Classless Ascension

How does one measure wealth?

Is it to have plenty for one's needs? Is it to have even more than one knows what to do with it? In this case, wealth was being able to indulge in one goddamn insane shopping spree!

Josh followed behind the young blacksmith as the man tyrannically requested to inspect every material. Then he would carefully observe it from all sides, some even taking in his hands when allowed.

The way he did it all seemed so mystifying, perhaps a bit too much even. The employee was looking at it happen at a complete loss. What kind of game was he playing?! Had he just….licked a rock?!

Yep, he was analyzing:

- The size

- The shape

- The smell

- The texture

- The taste

- Every fucking thing!

The blacksmith would grumble from time to time, sometimes in happiness but other times in disgust. He reminded Josh of people at the grocery store. Some lonely ladies would always take an eternity to pick the perfect cucumber carefully. ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

What made it even more of a traumatizing experience for the poor attendant was that the client was taking so damn long! The exchange often happened like so:

"Sir, we have experts to advise you if—" The employee would whisper timidly.

"No way! I need to vet the materials myself! I'm taking this seriously!" He would inevitably retort.

Josh couldn't help but feel curious about it all:

"Can't you just delegate this task?"

"Nope. The problem is that I'm not 100% sure what we're looking for myself. It's not about which material is better, but which one is the most suitable. We have to keep in mind how everything will react together."

"I see." Josh nodded, impressed.

This sure made sense, for there was no absolute in this world. There was nothing that was perfect in all aspects. For instance, the strongest metal would make a very poor Piñata….well maybe it could occupy kids for a very long time.

Following the usual denial of requesting an expert, there would come the decision to buy or not.

"I'm not sure about this one, but I think it could assist the crafting. I think it could increase the toughness by about 5% and—"

"Bid!" Josh gave the green light way too quickly.

The attendant was beginning to sweat heavily, his orange shirt drenched. The total had already reached 50 k in bids over the most basic of materials! This was enough to buy a D+ Ranked item!

What was frightening was that they were just getting started. Would this guy even be able to forge it all? Was it humanly possible? In any case, it wasn't his place to contest his client's wishes.

He kept guiding them as they received plenty of weird looks. Josh and the apprentice seemed so goddamn out of place.

Typically, the ones that actually bothered to tour around were the people dressed lavishly. Yet the two bumpkins were accompanied by a personal attendant? How peculiar…

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That's how the party kept going as they climbed floor after floor of the auction. Every higher one meant an increase in rarity and price. Oh, and the higher they went and the less they could touch.

This made the blacksmith grumble so much;

"How am I supposed to pick now? What's next? Picking materials by throwing a dice?! Isn't there anything that we can do about it?"

But just as he was complaining once more, a voice softly sounded behind them.

"I'll take care of things from now on. You may go."

The newcomer was a gorgeous lady wearing a sensual red dress. She radiated charm, and yet it didn't seem too much. It was as if she was naturally born elegant, perhaps even a goddess from Heaven.

As the two young men turned toward her, she inwardly cheered as she saw their heated gazes. They were in her pocket! As for the initial attendant, he could only leave, unsure how to feel. She would probably give him some benefits….but what about his commission?!

She bowed deeply, making sure the rich Josh would get the perfect angle to gaze at her generous bosom, one slowly rising with her hot breath. Enrapturing people was always the best sale tactic.

That's when the blacksmith shyly spoke u:

"Miss…could we perhaps access all the materials? We have this token with us."

She flashed a radiant smile as she nodded in agreement. "Sure, but only because I believe in your character." She softly whispered. It sounded like she was doing them a favor but really, this was all because of the token.

She still couldn't believe that this guy had it. According to their information database, he was just an apprentice. It just happened that his mentor was a good brother of the auction house owner.

"Nice!"

"Thank you, lady."

She guided them toward a secure vault, one that not even a Ranker could break, at least not quickly. She presented them with it delicately and allowed them to observe it.

But as the two received permission, they instantly turned their attention to the new item. They were completely ignoring her! She even began stretching, showing off all of her curves…no effect whatsoever?!

That's when she realized with dismay that the earlier heated gazes had been about the prospect of being able to check out the materials. Really?! She wasn't sure whether to despair or be angry.

But she kept doing her job diligently, appearing as a model guide, bringing them higher and higher in the auction tower. That's how kept going a visit that was supposed to be a peaceful one— supposed.

It all began with a very innocent request from Josh:

"Hey, can you teach me the basics of appraisal? It seems quite interesting."

"Sure! Try this. It's not just about the physical characteristics, but also the aura and—"

The woman watched them proceed, feeling peeved. They indeed were 100% ignoring her. Hell, she could have been naked with her tits swinging that they wouldn't have cared! This was quite a blow to her self-confidence.

The two weirdos were now extending their tongues to a black rock the size of a fist and emitting a bit of heat. This thing was akin to chocolate cake with melted chocolate inside…..but with a rock and literal lava.

It was precious and worth more than a C Ranked item. This was already high for a final product, but it was insane for a material.

She winced as Josh's tongue came into contact with it, but he also jumped. A look of surprise flashed across his face, one that then turned into heated greed. Then he opened his mouth wide and…gulped?!

This thing contained magma.

He had eaten it.

WTF?!

There was only one outcome to this. "Hurry up and vomit it out!" she screamed. Oh god, he'd die under her watch! She felt like tearing her hair. But the man just gave her a sheepish look as he scratched his head.

"Sorry, I— BLERGH!!" A fiery substance burst out of his mouth in mid-speech, splashing on the flashy orange floor.

If only it ended there….

The molten liquid began to seep right through the floor. At this instant, they were pretty high in the tower. It passed through one floor, then the next, then the next, one after the other. From every hole, smoke began gushing.

Soon the air was totally dark from the fumes. It became hard to see and breathe, and then there was the smell. That goddamn smell! It was so disgusting! The whole place was now engulfed in the aroma of rotten eggs.

Then it became a general panic. The wealthy elegant customers were suddenly stinking so damn much. What kind of horror was happening?! A biochemical attack?! They all began to evacuate. No way they'd stay here.

As the smoke became dense enough….the fire finally reached the various ceilings. That was enough to activate the anti-fire system. Holes opened in the ceiling as water began blasting all over the place!

The customers and employees alike were reduced to drenched dogs. They looked utterly pitiful. It didn't help that the goddamn water was blackish from the smoke!

It felt like they were completely drenched in liquid rotten eggs. People began to hurl all over the place, but it all got washed away quickly.

Josh couldn't help but stare at the destruction he had caused. What the actual fuck?! Nearby, there was the lady who had been guiding them. Her red dress was now black as it stuck to her skin, showcasing her forms.

For the first time, he took the time to properly look at her, giving her an apologetic look. "Sorry about that. I didn't know this would happen."

At that moment, she erupted in anger:

"Why the fuck did you eat that?!"

"Look what you've done, you bastard!"

"How are you even alive?! You threw up lava!"

"Answer already, you bitch! How the hell will you make things right!"

Her previous elegance and charm were nowhere to be seen. She was about to go to war with him at this rate!

"Wow, you sure became lively! You're actually more fun this way. It seems more real." Josh relaxedly commented.

"Yes, you're right. See, this is what I was talking about with the aura earlier. You need to recognize this when you're appraising. For instance, the previous her was a fake, and this is the real her."

Why the fuck did she even come to work today? She would have kept sleeping if she knew she'd encounter these two. But just as she thought that it couldn't get worse, a broadcast was heard:

"To the terrorists inside, you guys are surrounded. Surrender now or face this City's wrath!"

Fuck…