"Real business?" Keld drawled, his tone casual but his gaze curious. "I wonder what could be next on the menu."

Wade smirked faintly beneath the hood. "Something a little more interesting than stones," he said. "I've got weapons. Quality ones."

Keld raised a brow. "Weapons, you say? Let's see what you've got."

Wade stretched out his hand, activating Exchange.

A faint golden shimmer connected them, and a glowing window of information appeared before both men.

[Venom Fang Dagger]

[+25 Poison Damage, 30% Critical Chance, Inflicts Minor Toxin on Wound.]

Keld's eyes flicked over the glowing text, his gaze assessing every line with the cold intelligence of a merchant who'd seen countless items pass through his hands.

He leaned forward slightly, studying the details, then tilted his head with a small hum.

"Not bad," he admitted. "Poison-infused weapons always sell well. And the craftsmanship looks clean."

"The toxin's moderate grade, not lethal, but potent enough to make healing a pain. You don't see that every day."

Then his tone shifted, just subtly, to something Wade recognized all too well. The kind of smooth tone every trader used before they started downplaying a product.

"But," Keld continued, "while the item itself is rare, the effect isn't."

"Poison damage, critical chance, minor toxin, they're all standard enhancements. You'll find similar effects in at least half a dozen other daggers on the market."

Wade immediately felt his suspicion rise.

Keld was testing him. Seeing how much he knew about his own merchandise, or worse, trying to soften him up for a lower price.

Wade crossed his arms, his tone calm. "Is that so? Then I'm sure you won't mind buying them cheap, since you'll have no trouble reselling them."

Keld's grin widened, clearly appreciating the pushback. "Heh. I like you. Not easily spooked."

He leaned on the counter, elbows resting comfortably. "Alright then, let's skip the dance. What are you asking for?"

Wade met his gaze evenly. "You tell me first."

Keld chuckled at that, a warm, rough laugh that filled the shop. "You're good. Fine. I'll play along."

He glanced back at the projected information again, pretending to deliberate for longer than necessary, before speaking.

"I'll offer you thirty-five thousand coins each. That's a fair price for something of this caliber. I'll even sweeten it. I'll buy both right now, no delay."

Wade's heart skipped slightly. That was already higher than what he'd expected. He'd been hoping for maybe thirty thousand each, if he was lucky.

Still, he kept his expression hidden and his tone level, refusing to show his satisfaction.

"Thirty-five?" he repeated, sounding unimpressed. "That's not even covering their true worth."

"You and I both know these daggers aren't common grade. The critical rate alone makes them worth at least fifty thousand each."

Keld raised a brow, feigning disbelief. "Fifty thousand? You're aiming high for someone without a guild certificate to vouch for authenticity."

"I'm not asking for certification," Wade replied smoothly. "You've got eyes, don't you?"

"You just said it yourself. You've seen hundreds of weapons. Tell me another dagger in Hiving right now that hits poison and crit this high."

The older man paused, lips quirking slightly. "You're a bold one."

"Just good at math," Wade said dryly.

They stared at each other for several seconds. Keld's eyes flickered faintly with amusement. "Forty," he said at last.

"Fifty," Wade countered instantly.

"Forty-two."

"Forty-eight."

"Forty-five, final offer."

"Forty." Wade's tone was firm.

Keld blinked, caught off guard. "You mean forty-five."

"No," Wade said with a faint grin beneath his hood. "Forty. You just offered yourself higher. I'm being generous."

Keld stared at him for a second, then threw his head back and laughed, the sound loud, hearty, and genuine. "Damn! You've got some gall!"

He slapped the counter, shaking his head. "Fine! Forty thousand each, and not a coin more. You're going to make me regret this deal."

Wade extended his hand, his grin wide. "I doubt it."

Keld clasped his hand, and the Exchange activated again.

[Exchange Initiated]

[Transferring: 2 × Venom Fang Daggers → Keld]

[Receiving: 80,000 Coins → Wade Barrett]

[Exchange Complete.]

The faint light faded.

