Spirit Taming

Chapter 72: Greedy Merchant

Maria recognized Clark easily. She knew he had left to change so he wouldn't attract anyone to follow her or bim. The disguise was easy enough. There was also the fact that no one would connect the phantom appearance with Clark. He had not shown Devi publicly, there was no connection as far as everyone was concerned.

"So this is what he does." Part of Maria was impressed by this. It was the best way to avoid unnecessary trouble. Yet, she also felt a slight chill looking at Clark. She wasn't sure if it was the fact that he literally could act like another person or if it was the outfit itself.

He watched Clark walk right up to the merchant with the soap stones. "We have a daring customer. Sir, you look like just the man who would rush out to fight the wild beasts. The dashing clothing you have is clearly your way of showing that appearances mean nothing to the string!" The merchant used his talent to try and sweet talk Clark in to a better sale.

"I will take that one, that one, and that one. Oh, and those seven behind you. Here's the silver." Clark handed it all over. The merchant was stunned. His jaw appeared ready to fall off.

In the merchant's greed, he had not noticed the soap stone that he had sneakily reassembled appear in the stack. The rush to procure the silver was too taxing on his greedy mind. "Sir, please open your winnings here. Everyone in this crowd is waiting to see just what amazing things you may have found."

"I will open one. The others are a gift for another." Clark made up the simple lie. If they were going to be gifts it made it seem that he was a kind person trying to give away something good for a family member that enjoyed games.

"Of course, of course. It's always good to show someone a little extra attention. I bet you have a lovely wife at home that will enjoy seeing the kids try their luck!" The merchant handed over a hammer. Clark didn't hesitate to smash soap stone in front of him. It was a monster material so he could easily see what the system saw.

"That's a beautifully preserved fossil! How lucky! You have truly struck gold. I am sure there is a tamer out there that would pay a hefty price for that." The merchant used the chance to start calling over more people. With the soap stones stored away, Clark snuck off from the crowd. The merchant was hiding his escape easily.

It wasn't even the merchant's intention to do so.

Maria started to giggle watching the sneaky methods that Cark used. He took his time getting back but she was still caught up in her laughter when he reemerged. "You are kind of evil sometimes. That merchant doesn't even know what he lost. I bet that every single soap stone had a prize in it?"

"What? How could someone know that? It's not like some of them had been split open by the merchant and unknown things are inside? What kind of respectable merchant would do that?" Clark started to laugh as well. Crim and Lit seemed to greatly enjoy this. Meanwhile, Devi was seemingly napping on Clark's shoulder.

"I wanted the elemental crystals inside some of them to use as more funds for my outing today. That fossil will sell well too. But what I really think you will like is the dancing dandelion." Clark pressed his spatial ring to Maria's and sent over three soap stones. "There are seeds in each of those."

"Why would I… you don't mean that you think they would grow well in my taming space when I am ready to form it, do you?"Maria had seen dancing dandelions before. They got the name because they sway a lot in even the softest breezes. This causes them to appear to be dancing in the fields where they grow.

'Exactly. They help spiritual energy flow because of the way they move in the air. I thought they would be perfect for you so…" Clark didn't have to finish. Maria was nearly skipping she was so happy. If he were to keep speaking he could risk ruining the perfection of the moment. "What else is in them?

I know you murmured a few things under your breath when you looked at them." Clark had not realized he was doing this while reading what the system had analyzed. This was a major flaw he had. Something that could get him in trouble.

"Well, there was also a strangeness I couldn't recognize. There's one soap stone that was definitely tampered with more than the others so I wanted to check it out. I will probably open them all depending on the price of anything I buy today. Or later tonight if I don't have to open them." It would be better if Clark opened the mystery item alone. It could be anything.

"Just remember to tell me if you find something interesting. I want to hear all about it." Maria let it be. She knew that Clark wouldn't hide everything from her. They had reached a turning point in their friendship where they could be truly honest with each other. "And that is the dragon antique shop, right?"

The shop that Maria pointed out to the distracted Clark was devoid of customers. Unlike the nearby potion shop and food stalls, the shop actually seemed to deter people. No one was even walking past it. "I would say you are right." Clark looked at the small card he had been given. There seemed to be a hand printed exact copy of the sign above the door.

'Quest- the ancient dragon antique shop

The antique shop is owned by a mysterious elderly man. He moved as if he is half the age he looks. Speaks with strange knowledge. Holds many unique items that the system will refuse to analyze unless the host can handle it. The host must discover some answers.

Reward- five hours of enhanced meditation'

Clark saw the reward and was slightly disappointed. He wanted a gotcha ticket so that he could get something amazing to go with his taming space effort. However, he realized that the five hours of enhanced meditation was all he needed. Other than a core for the taming space, he needed energy. Mediation would get him the energy he needed.

"Well, whatever the case is, we will search around and find some things. Just be careful touching anything. The shop might have some hidden danger.," After seeing that Clark was much more serious, Maria nodded approval. The two walked right through the front door as the bell rang to alert an employee.

"Hello there! It's rare that we get guests coming in. I'm sorry, I was in the back cleaning a valuable antique." A young woman came from the back room and stood in front of Maria and Clark. "Let me just warn you. Every item in here has value. If you are here from the academy just to fool around, then leave.

If you know the value these items have, you may browse." The young woman gave them a frosty glance before deciding they were not there to get up to trouble.