Warlock Apprentice

Tesla dropped his money pouch and reached for the scythe.

Dave quickly took it away. "Not yet. We haven't agreed on a price yet!"

Tesla pointed to the pouch on the counter. "That's a hundred crystals. Absolutely a decent market price."

Usually, a weapon enchanted with Rune of Sharpen would sell for a similar price. However, this one might go a little lower since a scythe was not a common weapon used by people.

Dave hesitated. He really did not wish to sell anything to these two people. What was more, those were Angor's weapons, and Angor had not provided his opinion yet.

"What, you want more? How about selling it to the peasants?" Tesla pointed at Fosah and Laffitte.

Fosah was still staring at the Tang Dao in Tesla's hand, unmoving.

"Are you selling it or not? You got a good offer!" Tesla tapped on the desk impatiently.

Dave struggled a little and finally decided to place the case back on the desk.

Queena smiled and winked at Tesla who then glanced at Fosah again. "See that? Give me reasons when you earn enough money or don't be an eyesore."

Queena sneered, "Enough wasting time with these lots. Naru's waiting!"

"Okay okay! Just let me grab the weapon," said Tesla with a chuckle.

He believed he had everything under control and that no one would oppose him now. Those two peasants already lost their speech, and the shop clerk only needed money.

Money was the rule.

With enough money, he managed to receive the message earlier from Bartterfly Pub and even asked them to keep it from others for a while.

Tesla reached for the scythe slowly while giving everyone a proud look… wait.

Why is it so heavy?

He looked down and saw someone's hand holding the weapon down. Telling from the healthy features on the hand, it had to be someone really young.

Tesla moved his sight up and saw the young man who had not made a sound until now.

"Hands off, peasant," Tesla spoke in a cold tone.

Everyone else in the shop stared at Angor.

"So, you're rich," said Angor as he smiled at the man in front of him. "I'll reason with you."

His words startled everyone, especially Fosah, who suddenly felt a bit relieved. Was Angor trying to help him?

Queena raised an eyebrow and placed a polished finger on Tesla's chest. "Oh my, little handsome. Do you want to reason with him? I'm afraid his… 'reason' is bigger than you expected."

As she spoke, Queena slowly moved her finger down toward Tesla's abdomen and stopped at a convenient spot to draw a circle. What she meant was obvious.

Tesla sneered again, "Good. I'll show you some reason then."

He let his hand go from the case. "So, how much can you offer? Let's see who got more 'reason'."

Angor remained calm and pointed at the other weapon in Tesla's hand. "Let's talk about this blade first."

Tesla was surprised a little, then he laughed out. "And I thought you were going to show me some real money. So you want to talk about this cheap shit? Okay then, I'll give you a chance."

Angor took the Tang Dao back from Tesla's hand. Tesla frowned a bit, but he did not try to stop Angor. The man was curious to see what this particularly stupid kid was going to do.

And Angor's move shocked him for good.

Instead of "offering a price", Angor tossed the weapon to Fosah under everyone's gaze.

Fosah hurried to catch the weapon with a blank expression. He had no idea what just happened.

"… What's the meaning of this? Peasants helping each other?" Tesla scoffed.

"I'm reasoning with you," Angor said.

"What reason? Where's your offer?"

Angor only smiled. Even Dave began to chuckle and placed a hand on Angor's shoulder.

"Man, he's either deaf or blind," Dave spoke, "you already showed him the 'reason'."

That angered Tesla a little. He realized that this kid was referring to something different by mentioning "reason".

"I see. So, you want to help those two?" Tesla was losing his patience.

"Not at all. As I said, I'm being reasonable," said Angor. He extended a hand to Fosah. "Fifteen crystals and the Tang Dao is yours."

Fosah was still not sure what was going on, but he reacted quick enough and placed the money in Angor's hand. Since Angor meant to sell him the weapon, he would not let the chance slip.

Next, Angor picked out two crystals and handed them to Dave while putting the rest into his own pocket.

"What the heck are you doing?" Tesla grimaced.

"Reasoning, duh. They came first, you second. I agreed to sell the weapon to them, and I'll keep my words no matter how much you pay. That's how my reason works," Angor said.

Tesla looked at Dave. "Hey, you. You're letting an outsider decide for you?"

Dave shrugged without speaking and pretended that he was staying out of this.