Keld checked his inventory, then gave a satisfied grunt.

"You know," he said, inspecting the phantom image of the daggers once more, "you'd make a hell of a merchant. Got the attitude for it."

"I'll take that as a compliment," Wade replied.

"You should," Keld said, smirking. "There aren't many who can keep up with me in a negotiation."

"Maybe you're just old," Wade said, his tone casual.

Keld snorted. "Maybe you're just lucky."

The atmosphere softened slightly. There was no hostility now, only mutual respect.

Both men understood the game, and both appreciated a good player when they saw one.

"So," Keld said after a moment, folding his arms. "What's next?"

"Skills," Wade replied simply. "Three of them. Defensive type."

Keld perked up immediately, rubbing his hands together. "Now that's what I like to hear. Go ahead."

Wade nodded and activated Exchange again, sending over the information of the Stone Skin skill stones.

The glowing screen filled the air between them.

[Stone Skin]

[Temporarily hardens the user's skin to stone, greatly increasing physical defense for a short duration.]

[Requirements: 50 Strength, 35 Constitution]

[Cost: 20 Mana per use.]

Keld studied the data, his brows rising slightly. "Ahh… now this is good quality."

He tapped his finger on the projection, thinking aloud. "Low mana cost, solid duration, easily stackable with ward-type magic."

"Yeah… this would sell quickly. Half the warriors in Hiving would stampede my shop for this skill before tackling the lower dungeons."

Wade smiled faintly. "Then we'll have no problem agreeing on a good price."

"Depends on what you call good," Keld said, leaning back. "Thirty thousand each."

"That's too low."

Keld didn't even blink. "That's the exact market value right now. I'm being fair."

"Fair's relative," Wade said. "Considering you'll probably sell them for fifty, maybe even sixty thousand each once word spreads, I think you can afford a little generosity."

The merchant chuckled. "You're assuming I'd find a buyer right away. You think I've got nobles lined up outside my door waiting to buy from me? This isn't the capital, friend. Hiving's full of broke adventurers and stingy merchants. Thirty thousand is already generous, considering you're unlicensed."

Wade's grin didn't fade. "You were just calling me a great negotiator a minute ago."

"I said you had the attitude, not that you'd win every time."

They locked eyes again, the tension returning. Keld's gaze was hard as steel, daring Wade to push further.

But Wade could tell when he'd hit a wall. This wasn't like before. The older man wasn't bluffing now.

"Thirty," Wade finally nodded, a smile appearing on his face. He'd hit the man hard on the next product he was about to sell. "But next time, I expect a loyalty discount."

Keld laughed, shaking his head. "We'll see if you survive long enough for a next time."

They clasped hands again, the Exchange completing the deal.

[Exchange Initiated]

[Transferring: 3 × Stone Skin Skill Stones → Keld]

[Receiving: 90,000 Coins → Wade Barrett]

[Exchange Complete.]

The coins materialized into Wade's inventory, his total wealth ticking steadily upward.

It was more than he'd made in his entire time since awakening.

Keld was still grinning as he studied his inventory.

"You're a strange one," he said. "Most sellers your age would be begging me to take their loot off their hands. You? You bargain like you've been doing this for years."

Wade gave a short laugh. "Maybe I have."

The merchant smirked. "You're either a fool or a genius, and I haven't decided which yet."

Wade activated Exchange again, sharing the information on his last skill stone.

"Let's find out," he said.

The screen appeared once more.

[Bone Wings]

[Allows the user to manifest skeletal wings for short-duration flight or gliding.]

[Requirements: 70 Strength, 50 Constitution, 50 Perception, 50 Agility]

[Cost: 3 Mana per second]

For a moment, Keld said nothing. His eyes darted across the text, scanning every word.

His face didn't move, but Wade caught it. The faint widening of the eyes, the subtle inhale, the microsecond of astonishment.

He masked it almost immediately, but Wade had already seen it.

A small, knowing smile appeared on Wade's lips beneath the hood.

'Jackpot.'

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