Thorwyn let out a startled yelp, his ears perking up in shock.
"Grr?! (Me?!)"
He had been staying quiet this entire time, not wanting to cause any trouble while Sol negotiated, but he didn't expect to suddenly be dragged into the conversation.
While Thorwyn was still flustered, not understanding why she would want him, Sol didn't hesitate with his answer.
"No."
His voice was sharp and straight to the point.
"No matter the price, I won't sell Thorwyn. He isn't my property. Even if you offered me a legendary item or even ten legendary items, that isn't an option."
Madeline quickly understood from his tone that she angered him and apologized, "I'm sorry, I spoke out of place. That wasn't my intention."
Sol didn't respond immediately, his gaze still fixed on her, waiting for clarification.
"I'll admit," she continued, "having an A-Rank beast would be incredibly useful, but I wasn't referring to keeping him."
She paused to tap her pipe against the side of the podium, letting the ashes fall before turning back to Sol.
"I wasn't talking about him. I meant parts of him, and more specifically, his fur."
"…His fur?" Sol repeated, his irritation giving way to confusion.
Madeline nodded. "My law technique isn't just limited to seeing the value of items—it lets me see the value of every living being too and what makes them valuable. Think of it as a higher version of [Analysis] in that respect, only that instead of skills, attributes and talents, I can see their value in categories like information, connections, wealth, power, and even the worth of their body parts."
She leaned slightly against the podium, exhaling another puff of smoke.
"And the moment I laid eyes on him, I knew—every part of his body is a treasure worth a small fortune, especially his legs."
Thorwyn took a step back, a little scared of being seen in such a way.
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"Still," Madeline continued, "I knew asking for everything would be unreasonable. What I really want is just his fur."
She gestured toward Thorwyn.
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"All of his fur combined has a value of 23,000 gold."
Sol's eyebrows rose slightly at the number.
"That much?"
Madeline nodded. "You have no idea. His fur can be used to produce all sorts of unique items. Cloaks woven with his fur would provide natural lightning resistance, or it could be threaded into boots that provide powerful movement skills. It can even be used as a supplemental material in the production of legendary items. Which is what truly makes it so valuable."
She let the words settle before adding, "Honestly, I'd be making my investment back if I traded the Mimic Eye of Learning for his fur."
Sol's relaxed as he heard her offer which was more reasonable, but he still looked uncertain.
"Even if it grows back, I don't like the idea of stripping him bald."
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Thorwyn's reaction was much more apparent. His fur bristled, and he let out a distressed whine.
"Awooooo!" (I don't wanna be bald! My fur keeps me warm!)
Sol glanced at him, then turned back to Madeline. "He's not exactly excited about the idea."
Madeline smiled softly. "I understand his concerns. But with his A-Rank vitality, his fur would grow back in just a few days." She took another puff from her pipe. "If it helps, I'm even willing to throw in a hair growth potion to speed up the process. But keep in mind—while it would regrow faster, the new fur wouldn't have the same vitality and power from his law technique coursing through it. It won't be as valuable as it is now for some time."
Thorwyn considered this for a moment before letting out a small whimper. "Grrr…" (But I like my fur the way it is…) His ears flattened against his head, not for the idea of shaving all his fur even if it's for a day or two.
Sol let out a small sigh. As much as he wanted the Mimic Eye of Learning, he knew Thorwyn didn't care much for the item and was clearly unwilling to be shaved for it. Not wanting to force or pressure him into accepting, Sol conveyed his answer.
"Sorry, but he doesn't want to give up his fur."
Madeline exhaled another slow stream of smoke, her eyes still watching Thorwyn with curiosity.
"Well, that's a shame," she murmured. But despite the rejection, there was no disappointment in her voice—if anything, she seemed amused and wanted to try even harder to convince them to accept the deal.
Then, as if a new thought struck her, she smirked.
"Though… I have to ask, is it because you don't gain anything out of the trade?"
Thorwyn's ears perked up slightly.
"Grr?" (Huh?)
Madeline's smirk widened as she turned back toward the vault, walking past several podiums before stopping in front of one. She picked up a small ornate box, carried it back to them, and opened it.
Inside was a dark, sleek choker made of black leather and silver, adorned with a swirling tornado emblem at the center.
Sol used [Analysis].
[Storm Champion's Embrace
Unique
Skill:
[Storm Bringer] Lv 8]
[[Storm Bringer] Lv 8: Calls down a raging storm as long as there is an open sky above the user. Lightning descends randomly across the battlefield, causing widespread area of effect damage. While the storm rages, all lightning based abilities are significantly enhanced. Duration: 30 minutes. Cooldown: 5 hours]
Sol's eyebrows rose slightly. As expected of someone with her wealth, she had something for every client.
He turned to Thorwyn and explained the effects.
Thorwyn's tail twitched as his eyes locked onto the choker, his previous reluctance momentarily forgotten.
"Awoo… (That sounds… really good…)"
Madeline could tell all she needed to know from Thorwyn's expression and let out a small chuckle. "I'd have to get it adjusted for someone of your size, but that's not a problem."
"What do you say Thorwyn? Do you want it?" Sol asked, but didn't press further, watching Thorwyn as he considered it.
Thorwyn's fur bristled slightly as he debated internally, glancing between Sol, Madeline, and the items.
Then, after a long silence, he let out a sharp bark, shaking his head.
"Grrr!" (I don't want to be bald!)
Sol chuckled. "Most people would gladly shave their entire bodies for what's being offered, you know?"
Thorwyn let out a grumble, not changing his mind.
Madeline exhaled through her nose, not looking particularly surprised. "Well, can't say I didn't try."
For a moment, it seemed like that was the end of it. Sol was about to thank her for the discussion and take his leave when Madeline's lips curled into a mischievous smile.
"But… what if I told you that you could get both items for free?"
Both Sol and Thorwyn turned their full attention to her.
Thorwyn tilted his head. "Hyyu? (Free?)"
Sol narrowed his eyes slightly. "What's the catch?"
Madeline leaned against the podium, taking a slow drag from her pipe before exhaling.
"A bet."
Thorwyn blinked. "Grrr?" (Whats a bet?)
Sol glanced at him, then explained, "It's like a game. If you win, you get something. If you lose, the other person gets something from you."
Thorwyn's eyes lit up with understanding.
"Ooooh! Awooo! (Oh! Sounds fun!)"
Sol let out a small laugh. "Hold on, we don't even know the rules of the bet yet."
Madeline's smirk widened. "It's simple. A fight."
Thorwyn's tail wagged excitedly. "Grrr! (I never lose fights!)"
Sol sighed, resisting the urge to remind him that the first and last fight he lost had ended with him losing, but he didn't want to embarrass him in front of Madeline.
Still, Madeline had skillfully maneuvered the conversation to get Thorwyn to accept before he even realized it.
Sol gave her a knowing look. "You played him like a fiddle."
She grinned. "I am a merchant, after all. Negotiation is our battlefield."
Sol shook his head but didn't argue. Losing the bet still meant they got the items—it was basically a win-win. Only that one of those wins ended with Thorwyn being bald.
He crossed his arms. "Alright. Who's he fighting?"
Madeline's smirk remained as she said, "It's not a who, but what."