When Amalia saw what was inside the shop, she fell completely speechless.
Shelves crammed with magical objects lined every wall, seeming almost infinite on the inside and promising endless possibilities.
The Sadida ran from one side to the other like a child in a candy store, pointing at every item with a gleam in her eyes.
“I want this!
And this!
And this too!
Oh, let’s see if they have some ancient artifacts!
I’m sure we can find some from the long-lost…”
Eva did not take long to tune out from Amalia’s excited stammering, as when she had a good look at the price tags she could not hold back her anger.
“What the hell?!
How can they charge so much for this junk?!” she exclaimed.
“I’m sure not even the Black Crow would steal so shamelessly!”
“Couldn’t agree more,” Ruel added with disdain.
“The owner of this place is a swindler and so’s the harpy of his wife.”
For better or worse, their entrance didn’t go unnoticed.
Behind the counter, a woman greeted them with a smile as dazzling as it was fake.
Her cat-like nose and pointed ears revealed she was an Ecaflip, member of a race of feline humanoids famous for their cunning, charisma, and ability to manipulate luck.
Her brown fur was immaculately groomed and she sported a collection of jewels that flaunted her wealth for all to see.
“Welcome to Kabrok and Miranda’s Emporium!” she announced with a theatrical bow.
“I’m Miranda, and I’m delighted to help you with whatever you need.
Here you’ll find the finest magical items in the entire county at very affordable prices!”
Just hearing that last word turned Ruel’s face red with anger.
“Affordable?” the Enutrof erupted.
“You must be joking!
Five years ago this shop wasn’t this shamelessly overpriced.”
“We’re terribly sorry,” the merchant replied without her fake smile, “but due to inflation we’ve had no choice but to raise our prices.
We apologize for the inconvenience.”
Ruel let out an angry huff.
She’s treating me like a fool, he thought.
Looks like some things never change in this den of thieves.
“Right, right…
inflation,” he said sarcastically.
“Look, we’re here because I’ve heard you’re selling a magical map.
One that shows even the most remote corners of the world.
Right?”
“A map?
Let me think…”
Miranda turned around and, before anyone could react, unleashed a shriek that rattled all the display cases.
“KABROK!!
Get your ass over here right now!”
After this scream, an equally thunderous roar erupted from the back of the shop.
“What do you want now, woman?!
Can’t you see I’m working?!”
“Working?!” Miranda’s voice got even louder.
“I’m the one who actually works over here while YOU sit around doing nothing!”
“I’m coming, I’m coming!
Can you please stop screaming for once?!”
“Well if I didn’t scream you’d never hear me, you deaf old goat!”
“Maybe I’d listen if you talked to me with a little respect.”
Eva and Ruel exchanged an uncomfortable look as they heard the screams, while Az hid inside Yugo’s hat, too scared to poke his head out.
Eva turned to the old man and remarked with her usual wit.
“What a happy marriage.”
“Poor Kabrok,” Ruel murmured.
“That’s what happens when you retire and settle down with the wrong person.
I almost feel sorry for the guy.”
While they waited, Yugo ran up to them eager to join the conversation.
“Have you found the map yet?” he asked.
“I’ve been looking everywhere for it and I still can’t find it.”
“We’d already have it,” the Enutrof shrugged, “if it wasn’t for this charming couple who can’t stop bickering.
Now, all we can do is wait.”
Fortunately, they didn’t have to wait too long.
The back door burst open with a crash and from the doorway emerged an old Osamodas who had an especially foul mood.
Like most of his kind, he had dark blue skin and two goat-like horns on his forehead.
His white beard hung all the way to his waist while his bald head gleamed under the shop’s lights.
In a sharp and almost comical contrast to his wife’s flashy clothing, he wore a simple patched robe with a leather apron.
When he finally introduced himself, his voice was almost like a grunt.
“Welcome to the Kabrok’s Emporium.”
“You mean Kabrok and Miranda’s Emporium,” added his wife.
“How many times are we going to have this stupid argument?!” The shopkeeper raised his voice, threatening to start this battle of words once more.
“This shop has always been called ‘Kabrok’s Emporium’, and it will stay that way no matter how many times you change the sign.”
“How can you have the nerve to say that?
I do EVERYTHING here!
If there was any justice in this world, it would be called ‘Miranda’s Emporium’.”
Yugo tried to speak up, but the old man ignored him and continued with the argument.
“That name is garbage!
I founded this shop.
It was MY idea, MY dream!
You just latched on like a parasite and took advantage of a good name.”
The boy couldn’t take it anymore.
He slammed his fist on the counter and shouted as loud as he could.
“Can you two please stop fighting and listen to us?!”
His scream was enough to get Kabrok and Miranda to stop their argument and focus on him.
