Chapter 498 Deal

Xia Nan really wanted this [Proof of Diligence] bracelet.

No adventurer could resist equipment that increased training speed. This was especially true for Xia Nan, who possessed an Attribute Panel that quantified his combat technique progression with a numerical progress bar. Watching every point of proficiency accumulate made the temptation practically overwhelming.

Given that premise, the situation before him was actually quite clear.

The [Proof of Diligence] was not ownerless.

It was a collection piece belonging to Auriel Silverheart, a renowned collector in Barracuda Bay.

There were only two ways to transfer the bracelet's ownership to himself.

Robbery, or purchase.

Regarding the former, Xia Nan had never considered himself a particularly noble figure, nor did he parade himself as a traditionally good person. Since transmigrating, his actions had often been driven by self-interest.

However, the moral compass ingrained in him by a modern education meant that even if he considered himself selfish, he still stood out in stark contrast to the scumbags dominating this world's bottom-tier adventurer community.

Without a solid moral foundation and comprehensive education, very few could maintain their humanity after grasping transcendent power far beyond that of ordinary people.

To some extent, the fact that Xia Nan treated passing villagers the same way he treated the professional adventurers in the Blade of Vengeance Fleet was enough to highlight the difference between him and the vast majority of bottom-tier adventurers.

Unless Auriel explicitly showed hostility and launched an unprovoked attack, Xia Nan didn't plan to resort to theft. He instinctively rejected the idea.

Of course, if the half-elf really lost his mind... Xia Nan wouldn't mind claiming the bracelet as spoils of war.

Therefore, as things stood, his only option for getting the [Proof of Diligence] from Auriel was to buy it.

But this brought up another issue.

Had the other party realized the value of this equipment?

Based on Auriel's earlier explanation of the [Proof of Diligence]'s origins, he had paid less than 1,000 gold to acquire it.

In reality, judging by the bracelet's attributes on the panel, a price tag of 10,000 gold would still be considered a massive steal.

Under these circumstances, if Auriel understood its true value, the amount of gold Xia Nan would need to buy it would be an unimaginable figure.

What he currently had on him definitely wouldn't be enough.

Even with his high earning efficiency, he would still need to spend a long time grinding for money before he could barely scrape enough together.

Naturally, considering the importance of the [Proof of Diligence], it would all be worth it.

Xia Nan hadn't ruled out using his own equipment as collateral.

But the few pieces of gear that could fetch a decent price were all primary items he relied on in combat. Losing even one would drastically weaken his actual combat strength.

This was unacceptable.

Thus, barring extreme necessity, he wouldn't consider trading in his gear.

But what if Auriel hadn't realized the value of the [Proof of Diligence]?

If he still viewed the bracelet as an item not even worth 1,000 gold, something he had collected purely for its craftsmanship...

Didn't that mean Xia Nan had a chance to pick it up for a steal?

A point had to be made clear.

This was only Xia Nan and Auriel's second meeting. They had known each other for barely a day. They couldn't even be considered friends, let alone comrades who had fought side by side through life and death.

Scoring a bargain at the half-elf's expense might carry some moral pressure, but not much.

And factoring in the absurd attributes of the [Proof of Diligence]...

Xia Nan weighed his options, but he didn't make an immediate decision.

Instead, he slowly raised his head, shifting his gaze from the bracelet beneath the glass to the half-elf watching him.

"This bracelet doesn't seem complete," he prompted tentatively.

Even without the Attribute Panel, one could spot this just by observing carefully.

The outer curve of the [Proof of Diligence] featured exactly nine evenly spaced ring holes.

If they had all been empty, one might assume they were purely decorative.

But one of them currently held a teardrop-shaped [Dust of Swaying Shadows] charm.

It naturally made one wonder if the other eight holes were meant to hold ornaments as well.

"Oh?" Auriel raised an eyebrow, his polite, aristocratic smile gaining a touch of genuine warmth. "You noticed? I actually asked that down-and-out adventurer about it back then. He told me the bracelet was a family heirloom, and that it was already like this when he got his hands on it."

The half-elf paused and let out a soft chuckle. "Heh, he was probably lying. I had him investigated later. He was a grassroots adventurer with no fallen noble lineage to speak of; his parents were peasant farmers. He likely looted this bracelet from some unknown monster's den. Pity that by the time I found out, he had already died on an adventure, and the trail went cold right there."

Xia Nan nodded thoughtfully. Mind racing, he asked in a casual tone, as if in passing, "Have you ever worn it? How does it feel?"

The half-elf didn't seem to notice anything amiss. Taking it as idle chatter, he replied, "Its effect speeds up stamina recovery. But as you know, while I am a collector, I used to work as an appraiser. Even when I go out to sea, I hire guards and rarely fight. To me, its collection value far outweighs its practical value. It just has to suffer being kept under glass."

Auriel smoothly changed the subject, his silver-gray eyes locking onto Xia Nan. "You seem very interested in it."

Xia Nan's face remained impassive, but his heart skipped a beat.

Realizing the critical moment had arrived, his mind raced to figure out what to say next.

'Should I conceal my motives a bit more? Would it be too abrupt to expose my intentions?'

'Did he identify the bracelet's true attributes? Was he just probing me?'

'How can I phrase this without offending him?'

'Will he sell it to me? How much should I offer?'

In that instant, the chaotic tangle of thoughts almost made his head explode.

Three seconds.

In reality, it was barely enough time to take a deep breath.

For Xia Nan, however, it was long enough for countless thoughts to flash through his mind.

