Thirdrema's back alleys were a labyrinthine maze, as intricate as the in-game map suggested. Without one, any player diving in blind would wander endlessly, likely emerging on the opposite side of their destination—a well-known rookie mistake.
"Ugh…" Pencilgon huffed.
"Sorry, Towa, I went overboard," Pepper said.
Without a physical map of Thirdrema, Pepper followed Pencilgon's lead toward the main street. Along the way, she griped about his roast at The Serpent's Apple.
"A-kun, you really tore into me back there, huh?" she teased. "You're gonna have to treat me to make it up to big sis Pencilgon~!"
"I said I'm sorry… Let me sell the Swamp Digger materials first. I'm kinda broke right now."
"You better treat me until you can't afford a room at the inn, A-kun~!"
"Come on, at least let me keep enough for lodging…"
"No way! That's not showing sincerity~♪"
As they left The Serpent's Apple and walked the winding alleys, Pencilgon slipped back into her usual playful self, much to Pepper's relief.
"Alright, we're almost there," she said. "Time to leave the back alleys."
At the maze's end, they peeked out to a bustling street filled with players, NPCs, shops, houses, and vibrant market stalls—a lively hub of activity.
"Thirdrema's one of the biggest cities in Shangri-La Frontier, so it's no surprise to see multiple general stores in one district," Pencilgon explained. "This area's great for newbies—tons of stuff to buy. Now, A-kun, use the money from those Swamp Digger materials to get your big sis Pencilgon a nice apology gift~!"
Her sly, mischievous grin made Pepper sigh. "Fine, fine," he said, stepping into the open space behind the stalls.
"But what should I even get…?"
"Pepper-han, Pepper-han," Aitoil whispered from his cloak. "Got my sake yet?"
"Don't worry, I've got you covered," he assured her.
He'd buy Aitoil's wine with his own Marny, but first, he needed a buyer for the Swamp Digger materials. Scanning the stalls, he spotted a familiar name on a building across the street.
"No way…!"
Darting through the crowd, he reached the storefront. The sign read: Enhance Trading Company – Thirdrema Market Street Branch.
"This place might have both the wine and Towa's gift," Pepper muttered.
Taking a deep breath, he pushed open the door. "Hello!" The shop's interior was spacious, shelves lined with goods—miscellaneous items, food, and equipment.
As he entered, conversations at the counter halted, likely due to the Lycaon's curse marking drawing attention. A receptionist rushed to the back.
"Welcome to the Enhance Trading Company, Thirdrema Market Branch," said an older woman in a fine dress and glasses, stepping forward. Her eyes widened upon seeing Pepper. "Oh, you're…"
"Hi," Pepper said. "This is an Enhance Trading Company shop, right? I have a membership card—can I shop here?"
He pulled the Enhance Trading Company Membership Card from his inventory, earned from the Swamp Digger quest, and presented it.
"Of course," she said, "but may I ask… are you Pepper-sama?"
"Uh, yeah, that's me. Nice to meet you."
"Welcome, then," she said, bowing with the elegance of a royal at a ball.
"We received word of your exploits via Messenger Bird from the Secondil branch," she continued. "Should you visit other branches or our Aitoild headquarters, we've been instructed to assist you fully."
The speed of the info spread impressed Pepper—this company was clearly a major player. A Market Street branch implied shops in other districts, like a fantasy convenience store chain.
"Thank you," he said. "I'm here to sell Swamp Digger materials, buy some wine—er, grape wine—and get a gift."
"Understood. Any preferences for the gift?"
Towa, with her charisma-model vibe, likely owned plenty of necklaces, earrings, or rings. Still, Pepper recalled retro galge games where haughty heroines melted for thoughtful trinkets. It was about the sentiment, after all.
"How about a stylish necklace I can afford with the Swamp Digger materials?" he suggested.
He placed the drop items on the counter. The woman examined them, her eyes catching on one. "How rare… a Swamp Digger Maddeik's Pure Tooth."
She pointed to a small, pearl-like tooth among the drops. The beast's jagged teeth had been mud-caked, but this one gleamed.
"Pure Tooth?" Pepper asked. "I got one from smashing its head with my hammer. Is it rare?"
"Indeed. It's one of the cleanest monster parts and highly sought-after for necklaces. We can have our artisans craft it into one. It'll take three days, but the crafting fee will be covered by the company, thanks to your membership."
"Really? That'd be great, please do it."
"Very well. The other materials have been appraised and converted to Marny. Here you are."
Impressed by her efficiency, Pepper used the funds to buy three decently priced bottles of grape wine for Aitoil, then left the shop.
"So, the gift for your big sis will be ready in three days?" Pencilgon asked, waiting in the alley.
"Yeah, a necklace made from a rare Swamp Digger drop—super popular with women, apparently. And thanks to the membership card, the crafting's free. Total steal."
He reported the deal, keeping Aitoil's wine a secret.
"One thing, though," Pencilgon said. "What's the deal with that company?"
"It's the Enhance Trading Company," Pepper replied. "I got the card from a staffer after finishing a special quest and beating the Swamp Digger."
He showed her the Membership Card from his inventory. Her jaw dropped.
"No way… Seriously?"
"What's wrong?"
Her shock hinted at a bombshell, and it didn't disappoint.
"You don't know about Shangri-La Frontier's Unique Companies?" she asked, incredulous.
"Unique Companies? Like unique monsters or something?"
Pencilgon facepalmed, looking skyward. "Ugh, you really keep surprising me, A-kun. Listen, that membership card is insanely important. Do not lose it, got it?"
"I mean, it's a membership card, so obviously I won't lose it…"
He was clueless about its true value, so Pencilgon launched into a lecture.
"Ahem. The Enhance Trading Company is one of Shangri-La Frontier's three major companies, alongside the Golden Scales Company and the Kalkada-Koras Company.
That Membership Card? Even players with Merchant as their main job need to rack up massive deals—think hundreds of millions in real-world terms—to earn one.
It gets you into exclusive shops, like the Aitoild headquarters or Thirdrema's upper noble district, where regular players can't go without it.
Better yet, it lets you access Thirdrema's upper district as a safe haven in a pinch. Got it?"
Her explanation hit like a thunderbolt, freezing Pepper's thoughts. The card, a reward from his special quest, had bypassed the grueling effort most players endured to obtain it.
Worse, if Saiga-100 knew about this, he'd be bombarded with Messenger Birds day and night, hounded for negotiations to hand it over.
"Am I… gonna die tomorrow? Am I safe?" he stammered.
"You started this special quest, right?" Pencilgon said. "You're already carrying the weight of boosting the playerbase's strength. You've gotta see it through."
"I'm already crushed under pressure from all sides…" he groaned.
"No whining," she snapped. "For now, lay low, A-kun. You're juggling too many explosive secrets."
Her logic was sound. Pepper decided to take a break from Shangri-La Frontier until the necklace was ready in a few days.
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