Pride Online

Chapter 42: Magic Warrior Office Part II

“I’m not going to patent it.”

“What? Why?!” This time it was Maysa’s voice that joined in.

“Isn’t it upsetting?” The owner raised his voice. “I thought that the butterfly effect would definitely be ranked S because it was the only item that gave the player the ability to fly. It even defended 100% of any attack from the fire element.”

“And all that wouldn’t be enough to be ranked S?” A question from Maysa got the other rubbing his hair harshly, his face looking so moody.

“They appraised the price and gave it just an A rank!” he smashed the carriage floor furiously.

“They said it was more of a flaw than an advantage because it wouldn’t be able to fly if there was no energy. Also, it required the ignition skill from the player to activate the wings. So, it wasn’t different from other defense items with 100% resistance to fire element attacks. The flying thing was just an unreliable skill! Too many weak points!”

The long complaint coming out from him made the other two catch each other’s eyes.

The feedback was true.

The butterfly effect required a lot to use efficiently. The player had to be reckless enough to stand and take the attack that was used as its fuel. Also, they needed the skill to ignite the blazing wings. To be honest, it was too complicated and risky to use it. Worse, if it was used against monsters with elements other than fire, the item would be just a common scarf with low armor points.

“Well, they weren’t wrong, Manoch.”

Wisana tried to convince him, and he got the deadly gaze from the angry one in return. He flinched, scratching his cheek.

“Uh... I was just giving you the feedback from my experience.”

Hearing the older one was stuttering awkwardly, Manoch sighed.

“Yeah, I know, bro. I was just disappointed because this is the first high-ranking item I’ve crafted. So, I was hoping that it could make a debut on rank S. So when I heard the association staff refused me like that, I could not help but get mad!”

“There, there, it’s okay. I understand,” Wisana drawled, patting on the other one slightly. “Maybe, you can improve it before you patent it again, right? Give it some time.”

He was trying to comfort the depressed one to be lively again. But when he saw the face behind those glasses brought up the commercial smile, he paused, his doubt kicking in somehow.

“That’s why I asked to come with you, bro.”

“Huh?”

“Well, I have to ask you a favor.”

Manoch started respectfully flattering. His hands were rubbing together in such a vigorous manner that it was very begging for a punch in the face.

“Ask me a favor?” It looked like Wisana could already feel what would be coming, so he gave Maysa side eyes with a shrinking face.

“Yup. I don’t want to trouble you, but you’re the only one I know that can use this scarf, right? Also, you’re so fast and strong, and your reflexes are brilliant. So, I’d like...”

“Me, to be your lap rat.”

Wisana blocked him, knowing exactly what the other was up to. Manoch paused by that a little before he spread out a smile.

“Aw, to call you a lap rat is a bit too harsh. I’ll say the experimental subject.”

“What’s the difference?!” Wisana complained, feeling worn out. He really wanted to bite his tongue off for asking him in the first place and getting himself involved. And that smarty merchant was still trying to make a begging face as adorable as his long face would allow.

Seeing that, Wisana’s feet started to get itchy by an urge to kick someone again.

“Na, bro, please?” Manoch made a small sound. “I’m begging you. You’re the only one that can help me. I promise after I can make it complete, I’ll offer you 0.1% of the profit.”

“Wow, aren’t you too generous? 0.1%? Don’t bother. If you want to thank me, I’m fine with a bottle of HP potion. I don’t want you to lose money on me.” Hearing this incredibly worthy offer, Wisana could not help but throw some sarcasm at the other man.

“I’m kidding. I’m actually gonna give you 10%!”

The new offer had rapidly increased. He whistled as he got interested before he glanced at Maysa who was giggling softly.

Of course, she knew Manoch so well. To say that this guy was a super stingy, sneaky merchant would be an understatement when this cunning guy would play all kinds of tricks on anyone to get what he wanted. Normally, it was not his thing to be a partner with someone, but as he was begging to be one with Wisana, he had most likely seen some videos of Wisana fighting Lord Inferno and believed that he could make a lot of profit from the other guy.

Because, if he could improve the item and patent it, it would be worth double its actual price. Especially an S rank item, he would get at least 160 million for the copyright.

If Manoch would share with Wisana 10%, it would be only 16 million.

