Giant Dragon Lord: Starting from Daily Intelligence-Chapter 104 - 102: Sub-Divine Artifact "Giant’s Grip

Chapter 104: Chapter 102: Sub-Divine Artifact "Giant’s Grip

After more than an hour of searching, he finally found his target in a relatively secluded corner.

The stall owner was a one-eyed, middle-aged mercenary with a vicious scar that ran from his forehead down to his chin, making his single eye look all the more menacing.

His stall was small. A worn Beast Hide was spread on the ground, with a dozen or so items scattered across it.

A few nicked Long Swords, a Kite Shield covered in scratches, several fragments of Chain Armor, and some Arm Guards and Shin Guards that looked quite ancient.

Most of the items were either rusty or covered in dust, making for a very poor display.

However, Raylo’s gaze paused on a single, unremarkable glove.

It was a solid-black metal glove, with a simple, heavy design. Its surface was covered in scuff marks, and the edges were even slightly warped.

It lay quietly in a pile of scrap metal, easy to overlook unless one was specifically searching for it.

’Giant’s Grip.’

Raylo thought to himself.

The stall owner clearly noticed Raylo lingering. His single eye glanced at him lazily as he spoke in a raspy voice.

"Feel free to look. They’re all old things dug up from ancient battlefields and ruins. Every piece has a story behind it. See something you like, the price is negotiable."

Raylo kept a straight face and squatted down, his gaze sweeping over the so-called "antiques" one by one as if he were carefully considering each item.

"These things certainly look old."

"Of course!"

The one-eyed mercenary grinned, flashing a set of yellow teeth.

"When have I, ’One-Eyed’ Luton, ever sold junk? Any one of these items could be a family heirloom. Take this sword, for instance..."

He picked up a Long Sword, its blade covered in rust, and said with an air of mystery.

"This was the personal sword of the Black Wind Knight! Back in the day, he used this very sword to cut his way through the Blood Red Plain and back again seven times! The price is a steal—only five hundred Golden Dragons!"

’This mercenary’s really got a talent for spinning tales,’ Raylo thought with a private smile.

’He’d never heard of any Black Wind Knight, but he figured the rust on the sword was probably older than the so-called Knight himself.’

He was just trying to figure out how to subtly steer the conversation toward the glove and buy it for a reasonable price when a rather resonant voice sounded from behind him.

"Shopkeeper, this sword... might I have a look?"

Raylo turned to see a man of about thirty standing by the stall. He was dressed in a full suit of Knight Armor, with an exquisite Long Sword hanging from his waist.

He had a square jaw and the rigid, upright bearing of a Knight.

The one-eyed mercenary’s eye lit up, and his face immediately broke into an enthusiastic grin.

"My Lord Knight, you have a keen eye! Take a look, take a look!"

With that, he handed over the rusty sword.

The Knight took the sword, first testing its weight, then carefully examining the patterns and rust on the blade. His brow furrowed, and then his eyes widened with a look of surprise and disbelief.

"This... could this be... the Soul-Breaking Blade!"

His voice trembled with excitement.

The one-eyed mercenary was stunned for a moment. He clearly hadn’t expected the man to give the piece of junk such an intimidating name, but he was quick on the uptake and immediately played along.

"Oh? You recognize this sword, my lord? Does it truly have some grand history?"

"A grand history is an understatement!"

the Knight said excitedly, stroking the blade as if it were a priceless Treasure.

"Legend has it this was the personal sword of ’Shadow Blade’ Kassadin ten years ago! The great Kassadin once used this sword to slay a Three-headed Snake Lizard in the Black Mist Swamp, making a great name for himself! Alas, he later ventured deep into the Tomb of the Undead and was never heard from again... To think... to think the Soul-Breaking Blade would wash up here!"

The Knight’s speech was impassioned and utterly convincing.

"So that’s it! It’s the personal sword of ’Shadow Blade’ Kassadin!"

The one-eyed mercenary feigned a look of sudden realization, as if honored to be in the presence of such a legendary item.

"I knew it! I knew this sword was no common blade! I thought it was the Black Wind Knight’s sword, but to think it’s actually the legendary sword of the great Shadow Blade himself."

"My lord, since you recognize the sword, you must know its value. I won’t ask for much. A flat price: one thousand Golden Dragons!"

In the blink of an eye, the sword’s price had doubled.

Raylo was silently taken aback.

"One thousand Golden Dragons?"

Hearing this, the excitement on the Knight’s face was instantly replaced by a troubled expression.

"Shopkeeper, I won’t lie, I truly have a great affection for this sword. But... my purse is a bit light. One thousand Golden Dragons is just..."

"My lord, this is the Soul-Breaking Blade! Shadow Blade Kassadin’s personal sword! One thousand Golden Dragons is an absolutely fair price!"

The one-eyed mercenary wouldn’t budge an inch.

The two began to haggle, going back and forth with spittle flying.

The Knight’s arguments ranged from "one thousand Golden Dragons is too expensive" to "I feel a destined connection to this sword," and from "the spirit of the great Kassadin is worthy of admiration" to "I am but a poor Knight." 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

The one-eyed mercenary, for his part, stuck to phrases like "priceless Treasure," "one-of-a-kind," and "an opportunity that won’t come again."

Raylo watched silently from the side. At first, he actually thought the Knight knew what he was talking about. After all, some down-on-their-luck Knights and adventurers did hold a special reverence for legendary Weapons.

But the longer he watched, the more he felt that something was off.

The two of them were perfectly in sync, one leading and the other following. Their coordination was seamless, and their exchanged glances held an unspoken, practiced familiarity.

Although the Knight’s expressions were spot-on, his "excitement" and "dilemma" seemed a bit too deliberate, like an act rehearsed countless times.

As for the one-eyed mercenary, he seemed to be haggling over every coin, but deep in his eye was a hidden, cunning glint. Every now and then, he would flick a glance at Raylo out of the corner of his eye, as if gauging his reaction.