Chapter 193: Pandora
The two days passed without much thought. From training Eira in the ways of the sword to preparing the shop for the grand opening. One that only a few adventurers wanted to visit – took most of Staxius’s time. It went smoothly, using the money acquired from the delivery of the god’s ale – the amount totaled at 10,000 gold, 500 silver, and 125 copper. All the cash was delivered via a card. One that Renaud sent with a personal note saying, “Impressive job on the new product. The effectsts longer and the risk of mindless hosts is out of the way. Shadow, the talent showed in the ways of Alchemy and man-ying has ce thy name farther up in the hierarchy. There’s more to do before bing essential. Expect great things toe. Rather than giving you the payment by cash-carrying that amount of gold would be an unnecessary pain. I’m sending you this card instead, one that is official and recognized by the bank. Don’t worry about that side of things – each delivery and another card will be sent. ”
Hence, ie from the underground arrived. The card worked just fine at almost any shop. The card’s inventory was located in the main-continent, using teleportation, the bank was able to transfer it over to Hidros, though it took a few hours. No questions nothing, he was able to withdraw coins without hassle.
Thus, with the newfound fortune, one kept hidden from the others – Staxius went ahead and purchased various armor, weapons, and material for blending potions. He teleported back and forth from Dorchester. The craftsmen were happy to custom-build some items, one made of special ore – mainly, adamantite. Rare and expensive, one that was abundant in Arda. This would be the shop’s most prized possession. Heavy armor worthy of the next hero – from silvery, the color changed to one white and gold. It would be infused by colored minerals to make it stronger and better. Two days seemed to little of time, to which the decision was made to scatter the process around. Chest piece and leggings were forged in Arda, gauntlets, and helmets made in Dorchester.
All and all, the price paid for said armor to be built was 2950 gold and 500 silver. For the item in question, that price was cheap. The usual selling price of anything rted to adamantite reached into the 1000+ realm, a ce only nobles and aplished warriors could bother to think. To put in perspective, the average wage of a normal worker was 3 gold per week – now imagine how much 1000 would feel. With that in mind, the white and golden armor an unknown coboration between the two provinces was aplished. The process didn’t end there for Staxius personally enchanted the leggings with Tier-Three haste. Chest piece with Tier-Two Reinforcement, and helmet with Tier-Four regeneration. The level of enchantment had only five tiers starting from the weakest, Tier-Five and up to Tier-One.
Locked inside a disy case, the armor stood with a dignified stance on the left side. A ce devoted to armor and protection. The right side, a wall filled with weapons of various kinds. The masterpiece in that category was a sword named: Dragonrend – one that came from the East. Long with a curved de, sharp and deadly, the same to what Eira had but longer and stronger. The material was Obsidian, the second strongest material known to man. This particr sword was bought in Arda – an adventuring party got it as loot from defeating a monster. At first, it looked burnt and blunt – the sheathed was nowhere to be found. It took a few hours – but the expertise from the dwarves helped in saving said item. It cost around 100 gold to fix, then again, Tier-One Sharpness was the enchantment.
The price of the Armor was 12500 gold and the Sword 1250 gold. ‘Good luck,’ he thought whilst polishing each item and securing the lock. There were also unnamed items, one ofmon and umon rarityying around. Once ready, Isorin was called to give an appraisal of the magical items. Rarity assigned was Legendary for the armor and Epic for the sword.
Filled with questions, Isorin demanded answers to where he acquired such preciousmodities. The response he got was, “-I’ve got connections and talented craftsmen,” a winkter, the wizard was locked out the shop.
.....
That was the first day; the shop had a bunch of stuff adventurers might need for a good price. Staxius wasn’t going to rip off anyone – money wasn’t an issue anymore. Needless to say, more meant better. For the second day, the focus changed to potions and scrolls. 300mon, 100 umon and 50 Rare healing potions. A process that didn’t take long with the help of theb. Price would be set to: 500 copper for Common, 10 silver for Umon and 500 silver for Rare. The conversion rate tranted into 1000 Copper meant 1 silver, and 1000 Silver meant 1 gold. 1000 silver might have seemed a tremendous amount but tis was what the merchant guilds decided.
When it came to scrolls, more effective than healing potions. Inventory held 10 Common, 5 Umon and 2 Rare. The price set by Staxius himself was 500 Silver formon. 1 Gold for Umon and 10 Gold for Rare. More expensive, a Common scroll worked better than an Umon potion, closer to Rare quality when it came to the blend. The magical shop had held a good number of items. The potions and scrolls wereid behind the main counter in the front of the shop. Right side weapons, left side armor, center and front for potions and scrolls. Proud and aplishment filled his chest, the shop was now in working order.
The name chosen in the end was – Pandora. The empty sign outside could finally be filled by something other than emptiness. The second day came to an end, to which all the preparations wereplete. Construction of the office now final and ready, the result would be revealed tomorrow.
‘Today mark’s the day of our opening,’ quickly, Staxius rushed through the portal and inside the office. Skokdrag’s party had already left. The emptiness filled with elegance and the feeling of nobility and prestige. Warm colors filled the hall, paintings, and work of arts. The first room with, Reception wrote atop had a desk. Cabs, a lovely interior that gave a feeling offort and ease. In that manner, the rest of the rooms were filled with what was required. Armor stands for the armory, so on and so forth.
“Good morning, guild leader,” the elevator arrived, Kniq came.
“Good morning everyone,” he turned.
