Chapter 2: Chapter 1 – Quite a Steal

Heading in the direction he mentioned, the quality of the homes and businesses change to a subtly more sophisticated style.  However, a quick look down a hutong (alleyway), reveals that there are still some dark elements, as I can see some shady characters standing around.

With little fuss, I arrive at the storefront for luxury items. Before I head in, I decide on the… atmosphere I want to portray to people. I believe going for a foreigner with access to interesting materials would be my best bet.

My lack of knowledge of cultural norms will be clear, but I have to still show some “insights” into his business. Hopefully, I’ll be able to make up for my gaps with the scanning ability. This’ll also be my first time haggling with someone, so I must be sure not to be cheated.

Before I go in, I take another look at the bills to make sure I know it’s value. I have 51 dollars (2 $20’s, 1 $5, and 5 $1), coming to 8 bills in total.

 

American $1 Dollar Bill

True Value/Market Value/Perceived Value: 5 half-silver coins / 7 Silver Coins/ 4 Silver Coins

Paper bill

Currency from Earth. 75% Cotton, 25% Linen paper, with specialty pigments. Can be sold as artwork from a unique culture, a distinct style of art (valued to art/luxury merchants). Method to understand paper production method can be understood with testing (valued to paper merchants).

 

As I walk in the merchant greets me and discreetly seems to appraise me. “Hello honorable sir, how can this old man assist you today?”

“Hello, I was looking to sell this art piece today.”

With two hands, I place it on the table, carefully.  

He takes a quick look at it, “Hmm. Art piece, you say. I can definitely see the value in this. Where, say, did this come from?”

“Well, I came across it in my journeys throughout this land. These bills are art, based on their designs.”

The merchant’s eye raises slightly.

“I see.”

 

Lifting it up and flipping it over, he gives a nod. “Interesting. Well, I can give you 1 Big Copper for each.”

 

My brain stops for a moment with my jaw dropping. 1 Big Copper?

Taking a scan at the bill, I notice its perceived value hasn’t changed for this seller. This guy is trying to scam me! In disgust, I look at him and pick up the dollar to walk out.

Before I leave, I remember my agreement with the old man. Turning back around, I reach into my back pocket and pull out the orb, placing it on the table.

“Here. An acquaintance wanted this given to you.”

I then turn and head out the door to go into the paper shop near here.

That was likely my fault, I didn’t give much thought in building a story for the bills. I appeared awkward, naïve, or suspicious. He probably thought I was an easily scammed foreigner.

As I get a few feet out the door, I see the luxury dealer scurry out of his shop and immediately kowtows in front of me.

“Please sir, forgive me for my insolence!!! These poor eyes of mine did not recognize Mt. Tai!” he yells out.

“Woah woah woah, get up!” I rush to pick him off the ground, which is a struggle since he desperately tries to keep his head on the ground.

“Please, just stop. Stop! Let’s go into your store to discuss this.”

Relieved, he quickly and reverently brings me back into the store. Continuously apologizing for his disrespect, he completely flips from before and offers to give me 1 Big Silver Coin for each dollar.

From what I can tell, the man that sent me here did me a favor.

By having me deliver this for him, he allowed me to make a relationship where I am viewed on a similar status to him… whoever he is.

One thing is clear though, not only should I grateful to him, but I should be wary. There is genuine fear in this store owner’s eyes.

Life-threatening fear.

Once I’m done with this, I will definitely go back to thank him for his help. Though, I have a feeling he already knows exactly what’s going on.

Every once in a while, while I was traveling, I could feel that familiar prickling sensation.

I’m still trying to figure out whether that’s a good thing. Either way, I must keep moving forward and try to follow his advice.

 

Getting back to this situation, after giving all 8 bills to the merchant, I now have:

7 Big Silvers: $7,000

9 Silvers: $900

1 Half-Silver: $50

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49 Big Coppers: $49

10 Coppers: $1

Total: $8,000

However, as I hand over the bills, I can see the scan reveals the perceived value is still low. The extra money is probably just him trying to repair a perceived relationship. I should let him know the ways he can recoup some of this.  

