Deep Sea Pawnshop (1)

Contrary to the moniker Deep Sea, the Deep Sea Pawnshop was decorated in tones of forest green, dark brown, and gold, with lush flowering plants tastefully decorating everywhere.

As Graham was ushered from a private car to a private elevator and finally into a private room with pastries and drinks on the coffee table made from the stump of a large tree, he nodded at the quiet opulence displayed before sitting down and helping himself to some snacks.

He expected this treatment from the Deep Sea Pawnshop, which was devoted to its clients' privacy at all costs.

A soft knock sounded on the door as Graham was midway through a croissant. 

There was a 10-second wait before it was opened, and an immaculately dressed gentleman walked in.

He wore a three-piece black suit, pure white gloves, and gold-rimmed glasses.

His blueish black hair was slicked backward, exposing the blue-tinged skin of his forehead with faint scale marks.

As Graham met the man's eyes, the man smiled before bowing slightly.

"Mr. Graham Kubera, it's a pleasure to see you again."

"You too, Charon. Please have a seat." Graham quickly stuffed the remaining croissant into his mouth while wiping his hands on the wet towel provided.

Charon patiently waited while observing Graham, a close friend of the youngest member of the Trench family.

Since childhood, the two of them had frequently caused trouble in various ways as they were regarded as outcasts among their peers.

As a pawnshop that dealt with information as well as objects, he had naturally heard the Kubera family news, including the passing story that Graham had been exiled far away.

So it was quite surprising to see him here at the recommendation of his young master, looking very full of life instead of the passive expression he always wore.

Charon found himself quite curious as to what caused the change.

Seeing Graham finish his bite and look ready to speak, Charon collected his thoughts and began speaking.

"Young Master Trench didn't explain much. He just told us to treat you like a prospective high-ranking contact, so I will forget our previous relationship and treat you as such.

"Understood. Please proceed." Graham nodded his head in acceptance.

"Then, Mr. Graham Kubera, are you here to make a sale, request a loan, or make a purchase at the Deep Sea Pawnshop?"

"I'm here to set up a recurring trade partnership with Deep Sea Pawn Shop."

"Are you aware of what those terms mean, Mr. Kubera?"

"Of course. To form a recurring trade partnership, the trade item has to be a valuable enough venture for the Deep Sea Pawnshop to devote resources to maintaining trade stability and protecting the trading parties' identity even in the case of extraordinary circumstances. I believe that the item I want to trade falls under such a category."

"Understood. And what would be the trade item?"

"Mana stones."

"I beg your pardon?" Despite his polite tone, Charon blinked and looked at Graham as if he had heard something crazy.

It was understandable.

The mana stone mines on Earth were highly coveted and owned by the top corporations in the world. Those that were on other planets and worlds were also highly regulated by their governments or the wealthy private sector.

To hear a young man, recently kicked from his family to a remote place, come out and stay, he wanted to set up a recurring trade of mana stones was a crazy statement.

"I said mana stones. Good quality ones too," Graham repeated with a slight smile on his face.

"That's a bold claim, Mr. Graham Kubera."

"I'm aware. These are just a small sample for you to test. They're between 1-2 percent purity and concentration, but I'm sure your instruments are better."

Graham placed the baggie of Mirystals, which contained a bunch of smaller green chips as well as a big stone worth 50 Mirystals, on the table and smiled at Charon.

"Please test them however you please. Then we can proceed with the details of setting up a recurring trading relationship."

Charon looked between the baggie and Graham's confident face before nodding his head and picking the bag up.

"With your permission, I shall test this out and return."

"Sure."

Graham began eating another pastry as Charon left with his bag of Mirystals.

He was confident that the man wouldn't steal them and tarnish the name of the pawnshop.

20 minutes passed until he heard the familiar knock on the door before it opened after 10 seconds.

Charon walked in with the bag of Mirystals in one hand and a folder full of papers in the other.

"Were you able to confirm it?"

"Yes, however, your initial assessment is a bit wrong. These mana stones are closer to a 5 percent concentration and purity and have a slightly different composition than the ones found on Earth." Charon spoke slowly while staring Graham in the face.

He paused for several seconds before continuing.

"These mana stones could not have been formed on Earth, which means they came from another world, one that is not one of Earth's main trading partners or from another foreign source."

"Looking at the shape, cut, and makeup, I find it likely that it is from another world, perhaps one that doesn't have an established presence on Earth yet. Would you concur, Mr. Graham Kubera?"

Graham stared at Charon with a frozen expression as he panicked internally.

What did Charon just say?

His heart began pounding quickly, and blood rushed to his ears, making everything sound like he was underwater.

He hadn't realized that they would be able to check such things! 

All he had seen online was about the purity and concentration of mana in the mana stones when verifying them.

Things like composition differences by worlds hadn't come up in the general searches he had made.

Was this how he got found out?

Although Earth had connections with other planets through wormhole gates made by magic and technology mixed together, those were created through decades of negotiation led by diplomats on both sides who fought for benefits and more.

Trading rights among those worlds were also tightly held and regulated by the Tier 1 merchant families and corporations.

Previously, the Kubera family had been a part of those Tier 1 families, but now they were in the Tier 2 area, and some people tried to claim Tier 3.

If he were found out before he gained enough money and strength to protect himself, not only would he possibly get in trouble, but they might try to seize IMES from him.

"Mr. Graham Kubera?"

Hearing Charon call his name, Graham held his breath and forced his heart to slow down.

He couldn't panic here.

He just had to maintain his cool.

Putting some strength behind his eyes, Graham spoke in as calm a voice as he could manage, "As far as I know, Deep Sea Pawnshop doesn't question where, when, or how an item is acquired. Has that policy changed?"

His red eyes stared into Charon's dark ones.