"Sir, if I may," From the annoyed look deep within the attendant's eyes, it was clear that the matter wasn't going to settle as easily as Sebian hoped. But contrary to the attendant's intention, the alchemist didn't allow him to finish his words.
"Saturated Borneal Herb, do you have it?" Throwing an amused look to the man, Sebian raised just the right corner of his lips. Given how this herb was of fifth grade, there was very little chance that this man even as much as heard about it. Because from the looks of things, the grades that Sebian accepted as the local way of referring to the value of the items, were pretty similar to stages from his own world.
And what were the chances that a herb named in Sebian's world would somehow find its way to a mediocre shop in some desolate corner of his new home planet?
"That's…" Unsure how he should react, the attendant was shocked. In his plan, it was the other party that was supposed to be flustered!
"Son," speaking up, Sebian rested his hand on the attendant's shoulder before lightly shaking his head, "I didn't ask for your manager because I wanted to disrespect you. I truly do believe that the matters I came to discuss should be talked about in private."
Putting an amiable and relaxed look on his face, Sebian smiled before taking his hand back, right as it could start getting annoying for the man. Taking a step back to restore the personal space of the other party, Sebian put his hands behind his back before waiting for the man's response.
"I, uh…" Still baffled by the sudden course of the situation and how he wasn't able to speak a single, proper word so far, the attended tried to speak up, only to fail spectacularly.
"Would you do this uncle a favour and bring someone that I could…" This time, it was Sebian's turn to be interrupted. Appearing like some kind of benevolent lord on the shopping floor, an older man threw a long, taxing look at the small commotion. Then, moving in slow strides, he approached before gently bowing.
"This senior here, would you mind expressing all your doubts and questions to me? I'm the overseer of this floor, so if not me…" Suddenly stopping, the elder of the shop finally noticed the look on Sebian's face. Twisted in a grimace of annoyance and noble disbelief, it instantly send a shiver down the elder's spine. But this wasn't the end.
All at once, a powerful aura surged forth from the alchemist. While the might was too overwhelming for the local overseer to fully gauge it, just this fact alone made him realized on what kind of scale this particular customer operated.
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"Sir, my humble apologies for interrupting your wise words." It wasn't shameless behaviour. It was the very basic survival instinct that only grew stronger the more powerful one became. It was the inherent trait for all of those who overcame countless trials and tribulations to reach their current standing.
And prompted by this very instinct, the so-called managed could only slam his forehead against the shop floor, before begging for forgiveness.
"Rise, my child." Barely holding himself back from breaking in half from amusement that was boiling inside him, Sebian closed his eyes for a moment to calm down. While he was likely to be ages older than this elder, his appearance was still relatively young. Thanks to reaching the second dimension of cultivation at a fairly quick rate, Sebian never managed to get close to the second half of his prolonged lifespan.
'Still, for someone as young and handsome as me to call this old far a child…' Still holding his own lips back from twitching, Sebian cast a glance at the girl behind him.
Ever since she made her decision to follow the man for the day, some kind of energy seemed to radiate from her entire body. Observing every hint of Sebian's actions with her deep, curious eyes, she even stopped being as relatively talkative as she was before.
'Just what in all hells does he want to achieve?' Looking at the back of the domineering figure in front of her, Aina returned to her attempts of cracking the motives of her new companion. Clearly not lacking money or wits, he managed to turn into an esteemed guest of the shopping hall with just his words alone. Be it his confidence or maybe a real power behind it, he still clearly managed to achieve what he wanted to.
'If only I could get him to help me…' A stray thought appeared under the cover of the girl's long hair. If this man could really pull off whatever he set himself for, then maybe, her long-lived wish could also…
"I came here with several matters that I would like to discuss with the owner of this place. Me and my student," pointing his open hand at the girl, Sebian forced her to return to reality. Thankfully, before the natural reactions would take over, Aina recalled what her one and only order sounded like. That's why, without even moving a step forward or introducing herself… She smiled.
"Me and my student," repeating right after he swallowed a mouthful of saliva born when the girl revealed her pretty side, Sebian looked at the elder in front of him, "we are not here to cause trouble. I just figured that I could conduct a valuable lesson for this lass here. Hence, my humble request to meet with the owner." Going as far as cupping his hands and lowering his head, although only slightly, Sebian once again introduced more confusion to the party.
His seemingly constant changes of mood, making him capable of jumping from hateful glare to civilized politeness in one sentence made it hard for either of the local staff to tackle him. Faced with a problem they were unable to solve, they did the first logical thing that could come to their minds. To drop both the problem and responsibility on someone else.
"Sir, it would be an honour if you could let me guide you to the inner quarters. While organizing a meeting on such short notice might prove difficult," speaking up, the elder quickly bowed again before pointing his hand at the insides of the building, "I hope sir won't find it troublesome to wait for our lowly selves to arrange for it."