Chapter 276: Chapter 276: Sales Master Melissa_1
That day, Aiden found an opportunity to head out and once again visited the black market’s "幻之月" jewelry store.
Today, not only was 幻之月 open for business, but there were also customers inside when Aiden pushed the door open and entered.
"... I recommend this sapphire ring, the color of the ocean. For someone about to set sail, there couldn’t be a more suitable piece of jewelry," Melissa, who was ostensibly just an employee but in fact the owner of this jewelry store, was recommending merchandise to a customer.
"Speaking of which, I have heard friends say that sapphires can bring the blessing of water..." the customer, looking like a lady of standing, asked with shining eyes.
The fortune-telling service at 幻之月 was said to be quite accurate, so popular that one needed to make an appointment in advance. For customers aware of its reputation, this store was probably already considered an authority in the field of mysticism.
"Regrettably, that’s just superstition," Melissa bluntly replied.
Aiden couldn’t help feeling a bit surprised on the side, noting that ordinary salespeople would be thrilled to have their customers duped, but Melissa quite contradicted this practice.
"Eh? This..." the customer was momentarily at a loss for words.
"It’s something the manager explained to me before, there’s no need for our store to use such deceptive methods to sell things," Melissa said calmly, "Jewelry that can directly change one’s luck simply doesn’t exist."
"Then why are you recommending I buy this?" the customer’s brow furrowed.
"Since you’re simply looking for a gift, all you need to do is imbue the gift with sufficient meaning. Sapphire may not really bring the blessing of water, but the notion itself has significance—it’s enough that your husband understands your intentions," Melissa continued her sales pitch unruffled, "And furthermore..."
The customer, upon hearing this, slightly relaxed her furrowed brows and waited patiently for Melissa to finish her statement.
"You’ve specifically booked a fortune-telling session for your husband and chosen such an expensive piece of jewelry for him, you and your husband must have a very happy life together, but it seems like you aren’t wearing a matching ring..." Melissa’s gaze shifted toward the woman’s hands.
"Well, we were quite strapped for cash when we got married..." the woman said somewhat awkwardly, rubbing the back of her hand, "By the time we made some money, we were older and it seemed unnecessary."
"It’s quite necessary, you know. Your husband is about to travel to the Northern Islands for business, and he probably won’t return for ten days to half a month. I’m certainly not doubting your husband, but having him wear a ring on the proper finger greatly reduces the likelihood of attracting unwanted attention," Melissa smiled, "This type of ring also has a matching design, and if you purchase them together, I can offer you a little discount."
The woman obviously was tempted, and after hesitating for a while, she finally purchased the pair of rings, paid for them, and left with her items.
"That’s some impressive salesmanship," Aiden clapped his hands in applause after the customer left the shop.
"After all, a jewelry store needs to make money too," Melissa immediately reverted to her mature tone.
"Was this also accomplished with ’fortune-telling’?" Aiden inquired.
"Why use a cleaver to kill a chicken?" Melissa shrugged. "This is something that can be easily done with just a tiny bit of the information revealed and a slight analysis of the other person’s psychology."
"But actually, when she asked about the stone bringing blessings, you could have just nodded and sold the ring, right?"
"This customer didn’t hold a very profound belief in the idea that gems can change fortunes. Even if I had nodded and let her believe, should she run into any misfortune later on, that belief would be shattered immediately, and she wouldn’t come back to my store to buy jewelry anymore."
"So you chose to tell her the truth?"
"That was also to establish a firmer ’belief,’ to make her think that she had determined through her own reflection that what I sold her was of corresponding value. Should she need anything in the future, she will come back to my store to buy jewelry," Melissa explained. "Establishing ’belief’ to guide the other party isn’t just about deceiving with lies; judicious use of the truth is also a path... Sometimes, this method is more efficient."
"I see, I’ve learned something new," Aiden replied with a polite smile.
This diviner, as well as the goddess imprisoned underground, probably guided and manipulated his actions in a similar way, through "partial truths" they revealed.
"Were you just wondering if we’re doing the same to you?" the diviner suddenly asked.
Aiden didn’t deny it, merely shrugged his shoulders; there was no point in trying to hide his thoughts from Melissa.
"You came to see me today because you’ve figured out something about the prophecy I gave you before, right?" Melissa sought confirmation from him.
"So it was indeed you who arranged it all?" Aiden finally voiced the purpose of his visit.
He had come to confirm whether the "coincidence" of the progenitor sharing information and Annie Drake’s sudden arrest and transfer to Rose Iron Prison were the result of Melissa pulling the strings behind the scenes.
If all this had indeed been orchestrated, the only person Aiden could think of who would arrange to bring ultimate authority to his doorstep in such a way was Melifilia.
Melifilia couldn’t act in the outside world, but Melissa could freely carry out her will. Moreover, during the time when the Reaper’s proxy and Kael were active in Silvertown, Melissa "coincidentally" closed her shop to travel far away.
"Correct. It was I who contacted the progenitor to share information with you, and I also commissioned him to capture that female pirate and hand her over to the Empire for trial," Melissa admitted openly. "That way, ultimate authority would naturally come before you, no need to thank me."
"I must say I’m quite pleased with that, but only if that ultimate authority doesn’t come with a criminal who’s preparing to break out of prison," Aiden spread his hands. "If you were preparing to help me, why not... just take the authority and give it directly to me?"
"Since you could guess that I arranged all this, you should also be able to guess how I would respond," Melissa narrowed her eyes.
"So, I still have to figure it out on my own..." Aiden sighed.
"Don’t be so lazy, Aiden Galahad. Since you have been chosen by my lord, you should try to please my lord. Only by passing my lord’s test will you be worthy of receiving the corresponding authority as a reward," Melissa pointed at Aiden, her voice growing stern. "If you can’t even please my lord, you might as well have died at that man’s hands."
"At the very least..." Aiden tried to negotiate with her, "could you give me some useful hints?"
With matters related to authority, one cannot afford to be overly concerned about dignity or propriety. Since he had determined that Melissa was orchestrating everything, any useful information he could pry from her was better than none.
After pondering for a while, Melissa spoke, "Then I shall tell you three weaknesses of the Wordless Code."
Aiden immediately pricked up his ears.
He heard Melissa continue slowly, "First, those who have not approached the ’Order’ authority can only write three rules a day on it. Second, the rules also apply to the writer involuntarily. Lastly, rules on the Wordless Code cannot directly target the Code itself."
