Durant eyed the bowl closely. It was matted with all kinds of dirt, but he couldn't spot any damage to the material itself. He put it into the box with the other items he had already examined.

The bulk he had bought would certainly turn him a profit with these things alone already, but he hoped for something rare and unique.

Just as he reached out to the next one, a silver candlestick, the bell rang, announcing a customer's arrival. He looked up from the counter. The young man that had just entered was definitely a noble.

Durant sighed inwardly. Those were always the most annoying ones. The noble strolled along the shelves, and Durant watched him out of the corner of his eyes while continuing his inspections.

Suddenly, the noble started laughing, and it took Durant quite some restraint not to witheringly glance at him.

Making fun of his inventory? Sure, he didn't mind. As if that guy had any idea what he was looking at anyway.

»My name is Vern, by the way.«

»I welcome you. Ask me anything if you need help.« Durant smiled as best as he could and slightly bowed his head.

»Hmm, yes«, Vern replied and swiftly approached the counter. »I do need your help … or rather … I wanted to talk about something.«

Durant gritted his teeth as he wanted not to waste time with this cocky customer. But he put down the candlestick and nodded politely.

»I can assure you, all products displayed here are of the highest quality – no matter which you pick.«

Vern grinned. »Wow, you really are much more friendly since you haven't seen Velvet yet. I mean, at least you try to be.«

Durant kept his welcoming mask on. »Unfortunately, I am not entirely sure what you're talking about, good Sir. Perhaps you're mistaking me for someone else …?«

»Hahaha, I love it. You are better at this than I had expected.«

What was this guy's problem? Why was he mocking him?

»Sir, if you do not intend to buy anything, I would kindly ask you to leave since I am currently busy.«

The next moment, Vern dropped a pouch on the table. Durant's eyes widened. Even though he couldn't see its contents, he was still able to tell by the sound that the weight was quite high compared to its volume – necessitating a lot of gold coins inside.

The author's tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

»I hope that will be enough.«

»Hmm, it probably is«, Durant replied with some genuine courtesy. At least he could make some money off this clueless bastard.

»The item I am looking for … is a mana ring.«

Durant silently stared at him, waiting for it to be declared a joke. But that didn't happen.

»Well, I do not have such items. It would be illegal in the first place, so I'd advise you not to ask for it at other shops. However, I do have a variety of other rings that may satisfy your needs.«

Vern sighed. »I mean, I am about 99 percent sure that you have one right here.« He pointed with his finger at the counter. »And since I know you have at least five more in your mansion, I thought you could spare me one.«

Durant's eyes widened, and the mask on his face crumbled into pieces. He stabbed back in shock and sneakily approached his weapons' shelf at the same time.

How did this guy find all that out? He definitely knew too much to be left alive.

Vern watched him delightfully and then raised his hand innocently. »I haven't come to fight. However, we surely can have a sparring match in the future.« He winked at him.

Durant neither knew what to do nor say and just perplexedly stared at Vern.

»Well, I guess I freaked you out enough, so I'll start explaining.«

Suddenly, a white light left Vern's body, and a large fox materialized at his side.

›Hello there‹, it said to him. ›Long time no see.‹

Durant's mouth opened, and he couldn't even imagine what surprise would hit him next.

›You're so mean, Velvet. You shocked him even more.‹

›Oh, I am sorry.‹ The fox lowered its head apologetically.

»So I guess I could tell you verbally«, Vern said. »But it's probably easier if you just have a look yourself first.«

›Velvet, for starters, show him everything we experienced together with him.‹

The fox nodded, and Durant felt it request permission to show him memories. He accepted it, not knowing what else to do, and dived into the strange images.

After arriving back to reality, he grasped the amulet at his chest, trying to process what he had just witnessed. The next moment, his hand instinctively went to the sword hidden under the table.

»Wow, wow, calm down.« Vern stepped back. »I did resolve all those things already, so there is no need for that.«

Durant's eyes narrowed, but he lowered his sword slightly. »Well, explain the rest to me then.«

Thus, Vern started explaining in detail everything that had happened with Velvet's memories as a visual aid. Unfortunately, after just a few minutes the bell rang out, interrupting their talk.

»Vernnnn! Why does it take so long? You said you would just have a quick look inside, and yet you are in here for an eternity.«

Alvyn waved at him from the entrance. »We want to move on.«

»Ah, I am coming. Just give me one more sec, okay?«, Vern replied. Then he turned to Durant. »Guess I'll tell you the whole story another day«, he whispered. »And in the meantime, try not to kill me, please.«

Durant grabbed him by his jacket and pulled him closer. »You'd better not let me wait too long, or else I can't promise anything.«

Vern giggled. »I see you haven't changed one bit.«

Durant let loose, and Vern turned around.

»Ah, you can keep that pouch as collateral«, Vern said as he walked off. »But I expect that object in return after we've discussed the details.«

Durant watched him and the fox go to the entrance. His head was still spinning because of everything he had just heard and seen.

»What was that about?«, Durant heard Alvyn ask Vern.

»Nothing, nothing in particular. I'll tell you once I get it.«

The door fell shut, and the sudden silence made Durant flinch. He quickly rushed forward and looked through the tainted windows. The strange boy, who had just visited him with an unbelievable story, casually walked down the bustling street with his three companions.