"I want it," Celestina ordered, no longer requesting.
"I'm afraid it's already reserved," Julien said apologetically. "The Duchess-"
"To hell with the Duchess!" Celestina screamed in anger. She pulled a black credit card from her purse. It looked so clear, made of dark mana-stone.
"How much? Five hundred? A thousand?"
Julien's heart stopped. A thousand for this?
He kept his face indifferent, trying not to act impressed. "Well... I suppose the Duchess can wait for the next batch. But for the inconvenience and other matters..."
"Two thousand," Celestina barked. "If you hand it over right now, before anyone else notices it."
Julien felt Maya stiffen beside him.
'So even the strong can get pretty dazed in front of a large amount of money, huh?'
"Deal," Julien said.
The transaction took three seconds. He tapped his almost dead phone against the card, and it emitted a beep sound.
[Payment Received: 2,000 Credits.]
Julien slowly started relaxing a bit.
He handed over the bottle like a precious item with careful consideration for Celestina, but she quickly opened the cap and drank it in one go.
'Relax, madam.'
The effect started appearing really fast.
A soft pink mana surrounded her, emitting a pleasant fragrance.
The heavy bags under her eyes quickly disappeared, and the wrinkles on her face slowly straightened and smoothed her skin.
A subtle aura of 'presence' bloomed around her, making the people nearby turn and stare.
"Oh my," one of her friends gasped at the changes. "Cindy, you look... ten years younger."
Lady Celestina touched her face, then ran towards the counter to look at her reflection in the bar mirror.
Seeing her young figure and touching it to see whether it was real, she started letting out a scream and happy laughter.
"It works! It actually works!"
That scream echoed around the hall like a bell, even overtaking the music the DJ was working his ass off to produce.
Suddenly, every woman, and even some men, within a twenty-foot radius started forming a crowd around them.
"What is that?" "Do you have any more in stock?" "I'll pay three thousand!"
Julien looked at Maya, dumbfounded.
Maya looked at the crowd of wealthy socialites starting to slam at each other.
Her lips slowly curved upwards, indicating she was enjoying their rampage.
"You have created a monster," she whispered.
"I have two more bottles!" Julien announced, raising his voice and hands.
"Only two! Bidding starts at two thousand, starting now!"
"Two five!" shouted a man in a red suit. "Three thousand!" screamed a woman with too many rings on her fingers.
"Three thousand going once..." Julien swept his gaze over the crowd, trying to increase participation.
"Four thousand!"
'HEHEHE.'
It was capitalism at its finest.
Julien felt a rush of adrenaline that would not even be provided by raiding a successful dungeon with no casualties.
'Now you all know. Only when there is demand, will there be sales.'
He sold the second bottle for 4,200 credits to a handsome middle-aged man.
Then quickly, the third for 5,000 credits to a weeping influencer who streamed the whole thing.
Julien made sure to hide his face, only letting his silhouette show.
[Total Earnings: 11,200 Credits.]
[Debt Status: Cleared.]
[Surplus: 10,500+ Credits.]
Julien slumped against the bar, trembling with excitement and ecstasy he had never felt before.
'He had become one of the richest people, although that limited him to only District 9.'
"That was impressive," Maya said, taking the place next to him.
She was sipping a drink that smoked with some high-quality element. "You stripped them of their dignity and their credits in less than ten minutes. You are an interesting man, Julien."
"Wish I had bought more," Julien said.
"Don't get cocky now," Maya warned. "You have drawn some attention. Look around."
She nodded toward the VIP balcony.
A man was watching them. He wasn't partying, wearing a military-like suit and having a scar on his left eye, staring right at them.
'Well, particularly him.'
[Streetwise Alert: Attention Detected.] [Target: Kane (Guild Master of 'The Silver Fangs').] [Interest Level: High.] [Threat: Severe.]
"That's Kane," Maya said, her voice whispering.
"He controls the black market in this district and doesn't like unregistered merchants selling high-grade products on his turf."
Julien's victory lap ended abruptly, and his face paled.
"Is he going to kill me?"
"He will if you keep doing this here," Maya shrugged. "But right now, he is curious. He wonders where a cripple gets Elixirs."
She finished her drink and set the glass down with a sharp clink.
"The show is over, little merchant. We should leave before curiosity turns into interrogation. I do not wish to murder a Guild Master tonight. It will leave a stain on my perfect dress."
Julien didn't argue. "Yes, we are leaving. Hurry up."
He pushed off the bar, but a large hand clamped onto his shoulder.
It wasn't that of a bouncer, but one of Kane's lieutenants.
A special-class hunter with a smile that didn't reach his eyes.
"Mr Kane would like a word," the lieutenant said. "He's upstairs."
Julien froze; his stupid-ass luck came to push him into the grave.
[Streetwise Option A: Run (0% Success Rate).] [Streetwise Option B: Fight (Death).] [Streetwise Option C: Bluff.]
Before Julien could speak, black hair flowed in front of him; Maya stepped in.
She didn't attack; her palm swiftly moved to touch the hand that was holding Julien back.
Her silver eyes brightened in the dark ambience.
The air around the club slowly spiked, cracking a champagne glass on a nearby table.
"Tell Mr Kane," Maya said, her voice soft and terrifying, "that my partner is done for the evening. If he wants an appointment, he can send a formal request to me."
She squeezed the hand. The lieutenant's face grimaced, dropping to one knee as his bones let out a creaking sound together.
"Who... who are you?" he wheezed.
"Someone who hates interruptions on my dates," Maya said.
She released him; the lieutenant stumbled back, clutching his wrist, and looking between Julien and the monster in the overcoat. He backed away, speaking hurriedly into his earpiece, conveying what she just said.
"Let's go," Maya said to Julien, taking his arm again. "Walk fast. Dinner is on you."
"Dinner?" Julien blinked, stumbling after her as she made a path toward the exit.
"I helped you make eleven thousand credits," Maya said. "You are buying me the most expensive, greasy food in this city. And then, you are going to tell me exactly where you get those bottles."
'Ah shit.'
They burst out of the club into the cool night air. The bouncer saw them coming and practically dove out of the way, bowing every second.
Julien looked at the sign of the Velvet Lounge receding behind them. He touched his pocket, feeling the dark credit card he had swiped from the first buyer.
Finally, he was debt-free, and he had gained a strong partner somehow.
"System," Julien whispered.
[Yes, Merchant?]
"I think I'm going to like this job."
[Commission Protocol Complete.]
[Target: Maya (Rank: ???) - Interaction Successful.]
[Reward: Attribute Copy.]
[Select Attribute:]
[Silver Gaze (Passive):] Intimidate lower-ranking beings with eye contact.
[Mana Sensitivity (Passive):] Detect high-grade magic items/people.
[Boredom (Passive):] You are bored.
'How is boredom a skill?'
"I'll take the Gaze," Julien decided instantly.
He felt a slight burn in his eyes, as if they were sprayed with water.
"Whatever you want," Julien said, making the fear in his eyes disappear.
"And then... we talk business, and about the future."
Maya looked at him, quickly noticing the difference. But instead of being taken aback, she smiled for the first time tonight.
"Lead the way, partner."