The tents on the ground, simpler and more disorganized, were filled with various items. I saw rusty spears, rudintary bows, and giant axes, all marked with battle scars. So tents had sothing even more grotesque: hearts, eyes, and skins of living creatures, so still dripping fresh blood.
Other stalls caught more attention. Potions were proudly displayed, and their sellers had an aura of confidence, radiating energy that revealed their advanced level. "Probably level 3 Acolytes," I thought, observing the scene. Despite their high level, their expressions remained calm, as if the trade was just a formality.
Walking further, I noticed the absence of magical artifacts. There wasn’t a single ring, amulet, or any other enchanted item for sale. I sighed, feeling a slight pang of envy as I rembered Oliver, who defeated and humiliated Liam in the balloon while Marcelina was transporting us to the tower. "If I still had my artifact... But I can’t complain since I had to trade it to enter the academy," I thought, clenching my fists.
When I reached the center of the trading post, the atmosphere changed. There, so better-structured wooden huts housed high-level items and negotiations. The Acolytes coming in and out had even more intense presences, and it was clear that there was no room for beginners like .
However, sothing specific caught my attention: an improvised forge, where a muscular dwarf hamred a glowing tal bar with force. The sound of the hamr echoed in the air, mixed with the crackling of the flas dancing on the bright coals.
I watched for a few minutes, analyzing. "I need to start sowhere," I thought. "If I can get so basic machinery, I can finally start producing the ’Pleasure Powder.’"
The "Pleasure Powder" was my business idea. A simple dose of cocaine, but with enough euphoric effects to attract and addict the Acolytes like Charlotte and her idiotic friends. I knew that, with the right formula, I could turn it into a success and start accumulating magical crystals on a large scale.
I took a deep breath, adjusted the crystal bag at my waist, and approached the forge. The dwarf raised his eyes, staring at with indifference.
"I forge weapons – simple swords, tal shields, heavy armor, all made with magical tals," he said. I sighed, noticing that he was limited in what he offered. I wasn’t looking for any of that. I needed sothing more... practical.
I looked at a small list next to the stall that described the dwarf’s capabilities: "Forge specialized in low to dium-level weapons and armor, with an emphasis on rare tals and elental enchantnts." I shook my head negatively. "None of this is useful for what I need..." I thought, walking away.
I decided to look again in the market for an engineer with no ties to Miguel or his disciples. I couldn’t risk Charlotte discovering the machinery I used. After all, if she found out, she could try to replicate my cocaine and sell it too.
So I sighed and walked on.
After a few minutes, when I saw the next tent, I realized it could be the right place. It was filled with devices scattered all around: gears, polished tal pieces, strange devices, and even appliances with unusual shapes. This place seed more promising.
I entered the tent and soon ca face-to-face with the seller. He was a peculiar boy, with the head of a lizard, his scales shimring under the light of the lanterns. His long tongue flicked in the air, and his bulging eyes were covered by steampunk goggles, giving him the appearance of a highly experienced engineer.
The lizard man watched with a strange smile, clearly enjoying my presence. He seed confident, which was good. I needed soone who knew what they were doing.
"Can I help you?" he said, his tongue flicking quickly out of his mouth and touching the air.
"I need a chanical leaf grinder," I said bluntly, pointing to a small pile of devices to my left. "Sothing simple, but effective. And I need sothing I can use easily."
He blinked his eyes several tis before responding, clearly analyzing my words. "Hmm... you want sothing that can process leaves without complication, but with good output. I understand," he said, nodding and looking at a table where various projects were spread out. "Here." He pointed to a small machine, with a compact tal fra and well-made but simple gears.
"This model here is perfect for beginners, like you," he said with a confident smile. "It doesn’t need many adjustnts and is pretty straightforward. Just put the leaves here" – he pointed to an opening at the top – "and the internal blades will take care of the rest. It’ll get the job done faster than you think."
I looked at the device with interest. It was exactly what I needed. "How much does it cost?" I asked, already calculating if I had enough crystals in my bag for the purchase.
He adjusted his goggles and slid to the side to grab the model. "Only 1 magical crystals. Not expensive, if you know how to use it well."
I paused for a mont, observing the item and weighing my options. "Deal," I finally said, pulling the crystals from my bag. I handed him the exact amount, and he quickly took the crystals, his tongue stretching back into his mouth with satisfaction.
"Done!" he said, handing the grinder. "You’ll need to be careful when handling it, but I’m sure soone like you will know what to do. If you need anything else, just let know."
However, I knew that, for the process to be complete, I would need more equipnt. I was in the right place, and the lizard-headed vendor seed like the ideal person to provide what I needed.
My eyes scanned the tent again, focusing on the chanical items scattered around. There were many gadgets that could be useful, and soon I noticed a line of devices that would be essential for my goal: mixing tanks, filters, pressure systems, everything I needed to process and refine materials.
"Well, since you ntioned it, pay attention," I replied directly, pointing to a set of equipnt lined up on a shelf. "I’m interested in a few additional items. I’ll need a mixing tank, a distillation filter, a neutralization tank, a small pressure system, a crystallization tank, and a pressure filter. Also, a storage and containnt item would be good. The total price shouldn’t exceed 6 magical crystals. That’s what I can spend for now."
He raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised by my shopping list. But it seed he was used to serving demanding custors and leaned over the table, analyzing the items I pointed to.
"Hmm, you have a good eye for things," he said, and his tongue flicked as he quickly and efficiently grabbed the items. "These items are great, but for that price..." He paused, as if considering sothing.
"I know that magical devices have a high value, but these items are made with common tals, so I’m willing to pay the minimum price. I have a tight budget," I responded, placing 6 magical crystals on the table. "If you can give a good discount, I’ll take everything now."
He looked at the crystals and then at , clearly evaluating whether I was being sincere or trying to manipulate the deal. I stood firm, not showing any signs of hesitation, and he seed to understand that I wasn’t joking. After a mont of silence, he made a gesture with his hand, signaling that he would accept my offer.
"Done then," the vendor said with a satisfied smile. "For 6 magical crystals, you get everything. Now, about the items..." He started picking them up one by one. "This is the mixing tank, ideal for simple compositions. It will help you combine elents without causing undesirable reactions. The distillation filter is excellent for separating materials through heat. The neutralization tank will handle volatile substances without the risk of explosion. As for the pressure system, well, it’s essential for material transformation processes that require precise control of gas or liquid. The crystallization tank will help you extract crystals from liquids, and the pressure filter is useful to ensure that the distillation process isn’t compromised. And finally, the storage and containnt item... will be useful to keep your materials under control, without the risk of leaks or contamination."
He seed proud of his products, and I, in turn, was more than satisfied with the purchase. Each item was essential for my plan to create the cocaine I needed.
"Very well," the vendor said, with a tone of farewell. "Everything is ready. Good luck with your experints. If you need anything else, just co back here."
I carefully gathered the items, placing them on my back. They were a bit heavy, but with my build, I could carry them easily through the market. Now, the final step: I need coca leaves, kerosene, sulfuric acid, potassium permanganate, sodium hydroxide, and hydrochloric acid.
With these items, I can finally begin producing cocaine, and I’m sure that when my product hits the market at a lower price than potions or magical mushrooms, it will make everyone euphoric and completely addicted to my product.
...
1560 Words
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