Magic Shop System

Everyone's eyes lit up hearing Old Li's words. The moment they had been anticipating all this time had finally arrived. Old Li grinned and stroked his white beard with his right hand with a confident and jubilant expression. Then spoke. "As everyone knows, dwarves are very talented in artefact making. Anyone who could get their secrets would benefit greatly. The knowledge you would acquire can't be compared with a little money—money can be earned later, but opportunities such as these can't be found whenever we want."

Kadyn couldn't help but sneer, hearing these words. This old bastard was really cunning. Though he was cunning, others weren't stupid either. The man from room number four couldn't take his bullshit and said. "Old Li, we didn't come here to hear you. We are here to bid for the dwarf. Please, don't waste our time."

Old Li froze on the spot at those words. He gritted his teeth and a vicious glint flickered inside his eyes. That man gave him no face at all. However, Old Li was also a veteran, he maintained his smile and said. "Of course, if Artisan Ironclad wants me to speed up the process, I'd be glad to do that." 

"So that guy is Artisan Ironclad," Khrom whispered.

Kadyn looked at him in confusion and asked. "Do you know him?"

Khrom noted. "A little. He's from Zhodon, which is comparable to Avibria City. He is just around twenty-five years old and has recently reached the Rank 1 artisan. At that time it caused a huge turmoil in the Shado empire. It seems that the Magic Association had invited him to join. Though he didn't refuse, nor did he accept the offer. He's a very talented person, and might be able to reach Rank 2 one day."

Kadyn nodded and turned his attention towards the stage, as Old Li spoke. "Bring him up here."

The people fell silent hearing his words. Now they would be able to see the dwarf. After a few breaths of silence, three men drove a four-wheeled pushcart on the platform. It was closed from all sides with iron bars. A gate could be seen on one side of the cart and a large lock was hanging on it. However, Kadyn didn't pay attention to the cart. Instead, to the one inside the cart. 

He saw a girl, she looked around ten or eleven, shrinking in the middle of the cart, coiling her hands around her knees. Her face was covered in dirt and her clothes embedded with filthy smudges of blood—traces of whipping—her short hair had been entangled among themselves due to the dust, fear and horror were evident on her innocent countenance. 

The poor girl shivered with terror as she looked around at the vast audience, glaring at her like wolves. She was no different than a human girl, except her height was smaller than a human of her age.

Kadyn clenched his fist at such a scene. It was like a circus animal that humans captured on Earth and forced them to dance for their amusement. Anger flared inside his eyes. "How could they do such a thing to a kid no more than eleven?"

Elora also felt heartbreaking when she saw the condition of the girl. Her face turned red with anger, but she could only clench her fist as she knew that she wasn't strong enough to help that girl.

Khrom heard them and shook his head. This brother and sister duo was too inexperienced. He wondered if he had made a mistake by accepting Kadyn's offer. In the end, he sighed and warned. "If you want to help someone you need to have sufficient strength. Or else it would only bring troubles for you. This world is not a good place for honest and upright people."

Kadyn just smiled hearing his warning. He knew that the world was filled with injustice, if he helped everyone in need, he would bring unnecessary troubles for himself, he would be exhausted to death if not killed by enemies. Though his heart still pained when he looked at the poor girl in such a terrible condition. 

"As you can see, this is a dwarven girl that we captured a few days ago. Anyone who could get their hands on this girl would get her secrets as well." Old Li said.

"Are you joking with us, Old Li?" Artisan Hot Rod from room number two couldn't help but sneer at this moment. "You've made such a huge fuss for just a little girl and wasted our precious time. Do you think everyone is stupid here? How would a girl like her know the dwarven secrets of forging? Look at her, do you think that she is qualified to know those secrets?"

People couldn't help but look at Old Li weirdly, this old bastard dared to make such a fuss over nothing. This was just a child; even if she was their princess she won't know much about forging at her age. Furthermore, no one believed that she had a high status among the dwarves, or why would she get caught by the Slave Dealers?

"What a waste of time." Artisan Ironclad from room number four sighed as well. 

"You shouldn't spread lies, Old Li," at this moment, a familiar voice came from room number one. Kadyn knew whom that voice belonged to. Old Li heard and hurriedly replied to that man. "Association Leader Barret, let me explain the situation first." 

This time Old Li sounded quite polite. After all, if he dared to antagonise this Association Leader, his business won't last long. This city, this country, and many other countries were ruled by the Magic Association. They were the true rulers of this land. Old Li understood this fact clearly. Therefore he dared not to show any grievances on his face and remained polite.

"Oh, go on, I would love to hear your reasons," Barret said with his dignified voice. Other people also turned towards Old Li.