Chapter 92: Exchange Initiated
Wade trudged into his apartment, every muscle in his body aching.
The door shut behind him with a soft click, and he didn’t bother taking off his boots before stumbling towards the bed.
He dropped face first onto it, groaning into the pillow.
His whole body felt like it had been put through a grinder. His arms were sore, his ribs tender, and his legs heavy as stone.
Training with Ingrid had been brutal.
He rolled onto his back, staring at the ceiling. "She’s not human," he muttered under his breath. "She can’t be."
Every time he thought he’d found an opening, Ingrid had already moved.
Her reflexes were terrifying, and she’d shown no hesitation in using his own momentum against him.
Even when he and Rowan had tried to gang up on her, she’d dismantled them both in under a minute.
At least Sebastian had lasted longer.
Wade chuckled weakly, rubbing at his shoulder. "Guess that’s why she’s the best."
He lay there for several more minutes, half dozing, before the hunger gnawing at his stomach forced him upright.
His joints protested as he pushed himself up, shuffling towards the small kitchenette.
He didn’t have the strength or patience for anything elaborate, so he settled for something simple. Just toasted bread, slices of smoked meat, and whatever sauce he could find in his cupboard.
The smell filled the apartment quickly, and soon he was sitting at his table, eating in tired silence.
The food wasn’t great, but after a day like this, it tasted like heaven.
When he was done, he sat there for a while, staring out the window.
The sky outside had gone dark, the faint lights of Hiving glowing beyond the glass.
The city was quiet tonight, too quiet, almost. A sense of calm before a storm.
Perfect. This was the timing he’d been waiting for.
He sighed, pushing back his chair. "Big day tomorrow," he murmured.
He took his plate to the sink, washing it slowly. The sound of running water quickly filled the small room.
Once the last trace of soap was gone, he set the plate to dry and moved to his bedroom.
He walked to his wardrobe, retrieved his cloak, and draped it over himself. The fabric fell over his shoulders, concealing his face.
"Time to make some more profit."
He smirked, pulling the hood up. Then he stepped out of his apartment, locking the door behind him.
Wade moved quickly, his boots soundless on the cobblestone streets. Lanterns flickered in the fog as he made his way through the winding alleys.
The night was bright, with the moonlight glinting off the rooftops.
Finally, he turned a familiar corner and saw a familiar sign above the history destination. Keld’s Skills and Relics.
The shop’s window was still glowing faintly from within, a sign that the merchant hadn’t yet retired for the night.
Wade pushed the door open, the bell above it jingling softly.
He stepped inside, the door closing quietly behind him.
Keld, who was sitting behind the counter looked up, a smile appearing on his face as he recognized the cloaked man.
"Welcome back, friend." The man grinned.
"Thank you." Wade grinned under his hood.
It was time to sell.
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Wade sat in his usual seat across from Keld, his hood pulled low over his face.
This wasn’t their first transaction tonight, far from it. But now, Wade had gear he hadn’t brought the last time.
Keld gave a satisfied hum, staring at the items in his inventory that he’d already bought.
"You’ve been busy, my friend," the merchant said, his grin crooked but genuine. "Three Stone Skin skill stones, four Venom Fang Daggers, and three Bone Wings skill stones... I’m running out of coins because of you."
Wade shrugged beneath his cloak, though his lips twitched into a faint smirk. "You’re not running out of coins. You’re investing."
The merchant chuckled. "Call it what you will, but you’ve made a killing tonight."
He wasn’t wrong.
Wade mentally tallied the numbers.
Three Stone Skin skill stones at 40,000 coins each. That was 120,000 coins.
Four Venom Fang Daggers at 40,000 each, giving 160,000 coins.
And the real prize, three Bone Wings skill stones at 90,000 coins each, totaling 270,000.
Add it all up, and his total earnings so far sat at 550,000 coins.
The number sat sweetly in his mind, but he wasn’t done yet.
There were still two pieces of gear he intended to move before the night ended.
"Let’s talk about the next item," Wade said.
The familiar interface of Exchange shimmered into being, and with a push of mana, he transferred the information screen to Keld.
[Item: Stone Gauntlets]
[Effect: +50 Strength, +20% Fire Resistance]
Keld studied the screen with interest, stroking his chin.
"Hmm. Not bad," he murmured. "A solid enhancement piece for melee fighters. Nothing flashy, but practical."
He looked up. "I’ll take them for 30,000 coins each."
Wade tilted his head slightly, amusement flickering in his voice.
"Thirty thousand? You and I both know that’s too low, Keld. With the war coming, every adventurer in this city is scrambling for stat-boosting gear. You could sell these for twice that to the first hot-headed warrior who walks through your door tomorrow."
Keld smirked, but said nothing in return.
"Right now," Wade leaned forward, "we both know this gear is worth at least fifty thousand."
Keld chuckled softly, shaking his head. "You drive a hard bargain, stranger. But even in a war economy, fifty is pushing it. Let’s say... thirty-five?"
Wade tilted his head. "Forty-five. Final offer. You’ll still double your investment before the horde even reaches Hiving’s walls."
Keld’s eyes narrowed, calculating. He knew Wade was right.
Once the announcement for mass enlistment came, supply and demand would explode overnight. Items like this would vanish from the market within hours.
After a long pause, he gave a short laugh and stuck out his hand. "Fine. Forty-five thousand. You win, again."
"Pleasure doing business," Wade said, gripping his hand.
[Exchange Initiated]
[Transferring: 2 × Stone Gauntlets → Keld]
[Receiving: 90,000 Coins → Wade Barrett]
[Exchange Complete.]
Keld leaned back, looking satisfied. "You’ve got good instincts, whoever you are. So, what’s next?"
With one more deal to go, Wade activated Exchange, the information of the last gear appearing before Keld.
[Item: Dragon Plate]
[Material: Bone of the Fallen Drake]
[Effect: +200 HP, Enhanced Durability, Fire Resistance +10%]
The moment Keld read the words, his expression changed, with his usual smirk fading.
"Well now," he murmured, studying the gear. "That’s not something you see every day."