Chapter 297: Harper
Harper’s voice was calm, almost detached, as he gestured toward the cages. "Looking for food?" he asked simply.
The trio nodded... their faceless masks didn’t bother the man, and from the way he was looking at them, it even seemed as if he could see through their helmets.
Mei stepped forward. "Yes. Chickens... eggs. We’ve been searching all day."
"You’ve come to the right place... I’m Harper, a very normal merchant."
That was a suspicious introduction, but the three didn’t bother to comment about it.
Harper studied them for a moment, his hands still resting on the half‑finished wooden figure. His aura was strange... not like a merchant’s, but more like a warrior’s.
He carried himself with confidence, as though this stall was merely a pastime.
"These aren’t for medals," Harper said firmly. "I don’t trade in your currency."
Claire tilted her head. "Not for Survivor Medals? Then what do you want?"
Harper relaxed in his chair as his gaze drifted toward the cages.
"Entertainment. Items that bring joy. Music, games, instruments, toys. Things that remind people they’re alive... Something like that."
Marissa blinked. "Entertainment? Not weapons? Not serums?"
"Wait? How is it possible that you’re not accepting Medals?" Mei was curious.
Harper’s lips curved faintly. "First of all... Our clan has no use for weapons or serums. My clan values those items I mentioned more than steel. As for accepting other things instead of Survivor Medals, it’s only possible since we are the Eclipse Revenant... We come from beyond this realm..."
The trio exchanged glances. This was unlike anything they had encountered. Every stall in the Auction Realm revolved around Survivor Medals, yet Harper stood apart, demanding something entirely different.
Mei’s voice trembled with excitement. "We can get that. Our leader... Kai... he has items like that."
Harper’s eyes sharpened. "Then bring him. I will stay here for you all..."
At that moment, Mei’s message was sent to Kai.
[ Mei: Kai, we found something. Claire, Marissa, and I stumbled across a farmer selling chickens. Real chickens. Eggs, Kai... eggs! ]
...
[ Kai: Hold him there. Don’t let anyone else take the deal. I’ll bring what he wants. ]
***
Back at the stall, Harper’s gaze lingered on the trio. "If your leader truly has what I seek, then make sure that he has plenty of them... My products aren’t cheap."
Claire chuckled and nodded at him... "He’s coming. You’ll see."
Harper nodded and just like that, he resumed carving, his hands were moving steadily and soon, he was able to move faster...
As he had gotten used to it, the wooden figure took shape .... It was a small bird, wings spread, as if ready to fly.
"Perfect..." Harper muttered.
His calmness contrasted sharply with the chaos of the market around them.
Survivors passing by slowed, staring at the cages of chickens and baskets of eggs. Soon, whispers spread quickly.
"Chickens? Real chickens?"
"Eggs... I haven’t seen eggs in months."
"Why isn’t anyone buying them?"
"He’s not taking medals. He wants... entertainment items?"
Confusion rippled through the crowd.
Some scoffed at the strange deal while others lingered... Still, none dared to approach. Harper’s aura was too imposing, his rules too strange.
Mei, Claire, and Marissa stood firm, guarding the stall until Kai arrived.
Minutes later, Kai pushed through the crowd, his black visor gleaming under the faint lights. Survivors parted instinctively...
"It must be the Dark Guild."
"Interesting Guild. I wonder if they’re recruiting members?"
"You want to join them?"
"Well... Look. They have amazing gear with them. They must be really rich."
Kai ignored them, his focus locked on Harper.
He stepped forward and nodded at the three women who had found this stall hidden
"I hear you’re not interested in medals," Kai said evenly.
Harper looked up, his crimson‑tinged eyes meeting Kai’s. "Correct. I want items used for entertainment... They’ll be useful for our clan. Show me what you have."
Kai raised his hand, and with a flick of his hand, he had taken out several items from his Entertainment Gift Packs...
Needless to say, they were from Basic, Enhanced, and Superior Entertainment Gift Packs.
[ Entertainment Gift Pack (Basic)
Contents: playing cards, a journal, books, and a harmonica. ]
[ Entertainment Gift Pack (Enhanced)
Contents: durable board game set, illustrated books and guides, portable music player set, and sketch pad with pencils. ]
[ Entertainment Gift Pack (Superior)
Contents: media tablet with stored library, random musical instrument, group board game set, music player with speakers, creative kit, and offline knowledge archive. ]
Harper’s eyes widened slightly, the first crack in his calm demeanor.
He reached out, touching one of the items from the superior packs. His aura shifted... It was his curiosity mingling with satisfaction.
"These... these are perfect," Harper murmured. "Music, games, stories... my clan will value these."
Kai’s voice was firm. "Then let’s trade. Chickens, eggs, breeding pairs. I want sustainability. My shelters need this."
Harper studied him for a long moment, then nodded.
"You will have them. In exchange, I want a fair mix of what you’ve shown... the cards and books, the board games, the music player, and one of those tablets with the library. Give me a set that covers all kinds of entertainment."
Kai smirked. "Fair."
Soon, the two negotiated the number of livestock they could get, including the feed.
It didn’t take that long before the deal was struck.
Harper gestured, and the cages shimmered faintly. The chickens and baskets of eggs were transferred into Kai’s inventory, neatly stored for transport.
The crowd erupted in murmurs.
"He actually traded!"
"Chickens... eggs... he secured them!"
"That outsider... Harper... he’s real."
Harper leaned back, with his wooden bird complete.
He handed it to Kai. "A token. Remember this trade. The Eclipse Revenant Clan does not deal lightly... You deserve it."
Kai accepted it. He had no idea what this figurine could do, but he nodded. "I’ll remember."
Harper’s smile was faint, but it was genuine. "Then we will meet again. Perhaps next time, I’ll ask for something rarer..."
As soon as he said this, Harper disappeared like he was never there...
Even the small shop disappeared, and there were no traces left whatsoever!