After receiving the money and noticing the both relieved and dissatisfied expression on the merchant’s face, I lean in to give him some ideas.

“I appreciate your consideration regarding this. Here are a few things I know about these bills. If you look closely on the bill, you’ll notice the designs speak about another country, one that is not of this land. I’m sure there are buyers willing to discover and gain something otherworldly. You can see that the paper production methods are likely much different from the ones currently used. To certain merchants and specialists, this knowledge could be invaluable.”

The seller looks me briefly in the eyes and goes silent. He seems to come to some conclusion and bows, thanking me.

As he rises, he is much happier.

I hope I was able to do some good with this.

Walking out of the shop, I pull my wallet in slight nostalgia. That might be the last time I see a dollar from my world. I need to keep ahold of these, if only to remind me of where I’ve come from.

Oh. There’s one more bill in here. Looks like it got crunched to the bottom of my wallet.

A passive scan of it makes me trip on my own feet, though.

 

American $1 Dollar Bill

True Value/Market Value/Perceived Value: 5 Big Gold Coins / 2 Jade Coins/ 5 Big Gold Coins

Cultivation Ingredient/ Item Production template

Currency from Earth. 75% Cotton, 25% Linen paper, with specialty pigments. Can be sold as artwork from another world (valued to art/luxury merchants). Method to understand paper production method can be understood with testing (valued to paper merchants). From another dimension. When used as a cultivation ingredient in a pill, can be consumed to help with Void Cultivation Methods. Can be identified as a cultivation ingredient with Divine Sense, when notified of its properties.

 

Ah. Never mind. I think I might have to sell this, eventually. This tells me something, though. Things can have their nature change, based on outside factors. But now I have to watch my wallet again. Sigh.

Funny enough, in that moment I see a pale scrawny teen, just over half my size, with short, stringy black hair, and sunken eyes heading on a subtle beeline towards me.

Not this again. It’s also clear what they are aiming for.

Their eyes flicker as they approach to my now bulging pocket. I have an idea on what I can do from here. As they get closer, I see their arm reach towards my pocket as they run into me.

With a quick grab, I grasp their arm and pin it behind them, using a move I vaguely remember from my childhood taekwondo classes.

“Hey! No! Let me go, I didn’t do nothin’! Get off of me!”

Struggling, they attempt to escape desperately, but I pin their other arm. “What are you doing, no!”

 

My natural instincts as an American black male come up, and I instantly look to see how everyone is reacting to this.

 

Oh. Wow.

Literally, no one cares.

Actually, it seems to be the opposite. Some people are even giving looks of disdain to the kid.

 

Even with the support of people around me, this seems to be a little much. I think if I tried to say anything out here, a mob might form instead.

Memories of what I heard in my world about what happens to thieves cross my mind.

With a shiver, I try to move the kid to a nearby alleyway that looked clear earlier. Every step a struggle. This kid has superior flexibility. However, they can’t seem to break my hold. Originally, I thought it was because of my strength, but they just seem to be weak.

With the kid pinned and me protecting my obvious delicates, I somehow move the kid into the alleyway with my larger size and strength.

In the alleyway, I see a small enclave and block the kid into it. Tossing the kid in front of me, this enclave is basically the size of a walk-in closet, with the entrance size of a normal door.

The kid gets even more ferocious, as they realize I have trapped them here.

“Woah woah woah, just calm down kid! I will not hurt you.” The kid isn’t listening and tries several more escape attempts.

I guess I’m lucky in the sense that there isn’t anything they can use against me in this room.

For obvious reasons, I feel like the evil guy in this situation. Kidnapping a teen and blocking them into a tight room. However, regardless of my feelings on the matter, I have a goal I want to accomplish and will need their help.

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