"So, 20 crystals aren't enough? And you'll join these peasants against me? Hah! You're just a lowly worker in the shop, no? I bet Master Prome will fire you for good when he hears about this."

"Fire him? Of course not." Another voice came from the door.

Everyone looked outside and saw a middle-aged man in a shiny purple robe walking in on casual steps.

"Master Prome!" Fosah saw his "potential boss" and quickly went to kneel down.

"Master Prome…" Tesla was shocked. He mentioned Prome's name to scare off Dave, but Prome came for real!

"Speak of the devil… and just in time," Angor thought to himself.

Prome did not know what a bunch of people was doing in his shop, but he already heard Tesla's previous words. He was pretty satisfied with Dave's outstanding performance recently. Earlier this week, when he taught Dave alchemy knowledge, Dave showed an open mind as well as great determination. Added with the friendship with Angor… Naturally, Prome would never kick Dave out of the shop.

"Master," greeted Dave as he welcomed his teacher inside.

Prome's action slapped Tesla's face really hard. However, when Tesla thought about how the stupid kid took the income of the shop for his own, the man was confident that Master Prome would "do justice".

"What's going on here?" Prome asked.

Before Dave could explain, Fosah and Laffitte rushed to Prome's side and quickly described the whole matter.

Prome did not reveal his standing. Deep inside, he would support Tesla this time. However, since Angor was the one opposing Tesla, Prome was fine with selling a cheap alchemy weapon at a bad price. He could always make another one.

He had no idea that the Tang Dao was not from his shop.

Prome was going to speak up for Angor, but Tesla spoke first, "Master Prome, the young man gave the weapon to these… two, and only gave two magic crystals to your clerk, while he kept the rest. That's why I'm unsatisfied."

Since Prome was here, Tesla would not call people "peasants" now.

Prome looked at Fosah, hoping that a third party could prove Tesla's words for him.

Fosah hesitated a little and nodded.

"I… see," Prome was not sure how to comment now. Angor should have many ways to earn money. Why would he use such a bad trick in broad daylight? Prome pondered whether he should still support Angor.

Tesla was satisfied to see Prome "doubting the kid".

Angor spoke up, "I'm not done with my reasons. Let's talk about who should get served first."

Tesla pointed to Fosah. "I think you should ask HIM. Say, if he has enough money, will he care about who comes first?"

Fosah felt like crying when he became the center of attention again. However, since Angor just helped him, he decided to tell a lie for now by declining Tesla's assumption.

He nodded firmly. "I will! I'll let whoever arrives first to buy the weapon!"

Despite his sincere look, no one in the shop believed him. Not even Angor.

"I see what you mean," Angor said, "and I do believe that Fosah will not tell reasons if he's rich."

Fosah looked at Angor in shock. Hey brother! I'm trying to help! What gives??

Angor's words also caught Tesla by surprise. The man already prepared some speech to hurt Fosah, but he no longer needed to.

Angor continued, "So you don't reason, Fosah doesn't reason, we'll not find reasons from both of you. But that doesn't matter. I'll tell you the reason!"

Angor gave them a bright smile.

Tesla humphed. "What's the point? You think you can decide on behalf of Master Prome?"

Angor shook his head. "Of course I cannot."

He then pointed to the blade in Fosah's arm. "But I have the right to decide the fate of this weapon."

"How?!"

"Because the weapon is mine!"

His words startled everyone in the shop again. Well, except Dave.

Prome carefully looked at the weapon and wiped some sweat drops from his forehead. He thought people were arguing over something he made before, and he was glad he did not say anything like that or that would be so embarrassing.

Tesla was taken aback. If what Angor said was true… then yes, Angor should be the one deciding how to sell the blade.

And Angor had all the reason to "be reasonable with them".

Tesla's heart sank when he realized that neither Dave nor Master Prome said anything. So the blade really was from this damn kid!

No wonder the clerk "gladly" accepted two magic crystals for the weapon.

Tesla only felt great shame troubling his mind now. Every word he said until now, which all meant to boast about his wealth, only deepened his embarrassment.

As he tried to think of an excuse, Angor's voice interrupted his thoughts again.

Angor picked up the scythe and smiled at Tesla. "Okay, I finished telling my reason. Now it's your turn."

He handed the scythe to Tesla.

"I hope you have a reason to convince me to sell this to you. Oh right, just so you know, the scythe is mine as well."