NOVEL NEXT Chapter 167: Rich
Damien was gone now—hibernating or something.
'It might be a while before I return to this place,' I thought.
And as a few more items caught my eye, I couldn't help but think...
Why don't we go on a little shopping spree?
***
Thread of the Almost
That was written on the plaque in front of it as I looked at the red thread coiled around a wooden spool.
This was one of the new items I came across in this store; in fact, it seemed that the stock of artefacts had been changed.
According to what I read on another board, I realised that tying the thread around a body part allows you to reverse the last bodily injury taken, once.
However, the pain and damage are shifted into a random dream the next time the user sleeps. No one can predict what kind of trauma will occur.
Then there was something known as the Lantern of the Last Light. It was a cracked glass lantern with a cold blue flame.
On the board next to it was written–
Effect: Can show the true form of anything hidden. Disguises, illusions, shape-shifters, or even someone's hidden intentions.
Drawback: Every use dims the user's eyesight permanently unless countered magically.
Then there were two dice made of red bones, or so was written on the plaque.
Effect: Once per day, rolling them grants the user supernatural luck for an hour.
Drawback: Someone else somewhere in the world experiences horrible luck during that same time. Roll a natural 1, and you're the unlucky one instead.
There was also a deck of cards, floating slightly above its box. The sign beneath read: "Each card, a fate. Each draw, a gamble." The cards shimmered with different energies. One looked like it was bleeding. Another was weeping.
Nope.
Next was a glass orb, swirling with smoke that seemed to react to my presence.
When I stared into it, I saw myself—older, stronger… alone. I blinked and stepped back. That one unnerved me more than it should've.
But then… I saw it.
It wasn't part of Damien's list. But I wanted it.
Ink of Memory
It was a glass bottle with liquid that changes colour with the user's emotions.
Effect: Anything written with this ink is stored as an unforgettable memory in the soul of whoever writes it.
Drawbacks: None, except the fact that you can't reverse it no matter what.
That could be useful, I thought.
"I'll buy this too," I said to the old man who had been very clearly following me without even hiding it at this point.
I stored it in the ring, heart lighter than before. Maybe I was stronger now, smarter too. I didn't need to rely on Damien for everything.
But just as I turned to leave, thinking I had everything I needed, something caught my eye.
A box.
It sat in the far corner of the room—one I hadn't noticed earlier. The wood was scorched black. The lock was open, but a thick chain still draped over it like a warning.
Inside was a parchment scroll.
It seemed to be very old and ancient.
The label read:
"One-Time Life Saving Item."
I raised an eyebrow. "That's it?"
The old man's face changed. For the first time, he looked…worried?
"You don't want that one." He said.
"Why not?"
The old man licked his lips, and his voice dropped lower.
"It'll save your life, yes. But the moment death touches you, it will activate. You'll vanish before the killing blow lands."
"That sounds perfect." I couldn't help but point that out.
"Except," he said slowly, "you won't land anywhere safe."
He pointed his bony finger at the scroll.
"That will send you to The Trial of Satan. An eternal maze of horrors.
You'll suffer.
Bleed.
Be torn apart mentally and physically.
And if you fail the trial…you don't come back."
I swallowed hard.
But still…I stepped closer.
Because something about it whispered my name.
And in this world—one ruled by unknown authors, cursed gods, and systems that ran away from fights the moment danger came…maybe I needed something like that.
A last resort.
An ultimate gamble.
Something even death would think twice before claiming me.
And thus, ignoring the shocked looks of the man in front of me, I picked up the scroll and added it to my ring.
Even if it came at a price.
Because in this world?
Nothing worth keeping came free.
***
After paying the Old man almost a total of 14 Million Credit points and walking out like some spoiled heir of a clan too rich, I futilely realised that no matter how much I spend, nothing's gonna put a dent in my credits anytime soon.
Because to be honest?
The price for selling the deeds of almost half the kingdom myself had given me 100 Billion Credits…
Yeah, I was almost sure that I could be called the richest guy in this whole wide world right now, well, that's what I believe—
The most surprising part was, however, that the old man did not seem to be surprised at all when I transferred so many credits to him.
Not only this, but the prices of these artefacts were only at the bottom before the Gods descended, but after the system came and started deciding the price for every item on Earth, it seemed that the price of everything this old man sold skyrocketed.
This fact was enough to make me sweat buckets as I realised that just maybe, all these weird con-looking items may be real.
That was the sole reason I was suddenly motivated to buy that paper scroll, which looked almost on the verge of tearing apart.
That item alone cost Noah around 8.3 System Credits.
Anyways, as soon as I walked out of the shady store, I immediately willed at the space ring in my index finger and pulled out the Long grey coat and that weird-looking long hat.
I had put them inside the space ring almost as soon as the old man had given it to me back then.
'Hufff,' letting out a deep breath of exhaustion, I made way out of the abandoned alleyway.
It was finally time to attend the first ever Annual Auction of the Indian Subcontinent.
***