Now, he finally had their attention.
“Good,” Yugo sighed.
“We want to know if you have a magical map.
One that can show even the most hidden locations.”
“Ah…” Kabrok answered as he scratched his head. Visit g.com for the full chapter.
“The map.
I think I have it around here somewhere.”
The old merchant crouched and began rummaging through a chest packed with all sorts of dusty objects.
After pushing several items aside, he finally pulled out a cylindrical case decorated with glowing runes.
After speaking a few arcane words, the container opened on its own and unfurled a blank parchment which floated gently before them.
Suddenly, as Yugo stepped closer, a map drew itself on the blank parchment which revealed a detailed map of the entire area, showing a level of detail from the smallest house to the deepest ravine.
When Kabrok saw the surprised look on all the adventurers, he felt great pride in his item.
“Is this what you were looking for?”
“Exactly,” said Ruel.
“Many thanks, Kabrok.
Now, let’s get down to business.
How much for that map?”
Miranda’s feline ears swiveled at the sound of his voice.
This was not the first time she’d heard it, and something about that man made her think of someone she knew too well.
“Hey…
your voice sounds familiar.
What did you say your name was?”
“That doesn’t matter right now,” Ruel quickly answered, avoiding her gaze.
“The map, Kabrok.
How many kamas do you want?”
Kabrok quickly began to calculate, his eyes gleaming as he figured out the best possible price to sell to this ragtag bunch.
After a few seconds, he solemnly announced his decision:
“The opening price is two thousand kamas.”
“Two thousand?!
That’s straight-up robbery!” As the Enutrof screamed, he checked his pockets and found only a fly and two buttons.
“I’m not paying more than a hundred for that.”
“How could I sell a one-of-a-kind artifact like this for such a miserable amount,” Kabrok retorted as he began to roll the map back up.
“If you don’t want it, some other adventurer will.
Your loss.”
Yugo looked at Ruel, his eyes full of worry.
He knew his question wouldn’t go over well, but he asked anyway.
“You’ve got enough money to pay for it…
right?”
“Please, Yugo,” the Enutrof theatrically replied.
“Can’t you see I’m a poor and miserable old man?”
The boy crossed his arms.
He’d heard that excuse far too many times, especially when Ruel used to visit his father’s tavern.
He remembered exactly what Alibert used to tell him, and didn’t hesitate to repeat it.
“I know you can easily afford it.
This is no time to be cheap, Ruel.”
The instant the words left his mouth, Yugo immediately realized his mistake.
Unfortunately, it was far too late.
Miranda had heard every word.
“I knew it!
I knew it!
You’re Ruel Stroud, aren’t you?”
Ice-cold sweat ran down Ruel’s back, who turned to Yugo and whispered angrily.
“I told you not to say my name, Yugo.”
He then turned to the shopkeeper and tried to come up with a convincing excuse, but his mind was blank.
“No, no, no…
I’m Ruel…
Ruelsson,” he improvised.
“I’m a completely different person and have no idea who this Ruel Stroud even is.”
Even Ruel knew it was a terrible excuse, but it was worth a try.
But Kabrok, once he caught wind of what was happening, approached him with a cruel smile on his face.
The time for revenge had come.
“You’ve got some nerve coming back here, you old swindler.
Don’t you remember what I told you last time?”
“Yes, yes,” Ruel backed up in fear.
“That you’d rip up every last hair from my beard and make me swallow them.
But come on, Kabrok, it’s been five years.
Isn’t it time to bury the hatchet and let bygones be bygones?”
“You sold me a worthless metal ring that you claimed had a Shushu inside!” the Osamodas roared right at the old man’s face.
“I paid five thousand kamas for that piece of junk!
FIVE THOUSAND!”
“And how can you be so sure it was fake?” Ruel smiled awkwardly.
“Did you… try rubbing it like I told you?”
“It said ‘Made in Pandawastan’ on the inside!” Kabrok shouted.
“My wife nagged me for months because of that stupid ring!”
“See?
I told you so!” Miranda jumped in.
“I knew it was fake all along but you wouldn’t listen.”
“Shut up, Miranda!
Nobody asked for your opinion.” Kabrok turned back to Ruel.
“Listen up.
I’m willing to forgive you…
if you pay me fair compensation.
Say…” He went quiet, calculating the number that would hurt the most.
“Ten thousand kamas.”
Ruel clutched his chest as if he’d just been stabbed to the heart.
“You can’t do this to me!”
“My shop, my rules,” Kabrok replied, relishing all the suffering he caused.
“Either you pay ten thousand kamas for the map…
or you can go home.”
“Please, sir,” Yugo stepped in, trying to appeal to the merchant’s heart. Follow the newest chapters on g.com.
