"I’ve heard fascinating stories about your products," the baron continued, his small eyes scanning the shop’s displays with obvious shock. He had never seen this style of shop before; it was the first time he had seen such a thing.
One of his bodyguards stepped forward slightly, the movement carrying a threat despite its apparent casualness. The man’s hand rested near his sword hilt as if threatening Noah indirectly.
"What can I help you with today?" Noah asked.
Whilst he could have simply kicked the baron out, he didn’t want to. He wanted to know what this man was looking for specifically. Besides, based on the baron’s answers, Noah might be able to discern his plans.
Baron Richard’s laugh was an unpleasant sound that filled the small shop. "Oh, I think you know exactly what I want, my dear shopkeeper."
The baron approached the counter slowly. "You see, I’ve been thinking about our previous business relationship. How generous you were with your payment. How... accommodating you proved to be."
The baron’s words were clear. He was going to extort Noah once again, whether he liked it or not. Or that’s what the baron thought, at least.
"I find myself in need of certain... supplies," the baron continued, his tone becoming more openly threatening. "Healing items, enhancement potions, you know, whatever you have here in your shop."
Lola’s position behind the counter allowed her to observe the baron’s bodyguards while her demon features remained concealed.
"And I believe," Baron Richard said, his voice dropping to an oily whisper, "that a generous businessman like yourself would be happy to provide those supplies at a... substantial discount. Considering our previous successful negotiation."
Noah’s experience in the world and combat training had fundamentally changed him since their last encounter, but the baron remained unaware of those developments. To Richard’s eyes, Noah was still the same soft target who could be manipulated through aggression and intimidation.
The threat was barely veiled now. The baron clearly believed he could intimidate Noah into providing magical supplies at whatever price he demanded, using the same psychological pressure that had worked during the slave transaction.
"What kind of discount did you have in mind?" Noah asked, a smile on his face.
The baron’s smile widened with predatory satisfaction. "Oh, I think we can work out very reasonable terms. Perhaps we should discuss this privately?"
His eyes flicked toward Lola with obvious dismissal. "Send your serving girl away. This is business between men of substance."
Serving girl. He has no idea what he’s dealing with.
Lola’s expression didn’t change, but Noah caught the subtle shift in her posture that suggested the succubus was prepared for violence.
"Excuse me baron, please mind your words. This isn’t a serving girl, this is my...wife." He said, a frown on his face.
Noah had wanted to say that Lola was his sister, but they looked nothing alike. There was no resemblance at all, not even a single percent. Hence, he was left with nothing but saying she was his wife.
Lola’s expression remained the same despite the inward feeling of shock. For a reason only she knew, she found her heart beating even faster than when she was fighting for her life, her hands clenched softly, and her tail threatened to whip around in happiness.
The baron raised his eyebrow, before nodding. "I see, we can do it out in the open."
Seeing Noah’s frown, the baron knew when to retreat. The conversation has been going great, and he would be foolish if he crossed the boundary of honour. He knew that men valued their honour, and if somebody crossed certain boundaries, they would not back down.
"Now then," the baron continued, returning to his original agenda.
The baron began walking around the shop with the casual arrogance of someone conducting an inspection rather than shopping. His small eyes surveyed every display case and shelf with assessment, clearly searching for more products.
His gaze swept past the bread and iced tea displays without particular interest—those products aligned with the stories he’d heard about Noah’s supposed healing capabilities. But as he moved deeper into the shop, his attention was caught by items that made his expression shift dramatically.
The protein bars sat in their elegant display case, their subtle golden glow and professional packaging immediately standing out as something extraordinary. The baron’s eyes widened with shock as he read the descriptive placard that accompanied the display.
"Permanent strength enhancement plus temporary amplification."
His shock deepened as he spotted the energy drinks in their containers, each bottle seeming to contain liquid lightning that sparkled with contained power. The beef jerky display completed his circuit of discovery, its rich aroma and obvious magical properties defying everything he thought he knew about Noah’s modest operation.
These items... if they actually worked as advertised, they’d be worth fortunes. Literally priceless to the right buyers.
But instead of awe or desire, the baron’s expression changed into something far more calculating. A slow smirk spread across his features as pieces of what he believed to be an elaborate puzzle fell into place in his mind.
He’s running a scam. Has to be. How could a small-time shopkeeper in an abandoned alleyway possibly have access to such legendary enhancement items?
The baron’s reasoning followed a logical path based on his own criminal experience. Clearly, Noah was advertising impossible products to lure in desperate customers, then taking their money for items that provided no actual benefits. It was exactly the kind of confidence scheme that Richard himself might have devised.
Fake magical items sold to gullible adventurers and desperate soldiers. Brilliant, if unoriginal.
The proof, in the baron’s mind, lay in the obvious fact that nobody was buying these miraculous products. If permanent strength enhancement or magical energy drinks actually existed and worked as advertised, every warrior and mage in the kingdom would be beating down Noah’s door with bags of gold.
The fact that he still has stock proves they’re worthless fakes. Real enhancement items would sell instantly at any price.