Seeing that specific sword shape made his eyes glitter.
So I finally found it. A remnant shadow from my previous world.
“Dear customer, you know about this sword?” The gold-toothed shopkeeper spoke.
“Where did you get this?” Viers asked, holding the black lacquered scabbard.
“Nothing special, katanas are unusual in the continent but they are not rare for the people in the Zamrud Archipelago.”
“Hmm,” Viers pondered a while before unsheathing the sword. White grip, unadorned handguard between the grip and the blade. The steel was still in good quality, the edge was sharp. The reflection of Viers’ eyes on the blade turned viridescent with rainbow hues.
The shopkeeper was oblivious to Viers’ change. “Dear customer, that sword is an ordinary weapon without any magical abilities. We have many swords more suited to you.”
Using his super eyes, he found nothing extraordinary about this sword but Viers managed to see through an inscription on the base of the sword, hidden beneath the sword grip, it was in Japanese kanji.
Muramasa… Are you fucking kidding me!?
As a halfway decent Japanophile, Viers knew Muramasa was a legendary Japanese swordsmith. There was no way this sword could be made by him.
Someone from Earth outright made this sword or influenced the creation of it.
Viers swung the sword a few times in the air. It felt perfect in his hand. Whether the rule of cool contributed to that feeling or not, Viers didn't know.
“I’ll take it,” Viers said. A sharp click was heard when he put the sword back to its scabbard.
But so what if it wasn't made by the real Muramasa? Samurai sword is the second coolest sword in existence. Viers didn't want to pass it up. And the sword itself was very decent. Not outright magical but Viers was still very satisfied.
Viers adjusted his belt and fastened the katana on his left waist.
Perhaps one day I might get the coolest sword in heaven and earth. Who knows?
“...Very well. Would that be all, sir?” The shopkeeper felt a bit of regret since Viers didn't buy any of the expensive ones.
“I see you have no bows here,” Viers looked around the shop.
“Unfortunately we are not specialized in bows, magical staves, and other magical curios. Although the other shops nearby should have what you need.”
“I see, shame. I also need a hammer. For someone I know. Just a standard quality one would do.”
Viers picked a hammer with a long handle suitable for Boram’s small stature and finally concluded his shopping spree.
“...The price of all is 66 gold coins. How would you like to pay for the goods?”
Viers dropped a pouch on the table. The shopkeeper opened the pouch and found it was filled with gold coins with dried blood on them.
“How curious. Might I inquire where one could gain blood-soaked coins, dear customer?”
“There are a lot of ways but I reckon you could get one easily from those who permanently wouldn't need it anymore. Is there a problem?” Viers said with a slightly cold voice.
His journey to Marakkus wasn't free of troubles.
“Oh no, perish the thought,” he gave the business smile or devilish grin, Viers couldn't tell. “No problem at all. Thank you for your patronage,” the man replied while giving the change.
“Dear customer, should you perchance acquire items that people lost and are in need to… exchange those into other values, we might be able to assist you.”
In other words, illegally obtained items could be brought here to be sold.
“Does this service guarantee the privacy of the user?” Viers made half a smile under the helmet and the shopkeeper could sense it despite being unable to see it. He smiled back and rubbed his hand together.
“Absolutely, dear customer. We treat gentlemen such as yourself with the highest regards.”
The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
“We shall see… I might need to find an enchanter able to break locked magical items. I suppose you have an idea where I might find such a person?”
“Ah, what a happy coincidence. Our establishment is affiliated with such a person. Although, it is up to that person to accept your request or not.”
The shopkeeper wrote an address and gave it to Viers. “This is the address.”
Viers tossed a silver coin to him using his thumb. The coin made an arc and there was a clear ring of metal before it landed on the palm of the shopkeeper.
“Thank you for your patronage. We look forward to your return, honored customer,” the shopkeeper politely bowed.
Viers left the Rich Goblin’s Vault with a new equipment set and an almost empty wallet.
Viers planned to make inquiries about the backchannel of the trading business later but they already made contact first. That meant this city’s underworld influence was more prominent and widespread than he thought.
As expected of a wretched hive of scum and villainy.
Viers looked like a beggar when he entered the equipment shop but he went out after taking a step upward in coolness with his new gear. He returned to the inn after buying lunch for Boram and dropped his baggage. Boram seemed to like the hammer.