This guy would never be so generous to share millions with someone just because he got along with them well. It looked like this glasses guy saw some sparks in Wisana like she did, too. As she finished concluding this, Maysa smiled, teasing him with a not-so-low voice.

“Aw, Ae, how come you’ve never invested in me the way you would in him?”

“Do you have something interesting in you for me to invest in? Just me being a middleman for your items is investing enough.” Hearing him hit back like this, the teaser shook her head, weary.

“Sure, mister number one merchant of Pride. I’m so honored. You charge me 10% for the commission, how dare you shamelessly act like I owe you anything?!” When she was done being sarcastic, Maysa threw an empty potion bottle at the stingy one with a loud thud. Manoch turned to snarl at her before he got back to Wisana, clinging onto his arm.

“Bro, please help me. I’ll do anything. How about I offer you a deal with my shop, too? I’ll trade with you without charging you any commission, sounds good?”

“Oh, is that so?” Wisana asked, smiling.

“Yes! I’ve never offered this much to anyone but you. Please.”

Hearing that made the older one chuckle. He turned to catch Maysa’s eyes, asking for her opinion. And she smiled, shrugging as if telling him to do what he wanted.

“Fine. I’ll be your partner.”

His answer made the pair of narrow eyes behind the glasses widen.

“Really?!”

“Yes. I’m not kidding. Here, let’s shake hands as a man-to-man promise.”

Wisana held out his hand to the younger merchant who hurriedly grabbed it and shook it as if he was afraid that the world would end in thirty seconds if he didn’t do it quickly enough.

“Just to be clear, if Wisana becomes your partner, it means that I do, too.”

The melodious voice spoke, drawing Manoch’s eyes to gaze at her.

“What? Why? I made a deal with Wisana only, not including you.”

“Yes, you have to include me, since Wisana and I are party. When we put money or effort into something, we do it together,” she finished then turned to smile knowingly at her buddy. “Also, currently I am his daughter, so my father’s wallet is my wallet as well. Right, Dad?”

Then her five-year-old figure ran to cling onto another Wisana’s arm, looking so flattering, making the other one’s hand itch with the urge to smash her big head a couple of times.

Unlike Wisana who was grinning so widely with satisfaction, feeling amused by how his buddy was as stingy as her friend.

“May, ...th...this is not fair.”

“How is it not? This is the fairest, right, Dad?” Maysa faked her voice and tone to be the cutest as she looked at Wisana with the adorable look in her eyes.

“Right, dear.” And the fake dad played along so well, stroking her hair with endearment.

“See? Whatever, I am now your partner, too. And I’ll have only 5% for my share because I’m a very nice person.”

Seeing them working together like this, Manoch went silent. He glanced between Maysa and Wisana, head aching. A part of him was very glad that he could make a deal with Wisana, and the other part was raging that he could not come up with a reason to get rid of Maysa. Finally, he turned away from them with clenched jaws.

“Sure. Whatever!”

The confirmation made the other two behind him burst out with laughter. Wisana sneakily gave a thump up and a wink at the irritating Maysa who was sticking her tongue out to mock the guy with delight that she could get back at him.

“Is it gonna be long until we arrive in Aeneas?” Wisana changed the topic after he was done laughing.

“It will take a while. I think we’ll probably get there in a couple of hours.”

Manoch answered, whipping the rein to rush the birds.

“And... I think the weather is getting cooler now,” he said while he was taking off his hood.

“Yeah, it is.”

Wisana just started to notice that the strong sunlight was so much softer now. As well as the hot wind that had faded away.

“It’s probably getting dark now, so the air gets cooler,” Maysa said.

She was right. As they were talking on this carriage, the time flew to where the sun that was up right above their heads, was now a dull orange ball hanging low on the western horizon. The temperature around them was chilling down.

It was as realistic as the desert could be, hot by days and cold by nights.

“Should we take some rest? We’ll probably get there when we wake up. We can just leave the carriage to the birds. They know the way anyway.”

Manoch said as he got up from the driver seat, making his way into the carriage.

“Yeah, we should. Taking some rest sounds good. We’ve been tired all day anyway.” Maysa nodded in agreement.

Hearing that, Wisana moved to make a room for the glasses merchant to sleep on, but Maysa knew what they were up to. So, she lied down on that spot immediately, covering her mouth as she yawned. She pointed at Manoch whose eyes were bulging and whose mouth was gaping.

“You keep an eye on the road, Ae. no need to sleep.”