"What did you say this was? And how much does this cost?" Graham looked at the strange-looking green balls piled in front of a small food cart and asked the owner standing behind it.
"It's bangopang. It's 10 low-ranked Mirystals for one. I don't have a change for coins, so it's Mirystals only. Shall I pack some?" The old beast-folk woman with several layers of rags around her head replied as her wrinkly hands hovered over the round green food objects.
"This is made from tishi flour right? Where can I buy ingredients? Do you prefer a particular spot?" Graham pressed closer to the woman as he continued asking more detailed questions.
"Enough! Stop bothering the people if you're not going to buy anything." Grant, the "tour guide" assigned to Graham, dragged him by the arm onto the filthy street and began shoving him.
"Start heading back to your store, Merchant! You have a deal to uphold!" Grant said his name like a slur, and Graham shrugged before walking forward.
He had been walking around for hours, observing prices, food, and clothing while learning as much as he could from Grant about the slums, and now that it was getting dark, he was pretty sure he had a decent handle on it.
Firstly, there were two distinct forms of currency used.
The first was something called Mirystals, which came from magical beasts or were mined in different magical environments called Gates on the planet of Onia.
They looked like glass chips and had different ranks depending on their color, ranging from a common green shard that was barely bigger than a fingernail to much larger sizes.
It was the most commonly used currency in the slums since it was easy to acquire and was basically worthless.
But Graham thought differently.
Although it looked slightly different and had a different name, those Mirystals that he had seen looked like mana crystals that many organizations on Earth lusted for, using them for everything from magic to being a power source.
His plan was to get ingredients, trade, and acquire some Mirystals that could be tested out on Earth, and with an extra pep in his step, Graham allowed Grant to take the lead as they headed to his store.
As they got close, Graham mentally communicated with Imes.
'What does my mana pool look like now?'
[Mana Pool: 300/300]
Good.
It had regenerated fully.
With a mischievous smile, Graham activated his disguise skill making a copy of himself to follow behind Graham and then making himself camouflage against the piles of trash.
Once Grant had passed the store, Graham quietly walked forward before trying to open the door with his key quietly.
RING!
F*ck!
The door chime rang loudly, and as Grant turned around, Graham quickly shut the door while disipating his illusion as the muscular man began to charge at him.
With the sound of somebody banging on the door as a backdrop, Graham greeted the glowing ball of light with a grin while removing his filthy shoes and watching as they cleaned themselves.
"What time is it on earth?"
[6:32 AM]
"So it's about a 12-hour difference, which means things should be open in about 3 hours. While I'm waiting, please give me a general summary of Planet Onia. Whatever you can share."
[Sure.]
….
Once it was nine o'clock, Graham stepped out to explore the earth side of his new store.
It was similar to the Hollowgate slums in that it seemed like an old, broken-down town in the middle of nowhere.
The streets were dusty, the few, spaced-out buildings were made of old wood, and the few people he saw looked like old-timey miners with their helmets and boots.
Some trekked down the dusty sidewalk while others drove by in large trucks. As an empty, white truck was about to pass him, Graham waved his hands to get their attention: "Excuse me! Can I borrow a cellphone?"
"I ain't got no phone on me. Go check the general store down yonder." The old man driving pointed toward the biggest wooden building about a quarter of a mile away.
"Can I hitch a ride there?" Graham asked in a slightly desperate tone. He absolutely did not want to walk anymore after walking for hours on Planet Onia.
"Hop on the truck bed and hop out when I drive by. Otherwise, you're headed to the mines. Understand, boy? I won't slow down."
"Yes, sir." Graham saluted, climbed the truck bed, and sat with his legs dangling.
True to his word, the truck never slowed so Graham fell to his face as he tried acrobatics that were well beyond his level.
After cursing and dusting himself off, he entered the General Store and saw an old lady in the ugliest neon green polka dot dress and neon pink apron combo he had ever seen.
She was sitting on a stool and, from the reflection in her rounded glasses, playing solitaire on the computer.
"Hello, ma'am, do you happen to have a computer I can use or maybe a cellphone? I seem to have lost mine."
"No, you didn't. Aren't you that Kubera boy who was dropped off yesterday? The handsome, gentle man with the glasses and suit told me to tell you that all your accounts were canceled, including phone, bank, and housing, and that even if you called, no help would be given." The old lady gruffly replied as she continued to click away.
Graham: "..."
Tsk. That sounded like his father's assistant.
"Are you serious?"
"As a heart attack. Come to think of it, you're pretty handsome, too. Now, what can I do for you? If you're not spending, then get outta here, pretty boy."
Graham glanced at the surprisingly modern interior of the general store, which was filled with all manner of things, quickly noting the prices before moving closer and leaning on the counter.
"Big sis. I need a computer and some internet. Do you think you can help me?" Graham gave his best pitiful expression. Do you think I can use your computer? Just really quickly."
"Big sister? Well, cough-" seeing the grandma blush, Graham grabbed her wrinkled hand and held it tightly,
"Big sis, I can only depend on you. And before you think I'm taking advantage of your kind and generous heart, I want to place big, regular orders and need help delivering them to my new place, as well as some information. My dad is punishing me, and I have no idea where I am or even what day it is. Do you think you can help me, big sis?"
"Big sis. Cough- I'm old enough to be your mother. Your flattery can't trick me."
"Who's flattering who? I'm sure if we went out together, people would question if I was your brother or your father." Graham lied with ease as he patted the old lady's hand, going a step further and twining their fingers together.
Then he slipped the only money he had on him, the thousand credit check, onto the counter.
Watching the old woman's eyes widen, Graham smiled softly.
"Computer time, staple foods, information, some miscellaneous stuff, and a fat tip at the end. Do you think you can help me, big sis?"
The grandmother cleared her throat before gripping his hand, "What can I do for you?"