He knew that overthinking usually led to mistakes.

He specialized in Perception, after all.

In situations like this, acting on his first instinct might be the right choice.

Pausing, his expression remained steady as he let out a slow breath.

He met the half-elf's gaze.

Dispelling his stray thoughts, he answered with absolute candor. "Yes. I am indeed very interested in this bracelet."

"Why?" Auriel's gaze swept over Xia Nan's equipment with an amused look. "Is it because of the stamina recovery effect? You shouldn't be lacking in that regard."

Xia Nan didn't completely hide his reasoning, but he held enough back to avoid exposing his Attribute Panel golden finger.

"The stamina recovery... might be part of it," Xia Nan replied. "But primarily, my instincts are telling me not to miss out on this bracelet. With my Perception, I suspect it might have other special effects."

The smile on Auriel's face grew more genuine, and a glint of amusement flickered in his eyes.

"Heh, I appreciate your admiration," Auriel said. "It seems we both have good taste. It's just a pity. At least for now, I have no intention of selling it."

Auriel's great-grandfather was a high elf. His family had operated in Barracuda Bay for years, amassing immense wealth and even owning a large auction house. He wasn't short on money, and he certainly wasn't going to sell a favored collection piece just for gold coins he couldn't spend anyway.

Unless he grew tired of an item himself, no one could buy anything from him.

"But..." the half-elf dragged out the word, intentionally keeping him in suspense.

He then pivoted to another topic entirely.

"The craftsmanship on your armor is quite nice. It cost you a lot, didn't it?"

"It wasn't cheap." Xia Nan wasn't in a hurry either, patiently following the topic. "I had it custom-made at [Pearl Spun Yarn] and waited days for it."

"Heh, Celianne's craftsmanship is among the best in Barracuda Bay. I often order custom clothing from his shop, though the prices are never pretty," Auriel replied with a smile, evidently acquainted with the obsessive-compulsive tailor.

"However, your Arm Shield and leggings don't look like coastal craftsmanship."

"Cloudclimb Province, Rivervale Town. I commissioned a blacksmith to forge them at a shop called 'Rockhammer'. They cost me a lot as well."

"'Rockhammer'... The owner is named Barn, right?"

"Oh? You know him?"

"No, no. I've just heard his name from other adventurers hailing from Rivervale Town. I know he's an outstanding craftsman."

Barracuda Bay and Rivervale Town were both major adventuring hubs with Association branches. Adventurers traveled between them frequently, so despite the distance, information flowed freely. Anyone who cared to ask could easily learn a thing or two about the notable figures in either region.

If someone went to the Three-Legged Sea Dog right now and asked around, they might even find adventurers who had heard the moniker "Greysword"—they just wouldn't know that "Sea Fang" and "Greysword" were the same person.

Auriel had handled far too much enchanted equipment in his life, and he had seen countless adventurers, both strong and weak.

Judging an adventurer's strength based on their equipment was second nature to him.

He could even deduce hidden details just by observing a person's demeanor and habits.

Take Xia Nan, for example.

The two longswords on his back, along with his armor, leggings, and Arm Shield, were his outward facade.

Unless they were highly experienced like the half-elf, an ordinary person would never spot the true indicators of his strength and hidden trump cards.

In the brief time they had spent together, Auriel had realized that this young, black-haired man was a highly pragmatic Class Holder.

He disdained excessive decoration, and his clothing choices prioritized rugged durability for the wilderness.

Given that, Auriel didn't think a person like him would waste effort on his appearance like a noble from the White Cliff District.

Yet despite this, Xia Nan was visibly wearing two rings and a necklace.

It was an anomaly that only stood out if one understood his personality.

A single piece of jewelry might be a keepsake, but for someone so pragmatic to wear three accessories at once left only one possibility.

—They were enchanted.

Possessing that many enchanted items at once was already proof of an adventurer's strength.

Not to mention having the Blade of Vengeance Fleet as backing, along with the "Sea Fang" moniker that had recently been circulating through Barracuda Bay...

"Earlier at the Association, I heard you mention the Ebb Tide Gang. How much do you know about them?"

Auriel changed topics abruptly, jumping straight from Xia Nan's equipment to the Ebb Tide Gang.

Still focused on the [Proof of Diligence], Xia Nan didn't know why the half-elf was bringing this up, but he answered based on what he'd learned.

"They're a mid-sized gang in the Saltwater District. They've been quite active lately, expanding to fill a power vacuum in the neighboring areas."

"Why? Did they offend you?"

Auriel's expression faltered, making Xia Nan's heart stir.

'Could it be...'

"I have a shipment." The half-elf collector fell silent for a moment before speaking. "It contains several pieces I commissioned people to gather across the Southern Archipelagos. It was supposed to arrive in Barracuda Bay half a month ago, but they ran into pirates... I've looked into it over the past few days. These pirates have deep ties to the Ebb Tide Gang, and their lair is on a small island near Barracuda Bay."

No wonder Auriel's posture had stiffened when Lorraine brought up the Ebb Tide Gang in the meeting room. He was already entangled with them.

"How do you plan to deal with it?"

'Or rather, how do you want me to help you?'

Xia Nan thought, glancing at the [Proof of Diligence] inside the glass case.

"Help me bring my stolen shipment back to Barracuda Bay, and teach them—both those reckless pirates and the rats in the Ebb Tide Gang—a profound lesson."

Tap—

Auriel placed his palm lightly on the glass display case, producing a crisp sound.

"Then, we can discuss the price for this necklace."

"Deal."