Chapter 15: Beast & Blade Emporium Chapter 15: Beast & Blade Emporium Leo stood in front of a building that proudly read Blade & Beast Emporium. He’d overheard that many establishments bought and sold monster materials along with armors, weapons, and tools. But some were officially contracted with the Beast Hall and were trustworthy; as ripping off customers would revoke those contracts and bring heavy penalties. The building combined wood and polished stone, with white pillars lending a medieval air. It sat on elevated ground, stairs leading to the entrance. As Leo was just about to go in, a young man approached him. The young man wore a well-fitted leather doublet over a clean tunic; his sharp eyes and calm smile betrayed the confidence of a seasoned trader. A green cloak clasped with silver and pouches at his belt hinted at quiet wealth, and a faint perfume left a pleasant trail in the air. He began smoothly, "Sir, I assume you’re here to sell these corpses?" Leo nodded. The man continued without pause. "Then please, allow us to take them for examination here — the tree bark would damage our flooring. I promise we won’t cheat you." Leo accepted the green flag with a curt nod. The young man called two workers. They lifted the corpses and carried them to a visible inspection area. The young man gave Leo a small bow as he escorted him to a couch. "My name is Gerald Riku. I manage this branch of the Riku family business — we deal in beast materials." "Leo," he answered. "I’m a Beast Master." Gerald’s eyes brightened at the word. "Then you must be of quite a rank to hunt those beasts," he said warmly. "No. I awakened today, and this was my first hunt," Leo corrected, shrugging. Gerald blinked, taken aback. 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦 He awakened today? I thought he might be a veteran Beast Master... I know that today was the awakening trial, but except for the Baron sons’ surprising awakening with Super rare Soul, there is no high level... Leo, sensing his confusion explained that he got lucky when he encountered the injured orc and killed him. Gerald nodded, seemingly taking the story. But still, having the courage to attack an orc, even if injured, is admirable. A worker returned and whispered something to Gerald. Gerald’s face schooled into a professional expression, then he addressed Leo. "The corpses have been examined. The goblin head is 1 bronze; the boar will fetch 50 Bronze coins; and the orc — 1 Silver and 50 Bronze. The orc would have gone for more, around 2 Silver and 50 Bronze coins if the body wasn’t damaged that much" He said as he pointed at the injured areas over the orc body, the ones that boar had inflicted on it. Leo raised an eyebrow, interested. Gerald, sensing Leo’s likely unfamiliarity with trade, explained patiently. "Beasts absorb ambient mana, which makes their meat mana-rich. When eaten, it increases a person’s innate mana capacity. An orc is a high-rank beast; its meat is naturally valuable. Also... orcs taste good." He said the last line with an amused shrug. "Thank you for explaining," Leo said, offering a quick, sincere smile. He set the cores and mana crystal on the tray. Gerald slipped on a single, silver-trimmed spectacle and examined each item with practiced speed — five seconds per piece for a trained eye. At last he set the mana crystal down with a satisfied nod. "The mana crystal’s Peak 1★ quality — probably from the orc. That’s 20 Bronze," Gerald tallied aloud. "These four clearly seem goblin cores — for these smaller ones, 50 copper each. The fourth is obviously of better quality — 80 copper. The boar core is 5 Bronze and the orc core 10 Bronze." He placed the ledger down. "Your total comes to... 2 Silver, 38 Bronze, and 20 Copper." Leo had already done the math in his head and found nothing amiss; he accepted the payment. If Gerald knew a freshly-awakened commoner could calculate like that, he’d have been astonished — in this society such numeracy usually belonged only to well of and noble households. Leo’s new balance: 6 Silver, 96 Bronze, 30 Copper. Even removing what Lily had given him, he’d earned more than he and Lily might make together in two years. He couldn’t help picturing Lily’s reaction. As he left the building, Gerald called after him. "It was a pleasure doing business. Please come back if you want anything else, we even sell equipments and tools." Of course, Gerald was happy; he gets a 5% commission from the business he brings in, so he made himself a sweet 35 Bronze coins by helping Leo, it may not seem much to a noble son but it was different for Gerald, being born in a competitive noble family with many brothers and sisters, he was left alone with his mother after his father lost interest in her. As a last consideration, his father employed him in a branch shop of the family even though Gerald hadn’t awakened. So life was tough for him too; he even had a mother to take care of who had become sick. Leo nodded respectfully and moved on. Outside, the sun was setting; orange rays bathed the town, and he walked liesurely through a alley, a shortcut to home. Leo wandered home, daydreaming about the future his awakening had opened up, thoughts drifting to Lily. Maybe I should tell her to stop working. I can now earn enough to live comfortably. Of course, I’ll still get stronger... bash that bastard Baron’s skull... maybe renovate the hous—! His voice halted off mid-thought. Pupils constricted, he ducked reflexively — only to see a glimse of sword whispering past his neck in a horizontal slash. "Tsk. Tsk. Norn, are you getting senile? How could you miss such an easy shot?" a man said, annoyed. Leo scrambled back and watched with wide eyes. Recognition hit him like cold water, Norn, Juan and Lans— these men were the ones who had killed the previous owner!! "Heh. Did you see how he dodged that attack, he ducked at the last moment." Juan said with a sly grin as he saw Leo’s expression which was wary one, but he mistaked it for a terrified expression. "Tsk. This is the reason I hate Beast Masters, from what I know, he awakened with a common soul but look — his reaction speed has already increased. Today he dies for real..." Norn said as his lips curved.