Hunter Academy: Revenge of the Weakest novel Chapter 35

Chapter 35 Chapter 9.3 - Black Market

'This place was not in the game.' That thought entered my brain immediately after seeing the store.

It was a store that I was seeing for the first time. I knew this place quite well since I visited this place quite frequently while playing the game, and my memory was good, so I was sure.

Then the memories of the game came. The way the stores were scattered around made me remember the store, which was supposed to be here normally, after comparing the neighboring stores with the original.

"Ah, right….There was another store here…Though they were scammers too." I mumbled.

Deciding to check it off, I entered the store.

As usual, it was a simple and same-store filled with swords, bows, etc. However, my eyes didn't miss the small tucks of dust and the neglected-looking weapons.

'This place is going to be closed.'

I immediately concluded. It was obvious from the information before my eyes, and the information came from the game.

After all, a store that was neglected, coupled with a bunch of signs of attacking, I knew this store was on the verge of being closed.

In any case, as I perused through the selection, my eyes landed on a sleek handgun tucked away in a glass case.

It was like any other gun I had seen in the market, but at the same time, it was not. The craftsmanship was exquisite, and the design seemed to fit my hand perfectly. I could feel a strange connection to it as if the gun was calling out to me. It was probably the design since even though it was a handgun, it also felt aesthetic.

Pitch black color all over the pistol, but small engravings were over there, even though they were also pitch black colored.

Curious, I gestured to the store owner, a middle-aged man with a weary expression, to unlock the glass case. He was reading a book with a tired expression, like he wanted to get away from here as soon as possible.

He obliged, seeming surprised that someone was showing genuine interest in the gun.

"Ah, that one's a special piece, kid. Not many people appreciate its worth," he said, his voice tinged with nostalgia.

I picked up the gun, testing its weight and grip. It felt natural in my hand as if it was meant to be an extension of my arm. "What's the story behind this gun?"

The store owner sighed. "It's a custom-made piece forged by a master blacksmith who used to run this store. He poured his heart and soul into creating it, but then... well, he disappeared."

"Disappeared?" I raised an eyebrow.

"Yes," the owner continued, "He got mixed up with the wrong crowd. The villainous types who wanted to exploit his talents. They threatened him and forced him to create weapons for their nefarious schemes. But when he refused, they threatened him more, and then he vanished without a trace, leaving me here all alone."

"And now you're closing the store?" I asked, putting the gun back in the case gently.

The store owner nodded sadly. "Yes, I can't bear the pressure anymore. They keep coming back, demanding that I know the location of him, but I actually don't. And since they never believe me, they are always threatening me with this store. I no longer care since he is not here anymore."

Looking at him and the small scars on his arms, I could see he was attacked quite a lot of times. His nerves must also be on the edge since I could see his posture was scared. I could also sense the sorrow in the store owner's words.

Though, I didn't feel anything. I didn't care about a random person in the first place. I was here to take the weapon and leave; that was it. But that didn't mean I was going to miss this opportunity.

"I'll take the gun," I said, signaling the suitcase. "I'll make sure this gun continues his legacy." And added with a sad tone.

The store owner's tired eyes brightened with gratitude. "Thank you, young one. It brings me comfort to know that this gun will be in the hands of someone who understands its true value."

After all, it was that easy to fool a person who was constantly on the edge.

As he prepared to close the deal, I noticed the stack of bullets on the counter. "How much for the gun and the bullets?" I asked.

The store owner paused for a moment, then sighed. "Given the circumstances and the fact that I'm closing the store, I'll let you have both for 10,000 Valer."

And as expected, because he liked the way I spoke, he gave me quite a discount. Comparing this gun to the guns shown in other stores, I could easily say that it is valued at least 100k.

"Deal," I said with a smile and grabbed my smartwatch, paying for it immediately. Though the way transactions worked in this place was slightly different. First, you would put your currency in the form of crypto, and then it would transfer it. A special artifact that was the reward for the tower enabled it for a wider scale.

The store owner nodded, a mix of relief and sadness in his eyes. "Take good care of that gun, young one. It may be just a weapon, but it carries the hopes and dreams of its creator."

I assured him that I would, then left the store with the pistol and the bullets in the suitcase. As I stepped back into the Crescent Alley, I could finally put an end to the act.

'This is quite a good haul.' I thought, looking at the gun in my hand. I even got at least one thousand bullets in the suitcase, and it was damn heavy to carry, to be honest, but at the same time, it was fine. I also asked him if he had other weapons, but he said he couldn't sell me other weapons at lower prices because the person who would be buying the store would highly likely want to see the weapons inside. A gun might be overlooked, but other weapons wouldn't.

Just like that, I was left alone with 30k on my account.