Chapter 89: New Actor

I wish I could say a meeting like that piqued my interest, but honestly, my focus was on learning as much as I could about cultivation. For my future, for my friends, and for Luna.

Synthia, however, looked far more intrigued. "What takes place at the meeting?" she asked.

Daniel shrugged as he approached a nearby stall. "Lots of things. Battle exchanges, knowledge trades, goods auctions. It's a large-scale event with multiple sects and clans involved."

"Do you think we could join?" she pressed.

"All core disciples have no choice," he said, glancing at me. "And of course, we bring our servants. Inner disciples compete for the remaining spots."

"But can I participate?" Synthia asked, seemingly dissatisfied with his nonchalant tone.

Daniel stopped in front of a peculiar piece of chainmail. It was colorful, thin, and long enough to hang just past the waist. The metal looked almost translucent, like pale fiery-red glass.

He ran a hand over the glittering fabric, eyes narrowing in thought. "Hmm. Yeah. Just make a request to the elder in charge and prove your strength. If you beat one of the inner disciples, they'll probably let you into the battle exchange."

The stall's vendor sat nearby, more interested in a manual he was reading than in any of us. There was an hourglass on the counter, slowly sifting sand, presumably counting down the bidding window. Though, I had no doubt that if someone tried to steal something, the guy would suddenly become a lot more attentive.

"What happens if you place a bid and don't return to pay for it?" I mean, if I got cold feet at the last second, I might consider backing out. Then again, I was an impulse buyer, I'd probably not have that problem.

The seller didn't even glance up answering in Daniel's stead. "If we have to, we'll involve the sect to get our payment." His voice wasn't threatening, but did have a slight edge of warning to it.

Seemed straightforward enough.

"There's no price listed?" Daniel asked, a bit confused.

The man glanced up just long enough to answer. "Five Force Crystals. That's the starting price."

'Hey, Luna?'

'What's up?'

'You see anything on the armor there?' I glanced down at her wrapped around my wrist.

'Hmm... It has some faint energy, but not much,' she replied.

I noticed she'd been shifting around, changing shape, stretching out, then tightening again. Was she getting bored?

'You know how to make a core? You just have to condense your energy.' I knew she'd been hesitant to progress with her cultivation, but I wasn't sure she even needed to form a cultivation structure to begin Body Refinement.

'More or less,' she said.

'Why don't you give it a try? Make a small one, but don't anchor it to your energy source. Let it dissipate. If anything feels off, let me know.'

While we were talking, I caught Daniel giving me an odd look.

"Sorry, what'd you say?"

He sighed. "I said this armor seems solid. If you want it, I can trade you some crystals for contribution points."

"This?" I looked again at the flamboyant piece, then side-eyed Synthia. It honestly looked like something she could wear rather than me.

She narrowed her eyes. "What?"

Nevermind.

"*Do these things get appraised or anything?*" I couldn't really judge the quality based on just the faint energy. Maybe the strange metal was naturally strong but just low in Force… or maybe it was junk. Honestly, I had no idea.

Daniel leaned closer and whispered, confirming what I'd suspected. That they had something like Phantom Whisper here. "*Out here? I doubt it. Inside the buildings, everything should be legit though.*"

I glanced one more time at the armor. Hmm. "I don't think so," I said. "I don't really know what's good here. What about you? Looking for anything in particular?" I turned to him, hoping to get some kind of baseline.

Daniel eyed the armor again. "If you're not going for it…"

Synthia looked at it too, her expression twisting in clear distaste. Yeah, guess she wasn't into flashy stuff.

"Daniel," a voice called from behind us. smooth and overly friendly, but something in the tone made me suspicious immediately. There was a sharpness underneath, like a smile that could cut like a saw. "My friend, what a coincidence that we both find ourselves here."

'I'm telling you, no on—'

'Rude. Yep. I know.' I cut Luna off, trying to prevent another impulsive takeover. She wasn't in my mind at the moment, but knowing her… she'd probably find a way to make the situation worse anyway.

'HEY!' she snapped, tightening around my wrist like an angry vine.

"You've got the new guy with you?" the stranger asked, a sneer creeping into his words. "Didn't our senior ask you to 'take care of him'? Looks like you're doing a great job."

