Chapter 92: Recycle?

Chapter 92: Chapter 92: Recycle?

Seraphina Sinclair crouched down, her gaze sweeping over the displayed goods.

The first row was lined with ordinary supplies: compressed biscuits, mineral water, Bandages...

Just as the little girl had said, they were the most basic survival items.

Her eyes moved further back. The second row was where the interesting things began to appear.

Black Fog Crystals, Sunshine Crystals, and Blood Moon Crystals, along with a few potions of a strange color.

"What are these?" Seraphina Sinclair pointed to a few bottles of liquid glowing with a faint blue light.

"Spirit Resistance Potions," the little girl said, puffing out her chest proudly. "They let you temporarily resist Spiritual Pollution. Super useful for you right now on The Misty Path! Only 50 Black Fog Coins a bottle!"

’50 Black Fog Coins?’

Seraphina Sinclair hesitated for a moment, then asked, "Can I get a closer look?"

The other party clearly knew what she meant and actually pulled a panel right out of the item for Seraphina Sinclair to see.

[Spirit Resistance Potion (F-level)]

[Description: Formulated from pure dewdrops extracted from the mist and Moonlight Grass Root Stems, it presents as a liquid with a faint blue luster. After consumption, it significantly increases resistance to spiritual-type pollution for 30 minutes and slightly alleviates symptoms of existing spiritual Erosion. The effects of multiple doses do not stack, but the duration can be extended.]

[Side Effect: A slight dizziness will be felt for 5-10 minutes after the effect wears off.]

[Expiration Date: 30 days (date of concoction is engraved on the bottom of the bottle)]

[Price: 50 Black Fog Coins/bottle]

’It only works for 30 minutes?’

’Too much of a luxury...’

Seraphina Sinclair fell silent and simply closed the panel.

She had her Protective Clothing, so she didn’t need it.

However, she was still lacking those few types of crystals. They were placed in the same row as the potions, so they should be the same price, but Seraphina Sinclair asked anyway.

"How much for the Black Fog Crystals?"

"50 Black Fog Coins for a set!"

’A set?’

Seraphina Sinclair paused. She thought they were being sold bundled with other items and asked for more details.

The little girl wasn’t annoyed in the slightest. She explained with a beaming smile, "Two in a set. For 50 Black Fog Coins, you can get two Black Fog Crystals."

’So that’s 25 Black Fog Coins for one?’

’That’s ridiculously expensive.’

To craft the Water Dragon Roar, she needed more than just 100 Essence Crystals. By the time she gathered all the other materials, she would surely have enough Essence Crystals, so there was no need to spend Black Fog Coins on this.

Seraphina Sinclair shook her head and asked the question that mattered most to her: "Do you have any items that permanently increase Attributes?"

The little girl’s eyes lit up. "Of course!"

She deftly pulled a small box from the back row. "Attribute fruits! Eating one permanently increases a designated attribute by 5 points. 1000 Black Fog Coins each!"

Seraphina Sinclair only had 1569 Black Fog Coins in total. If she were to buy this, she could only afford one.

’No need to rush. I’ll check the specific description first.’

The other girl seemed to know what she was thinking. She brought up the panel directly, raised her chin at Seraphina Sinclair, and said, "Look all you want. They’re absolutely genuine."

Of course Seraphina Sinclair was going to look.

[Attribute Fruit]

[Description: A special item with no level classification. This strange fruit grows in the core region of The Black Mist World. Its exterior is crystal clear, and energy patterns corresponding to its attribute flow within. Consumption permanently increases a designated base attribute (Strength/Speed/Constitution/Intelligence) by 5 points. A maximum of four can be consumed! A ripe fruit emits a faint, sweet fragrance.]

[Remark: "One fruit, a leap to the heavens!" But remember, the greedy often get lost in the Black Mist.]

[Price: 1000 Black Fog Coins/each]

The item was fine, but... the price was a bit too steep.

Seraphina Sinclair frowned and tried to haggle. "1000 Black Fog Coins is too expensive. I heard from other merchants that these fruits usually go for 800. You’re actually charging 1000!"

Of course, that was a lie, but when it came to haggling...

...it was a basic move.

The little girl’s eyes immediately went wide, her small face flushing red with anger. "Nonsense! What swindler would dare to ruin the market prices! We at the Traveling Merchants’ Alliance have standardized pricing!"

She huffily started to pull the box back. "If you’re not buying, fine! I’ll sell it to someone else!"

’As if anyone else could afford it.’

Seraphina Sinclair’s hand firmly pressed down on the little girl’s arm. A confident smile appeared on her face. "Don’t be so hasty. Haggling is part of doing business. Do I look like someone who’s short on cash?"

The little girl eyed her suspiciously. Her gaze swept over the Silver Moon Earrings on Seraphina’s ears, and her pouty expression relaxed slightly. "Fine... 950. That’s the lowest I can go!"

"600," Seraphina Sinclair countered crisply.

"Impossible!" the little girl shrieked, jumping to her feet. "Are you even trying to bargain? You don’t actually want to buy it, do you?"

’I do want it...’

’I actually want two.’

’It’s just that I can’t afford the original price.’

’Besides... survivors don’t really have a way of getting Black Fog Coins, do they?’

At least, the Black Fog Coins Seraphina Sinclair currently had were all obtained from other survivors.

She leisurely poured 1,500 Black Fog Coins out of her Silver Moon Earrings, creating a glittering mound on the stone table.

"See? I’m a serious buyer." Seraphina Sinclair toyed with the Black Fog Coins with her fingertip, the metallic clinking crisp and pleasant. "But I need at least two fruits. How about you give me a fair price?"

The little girl stared at the pile of Black Fog Coins, her eyes wide and fixated.

She bit her lip, conflicted for a long moment, then suddenly fished another small wooden box from the depths of her cloth bag. "Two... for 1800! That’s the absolute lowest price I can offer!"

"1200," Seraphina Sinclair cut her off, simultaneously gesturing as if to gather up the Black Fog Coins. "That’s the most I’ll pay."

"Are you crazy?!" The little girl stomped her foot in frustration. "That doesn’t even cover the cost! It has to be at least 1500!"

Seraphina Sinclair immediately agreed. "Alright, 1500 it is. Take the Black Fog Coins and give me the items."

The little girl’s expression froze instantly, her eyes wide as saucers as if she’d suddenly realized she’d fallen into a trap. Her small hands clutched the wooden box tightly, her knuckles turning white, and her lips trembled slightly. "You... you tricked me!"

She puffed up her cheeks angrily, like a frightened kitten, but her eyes couldn’t help but dart toward the pile of Black Fog Coins.

Seraphina Sinclair reached out with a smile, her fingertip tapping lightly on the wooden box. "1500, for two fruits. Also..."

"Do you buy things?"

Seraphina Sinclair had a few theories about how to obtain Black Fog Coins.

If she could get supplies from a Traveling Merchant, could she also sell supplies to one?

It was a very common trope.

The little girl nodded, then said, "Of course we do, but the prices are a little lower."

She pointed to the Black Fog Crystals on her stall. "Take these, for example. I sell them for 25 Black Fog Coins each, but if I’m buying them back, it’s only 20 Black Fog Coins."

That was normal, too.

’This girl is a merchant, after all. Of course she aims to make a profit.’

What Seraphina Sinclair wanted to sell, of course, wasn’t these materials, but the runes she had drawn.

She pulled a Fire Drawing Rune from her Silver Moon Earrings and asked, "This thing, how many Black Fog Coins would you give me for it?"