves Guild.

Nathan: “Neither of those sound good.”

Ramol: “Well, you said you have an inventory right. No one and I mean no one will think you have one. So as long as you keep it stored it should be fine.”

While Ramol was getting his thoughts together. Nathan had Iris head outside in keep watch. No doubt, the news of him trying to sell that sword has spread around town. He made have made a bunch of enemies.

Nathan: “So, are you willing to buy the sword?”

Ramol: “Willing, absolutely, able, absolutely not. Like I said such a blade is a marvel, there is no way I could give you a proper amount for this.”

Nathan: “Really, darn, you’re the first person I really wanted to sell it to.”

Ramol: “Huh?”

Nathan: “You’re the only shop keep, to honestly tell me the value of the blade. And, you don’t seem like a bad guy, you even let me know to watch out from these guilds.”

Ramol: “Well, that’s probably be the reason why I don’t get customers. I believe honesty is the best policy.”

Besides from the poison he spews now and then, Nathan was liked this guy if only he had the money to buy it.”

Nathan: “Oh, I know, how about I give you this sword, to sell?”

Ramol: “What!?”

Ramol jumped up and struck some crazy pose, causing Nathan to laugh.

Nathan: “You sell the sword and we split the profit.”

Ramol: “I couldn’t possibly.”

Nathan: “Just give it a try.”

Ramol: “You seriously want me to do this?”

Nathan: “Well, I’m definitely not going to be able to do it and like you said, I might have someone watching. Not that I can’t handle myself, but it seems like hassle to have to watch my back all the time (I had enough doing that). Plus, I have a lot more weapons, I could use your help with that too.”

Ramol looked Nathan over, it didn’t seem like a scam. An opportunity to sell such high-grade items, don’t come around too often and he would be a fool to pass it up.

Ramol: “…………..Well, if we’re going to do this, then we going to do it right, Kyr.”

Ramol’s little brother poked his head inside the room, almost immediately.

Kyr: “Yes brother?”

Nathan: “That was a really fast response, was he just waiting there.”

Kyr: “No, I was wondering why all your friends were standing by the door, when my brother called.

Nathan then heard the sound of someone running away. Ramol chuckled awkarwdly, while Iris just sighed.

Ramol: “Kyr, could you bring me a parchment.”

Kyr nodded and ran off.

Nathan: “Parchment, why do you need that?”

Ramol: “A supplier’s contract, basically, whenever you have merchandise you wish to sell, you give it to me and I’ll sell it in my store.”

Nathan: “I can only sell to you, what if I’m in another country and I have to sell.”

Ramol: “No it doesn’t bind you to me specifically, it just the items you acquire, that you can’t sell by normal means, everything else you can sell at your leisure. Plus, I can decide how much everything cost, so you always get a fair price. Depending on the quality of the items you bring me, I might be able to charge a bit more.”

Nathan didn’t see any downside to this, he was planning dungeon diving as often as possible. He sure he come across a lot of monsters and treasure, their will always be lot to sell.

Nathan: “I see, but we don’t need a contract for this, I could just, bring you anything I find.”

Ramol shook his head.

Ramol: No, no, no, with that’s not a good idea, there are those who become aggressive, if they think you’ll be a worthwhile client. Like I said, waving that sword around all day, you probably have a lot of admirer’s right now. It not unheard to have your clients stolen from you, in unethical ways.”

Nathan: “Yeah but, I walked around all day and no ones done anything.”

Ramol: “My friend, don’t make likely of what you are. Everyone knows of the Dark-skinned Lycanian, they would never be foolish enough to approach, especially with so many people hanging around you.

Kyr: “Here you are brother.”

Ramol: “Thanks, now let’s do this.”

Kyr handed Ramol piece of parchment, that he began to right down some information, something Nathan couldn’t read.

Ramol: “Okay, we need to decide on what I’ll be selling, so far it just weapons, but that won’t be enough.”

Nathan: “What?”

Ramol: You might obtain a small profit now, but in the long run, I’ll need a steady supply of merchandise. You might have a lot of weapons now, but over time, they will dwindle.”

NAthan: “Yeah that’s true, what about the material I get from monsters?”

Ramol: “You plan on becoming a monster hunter?”

Nathan: “No, but I’m sure I’ll get attacked here and there, I could just give you what I gather, in fact.”

Nathan waved his hand and retrieved the Azure Stingers material he had acquired.

Nathan: “How about these?”

Ramol made another funny expression.

Ramol: “Woah, these are all really how quality, how did you get them so clean.

Nathan: “Don’t know, my inventory does that for me.”

Ramol: “So convenient, it’s really tough to get material that doesn’t have a bit of flesh, blood or some smell coming off it.

