Ch. 48 - Friends-&-Family Pricing

Robb said quietly, placing the vial back on the table. His voice was calm but polite.

"Genuine Moonshade Bat Heart Ash shouldn't be this color. It should be closer to silver, and under light it should exhibit a faint blue glow, especially when the bottle is gently agitated. Most importantly, the real thing has a distinctive mana fluctuation that you can feel even through the glass."

Surprise flashed through Otto's eyes, quickly replaced by appreciation. The lips beneath his beard curved into a subtle arc.

"Sharp eye! This is indeed a counterfeit. I was only testing your level of expertise."

He took back the vial, a note of genuine respect in his tone. "In this line of work, telling real from fake is the most basic survival skill."

He then produced a noticeably more refined vial from deeper in the box.

This bottle was clearly far more valuable than the last. Its surface was engraved with complex runes, and the stopper was sealed with silver wire, lending it an air of gravity.

This time he said nothing at all. He simply handed over the bottle, his meaning perfectly clear.

Robb accepted it again. This time, the gray powder inside did exhibit a faint silver-blue luster, and the texture was considerably finer, as though moonlight had been captured and condensed into powder.

He carefully removed the stopper and took a delicate sniff. A subtle cool sensation instantly traveled from his nostrils through his entire body.

His perception confirmed it. this was genuine Moonshade Bat Heart Ash, and of quite good quality.

The distinctive mana fluctuation matched almost exactly what he'd read about in the old texts.

[Precise identification! Herb Identification EXP +2]

"This should be the real thing, and good quality at that." Robb nodded with certainty.

"The characteristic energy fluctuation is very pronounced. It likely came from a healthy adult moonshade bat, and the extraction process was professionally done."

"I knew it!" The dwarf broke into a satisfied grin, his thick beard quivering along with it. "No wonder Lady Elena chose you as her assistant. You really do have an eye for quality. In our trade, that's the most precious talent there is."

Noticing Robb's guarded expression, Otto waved a hand reassuringly.

"Relax, young man. Spend enough time in this business and you hear things. Lady Elena's shop is legendary in the Black Mist Order, naturally, her new assistant would attract some attention. Especially when..."

He gave Robb a meaningful look. "...that assistant displays extraordinary talent."

"Don't think I've fully accepted you yet, though." Otto's eyes narrowed. "A couple of correct identifications isn't enough to prove your real caliber."

He stroked his bushy beard and leaned forward. "What I'm about to bring out will be a bit more challenging. Let's see if you've truly got the goods."

Otto retrieved a flat tin case from even deeper in the wooden box. Its surface bore a thin layer of verdigris, suggesting considerable age.

He opened it carefully. Inside was a clump of green, fuzzy material that shimmered with a subtle luster under the lamplight.

"This is the 'Crystallized Moss' from your list, at least, that's how my supplier labeled it."

The dwarf pushed the tin toward Robb. "You don't see this on the market often. I'm curious how much you actually know about it."

Robb's brow furrowed slightly.

He had indeed read about crystallized moss in Lady Elena's references, but he'd rarely seen the real thing.

Genuine crystallized moss should be a deep, inky green that flashes with crystal-like luster when viewed from shifting angles.

Most critically, it should exert a peculiar "attraction" on spirit power, almost as though gently "calling" to the user.

He carefully touched the green substance with his fingertip, feeling its texture and energy signature.

The touch was spongy, but it lacked the crystalline hardness it should have had. It felt more like ordinary moss that had been dyed.

And there was absolutely none of that spirit pull. If anything, it gave off a faint sense of repulsion.

"I'm afraid this isn't genuine either." Robb judged carefully. "Real crystallized moss should have a distinctive crystalline structure that produces a refraction effect similar to quartz under light. It also has a unique reaction to spirit power, it almost actively 'draws' the user's attention. This sample lacks all of those characteristics. It's likely ordinary moss that's been specially treated as a counterfeit."

The dwarf's eyes went wide, his eyebrows shooting nearly to his hairline. "Well I'll be! You can even see through this one!"

He slapped his knee and let out a hearty laugh.

"This is indeed a fake. At least half the crystallized moss on the market is this kind of imitation, but very few people can spot it on sight."

Arnor watched from the side, jaw practically on the floor. He'd never imagined Robb's potioneering expertise had reached this level.

The dwarf nodded with satisfaction, a genuine smile emerging from beneath his beard.

"You win, young man. I acknowledge your ability. You truly have a rare gift, Lady Elena didn't choose wrong."

"So what about the price?" Robb cut straight to business. He knew the "test" was over. It was time to discuss the real transaction.

"For you? Ten Mana Crystal Fragments." Otto held up five stubby fingers, then added five more from his other hand. "That's a very generous friends-and-family rate. Normally I'd charge at least fifteen."

Robb frowned slightly. The price was still steep, even for someone who'd managed to build up modest savings recently.

He thought for a moment, his gaze drifting to the pile of materials he'd just appraised. Inspiration struck.

"Could I make a small request?" he said evenly, a negotiating edge to his tone. "If I help you authenticate some other materials, could we work out a better price? After all, I've just proven my value."

Otto's blue eyes glinted with shrewd light, and the mouth beneath his beard curled upward. "A clever proposal! You really do have a knack for negotiation."

He stroked his beard, seeming to turn something over in his mind. "Trading skills for discounts is actually a common practice on the black market."

The gray dwarf appeared to run some rapid mental calculations, his stubby fingers tapping lightly on the tabletop.

"Alright, here's the deal. You authenticate ten batches of materials for me, and I'll give you a twenty percent discount. How's that?"

Robb allowed himself a small smile. "Deal. But I should make clear upfront, I'll only give honest assessments. If a material's quality is poor, I'll say so without sugar coating."

"Naturally!" Otto agreed readily, a broad grin splitting his beard.

"Honest appraisals are more valuable to me than anything. I need to know what my goods are actually worth, not hear a bunch of flattery."

Comments