“I need that map to find my real family.
Couldn’t you forgive him just this once?”
“Let me think…”
Kabrok went silent.
Yugo closed his eyes and sent up a silent prayer, hoping the Gods could help him in this trying time.
Unfortunately, the gods weren’t listening to their pleas.
“NO.
You’re adventurers, right?
Then go rescue a princess or slay some dragons, and come back when you’ve got money.
In my day, a man had to work for every kama.
Kids these days want everything handed to them.”
“This boy has lost everything,” Ruel insisted.
“Isn’t there even a spark of compassion in your cold little heart?”
Yugo gave him a pleading look, but Kabrok didn’t budge.
Amalia, who’d been browsing items at the back, set everything down and joined them.
Now, they needed her help more than ever.
She opened her bag, pulled out two gold bracelets from her distant homeland, and placed them carefully on the counter.
“Will this be enough to buy the map?” she asked firmly.
“It’s real gold from the Sadida Kingdom.”
In an instant, Miranda pounced on the jewels and examined them with delight.
“They don’t seem to have any magical properties,” she said as she tried them on, “but they’re quite cute.
I’d say a thousand each.
How do they look on me, Kabrok?”
The Osamodas just let out a frustrated snort.
“You’re just like a magpie, jumping over the smallest bit of gold.
But fine…
they’re not bad.
Unfortunately for you, they’re still not enough for the map.”
A wave of disappointment fell over the group.
After such a long journey, they had to stop right before their goal due to a lack of money.
Well.
Not everyone felt the same way.
Percedal, oblivious to the drama, had been poking around the shop and burst onto the scene.
He now had a horned helmet on his head and his face was a joyful smile.
“Doesn’t this helmet look great on me?” he asked proudly.
When he saw everyone’s angry stare, his voice changed to a whimper.
“Caught you at a bad time, huh?”
As Ruel and Evangelyne angrily screamed at him, Kabrok’s trained eye saw something very interesting.
That dagger hanging from Percedal’s belt was emitting an unmistakable dark energy.
The Osamodas narrowed his eyes and approached cautiously.
“Hey, young man…
by any chance, does that dagger you’re carrying have a sealed Shushu inside?”
Before Percedal could answer, a guttural voice emerged from the weapon.
Rubilax decided to wake up.
“You bet it does, gramps.
I’m a grade-two Shushu, so you’d better bow before me or face my wrath.”
The Shushu’s threats just made Kabrok let out a chuckle.
He found exactly what he was looking for.
“A grade-two, eh?” The merchant’s eyes glistened with greed.
“And from the looks of it you have no idea just how valuable it is.
You know what, I’m willing to make a deal.
The map for that weapon.”
“Not a chance!” the knight replied.
“Rubilax is not for sale!
As a member of the Shushu Order, it’s my duty to stop these weapons from falling into the wrong hands.”
“What a pity,” Kabrok shrugged as he returned to his counter.
“Nevertheless, my offer still stands if you change your mind.
I’ll be waiting right here.”
“I won’t give it to you today, or tomorrow, or ever,” Percedal declared full of conviction.
“Even though I can’t stand that obnoxious little demon, I swore an oath never to abandon him.
I’d rather die than bring such dishonor to myself!”
The knight’s words had such conviction that the entire shop fell quiet.
Even Rubilax took a moment to react.
“Thanks, Dally,” the demon said at last, his voice surprisingly grateful.
“Your words almost made me cry.”
Without another word, Percedal turned around and left the shop, leaving behind even the helmet he’d liked so much.
Ruel didn’t bother trying to convince him.
He knew once that Iop decided on something, not even the Gods themselves could change his mind.
Now that the knight was gone, Kabrok turned to the rest of the group and said in a voice full of contempt.
“If you’re not gonna buy anything, get out of my shop.
I don’t want to waste more time with the likes of you.”
“Our shop,” Miranda corrected.
“Why do you ALWAYS have to interrupt me at the worst possible moment?!” Kabrok shouted back.
“Can’t you keep your mouth shut for just one second?!”
“I am sick and tired of you ignoring everything I do for you!
Everything, Kabrok!”
Yugo couldn’t take it anymore.
He exhaled deeply, turned, and headed for the door.
One by one, his companions followed.
Even from outside they could hear the couple screaming at each other.
Now that they had nothing else to do and felt completely exhausted, there was only one place left to go.
The tavern.
Unbeknownst to the adventurers, their presence in the village had drawn unwanted attention.
Across the street, a shadowy figure carefully watched the group enter the tavern, his eyes locked on Evangelyne.
He didn’t expect to find her in such a miserable place, and he wasn’t about to let this chance slip away.
He took one last drag from his cigar and, without a sound, followed them in.
A shadow of the past was about to catch up.