The portly man, perhaps sensing Jenkins's clear desire to buy sothing, enthusiastically promoted the item in his hands:
"This is an absolutely fantastic deal. It might not look like much, but I can guarantee its effectiveness one hundred percent. Even through magical seals, it can detect objects buried deep underground. I can personally vouch for that."
"What if the object has a consciousness of its own and powerful anti-divination abilities? Would a tal detector still work?"
Jenkins asked, already reaching for his pocket.
"Well..."
The portly man’s smile froze. Jenkins understood what he ant, sighed, and pulled his hand back out of his pocket.
"Consciousness complicates things. As you know, it's hardly a fair fight to use an inanimate object against a living one."
The portly man gave an awkward laugh and had the female assistant put the tal detector away. Then, he rubbed his hands together and asked:
"Perhaps you'd be interested in sothing else? We have a very comprehensive selection here."
"Sothing else..."
He thought for a mont. It was unlikely they'd have sothing capable of completely dispelling the dense fog blanketing the entire world, and even if they did, he probably couldn't afford it. Considering his more recent troubles, he asked another question:
"I've recently been fighting a very powerful dream creature. Extrely powerful. I assu you must have so weapons or auxiliary items for that?"
"Of course, sir. Please, follow ."
With that, he led Jenkins to a counter on the opposite side. The female assistant had already opened a glass case and taken out a bone dagger. The dagger emanated a strong, black spiritual aura and looked almost illusory, yet it clearly possessed a physical form. A theory about its nature began to form in Jenkins's mind.
"You're in luck! This is the first ti this item has ever appeared at the market. Even the Orthodox Churches of the material world have no record of it. As you can probably tell, it's a creation of the dream world itself. For so unknown reason, it crossed directly from the dream realm into reality. As a result, it can inflict dream-based damage on real creatures and real damage on dream creatures. It's a Mysterious Object, but its side effects are minor..."
The portly man hesitated. Seeing both Jenkins and the cat staring at him, beads of sweat sohow started to slide down his plump cheeks.
"While holding it, there's a certain chance of being detected by the legendary, sealed Beast of Calamity, the Sin Nightmare. According to legend, there's a possibility this dagger was actually ford from a part of that terrible monster's body."
Hearing this, Jenkins imdiately took a step back. He was trying to fight the Sin Nightmare, and not long ago he had just destroyed a weak vessel it had painstakingly sent beyond its seal. To touch this dagger now would be like walking straight into a trap. He wouldn't take it even if the man offered it to him for free.
"Not to your satisfaction? Yes, the side effect is a bit... significant."
The portly man pulled a handkerchief from his breast pocket, wiped away his sweat, and led Jenkins further down the aisle.
"I think you'll probably like this one."
The female assistant behind the counter produced a golden apple. Even in the brightly lit train car, it seed to glow with its own light.
Chocolate gulped.
"B-01-2-8737, the Crystal of Sweet Dreams. Legend says it's a gift plucked from the dream realm by a god to reward their followers. It's the purest crystallization of dreams, a creation made of the softest, kindest spiritual energy. It's as famous as C-01-5-8222, the Angel's Resurrection Feather—both are treasures only a deity can bestow. Carrying this eternally pristine apple prevents all nightmares. If you willingly enter a dream, you'll have greater control over it and all attacks from within the dream will be weakened. And if you choose to eat it, you are one hundred percent guaranteed to gain a dream-related ability."
the portly man explained, finally seeing a satisfied expression on Jenkins's face.
It wasn't just his original world; this world, too, was full of legends and stories about golden apples. It was probably because apples were a delicious fruit in both worlds, and both cultures considered gold a precious tal.
Although the Crystal of Sweet Dreams, B-01-2-8737, couldn't directly inflict any significant damage on a Beast of Calamity, it certainly t Jenkins's needs. And even without that specific purpose, a treasure that could protect an ordinary person from illness and increase their luck just by being carried was well worth buying.
Jenkins had never heard of such an item being traded for human currency, but the market price was ten Sin Coins. It was certainly expensive, but after so consideration, Jenkins bought it anyway. He then noticed his cat's eyes gleaming as it watched him take the golden apple in his hand.
"No, you absolutely cannot eat this."
he said, stroking Chocolate's furry little head. The cat watched with undisguised reluctance as the apple was put away, but it knew that a single bite would be imdiately discovered by Jenkins.
He didn't have many Sin Coins to begin with. After buying B-01-2-8737, he was left with only two Ti Gems, two Blasphemy Seeds, and one Ring of Greed. Five Sin Coins couldn't buy anything of real value, and besides, Jenkins wanted to save so for the future.
He wandered around the train car a bit more before deciding to leave and find Papa Oliver. The portly man, acting as his shopping guide, enthusiastically described the train's various features and inford him that in the afternoon—in about five hours, when the market was about to close—there would be an auction in this very car. Valuable items that hadn't been put out for regular sale would be auctioned off then.
"So of them are what you humans call numbered items, and so are very valuable antiques. You should co and take a look then."
the man said, handing Jenkins a round, tal brooch. It was a symbol of his new VIP status at the market; since Jenkins's spending had reached a certain high threshold, he would now receive a ten percent discount on any future purchases.
"Compared to modern humans, you people really know how to do business."
he remarked, half-jokingly, and pinned the brooch to his right breast (Chocolate preferred to curl up on his left). The portly man took it as a sincere complint and reminded Jenkins several more tis not to miss the afternoon auction.
Before leaving the car, Jenkins asked the portly man if he was in charge of the entire market. He nodded with modest pride and said that if Jenkins needed anything at all, he could be found in car number one.
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