“Holy...” Deadeyes’ mouth opened in awe. The reaction simr to all who firstid eyes on the ce. From empty to now this, “-how much did it cost?” they asked to which Staxius dodged the question.
“Since our guild is now operating, you’ll be handing over loot in room four. That includes everything, from junk to good items. Qaisars dropped and quest reward can be discussed amongst yourselves. Just know that the guild will be taking five-percent of everything you get. Normally people take twenty and even forty, but I don’t care,” they sat in his office, the tone formal and polite. “The five percent will be from monster drops only; the quest rewards are to be divided however is deemed fair amidst yourself. Vi will be in charge as usual.”
“What about you?” Achilles asked.
“Remember what I said a few days ago?” he asked to which her eyes wandered around.
“Kniq will be divided into two groups, one in charge of the magical shop and one for fighting. I’ll be at the shop most of the time, Vi will supervise the fighting aspect.”
“Does that mean you won’t be doing any fighting?” Deadeye asked.
“No, I’ll be fighting,” he replied with haste, “-but only on quests that require my intervention. I don’t want a repeat of what happened earlier this week,” the eyes serious.
“Also, Vi from today forth will be the co-leader.” The meeting ended.
“Avon,” he called before the rest left.
“How may I be of service?” the eyes sparkly, nothing changed.
“I’ll need a favor,” Staxius stood, the tone casual, “-since I won’t stay here much,” he walked over to the spirit. “I need a secretary.”
“Do you wish for me to take that post then?” the voice joyful.
“No, you’re with Vi’s party – I need Auic to take that ce.”
“Oh...” the sparkles died-down, “-does it have to be her?” he asked in a serious voice.
“Listen,” unimpressed, Staxius continued, “-I know you want to help the girl and all. But freeloading isn’t something I deem noble. The reason I brought her here in the first ce was to work as a shop assistant. Therefore, either she gets sent back to Arda or tries to fight against her past and move on. It’s hard but if left as she is, the girl might grow even more dependent,” a quick pat on his headter, “-do you wish for the girl to end up defenseless. What happens if one day our adventuring party is wiped out, she’ll be left alone in the wild without anyone nor anything to her name.”
“Fine,” he gave in, “-won’t she require some training first?”
“I’ve got someone in mind, don’t worry about it,” the reply firm and confident, Avon left without worry.
A phone callter,
“Central guild, how may I be of help?” Diane answered.
“Hey, it’s Staxius,”
“Oh...” the voice felt distant, “-what do you want?”
“Show some enthusiasm,” he tried to cheer her up.
“No thank you, be fast or else I’m hanging up,” the reply cold and fast.
“Fine,” a sighter, “-I’ve got a job proposal,” the tone serious.
“Go on, I’m listening,” curiosity piqued.
“I need you to train someone in the ways of a secretary who can do everything from the receptionist to ountant,”
“That’s a tall order, those subjects are hard and not that easy to master even for someone talented,” a quick pauseter, “-how much are you paying.”
“Five gold coins per week.”
“Not interested.”
“Ten gold coins per week, no more no less, you decide what time. The location will be Kniq’s headquarters.”
“Deal,” the phone hung.
‘Melisa would have been the better choice but I need Diane’s feisty personality to bring some life into that fox girl.’
“Time to open shop,” a single step through the portalter, he stood inside Pandora.
The sign on the door changed from closed to open, the business would be slow at the start. A blessing in disguise for it gave more time to research and brainstorm the prospect of making Relic ss scrolls.
“This ce sure is nice,” a girlmented, the door opened followed by bells ringing, it took a few hours but an adventuring party came.
“Yo, check this out,” a boy called. “-What is it?” the girl rushed. “Adamantite armor,” their eyes sparkled.
“Keep the chatter to a minimum,” the leader spoke, a middle-aged man who admired weapons. The party consisted of four individuals.
“Excuse me,” the leader called.
“How may I be of service?” from the counter, he teleported.
“-how d-did you,” that sudden drop in pressure caused them to shudder.
“What was that?” the boy asked.
“Sorry about that,” Staxius apologized, “-a force of habit, don’t mind me,” the voice gentle and approachable, the charisma shone.
“Could I please view this dagger?” he pointed at the wall.
“Sure,” the weapon got handed over.
“Care to exin the specifics and rarity?” the man asked intrigued by the make.
“The weapon you hold is amon-ranked steel dagger. Nothing extravagant, the durability is good, I vouch for its efficiency.”
“I see,” the eyes doubtful, “-do you have any way of proving the durability you speak of, I don’t wish to be ripped off...” a fair assessment.
“Care to join me outside?” Staxius asked.
“Okay...?” each one stared with confusion.
“Hey,” the girl whispered, “-don’t you think he’s hot?”
“Shut up you idiot,” the boy fired back quickly.
“I’m guessing you’re training those two to be adventurers?” he pointed at the boy and girl.
“You assumed right,” the leader confirmed.
“Well,” he smiled, “-keep your eyes on this,” a beautiful and gentle motionter, the weapon was thrown at immense speed. The air pressure rattled the ground around, the customer who stood were scared, the amount of wind-generated was unbelievable.
*Dark-Arts, Magical Barrier,* a snapter, the shop keeper appeared on the other side of the road and stopped said weapon. It didn’t even take a second.
“As you can see,” he reappeared before the leader, “-the weapon ispletely fine,” steam came off the de.
“Okay....” The man stood in shock, “w-we’ll take it,” he stuttered.
“Good choice,” the de was handed over. “Ouch,” he yelped for it was boiling hot.