"It is all up to you to believe me or not," I rolled down my sleeves, "If you want that marionette, I will take you tomorrow to see him, after I collect my report. I cannot guarantee if you can take it home or nor because he is an inanimate object now and I hope you are not shocked," I was trying to warn Erick. I knew his logical mind refused to believe me.
Erick was quiet, did not say a word, then finally Emma spoke up and advised him, "Tha is right, follow her. She will take you to that marionette,"
He looked at Emma in shocked expression. He knew I would not lie to that woman. He might get shocked listening to all my explanation, and got confused how to solve it next. So did I, did not know how to solve this problem with him, something I did not expect at all.
It was very normal if Mr. Stone looked for that marionette. It was really expensive, it cost an arm and a leg. It took a long time to do that art work. If he could not get it, he would have to reimburse the amount the buyer spent for it. If that happened, what I could do? Even my saving was not much, only for daily basis and my study. The rest was so little for saving.
We all were silent with our own thoughts, until suddenly I recalled something I brought from another dimension while I was in there. Yes, I still had some savings, or let say from stealing.
I ran into my room, looking for two pouches of gold coins I took when I was in Dark Moon. I used it for the accommodation expenses and food, but I believed I still had a lot left.
In the room I searched where I had put the bag I used for that trip. Finally I found a pouch full with the gold coins and one other was only one-third left.
I felt so relieved that those coin pouches were still with me. It might be useful for Erick. I went to the living room with the pouches in my hands.
"I hope this is enough to replace that marionette," I handed in the full one. Erick looked at me, his eyes widened in shock, so was Emma, "I suggest you to sell them in a black market or anywhere to trade them with money. Such gold coins in our place have ownership documents. I am afraid if you sell them on legal markets, you will be thought a thief," I told this to him because I did not want this man to get in morep trouble.
Erick was still unmoved from his place, then he asked me with his suspicious eyes, "Tha, where did you get all of these coins? You sole them?" he glanced at the coin pouch.
'Crap,' I cursed in my heart. "Just take them. Don't ask where are these from and take my advice," I said firmly, tried to make him stop being suspicious, "It will be a lot better if you melt it into bars or coins, then sell them," I showed him engraved on one of the coins, "Ery, human's eyes are very limited, so as the knowledge. From what they know, they learnt, and they see, there are more places they don't know. These coins are not from our dimension, I am confused how to explain. But, please just do what I ask you to do," I stared at Erick to convince him.
"If you need someone to melt these coins, I have a friend I can recommend to you. But to sell it in a black market, I suggest you be very careful," Erick still did not move, but I knew he listened to me, "Ery, this is all I can do. Even if I sell all my body organs, I will not be able to buy that marionette," I handed him that pouch to him, "Take this, I hope it will be to help you and make you not to lose your job,"
His expression was still shocked, his hands were trembling when he was about to reach that pouch. His eyes were still on mine, "You did not steal it, did you?"
That quite irritated me, "If you don't dare to do it, I will do that. I will sell it and you just accompany me and get the cash," I said curtly.
I was so grateful for having a thief spirit in me. I just did not imagine it would be so useful like right now.
***
Erick stared at that pouch without blinking. He was still shocked and confused about how I got so many gold coins.
"Tha, you did not rob a bank, did you?" For the umpteenth time he asked me despite the narration I told him previously that I did not do that, "These are pure gold, aren't they? You are sure they are not children's toys?" He picked up one coin and looked at it carefully, to make sure it was not a kid's toy, "Tha, what symbol is this?" he pointed at the engraved in the middle of the coin in his hand.
"It says it is a bird symbol, according to them it is the kind they exalted in there, considered as a God or such kind," it was the information I got from Mickey.
"Where did you get all of this?" He looked at me suspiciously, "You did not steal it, did you?"
I did not know how to explain to him because I did steal it. I took a deep breath and blew it out slowly, trying to be honest to Erick, "I stole it, but in a good way," in an instant he looked upset to me, "But from where I got it, I cannot tell you now. That place is not far actually, but for some people, they will never be able to reach it," it made him even more suspicious, "Sorry Ery, I really cannot explain it to you," I ended the talk and decided to leave no space to debate with him.
…
One problem was solved today, and another one was waiting for me before I had to go back to Azalea's place. Almost a month after I left , my assignment remained untouched, since the last revision of the program I made. I even almost forgot how to do the Lyapunov calculation.
I opened again the report I was doing—before the final exam I proposed for the beginning of the next semester—could be said to be almost 100% finished. I just needed to finish the last chapter. Tomorrow was the last holiday even though my plan was a bit delayed from the agreed time, at least when I came to that place all my issues here were done.
Around three in the morning all had been completed. While waiting for printing four copies from all the assignments today, I made preparation for all the credentials required for final exam proposals the following morning.
I was grateful that this year would be the last year on my campus. Until this point, alli had been through felt so short, as if it just happened yesterday I started my college time, looked for a place to live in, and took a leave for treatment in hospital.
It used to feel so heavy in the beginning, and when it was about to finish, it felt all just fine. I marveled at myself for being able to go through all that trouble and got to this point.
I slept for two hours only after my dinner and it seemed like my eyes did not want to close again. So I decided to open a dark web while waiting for the morning to come. I looked for a buying and selling site. I did not really know the weight of that coin, but I could make a prediction on how much I would get from each coin I had.
I knew it well that it carried big risks for an amateur to sell such things though this web but I had not many options. Selling gold coins in my place have to be accompanied with documents of ownership, and if you don't have any, your things are considered loot.
I proposed some questions to an antique trading site and just after twenty minutes waiting, someone named Lucas Shi responded to my questions.
"It is too much, but you need to see it first," my message to him.
"Send me one picture," the reply of my chat.
I sent a picture of that gold coin, "It is all like this," I explained, "A bit smaller than the qualifications you are looking for. How is it? Are you interested?" I was hopeful.
"Is this some kind of relic or ancestral heritage? I mean it looks so unique. Honestly, it is my first time seeing one like this. I believe it is also of the best quality, the price can be high," I smiled happily reading that message.
We would meet three days from now. Lucas could not determine the price without assessing it directly. I told Erick to come with me to that meeting. Besides that he was good at bargaining.
Selling on the dark web is not an easy thing of course. It carries a lot of risks if you are not careful. And I would ask Azalea to give me permission to go out on that day.
…
Having slept for two hours a day was really awful. My eyes were really heavy and my head felt like throbbing heavily. And I could fall asleep anywhere at that moment. ... .... ....