Chapter 28: Selling Materials and Spending Money
After finishing his bath, Akira left the inn and headed toward Lilia's shop.
Lilia was speaking to someone via a small screen projecting from a device on her shoulder:
"Yes… send some… okay, I'll talk to you later. Just send the quantity and the cost."
The shop bell rang, and Lilia turned to see a familiar face at the counter.
"Ah, sorry if I interrupted you."
She smiled and said:
"No, no problem. The customer comes first."
She looked at him with a half-playful smile:
"So, how can I help you today? And don't tell me you're here to buy more ignition tools… planning to set the city on fire?"
Akira laughed:
"No, no. This time, I'm here to sell."
"That's good for me. Show me what you have."
Akira opened his bag and began pulling out his collected items: two First-tier cores and about ten Unclassified cores.
Lilia's eyes widened in silent shock. The quantity was enough to kill double or triple the usual number of monsters required to obtain such cores.
"What a haul… seems your hunting was fruitful."
"Yes, despite the difficulty, it was rewarding."
She took the cores and placed them in a measuring device behind the counter.
"This will take some time. Do you need anything else in the meantime?"
"No, I'll wait until I know how much I'll get."
"As you wish… but I'm curious: how long have you been working as a hunter?"
"Not long… less than two months, actually."
She could not hide her surprise:
"Really? That explains a lot… I thought you were from the Stakes or one of the gangs. As far as I know, they have the right to buy everything their members collect. Don't tell me you're smuggling these cores from them?"
"No, I don't belong to any gang. I'm an independent hunter."
She paused for a moment, then said calmly:
"Sorry, I thought someone was backing you. It's unusual for a beginner hunter to get this many cores without support."
The measuring device emitted a soft sound, signaling the end of the scan.
Lilia leaned toward the screen:
"Done… let me check the results."
After a pause, she continued:
"Around 323,000."
Akira raised an eyebrow in surprise:
"Huh? I didn't hear that correctly."
She repeated the number, her eyes glinting with a hint of mockery:
"Around 323,000. Judging by your expression, you're a complete beginner."
She stepped toward him slowly and explained with an expert tone:
"Unclassified Monster Cores don't sell for high prices, but they're still desirable. As for classified cores, that's another story. A single First-tier Core can be sold for over 100,000. They're used for skill upgrades, blacksmithing, and even as energy sources. The price you got is perfectly normal."
Akira nodded, thinking aloud:
"Then how much is a Second-tier Core?"
"At least… 500,000," she said without hesitation.
"Damn…" Akira muttered, then added sarcastically:
"If that damn Imp had dropped one, my financial problems would have been solved."
Lilia suddenly extended her hand:
"Give me your Hunter ID."
"Hunter ID?"
Alice intervened quietly through telepathy:
"That's something the Hunter Association gives you upon registration. Since you haven't registered yet, you don't have one."
"I don't have one," Akira finally admitted.
Lilia looked at him with visible frustration. He avoided her gaze. She sighed and added:
"Fine, cash payment this time… but register as soon as possible."
"I will," he replied without hesitation.
She smiled faintly and returned to a more practical tone:
"You said earlier that you were thinking about buying after knowing the amount… so, how can I help you?"
"I was thinking of buying a vehicle."
"Excellent idea. With this amount, you can get a good one… wait a moment."
She pulled the display toward the middle of the counter and activated the computer. A picture of an SUV appeared on the screen.
"This is the Akro 1007, a light vehicle from Simona Super. Although it's an older model—released four years ago—it's in good condition. The previous owner didn't use it much. Its price is around 250,000, which is actually a great deal."
Akira hesitated:
"It's a bit expensive…"
"It's the actual price. If you think it's high, I have another option." She tapped the screen, revealing a second, smaller vehicle with a covered roof.
"This is the Typhoon 23 from the same company. Also an SUV. It's cheaper, around 200,000, but it has spent more time in workshops and covered longer distances."
She then showed four more vehicles before turning off the screen and saying:
"This is all we have within your budget. Think carefully before deciding."
Akira turned his head slightly and whispered:
"Alice, what do you think?"
She answered without hesitation:
"I agree with her. The first option is the best. If the specifications are correct, choose it."
"Then I'll choose it," he said confidently.
But Lilia raised her hand:
"Wait… there's just one problem."
"Problem?!" Akira panicked.
She looked at him seriously, then said slowly:
"You don't know how to drive."
It felt like a hidden slap hit his consciousness. He froze, then muttered to himself:
"I've never driven anything before…"
Lilia noticed the hesitation on his face and said with a teasing tone:
"You were planning to buy a car without knowing how to drive? Don't worry, expected from a kid."
She placed her hand on the computer:
"Well, money doesn't solve everything, but it helps a lot. If you choose the first option, I can add an autopilot system."
"Thank you," Akira said gratefully.
"But you should know… it will cost around 50,000, and it's not a sophisticated system. You still need to learn to drive yourself."
"Of course, I understand."
She looked at him with serious eyes:
"Are you sure about your decision? After this, you won't have much left."
"It's fine. I still have some things to sell."
She smiled faintly while typing on the control panel:
"Since you said that, it's settled. Your car will arrive in three days."
She handed him the remaining money. Akira stood up straight and said politely:
"Thank you, I'll leave now."
"Travel safely. Don't leave the city before you're fully prepared."
"Thanks for the advice."
He left the shop without looking back, while Lilia stared at the closed door, thinking:
"Where does he get all these materials from?"
Then she smiled faintly:
"It doesn't matter, as long as he brings them to me."
Akira arrived at Nigo's mobile shop. As usual, Nigo was busy inspecting a pile of random items in front of him. While his hands worked skillfully, he noticed Akira approaching without lifting his head:
"If you're here to complain about something, I'm not responsible. Don't bother me."
"No, I'm here to sell some items."
Nigo's hands stopped suddenly, and he slowly raised his head:
"A customer then? Show me what you have."
Akira opened his bag and began emptying its contents. The loot this time was larger than the previous one. Surprise showed on Nigo's face, then his smile gradually widened.
"Huh… seems you caught a small fortune. Don't tell me the rumors about you were true?"
Akira replied coldly:
"Just do your job. Don't care where I got it."
Nigo laughed:
"A difficult kid."
About fifteen minutes passed.
Nigo placed the papers on the counter:
"That's all you have… worth around 112,000."
"Good, I want it in cash."
"As you wish."
Nigo handed him a heavy bundle of cash. Akira took it calmly, placed it in his coat pocket, then turned and left without another word.
Nigo muttered to himself while watching him leave:
"Why does he seem stronger than last time…?"
He observed for a moment before quietly saying:
"The Test Scroll consumes energy against the target in front of me."
[Testing Scroll Consumed – Rank 1]
[Result:]
Name: Akira
Level: Unclassified (Level 9)
Nigo shook his head slowly and whispered:
"My instincts fail me with this boy."