"Thank you once again for your assistance," Seth said, offering a polite smile and bow. His tone was measured, his demeanor respectful. The last thing he wanted was for some minor misstep to ruin the deal before it even began.
In truth, maintaining composure was his strong suit.
"Skip the gratitude. Just give me the money," Tsunade replied bluntly, extending a hand as she casually shook it for emphasis. "Ten thousand."
Ten thousand?! Seth's eye twitched slightly.
What a rip-off.
The currency in this world, at least according to his system, roughly equated to about six thousand trading points for ten thousand ryo. It also had a purchasing power similar to one hundred dollars in his old world.
But Seth was well aware of his condition. He wasn't injured, merely experiencing temporary weakness from his transmigration process—something akin to a "crossing-world protection buffer." Even if Tsunade had done nothing, he would have woken up in due time.
Knowing this only strengthened his resolve.
If she was going to scam him, he wouldn't feel an ounce of guilt about doing the same in return.
"Apologies, but I currently don't have a single coin to my name," Seth said with a regretful expression, reaching into his sleeve to pull out a scroll. "However, I do have some... goods."
With a puff of smoke, ten nondescript black jars appeared before him on the table.
Each jar had cost him only 30 trading points to purchase, and the sealing scrolls another 400 points. His total expenditure for this little gamble? 700 points.
Tsunade raised a brow. Her initial surprise at him possessing a sealing scroll faded quickly, replaced by a dismissive glance at the jars.
"Clay pots?" she said with an unimpressed scoff.
"These aren't ordinary pots," Seth replied smoothly, his tone steady as he delivered the pitch he'd rehearsed. "Each jar is worth five thousand."
"Five thousand?" Tsunade's expression turned incredulous.
From a glance, she could tell they were just cheap pottery.
"The true value lies not in the jars themselves, but in what's inside them," Seth explained, his voice calm and confident. "Think of them as a kind of lottery. The contents could be worth less than five thousand—or they could far exceed that value. Some of these jars hold treasures worth tens of thousands."
It was gambling, pure and simple.
And just as Seth predicted, the famed gambler's eyes lit up with interest.
"How do I know you're not bluffing?" Tsunade leaned forward; her golden eyes sharp. "What if they're filled with junk? If they're all worthless, then what?"
With a disarming smile, Seth countered, "You're free to buy them all and see for yourself. There will definitely be jars worth far more than five thousand. But I'll admit, some will result in a loss. That's the nature of chance. Besides, I'm no scammer. Satisfied customers tend to return for more, don't they?"
Tsunade chuckled. "You've got quite the head for business."
She understood the appeal instantly. It was indeed like a lottery—except with better odds, which made it even more tempting. For a compulsive gambler like herself, it was hard to resist.
"These jars weren't made by me," Seth added carefully, steering her suspicions elsewhere. "I'm merely a distributor. They come from a supplier far more skilled than myself."
This was critical. If she suspected him of crafting them, she might demand something far more valuable than jars—like the so-called "resurrection coin" he knew she would want.
Tsunade's interest was now fully piqued. She set her drink aside and rubbed her hands together.
"All right, I'll take two," she declared with a gleam of excitement.
"As payment for the medical care," Seth said with a nod, motioning to the ten jars on the table. "Just remember—no touching, and no refunds once they're opened."
The jars were empty, at least for now.
Seth wasn't worried about Tsunade using chakra or ninjutsu to cheat; for all her flaws, her gambling ethics were solid. She wouldn't stoop to such tricks.
"Hmm..."
Tsunade's gaze swept over the jars, each identical in appearance. Unable to rely on weight or touch, she made her first choice purely on instinct.
"This one!"
With a decisive motion, she grabbed a jar and smashed it against the table.
Seth's heart nearly stopped as he hurriedly funneled the pre-chosen contents into the jar through the system.
"It's... money?"
Tsunade frowned, holding up a small stack of bills. "Only ten thousand? What a rip-off."
She was clearly disappointed. Paying five thousand to receive ten thousand wasn't exactly thrilling.
Still, she didn't dwell on it. Gambling was a game of chance, and she was used to losing. Besides, these jars had been "free" as medical compensation.
Tsunade reached for her second choice with a carefree shrug.
This time, Seth inserted a carefully prepared item—an actual bait prize.
Smash!
A small vial tumbled from the shattered remains of the jar.
"Huh? A bottle?"
"Congratulations!" Seth exclaimed, his expression lighting up with feigned admiration. "You've uncovered a rare treasure: the Water of Life, valued at no less than fifty thousand."
"The Water of Life?" Tsunade frowned, scrutinizing the tiny vial.
"It's not ordinary water," Seth assured her, speaking with solemn conviction. "This vial contains an extraordinary vitality serum capable of extending a dying person's life by three days."
Tsunade's eyes narrowed. She was skeptical—but also intrigued.
Her medical expertise told her there were no visible traces of herbs or chemicals in the liquid. And yet...
Curious, she uncorked the vial and downed half its contents without hesitation.
Then her eyes widened.
An indescribable surge of pure life force coursed through her body.
Though faint, it was astonishingly potent—like a fragment of her very essence being replenished.
"This..."
For a medical ninja of her caliber, the implications were clear. If used on a critically injured patient, it could buy precious time for treatment.
The supposed value of fifty thousand was an understatement.
A slow smile spread across her lips as she glanced at Seth.
"Not bad, kid," she said, her interest now thoroughly hooked.
Seth's grin deepened.
She's biting.
The jars were just the beginning. Soon, Tsunade would find herself on the hook for far greater stakes.