Had Ace known that all he had to do was flaunt his money, he would not have bothered to grease Abby. Ace had always lived frugally, spending money wisely and avoiding unnecessary expenses. He often made deliberate choices to save money, such as avoiding luxury purchases, and always going for deals and discounts.
That was how Ace was brought up. So even though he had heard of the words 'Money makes the world go 'round,' he never truly understood what it meant until he put it into practice. Now Ace knew why most of the rich guys were jerks and jackasses, it was only natural when they see people willing to bend their principle and values for extra money. How could they respect someone like that.
Ace did not bring up paying double right off the bat because he was worried that he would hurt their pride and come off as a jackass. But seeing how Emily was acting it seems his worries were for nothing. Abby showed reluctance but she did not say no when Emily proposed to let Bob choose any doll in their workshop. Ace did not judge them, he was in no place to do so, also earning a living wasn't easy. It was what it was.
"Bob, first up in the list is the most popular female character in the game series 'Cosmic Combat,' Emi Nakamura, the champion of the spirit world. She is a skilled kunoichi and a member of the prestigious Shaman clan. Therefore, she is skilled in kunai while possessing spiritual and healing powers. She can summon ghosts she turned into her shinigami to aid her in combat," Emily introduced the first doll in her list and instantly grabbed Ace's attention.
Emi Nakamura fit the template of Ace's next Toysummons perfectly. She was everything he was looking for and even more. She was a strong female ninja and had spiritual healing powers. As bonuses, she could convert ghosts into her shinigami to manipulate them and make various spiritual talismans for defense, support, and attack.
Not to mention, her ghost-to-shinigami conversion skill sounded very much like the curse slave art which could allow a mortal to turn a curseling into their pet. This skill assured Ace that Emi Nakamura would be highly compatible with the curse core (humanoid form). Based on his understanding of Cursed Toybox so far, Ace knew the more the skills of the curse core and the toy used to animate a toy summon were similar the more compatible they were.
"I will buy her," Ace said. After careful consideration, he felt that he could use Emi's talismans to protect his family even when he was not by their side.
Not to forget, Ace was planning on finding more information on the cursed art that allowed curse masters to turn curselings into their curse spirits. Making Emi who can convert ghosts into shinigami the most suitable Toy summons to practice such a curse art. Since Dame Wasp could practice the curse arts Ace believed the rest of his Toy summons could too.
The more Ace thought about it, the more he felt that Emi Nakamura was the perfect candidate to become his third Toy summons after Dame Wasp and Apex Earring.
"Great," Emily exclaimed in joy, listening to Bob agree to buy the first doll she introduced to him. She was now more certain that Bob was indeed filthy rich. Then, quickly connecting her phone to the video call she said, "Bob, let me show you the doll."
Soon, Emily arrived before a black 6ft long military trunk. Asking Abby to hold the phone, Emily opened the trunk revealing the life-size doll of Emi Nakamura. Then, she began to explain, "Bob, this is the finished product. We have used medical-grade silicon to make her flesh and titanium alloy to make the frame and bone structure. As you can see our craftsmanship is top-notch—"
"Isn't her figure a bit curvier than in the game? I am worried it will affect the doll's balance," Ace interrupted Emily seeing that the doll's breasts were bigger and hip was wider than the actual game character. He did not care that Emi's body was a bit more voluptuous compared to her athlete body in the game. What he was worried about was that the doll was not well-balanced and steady enough to stand on its feet. After all, his toy summons were only as good as their vessel. If the doll was not balanced, then it would affect his toy summons movement, and she would trip for no reason.
Listening to Ace's concern, Emily's face beamed with a proud smile as she boasted, "Well Bob, that is why you pay us the big bucks. The doll is symmetrical and well-balanced enough to stand on its two feet. I would also like to proudly inform you that the doll has not been touched or seen by any man. Except for its titanium frame, everything was made by our team which only consists of females, maintaining the doll's purity and sanctity. Hence our name 'Oracle Doll Makers.' Bob, I am only showing this doll because you agreed to buy it. Otherwise, regardless of how much you were willing to pay I would not show her to you. After all, this is our brand's selling point."
"I see, but you still did not tell me why the doll is curvier than her game character?" Ace did not let Emily confuse him with her words.
"That's because the customer who ordered this doll preferred it that way," Emily answered, continuing to maintain her business smile.
"Did that customer make any more changes that, I should know about?" Ace asked, to make sure he was not in for more surprises.
"No more, but if you prefer it we can make small adjustments like changing her makeup, polishing her nails, adding pubic hair, etc," Emily replied offering a wide range of services.
"No, she is fine as is. What about her props the Kunai and talisman brush?" Ace inquired since Cursed Toybox could actualize all add-ons of toys along with them.
"Yes, they are right here. We have even made a few extras just in case you break or lose them," Emily responded, showing a hidden compartment in the trunk containing the props.
"What do I owe you?" Ace asked having decided to buy Emi Nakamura.
"The $50,000 you had paid covers it as her original price tag was $25,000," Emily answered with a bright smile having made a profitable sale.
"I have transferred another $10,000 in cryptocurrency to your wallet. Consider it as a down payment for my next doll," Ace informed, and before Emily or Abby could react he continued saying, "Now let us discuss the delivery."