Chapter 11 - Fair Trade?

Theo suddenly remembered that his other two throwing knives were very possibly in the hands of the father of the boy in front of him.

He didn't put much thought into it when he realised that his other throwing knives were highly possibly in the hands of the king in the beginning as he had only sold the swords and daggers he made, leaving the throwing knives and arrow to himself. So he didn't worry, but if the king were to see the knife in Max's hand, it'll be a whole different story.

'It would be bad if the king found out. It might expose me.'

"Uhmmm, I work at the blacksmith for fun and earned some extra cash. Please keep it a secret between us. It'll be hard for me to explain and there'll be people hoping to buy some of my work but I only blacksmith for fun irregularly. I prefer the peace and quiet as well." Theo said with an expectant smile, opening his hand in front of Max hoping he'll return the knife.

Max expected as much, he could tell that Theo didn't like to show off nor the attention for being amazing at what he does.

Studying the knife in his hand, he knew how well made it is. Even its shape was slightly different from the usual throwing knife making it very special. He really didn't want to part with it as it intrigued him.

"I'll keep your secret if you give me this."

"No" Theo held up his hand right in front of Max's face to show his intention.

"If you don't, I'll run to the head teacher now and tell her!" Max snitched.

"..." Theo kept silent with the same intention.

Max kept thinking at high speed about what he could use to exchange with Theo.

"I can give you books I'm sure you'll be interested in!"

Theo was slightly intrigued but he doubt the little prince had anything that he would find interesting.

"I can let you pick one of the two, a book about the shadow forest or of the other continents."

'Okay, you got me big time.'

"The shadow forest, but I have some condition." Theo replied instantly. "Don't show anyone the knife"

Theo really wanted to add, "especially your royal father" but it would just complicate things more.

"Alright" Max agreed "It might take a while to retrieve the book. So you would have to wait but you have my word."

"Deal!" trading the throwing knifes for a book about the shadow forest was a huge steal. He has spent alot of time looking for information regarding it for a while now. Especially since it's right next to the Ashwell county, Theo preferred to be prepared. He didn't mind he wait.

Glad that he got the throwing knife, Max started to remember what happened in class earlier and jumped up.

"You, how did you do it?" He asked

"Do what? The throwing knives?" Theo asked confuse thinking they were still at that topic.

"No, how do you make people unaware of your being and even to the point of forgetting your existence?"

'Oh, that. Did he notice?'

"A magician never reveal his secrets" giving up on thinking of an explanation, he said the most cliche line he could think of from Earth mysteriously.

"You're a mage?... No, you don't have mana nor was there any change in the mana when you did all that weird trick."

"Oh, how did you know? You can sense mana?" Theo knew better than anyone that he wasn't a mage all his skills were from the all knowing overpowered system. Complimenting the system for the first time.

[You're welcome]

"Mmmm, I can sense mana but I can't use it so it's practically useless." Max revealed abit of himself which made him realised that eventhough Theo had lots of secrets, he showed them to him while he himself had alot of secrets as well but didn't tell Theo making him feel slightly guilty.

Unknown to him that he was already an open book to Theo.

"I guessed as much." Theo said. Seeing the guilty look on Max's face, he could guess what's in his mind and took the opportunity to continue. "Well, that's all for our show and tell I guess?"

Max nodded going with the flow thinking that he should respect Theo's secrets as well.

[Host has become very manipulative. Tsk! Tsk! Tsk!]

[Host, should I change from being an all powerful system to villian system?]

'Oh shut it, you're such a drama queen, plus it's not completely a lie.'

Thinking that since he came to the capital, he has been so occupied with the quest of protecting his royal highness that he hasn't been around at all. Taking the opportunity he asked,

"Hey wanna go out? I haven't been around the capital since I came here." He then continued, "You haven't been to the capital before enrolling into the academy as well have you. Let's go out and explore"

Remembering that he was here under the identity of Terrance Holdswall from a county far south away from the capital. He agreed to avoid any suspicion eventhough he practically grew up here.

Knowing what going through Max's mind, Theo laugh inwardly.

'You might be smart kid, but being only 12, you're still too young and green' Theo thought.

Changing out of their school uniform, they went to the main plaza which is the most bustling part of the capital. There were vendors everywhere selling snacks, skewers, trinkets, everyday tools, weapons and all sort of things.

Finally being able to use the money he saved up from blacksmithing, he felt like a millionaire walking around.

Leaving Max no chance to protest, Max followed Theo who was like a kid in a fair around.

Although Theo is a middle age man mentally, he didn't get to relax and have fun in his previous life. So he is releasing his inner child trying all sort of food and look at all the interesting items he'll never find on Earth.

As the Ashwell County was at the border, the locals were mostly knights and miners. The number of vendors and variety of food and product was a huge contrast.

It was a new experience for him and he is enjoying it to the fullest.