"This is a high-purity Chakra Crystal," Shen Mo stated clearly, his gaze unwavering as he stared at the relic. "Its primary function is to react only to certain unique chakra signatures and, conversely, to restrict the power of Tailed Beast Hosts. Its market valuation is roughly three million Ryo."
"Is that all?" Tsunade pressed, the tone suggesting disappointment and disbelief.
"That is all," Shen Mo confirmed. He spoke the cold truth: the necklace held no curse. The deaths of Nawaki and Kato Dan were a tragic consequence of living in the brutal shinobi world, not a malevolent enchantment.
Tsunade studied him, her famous, volatile temper simmering beneath the surface. Her angry expression, far more intimidating than any dramatic fiction, made the air feel thick.
"Tsunade-Miss," Shen Mo addressed her, using her name with a rare seriousness. "You must understand that I am not a common peddler, and I don't deal in superstitious legends. Even for a trade of this magnitude, I have no reason to fabricate an appraisal."
"...A mysterious man," Tsunade muttered, clutching the necklace tightly. She had never truly believed in the curse herself—it was an emotional shield. But Shen Mo's absolute certainty, validated by his "Omniscient Eye," failed to lift the dark cloud from her heart. If it wasn't the necklace, then the pain was just the reality of her own life.
"Open the box! Open the box!" she roared, seeking immediate relief from the rising anxiety. She gulped down the remaining sake in her flask, the alcohol flush deepening on her cheeks, and violently tossed the empty bottle away. "Shizune, more sake!"
Shizune opened her mouth to protest, but her defiance wilted. She bowed to Shen Mo and hurried off, returning shortly with a fresh supply.
Shen Mo watched Tsunade. He knew the volatile state she was in. Many gamblers, when depressed or angry, chase the thrill of the draw, hoping a sudden win will reverse their mental state. The plan was simple: feed the addiction.
"Don't just stand there," Tsunade slurred, her eyes heavy with drink as she fixed them on Shen Mo. "Have a drink. Merchants always have to drink with their clients."
Shen Mo felt a moment of genuine helplessness. With the secrets he possessed, becoming intoxicated was too great a risk. Yet, refusing would be an insult.
"It would be my pleasure." He accepted the small cup of sake Shizune offered and swallowed it in one go. Immediately after, he discreetly purchased and consumed a Hangover Suppressant Pill from the system for a few Transaction Points, guaranteeing sobriety no matter the intake.
"Good!" Tsunade cheered, and with another aggressive slap, she pulverized a jar, eagerly searching for the hidden prize.
Shen Mo couldn't help but analyze her in that moment. The stark contrast between the violent, fifty-year-old gambling addict and the fierce, compassionate medical ninja was what made her such a compelling character.
And that, Shen Mo suddenly realized, his gaze sharpening on the next jar, is how you truly hook her. The greatest temptation isn't avarice; it's addressing her greatest emotional flaw.
"Boy, what is this?" Tsunade slung an arm around Shen Mo's shoulder, her alcohol-laden breath hot in his ear, shaking a new vial in her hand. The softness of the "old woman's" physical body was surprising, a testament to her unique Medical Ninjutsu.
"Ah," Shen Mo recovered quickly, masking his surprise. "That is Physique Fortification Liquid. Use it daily during bathing. Long-term application can grant even a civilian the physical constitution and endurance of a trained shinobi."
"A treasure for Taijutsu users!" he added, quickly labeling it for maximum appeal.
"Oh, a wonderful find!" Tsunade exclaimed, completely missing the deeper value. She cheerfully tossed the vial to Shizune. "Shizune, this is for you!"
Shen Mo continued to curate the remaining jar contents, ensuring they were useful enough to maintain the collection addiction. Though each item remained cheap (under 600 TPs), they included valuable goods like magic herbs, cultivation elixirs, and even a red potion from the Overlord world with effective minor healing properties, priced at 688,000 Ryo.
The pile of exchanged ninja loot had grown, totaling over eight million Ryo in value, or nearly 300,000 Transaction Points for Shen Mo.
Finally, as the night deepened, the floor was strewn with jar shards and exotic artifacts. Tsunade looked utterly satisfied, clutching a remaining stack of 500,000 Ryo.
"One more set!" she declared, her enthusiasm unflagging.
"Miss Tsunade," Shen Mo interjected, raising his hand, "Congratulations! You have now purchased over twenty-five sets of Level One Jars. You have officially unlocked Level Two Jars."
Tsunade paused, her drunken haze instantly clearing. "Level Two?"
"Correct." Shen Mo calmly unsealed another scroll, revealing a jar that was twice the size of the previous ones. "These start at half a million Ryo each. While the previous contents were rare and powerful, they were ultimately just items. The true, world-altering treasures are only found in the Advanced Tier."
"Half a million Ryo," Tsunade repeated, her eyes narrowed. She had seen the miracles the Level One jars contained—potions even she, the best medical ninja, couldn't create. The idea that those were merely "insignificant items" sent a shiver of anticipation through her.
"Take one," she commanded, her voice suddenly crisp.
Shen Mo opened the scroll. Tsunade immediately smashed the gigantic jar.
Inside lay a single object: a simple, dark, silver cross-shaped necklace. It cost 6,000 Transaction Points.
"Congratulations!" Shen Mo shouted, his voice ringing with excitement. "I didn't expect the very first Level Two draw to yield a special equipment item: The Cross of Courage!"
Tsunade picked up the cross, examining it closely. It felt like ordinary metal. "Just tell me its function."
"As the name implies, it enhances the wearer's courage," Shen Mo introduced. "When worn, it causes fear and spiritual dread to dissipate to a marked degree, granting you more courage to face misfortune. This type of spiritual blessing item is exceptionally rare, and I value it at approximately 700,000 Ryo."
This was a simple item from a fantasy game world, granting a passive effect of Courage +2. Its objective value to Shen Mo was negligible, but its subjective value to Tsunade was immeasurable.
He knew her deepest shame: Hemophobia. The fear of blood, ironically acquired after watching the bloody deaths of her loved ones, was a crippling weakness for a shinobi of her caliber.
Tsunade stared at the cross, her gaze complex and deeply unsettled.
Courage?
She slowly lifted the necklace and slipped it over her head. The simple silver cross settled on her chest, right next to the ominous, cursed necklace of the First Hokage.
The merchant hadn't sold her a trinket; he had offered her a shield against her own trauma.
-----------------------------------------
With the Cross of Courage around her neck, what incredible effect will Tsunade feel, and what will be the next, ultimate level of addiction that Shen Mo unleashes?