Ramol turned over every piece,checking for any inconsistencies. Ramol was getting excited, he couldn't believe his luck today. For such a client to fall into his lap, it was truly an act of god.

Ramol: “Yes these will work, if you can bring me such clean material, I could sell them to the Merchant’s Guild or even the Adventurer’s Guild. If that happens I could raise my reputation and acquire more clients, then I could pay of-”

Ramol quickly stopped what he was saying, a fact that Nathan caught on to. It sounded like he had money issue, it wasn't to hard to tell from the state of this store. However, it didn't concern Nathan, he would leave it alone for now.

Ramol: “W-We can think about that later, for now, will make do with what we have.”

Ramol begin writing on the parchment, of course Nathan couldn’t read it, however Iris could. She watched closely, making sure he didn’t add anything suspicious. Nathan trusted Ramol, but you should always make sure. Iris nodded to Nathan that it was okay, once Ramol stopped writing.

Ramol: “Okay, I just need you to sign here and were done.”

Nathan: “Sign huh?”

Nathan scratch his cheek, Ramol looked at him confused.

Nathan: “Well, I can’t really sign anything.”

Ramol: "Huh?

Ramol was confused for a moment, was he backing out of the deal. Nathan scratched face.

Nathan: "I don't know how to write."

Ramol: "Ah, your illiterate."

Nathan: "I am not illiterate."

Ramol looked confused for a moment but decided not to go further.

Ramol: “That’s okay, just stick your thumb here.”

Nathan did as he was told, pressing his thumb to the parchment, a black thumb print being left behind when he removed it. A moment later the thumb shifted and was replaced with symbols.

Nathan: “Woah.”

Ramol: “Alright, Mister Nathan Lowell, with that our deal is set.”

Nathan: “Oh, okay.”

Nathan stood up along with Ramol and extended their hands.”

Ramol: “May our endeavor prove fruitful.”

Nathan: “Yes, so do you want the weapons now?”

Ramol: “I don’t think you should off put your stock right now, I’m not sure I can protect it.”

Nathan: “Oh, are you low leveled?”

Ramol: “Pretty much, as you can see, merchants don’t go into battle often. But the raw material, I could go to the guild and get tomorrow and see how much their worth.”

NAthan: “I see, I can come with you if you like.”

Ramol: “That’s not a good idea, when I show up with such quality material, there will be a lot of people who want to know the method I use to clean them. I can’t very well say that you use your inventory.”

Nathan: “Isn’t that dangerous?”

Ramol: “Not to worry I’ll be fine, if I’m dead, the method to clean the material will die with me, or so they will think.”

Nathan squinted his eyes after hearing that plan.

Nathan: “I don’t like this plan, it’s sounds like your protecting me.”

Ramol: “Of course I will, at least for now, I have confidence that no won will try to kill me.”

Nathan: “I don’t know what you mean, but I still don’t like it.”

Ramol brushed it off, but it still sounded dangerous. Nathan didn’t like people risking their lives for his.

Nathan: “Hmm, I got an idea, but first can we call everyone else to come in.”

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Ramol ushered everyone into the room.

Anais: “Is everything okay?”

Nathan its fine, but I have a request.”

Nathan cleared his throat and spoke.

Nathan: “Ena, Ash, And Ramol, I want the three of you to join my party.”

Everyone: “What!?”

Nathan: “I was thinking I about it for a while, I keep making mistakes when it comes to common sense, I can’t have that happening. Ash is good with eveyday affairs, seeing as how he been around. Ramol’s a merchants, who know what my weapons was worth and will be handling all of my money issues. Ena, I’ve decided to help you get home. To be honest, I just want that strength you have, I would be a big help.”

Nathan clapped his hand together and pleaded.

Ena: “I’m fine with it, you save me and even helping me to get home, I have no qualms with joining.”

Ash: “I’m good too or rather, please let me join.”

Ramol: “I can’t help out with any fighting, but I can appraise with the best of them, if you’ll have me.”

Nathan looked at Anais, he was waiting for her reply.

Anais: “Do what you want.”

Nathan looked at Iris, who simply nodded.

Nathan: “Then let’s get to it.”

The same process was the same, slitting a hole in his hand and placing them on each of there, giving Nathan permission to access their status. Within moments the ritual was complete, and they were now all members of his party. Anais, Iris and Nathan, watched the three faces of their new party Members, jumped up out of their seats, wide eyed and shocked. They looked at Nathan then back to the screen four times, completely unabe to comprehend what they were seeing. Then all at once, they pointed in his direction.

Ash: “No Way!”

Ramol: “Impossible!”

Ena: “Inconceivable!”

Ash,Ramol,Ena: “YOU’RE THE HERO!?”