OLD-WORLD EXTRA-Chapter 168: Visiting the Emporium

"I've been blessed with the opportunity your mother presented to me, and I seized that chance...."

Raymond replied, his voice carrying both depth and a tinge of melancholy.

"At first, I was interested in her offer, but I only took immediate action after knowing of her connection with Kiera and you."

"I've always wished for a chance to grow into something more than a relic merchant in the black market..."

"So seeing this all go down makes me... you know."

Emir nodded with a smile.

"And we're glad to have you on board, and speaking of, I need something that could help with our situation."

"So before we continue talking, do you know where I'd get a burner terminal?"

Raymond turned his head towards his terminal and began to type out a message while saying:

"I've got someone that could deliver that for you; it won't take long. I know you're busy, so by the time we finish talking, he'll have shown up already."

"Good, and why don't we sit in the office? It doesn't seem like our customers are coming anytime soon." Emir suggested, motioning towards the concealed office space behind the counter.

Raymond silently agreed and led the way, leaving the door for Emir to come in.

As they settled into the office, Emir took a seat on the office chair placed behind the main desk.

The office was simple but organized, with shelves containing various artifacts and relics, and a large window offering a view of the surrounding area.

He leaned back slightly in the chair and looked at Raymond.

"Do you know where your boss is today?"

"Yes. Boss Laura is off with Miss Mariane, setting up shop."

"Are the other guys here as well?"

"Do you mean Logan and Jamal? Yeah, they're the same people, you know. Jamal is fixing up some relic in his workshop at the moment, while Longshot is helping out the boss."

"I see... Well, I'm glad to have you guys; a friend of Kiera's is a friend of mine after all."

Stroking his white beard, Raymond commented:

"You don't really care, do you?"

"...Nah, I don't," Emir admitted with a snicker.

"I know that you've been vetted by Amanda, and as long as you passed her inspection, then you're good in my book."

Raising a brow, the old man asked:

"Amanda? Do you mean Lyra?"

Letting out an "Oh," Emir nodded his head.

"Her contract was strict, wasn't it?"

"That would be an understatement, Sir Emir; it was worse than what I had under the Academy." Raymond replied with a chuckle.

"So you're one of those, huh?"

"Yes, excommunicado."

"Quite a sad tale for a lab rat... But let's keep that story for later. I need you to tell me our current status."

"Short version?"

Seeing Emir nod, he continued:

"Customers range in the average; nothing different in that regard; the only change is that no company requested a delivery today; it wouldn't be unusual if there weren't any planned beforehand, but we had three agreed upon."

"So they'd be fine with losing money as long as they don't risk offending the Elite, expected as much... Is there anything else?"

"Not really, no, but if I have to say something, then I can only say that our profit margins will decrease drastically this month, though it wouldn't matter much since we aren't losing on the relic collecting front as that is done solely by Lyra."

"Hmm... And you are responsible for appraising, right?"

"Yes. Anything relic-related goes through me, while Jamal deals with both shops as he has experience with fixing up relics and forging melee weapons. And Longshot is, well... as you can guess, a gun fanatic."

"Thanks for the summary..."

'Am I forgetting something?' Emir wondered, as he had a nagging feeling that he had come here to get something as well.

"I almost forgot!" Raymond exclaimed while standing up from his seat.

"Boss asked me to give you a weapon when you came by."

'Ah...' He silently mumbled.

"Let me see my new weapons then," Emir demanded, rising from his seat and following the old man into the storage room.

As they entered the room, a sense of pride washed over Emir.

The space was a treasure trove of relics, a sanctuary of power.

Shelves upon shelves lined the walls, laden with relics of various shapes and sizes.

Small, ornate trinkets shared space with grand melee weapons, and delicate accessories rested beside ancient, weathered books.

Among the shelves, one particularly caught his eye.

It stood out not just for the relics it held but also for its own craftsmanship, with elaborate carvings adorning its surface.

Soon after, Raymond's presence drew Emir's attention, and he followed the old man's lead toward a metal chest in the corner of the room.

The chest, about two meters in length and a few wide, stood before them.

Its exterior, while not as ornate as the relics it safeguarded, exuded an air of impenetrability.

Raymond deftly unlocked it with a key, revealing an assortment of weapons within.

Swords, spears, daggers, and even a halberd were carefully arranged, their edges glinting in

the subdued light.

Raymond's hands disappeared into the collection, emerging with two swords in each hand.

He then presented them to Emir, saying:

"This is the best we've got. The boss wanted to give those to you herself, but as she's busy at

the moment, you'll have to make do with me."

Chuckling, Emir took them off his hands and inspected them.

"No worries, friend, you're good."

He loosened his grip on the black hilt of his newly acquired swords, looking at the intricate

drawings of a...

'Dragon? ...A ghost-like dragon with a weird specter-like body and red eyes....'

'Cool.' He mused.

He then turned his attention to the blades, only to let out a smile.

The blades were the deepest shade of black, as if absorbing all the light surrounding them,

appearing to be the embodiment of death itself.

"You guys know my taste well." Emir said with a snicker as he looked at the old man.

Raymond scoffed while stroking his beard.

"You just like the color black, so as long as whatever we bring you is that, then you'd be

happy."

"What can I say? It looks good on me..." Emir said while sheathing them and turning around,

heading back to the

office.

But just as he was about to exit the room, the shop's bell rang out.

Emir tensed for a moment before realizing that it was likely just the delivery man.

"It's one of my guys, sir. I request that you don't kill him." Raymond reminded.

Shrugging his shoulders Emir stepped close to the frail-looking man.

"Show me the terminal."

The man simply nodded and retrieved it from his backpack, handing it over to Emir after

turning it on.

Emir accepted the device with a nod and headed to the office, with Raymond joining him after

saying:

"Thanks, mate. Be on your way now."

Taking a seat in the office chair, Emir heard the shop's bell tingle once more, indicating the

man's departure.

"Do you mind if I ask who it is you're planning to contact?"

Emir looked up from the terminal, his gaze fixed on Raymond for a moment.

After a pause, he responded:

"I don't mind.... It's Elijah, the Moon's kid."

Raymond raised his eyebrows but refrained from commenting, allowing Emir to focus on his

task.

'Now, let's see here...'