“Okay… here’s your seventy-five silver as chan—” Gerald returned with a pouch of coins, but the words died on his tongue.
His gaze snapped upward, narrowing on the four Nyxter blades embedded in the ceiling—and the fifth one sunk deep into his table.
Slowly, his eyes shifted to Leon, who was also observing the blades with an impassive stare.
“I don’t want to know. Take your change, take your sword, and get the fuck out of my shop.” Gerald’s voice was dry as he tossed the bag of silver toward Leon.
*Catch*
“Can I get a sheath for the sword?” Leon asked, a faint smile playing on his lips.
…
Leon stood in front of the smithy looking at Gerald’s irritated face behind the door.
“Don’t come back… annoying human.”
*THUD*
The door slammed shut behind him. Leon exhaled quietly and examined the Nyxter resting in a sleek black sheath, its leather fine and perfectly fitted.
<Inventory>
“Store,” Leon spoke as the Nyxter disappeared from his hand and appeared into the inventory.
‘I can’t control more than one object with mana threads? The moment I tried manipulating all the blades, they spiraled out of control. I focused on one blade, but then the others slipped away… when I shifted focus again, everything collapsed.’ His brow furrowed as he moved through the market, casually buying fruits and vegetables from a nearby vendor.
‘I need to grab utensils for Olga so she can cook properly. And that bathtub—I still need to get that sorted.’ Leon thought as he started walking towards the furniture district.
After ten minutes of weaving through cobbled streets, he finally found a furniture shop—One that didn’t have the board saying ‘Commoners Not Allowed’. It was modest but decent enough.
*Creak*
The wooden door groaned as Leon stepped inside. A man sat slouched at the counter, his hat tilted over his face, clearly asleep.
“Hello…?” Leon called, approaching him slowly.
“Chairs, two coppers a piece. Tables, five coppers. Wooden utensils—we don’t sell ’em.” The man’s voice was gruff, his hat remaining firmly over his face.
“I want a bathtub,” Leon said flatly.
“You want what ?” The man finally lifted his head, revealing sharp grey eyes, chiseled features, and a handsome face that couldn’t have seen more than thirty years old.
“A bathtub,” Leon repeated evenly looking around the shop, noticing spiderwebs and dust all over the place.
The man let out a quiet chuckle, leaning back. “A Bathtub, Wardrobe, Bed and Fancy Chairs. Those are luxury item, kid. We don’t sell those—or rather, we’re not allowed to make them.”
Leon’s eyes narrowed as he quietly activated his skill.
<Inspect>
[Name: Kai]
[Class: Carpenter]
[Race: Human]
[HP: 600/600]
[MP: 300/300]
[Description: Kai is a passionate carpenter who once dreamed of crafting unique and unparalleled wooden creations.
His skills surpassed even the Royal Carpenters, and when he sold his works to commoners, the nobles banned him from crafting anything beyond simple chairs and tables.]
‘Well… isn’t that interesting.’ A smirk tugged at Leon’s lips as an idea sparked in his mind.
“So… can’t craft anything fancy, huh? Any particular reason?” Leon asked mildly as he dragged out a chair and sat.
“If I so much as think about making something other than chairs and tables, this shop we’re sitting in? Gone.
No noble wants to see the same furniture in his house and a Commoner’s House. So instead of banning you from buying it, they just banned us from making it.
I don’t make it, you don’t get it and Noble carpenters, oh well… they won’t sell it to you. They aren’t even carpenters, just some thiefs saying their class is carpenter. Oh well, door is there if you don’t want to buy chair or table.” Kai’s smile was bitter but calm.
“Hey, Kai… want to work for me?” Leon’s voice dropped low, confident.
‘If I can pull him in… I’ll have some really good furniture crafted for the dungeon.’ Leon thought as his smirk deepened.
Kai’s brow furrowed. “How do you know my name?”
“Don’t worry about that. Just answer the question. What do you say?”
Kai hesitated, his jaw clenched tight. “Look… I’ve got a family. If anyone catches me making luxury furniture here, I’ll rot in prison for life.
So, No matter how much you offer me. I can’t make it.”
“I’ll give you a place far from noble or royal jurisdiction—a place where no one will stop you from crafting anything you want.” Leon’s words were soft but laced with promise.
“There’s no such place.”
“Oh, there is. Now, Kai… what do you say? You’ll be free to craft anything you’ve been banned from.
It’s your choice to make.” Leon spoke as he stood up from the chair.
Kai swallowed hard as he saw truth in Leon’s words. “E-Even beds and dressing tables with Royal designs ? Can I Make them too ?”
‘Cat is in the bag… Now, I just need to trap it.’ Leon thought.
“Yes. And I’ll buy everything you make. So—will you work for me ?”
Kai exhaled shakily, his defenses cracking. “Fine… but you’ll have to provide the wood.”
“Oh, I’ve got plenty of wood.” Leon spoke with a smile.
“Where do I have to go?” Kai asked, still wary.
“I’ll be back after picking up a few more things. Then we’ll head there. But before that…” Leon rested both palms on the counter, his voice and expressions turning cold. “There’s something you should understand.”
“What ?” Kai blinked, confused.
*Tap*
Leon’s fingertip drummed against the wood counter—and in an instant, a pitch-black blade shot from his back pocket, streaking toward Kai’s throat.
*Swish*
The blade froze a mere centimeter from his skin.
“What the—!?”
“Kai,” Leon’s voice darkened, his expression unflinching, “if anyone other than you discovers the location I’m about to show you… I can’t guarantee your safety. Do you understand?”
“I—I understand. I swear on my family… I’ll take the secret to my grave,” Kai stammered, beads of sweat glistening on his forehead.
“Good.” Leon’s smile returned as he withdrew the blade and extended his hand. “Pleasure doing business with you.”
“Y-yeah… same here,” Kai muttered, his handshake weak and trembling.
‘That was so fucking cool. It was good decision to keep one of the blade out.’ Leon thought as he exited the shop with a smile.