He was clad in black robes, another core disciple. Of course. All I could hope was that the supply of these guys ran out eventually. They seemed only to know how to cause trouble with bad first impressions.

Daniel turned slowly but kept his cool. "I was misinformed before," he said calmly, ignoring the jab. Then, to the vendor: "You said five crystals? Put me down for five."

The vendor didn't even blink. He jotted something onto a wooden board resting on his lap. It looked like it was filled with wax, framed in wood. With a stone stylus, he scratched in Daniel's name and the number five beside it.

Nice tool. I should make something like that when I get back.

That seemed like a useful tool. I should make one when I get back.

I kept my eyes on the other core disciple, who returned my gaze with a polite smile and a small nod. I mirrored it, equally fake.

He leaned toward a blue-robed disciple and whispered something I couldn't quite catch.

"*Daniel. Does the quantity of innate Force affect the quality of the item?*" I asked, just low enough to keep it between us.

"The more it has, the better the item generally," he replied quickly, still not turning around. Definitely trying to avoid giving the other guy any more attention.

"Even for armor and trinkets?" I didn't bother whispering that part. No one was paying that close attention, and the question was innocent enough.

Weapons felt like an obvious yes, but I figured it was worth clarifying. Either way, I used my gauntlets. Then again, the reduced energy cost of not using Spiritual Weapon… that was something I might need to consider.

"I have business to attend to," the other core disciple suddenly said, his tone oozing with faux courtesy. "But I'll have to personally meet with you sometime, uh—"

"Peter," I replied, watching his expression carefully. "Are you sure you don't want to stay? My servant here is an excellent appraiser. Even Daniel has approved o—"

*Cough. Cough. Cough.*

I turned to find Synthia doubling over, hand covering her mouth, eyes wide with panic. She hadn't taken a sip of anything. Was she...? Oh my god. She was actually choking on her own saliva.

*Ahem*. I quickly cleared my throat and turned back toward the smirking core disciple. "Though, she isn't always the brightest," I said with an apologetic smile, rubbing the back of my neck and lowering my head slightly. Just enough to sell the act.

"Oh, trust me. I understand," he said smoothly. "Some servants have their... specialties."

I could feel heat rising at the back of my skull. Synthia's glare was practically feeling like an attack.

'There's energy gathering in her hand,' Luna warned, her tone flat.

My heart skipped a beat. 'Can't she take a hint? It's just an act!'

'Wouldn't worry,' Luna replied. 'She needs lots of time, remember?'

"I'm Brogo. I'll find you again in my own time." With that, Brogo turned and walked off toward one of the buildings, leaving the blue-robed disciple behind.

"I'm not the brightest?" Synthia's voice burned hotter than any fire-imbued artifact.

"*I need you to point at anything I tell you to. Act like you somehow sensed it's valuable.*" I ignored her indignation and gave the command as calmly as I could, very aware of the glow in her hand.

She stopped and pivoted toward the stall, and without waiting for instructions, jabbed a finger at another item. Her voice was stiff and monotone. "Master. This. This. Thing. Is also. Something. Impressive. Soooo much fire energy."

I winced. If she ever met the others, I would never involve her in our 'plays'.

Still, I activated my true sight and checked the object. A bangle. Radiating red, with particles of energy spilling off it at a greater rate than the armor next to it.

"*So you CAN see Force?*" I asked quietly, half hoping for a real answer.

"See? No, definitely not." That was all she said. Apparently thinking that she needed no further elaboration.. But she had to be able to sense it somehow, right? She'd nailed that call on the Fire World Force. She couldn't have guessed that. Could she?

No… no way. Just keep building rapport. Eventually she'll tell me something.

The blue-robed disciple behind us didn't say a word, but his gaze was hard focused on us. Our actions and words.

"How much is the starting bid on this item?" I asked the stall owner, gesturing to the bangle.

Another disinterested glance up from the seller. "Uhhh. Three crystals."

I turned to Daniel, giving him the most earnest look I could manage. Without dipping into sad puppy territory that always seemed to end poorly for me. "You mind exchanging with me?"