He left again to accomplish the other main reason he came to Marakkus city for.
Viers was walking quite happily.
“Someone’s in a fine mood,” Clarissa said.
“Why shouldn't I be?”
“How long are we staying here?” She asked.
“Until I become an Obsidian rank adventurer. Should be less than ten days. Why?”
“Nothing. I just don't city very much.”
“I’ll finish my business as soon as possible then. How is your end coming along?”
“It's done. I’ll give it to you now if you want.”
“Hehe, good news often come in pairs. No, let's wait until tonight. Thank you Rissa, get some rest.”
He walked to the address the gold tooth shopkeeper had given him. When he reached there, there was a line. Ten people were waiting to get inside a building. Thyris Enchantment was written above the door.
“Woah, busy place.” Viers didn't expect the line. He lined up obediently at the eleventh place.
“What, you didn't know? Thyris Enchantment is the best shop about enchantment in the middle class area of the city,” the person in front of him opened a conversation.
Enchantment could also be called formation or array. The core point of the technique was about creating magic circles to do wondrous feats. From refrigerators to fireballs, from alarm gadgets to flying carpets. Not only for attacking or defending but also for imbuing objects. Half of the magic items in existence were created by enchanting mundane things.
It was called with many names across thousands of xianxia stories depending on the author’s imagination but the essence remained the same. Other than healing experts and alchemists, this is the most common second profession for xianxia MCs.
“How long have you been here?” Viers asked the man in front.
“Not long, just about fifteen minutes,” he smiled. “We should be going in soon.”
“Hmn? Enchanting should be a complicated process is it not? How could this shop complete it so quickly?”
“Well, not all of us are going to be customers,” he explained. “You must prove your worthiness first. The owner is eccentric that way. Good luck.”
A person who looked like an employee came out from the building and opened the door. Ten people came out dejectedly.
The people orderly marched in but Viers was stopped.
“Ten people per turn. Please wait a bit.”
This reminded Viers about lining up for attraction rides at amusement parks.
“See you later bud, wish me luck.” The man in front of Viers said as he went in.
Oh well, fifteen-minute wait, huh?
Viers was considering diving into the Grid and doing a virtual battle session with Freya or the other opponents but the new arrival made him pause.
A fat youth was riding in a carriage pulled by a giant of a man. The youth was sandwiched by two gorgeous women in sexy clothes, a rabbit and a cat beastfolks. The youth was eating a grape that the rabbit beastfolk offered him while his hand was groping the cat beastfolk chest. Behind the carriage was a squad of city guards. All of them were Level 2s.
The girls and the man pulling the carriage are slaves, Viers thought after seeing the collars on their neck.
The youth went down from the carriage, his clothes looked so high class. All his fingers had a ring on them, some fingers even had two rings. All magical items.
“Y-Young Master Irkun! Welcome to Thyris Enchantment,” the employee nervously said.
“I'm here to visit your mistress,” the pompous fat youth spoke.
“P-please wait! Mistress is busy at the mome- AH!”
The employee was struck by Irkun and flung to the side. A blast of fiery ash made half the torso of the employee suffer burns.
“I’m not killing you in consideration of your mistress,” Irkun went in, followed by his two beastfolk slaves and some of his city guard chaperones.
One of the remaining city guards helped the injured employee.
“Young master is in a bad mood.”
“The harpy slave that he just bought committed suicide. Apparently, he still hasn't tasted her enough.”
“That explains it. He loves female demi-human slaves.”
Viers just watched the earlier while eavesdropping on the city guards’ conversation with his enhanced hearing.
...Tenryuubito? Well shit. I’m not as strong as Luffy at the moment.
“What a distasteful guy!” Paina said.
“No shit,” Viers replied. “And I’ve dodged another death flag.”
“Dia. I didn't want to separate from her either but look. Suppose I’m an idiot that goes into a sin city filled with people with more power and influence than me with a dryad, what do you think would happen when we meet that annoying young master just now?”
“...Since that guy likes demi-human slaves then he’ll take Dia as a slave?” Farley said.
“Exactly! I’ll need to save Dia since she is too precious but I’ll get into conflict with that fucker, who clearly comes from a family of influence. It won't surprise me if that guy is a direct descendant of Marakkus’ Governor-King. Oh I will kill him in the end but then his daddy and granddaddy will come after me. The template development!!”