Without protection we’d have turned into slaves a long time ago. But how long? It is waning, getting weaker and weaker every passing moment.
[Ten Nation Alliance, Top Secret File]
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Nick continued his pantomime as people entered and exited the antique shops. A few hired an appraiser. Identifying a gem among the trash could be tricky. Not many had the skills for it.
No one came to him, though. His indignance peaked when a person perching five meters apart from him got hired. Nick cursed. Because he could see man's Talent which had no relation to appraising.
Name: [Luca Hornsby - Level 1]
Talent: [Dusting (Common) - A person can use a gusts of wind to clean dust
Evolution Paths: [4] (Click)
Contracted Beast: [None]
The man was definitely a fake. But had better acting skills. Looked more experienced. And had more fake treasures laying in front of him.
Taking a deep breath, Nick retracted his gaze. His luck. His damn luck. Even a fake guy like that could be hired but him. He didn't know what to do.
As he lamented, two silhouettes strolled towards him—a girl and a boy of sixteen or seventeen. The male wore an azure linen shirt and black trouser, which was narrow at the bottom, fastened with a belt, and tucked inside his boots. His eyes were sharp, carried a sword on his waist, and moved with a confident gait.
The girl wore a short sleeved tunic and a cotton trouser. Her black ponytail dangled on her back. Her slim figure and picturesque face looked like a doll. What a beautiful lady she was. However, as she strolled towards him, her nostrils flared. “He's just a boy, pretending to be an expert. Jack, do you really think he’d know anything about appraising?” she asked with an irritating tone.
Jack smiled but remained silent. He towered in front of Nick and their gazes met. “I'd like to hire you,” said Jack. “Fifty gold coins for an hour. What do you say?”
An excited look emerged across Nick's face. Finally, a fish, and a big one.
“Jack—”
“It's fine, Kate,” he said. “At least half the appraisers are fake here. I don't want to go around and check every single one of them and waste my time.”
Kate flared her nostrils at Nick but remained silent.
Looking at Kate’s plump chest, Nick thought, So big boobs really make a woman stupid.
Then, he eyed Jack whose face was full of confidence. Nick’s eyes shone and a blue screen appeared in front of him.
Name: [Jack Burton - Level 15]
Talent: [Lucky Breeze (Uncommon) - Luck favours the brave, and fools are not brave]
Evolution Paths: [3] (Click)
Contracted Beasts: [Scarlet Crane]
His heart thumped, not knowing what to feel. Jack looked even younger than him. Nick never thought a person could attain such height at such a young age. Jack might be the strongest person he had met so far.
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“You alright, man?” said the boy.
Nick hoisted his head, took a deep breath and smiled. “I'm alright,” he paused. “Ah, yes, I'm alright with your offer.”
“Cool,” said Jack, then gestured to him to follow. Nick nodded and began walking behind the duo.
Jack paused and eyed him before glancing at the mattress on which a broken lantern and rusty rings lay. “What about your stuff?” he asked.
“Not a problem,” Nick said, grinning. “There’s nothing valuable here.”
Kate scowled at him, as if saying, See, I told you he wasn't reliable.
Then she hooked her arm with Jack's before saying, “You really think he's something special?”
“We will know soon.”
The group arrived at the shop, Shadows of the Past. Nick had never been into it, only knew it was one of the best antique shops in Aston.
Two guards stood at the gate. Both of them being Level 10.
After passing through the entrance, a large hall filled with people enfolded in front of their eyes. Many of those people were tailed by an appraiser.
Items were arranged inside glass shelves as well as inside glass cases. And things like painting, tapestries, and maps were displayed on walls. Of course, everything was controlled from behind the scenes. No one would leave his treasures open without ensuring their safety.
“Alright,” Jack said, indicating for Nick to take the lead from here. “The floor is yours.”
Nick nodded and began examining the objects inside the glass shelves.
[Junk]
[Junk]
[Junk]
“You really believe this guy?” Kate asked as she eyed Nick moving from one shelf to another after giving a single glance to the objects. “Look at him. Not even trying to pretend.”
Jack eyed Nick's back speechlessly, unable to refute her. He shook his head and replied, “No idea if he is the real deal, but I felt a strong impulse to hire him. You know how my Talent works, right?”
Luck… was an unpredictable element, creating unexpected strokes of fortune. Nonetheless, it could never be controlled. Jack knew it, that's why he always went with the flow, hoping to understand his Talent better.
[Junk]
[Junk]
[Junk]
Nick continued to skip the shelves one after another. After crossing dozens of glass screens, he finally spotted something useful.
A lantern. A broken lantern.
Peculiar runes were etched over its surface, a small crack at its bottom, and dust over its head. No one paid it attention as it lay at a lonely corner. And by just looking at the lantern, no sane person would ever consider buying it. But Nick was different. He could see what others could not.
Name: [Scarlet Lantern](Inactive)
Type: [Artifact]
Rank: [Common]
Ability: The artifact that uses blood of a monster as its fuel and creates a scarlet defensive shield around the user]
Activation Method: [Soak the lantern inside the blood of a monster]
Nice, Nick grinned and eyed Jack. Before the boy could speak, Nick went on, “Buy this lantern.”
“What—”
“Alright.” Before Kate began flicking her venomous tongue, Jack interrupted, “We will take it.”
No one spotted it, but his eyes glittered at that moment. He could feel his ability. His luck. What an enigmatic thing it was.
Kate groaned and gave Nick a hateful look. Not that Nick cared about it. Stupid girl.
Nick continued his search and in no time another artifact came into his view—a mask. The condition to use it was quite unique. An individual who never killed a man would not be able to use it.
Nonetheless, Nick knew there was no shortage of such individuals. He suspected that Jack had already killed someone. Anyway, its ability was pretty good. Hearing and seeing of the user would be amplified. At times, they could be very important and save a person's life.
After indicating Jack to get the mask, he continued. And an hour went just like that.
Ten artifacts. He had discovered that many. Nine of them being Common and one Uncommon rank. Of them he told about four Common ranks to Jack. Even with four he felt his heart was bleeding. If only he had money…
As Jack paid money, Nick asked for a pen and a paper from a receptionist. Then he jotted something on it. Kate threw a curious glance in his direction, but before she could gape at the content, Nick folded the paper and returned the pen to the receptionist with a polite gesture.
When Jack was done, Nick handed the note to him and said, “Open it when you are alone.”
He gave a side glance to Kate. For the sole intention of taunting the pompous young mistress before parting ways with the smiling boy and scowling girl. Fifty gold coins clinking in his pocket.