chapter 77 kaelith acting

Kaelith stepped into the bustling marketplace, the rare boots snug on his feet, their enchantment making his movements lighter and faster. He weaved through the crowd of clueless adventurers, each one desperate for quests, gold, and gear. Perfect.

Malthor's scam was running smoothly, but Kaelith saw an opportunity to take it even further.

If these fools believed that Malthor had connections to powerful mercenaries, then why not make the story even bigger? Something that would ensure no one ever questioned him again.

Kaelith glanced back at Malthor, who was already coaxing another group of players into taking his quest. Their eyes burned with determination as they accepted the "dangerous mission," completely unaware that they were just pawns.

Time to reinforce the illusion.

The Performance Begins

Kaelith suddenly stumbled forward, his breath ragged as if he had just escaped a deadly battle. He clutched his side, staggering toward Malthor's stall. His body language screamed "wounded but alive."

The nearby players turned toward him, eyes widening in surprise. "Hey! That guy looks hurt!" one whispered.

Malthor, ever the quick thinker, narrowed his eyes but said nothing, waiting to see what Kaelith was up to.

Kaelith collapsed against a wooden crate, his breathing heavy. Then, in a loud voice, he spoke—just enough for everyone nearby to hear:

"Damn… those bandits… I barely got away."

The moment the word bandits left his lips, the players surrounding Malthor froze. Their curiosity ignited into full-blown excitement.

"Bandits? You fought them?" One of them, a low-level warrior, stepped forward eagerly.

Kaelith let out a dry chuckle, shaking his head as if reliving a traumatizing experience.

"I thought I was done for," he continued, keeping his voice raw with emotion. "They had me cornered. Three of them—no, four—ambushed me when I was scouting ahead. I managed to take one down, but the others… too strong. I was about to die when…"

Kaelith turned his head toward Malthor, eyes filled with grateful admiration.

"This man… he saved me."

A collective gasp rippled through the adventurers.

Malthor, to his credit, barely flinched. The old merchant's expression remained calm, but Kaelith saw the slightest twitch of a smirk at the corner of his lips.

Still, he played along masterfully.

"You should be more careful, adventurer," Malthor sighed dramatically, shaking his head. "The world is dangerous. If I hadn't sent my old friends in time, those bandits would have taken your life."

Kaelith let out a shaky breath, nodding. "Yeah… I owe you one, old man. Your mercenaries arrived just in time. Cut those bandits down like they were nothing."

The players erupted into chatter.

"See?! He really does have mercenary friends!"

"That means if we pay the 100 gold, they'll actually kill the bandits!"

"This is amazing! A guaranteed way to win!"

Malthor sighed heavily, shaking his head with an air of false humility. "It is not about gold, young adventurers. It is about… keeping the roads safe. But alas, my old friends do not work for free. 100 gold is a small price to pay for safety, is it not?"

Kaelith smirked internally. He had just given Malthor the perfect sales pitch, and these idiots were eating it up.

The adventurers rushed forward, pulling out their gold without hesitation.

"Here! Take it!"

"Please, send your mercenaries to deal with those bastards!"

Kaelith hid his amusement as Malthor graciously accepted their payments, his old hands trembling as if he felt bad for taking their money. It was an act worthy of an award.

Kaelith adjusted his new boots and stepped back into the crowd, blending in as more adventurers lined up to throw their money at Malthor.

Everything was going according to plan.

Malthor's scam had just evolved into something even bigger, and Kaelith had cemented himself as an "eyewitness" to its success.

Now, the real fun would begin.

Kaelith decided to push the old man further.

He spoke just loud enough for the surrounding adventurers to hear:

"Malthor, sir… why are you only asking for one silver per adventurer?"

The crowd quieted slightly, turning toward them.

Kaelith kept his tone curious, almost concerned.

"I overheard something when I was escaping the bandits. They weren't just demanding silver… they wanted 100 gold. If you're only collecting one silver per person, then… you must be covering the rest yourself, right?"

Malthor froze for a fraction of a second.

Then, like a seasoned performer, he let out a deep, dramatic sigh.

"Ah, young adventurer, you are too kind to worry about an old man like me," he said, voice laced with feigned sorrow. "Yes… the bandits hunters demand 100 gold. But how could I ask these poor adventurers for such a sum?"

The players murmured among themselves.

"He's covering the rest himself?"

"That means he's actually losing money to help us!"

Kaelith pretended to frown in concern.

"But if you're paying most of it… that means you're left with nothing, Malthor." He glanced at the small sack of dried bread and cheap wine near the merchant's stall. "If you keep this up, won't you starve?"

At this, Malthor froze again.

A flicker of something sharp, something dangerous, passed through his eyes.

Then—just as quickly—it was gone.

Instead, he let out a soft chuckle and shook his head, his expression filled with false humility.

"Gold comes and goes, young one. But lives… lives are precious." He let out another sigh, heavy with fake burden. "I was once a warrior myself. I know what it means to fight. If my small sacrifice ensures your safety, then it is worth it."

The Crowd's Reaction

The players' admiration exploded.

"Malthor, you're too kind!"

"We won't let you suffer! Here, take extra silver!"

Kaelith smirked internally as some adventurers pushed additional coins into Malthor's hands. The old man sighed as if reluctant, but he took every single piece.

And then, for the first time since Kaelith had met him, Malthor smirked.

It was brief. A flash of amusement, of triumph.

The mask had cracked, if only for a moment.

Malthor quickly wiped his expression clean, replacing it with the warm, kind facade.

"Ah, you adventurers are too generous… truly, the world is not without kindness."

Kaelith chuckled, shaking his head. This guy… he's good.

He had seen many con artists, but Malthor played the long game. Unlike amateurs who got greedy and ran, Malthor built a reputation first. He made people believe in him. And in doing so, he ensured they never questioned him.

Kaelith adjusted his new boots and walked off, letting Malthor milk his audience for every last coin.

The scam was running smoother than ever.