Preparing for the first trial (2)

"Well, dear customer you made a good choice and because you're so keen I'll give you a discount. It'll only be eighth hundred dollars cash, please."

'Cash? I only have my credit card with me. I should've guessed when he said I'd have to pay under the table that he wouldn't want wire transfer proof.'

Malik looked around. He was looking for a way out. There was only thirty minutes left before the first trial and he didn't want to waste them here.

The owner looked at Malik with distrustful eyes.

"You have the money right. If not I will need to ask you to leave."

Malik had a plan but it might turn bad really fast if the owner had some backbone.

'I'll just threaten him a bit. Anyway, it's illegal so he can't call the cops.'

"Hey, it looks like I don't have cash on me. I'll take this home and come back to pay you later. Is that fine?"

Malik didn't believe this would work but he had to try.

"Customer, I will ask you to leave the sword and leave my shop please. If you can't pay, you can't have the sword."

The owner looked at Malik with disgust. This random customer asked to see the best swords yet he didn't have the money to buy it. He simply wasted his time.

"Mr. owner I will ask you to let me leave one last time. I'm on a busy schedule, you see."

Malik was now pointing the sword at the owner.

He didn't want to kill him, just scare him.

"Y-you, how dare you point my own sword against me?"

The owner looked scared.

'Looks like he doesn't have any backbone, it worked.'

"I will leave, is that fine?"

"Y-yes go on." said the owner, his voice now trembling.

Malik went to the stairs and started going up.

He peeked out a bit and looked at the owner.

"If you want a tip. Hold on to the sword in the middle for the next half hour. You'll thank me later."

The owner made curious expression but still went over to the sword in the middle and took it out, looking at it curiously.

Malik opened the trapdoor and went out of the shop.

He had secured a weapon. He now had to find something to protect himself.

A shield.

A shield was one of the best artifact to protect oneself but most of them were unfortunately low tier which led to them being seen as a useless kind of artifacts.

Malik didn't use a shield since none were on his level but in the beginning, if he could get one, it would be really useful.

The problem was, not many place had shields.

Some museum had one or two but most of them were trash and there wasn't a good one in this city.

'If I want a shield I'll have to do something a bit dangerous.'

In the beginning, the military were on top since they had armors and weapons.

The same went for the police. Even though they were less good, their equipment would be great at the start.

'A riot shield. If I want one I'll need to steal it from the station but if I get caught before the apocalypse I won't even have my sword anymore. It's risky but it's worth it.'

There were two police stations in this city. One was taking care of every dangerous situation and had big numbers of cops waiting for a call while the other was more of a 'report your stolen item here' kind of police station.

Both had the same equipment so the choice of who to steal from was quite easy and he was near said station too.

Malik didn't waste a second and walked toward the second station when he was abruptly stopped by three men.

They looked to be in their thirties. They were all in leather jacket, one with a chain coming down from his left pocket.

"Look at this guys, there's a weirdo walking around town with a sword!" spat out one guy.

"He thinks he's in some medieval drama or something." added the other.

The three laughed and surrounded Malik.

"Little knight, what about you give us your money and your funny sword, eh?"

'I guess that the world you live in doesn't make idiots and assholes disappear.'

"I have to go somewhere right now. Maybe next time I'll give it to you."

Malik didn't want to fight or have any confrontation so he wanted to defuse the situation quickly as to leave faster to the station.

Malik tried to rush past them but one of the men put his arm in front of Malik.

"You don't understand, do you, little knight. It wasn't a proposition but an order. Now give it to us before we show you how to fight for real, you know, not with a toy."

The man who was behind Malik started to come closer and closer until he put both of his arms around Malik's neck.

'They really are a bunch of scums. Well, it'll just be easier for me. I won't feel so bad even if I hurt them since they started it.'

The two other started to get closer but Malik unsheathed his sword in a second and slashed in front of him.

Slash.

The two standing in front of him were slashed in the face leaving them both with a scar on their forehead.

'Wow, this sword really is good for a starting weapon. I only used a little bit of strength yet it did that much damage.'

"Fuck this little shit. He's not playing with a toy." said the first man who got slashed.

The guy behind, flustered, held tighter at Malik's neck but got hit in the balls by a well positioned kick.

"Argh!"

He fell down on his knee while the other two looked at Malik with anger and fear.

They had received injury from a wannabe knight. They were all ashamed but they couldn't do much since Malik had a real weapon.

Malik stared at them with a death glare.

One of the two passed out from the bleeding and fell face first on the ground.

"Fuck this. Go away, we won't bother you anymore." cried the remaining thug.

'They at least know when to stop.'

Malik brushed past the guy who was knocked off and hit the other one with his shoulder making him loose his stability and also falling.

The three of them were on the ground, all beaten up. They would all struggle to survive the first trial in this state.

'I feel kind of bad, but they started it. Anyway, there's less than fifteen minutes left. I have to hurry to get the shield.'

Malik made his way to the station without losing a beat.

He arrived and waited outside for a bit. If he wanted is heist to go well he had to wait as to not get caught.

Almost five minutes left, Malik entered.

In the station was a reception desk with an attendant, facing three chairs for those waiting.

Malik walked in and approached the receptionist.

"Could I use the toilet please." asked Malik.

"Sure, just go behind and turn to the left, you'll find them there." replied the receptionist.

'She didn't even question the sword. Lucky me!'

Malik walked behind but didn't turn left.