228 Time To Burn Everything (1/2)

(Manami POV)

”Here is where we store the best of our wares.”

We walked past the guild staff to enter a gallery filled to the brim with what seems to be various antiques and jewellery.

I sniffed the air, sensing something a little out of place though I'm not sure what yet.

”You are looking for rings, yes?” The staff member asked.

I looked at him with distaste. This little piece of trash had been looking down on us ever since we had met him.

He might hide it behind that fake smile of his, but I've met enough people to know when one is hiding a knife behind their smile, sometimes in the literal sense.

If it wasn't for the fact that we did not want to create problems for Master, I would have at least burned half his face off just for looking at us with those disgusting eyes.

”Yes, we would like a few rings,” Lian Li affirmed, giving him the same smile that he was giving us.

Keeping the fake smile plastered on his face, he led us to another corner of the room that was stacked with many different pieces of antiques balanced on top of wooden crates.

”A rather precarious way to store these valuables, don't you think?” Kiyomi pointed out.

The staff simply nodded his head, ”Ah, these are just temporary. We are moving some things around so please be careful not to break anything, each of these are worth a lot of gold.”

Diao Chan giggled, ”We will be careful no to break anything especially expensive~”

”Very good, I shall leave you with our dear Hector over there. You want to know anything related to rings, he is your man.”

Hidden behind a mountain of crates was a thin man with frizzy hair, his face seemingly locked in a permanent scowl. At the mention of his name, he tilted his head up to look at us, his scowl deepening even more before returning to do whatever he had been doing.

We made our way towards him, weaving in between the crates and antiques to avoid knocking any of them over.

”Looking for rings?” Hector asked, not even bothering to give a fake smile. ”I've got storage rings, engagement rings, marriage rings and even nipple rings if you're looking for that.”

Diao Chan lit up noticeably at the last part, but a quick pinch of her behind from me kept her in check.

Lian Li stepped forward, ”We'll take a look at your engagement rings then.”

Hector shrugged and lifted the top off one of the crates before gesturing to it, ”The newest engagement rings made by the top jewelsmith of Jin city, Tiffani.”

All of us went to peer inside the box, Cai Hong peeking just over the edge of the crate by standing on her toes.

The box was filled with about two dozen conical-shaped ring holders, each of them holding a pair of rings each.

I pinched one of the rings that had an amber coloured gem on it, lifting up to my eye level to inspect it.

”The gem is genuine Phoenix Opal, it takes three days to make one of these. The band itself also has small pieces of said opal fixed along the edges that glows.” Hector recited in a rather disinterested tone.

”Phoenix Opal you say?” I repeated. ”Aren't they supposed to be exceptionally rare?”

”Indeed. That's why it is worth six hundred gold each. Make sure not to scratch it.”

I placed it back on the holder.

Lian Li picked up a ring with a red gemstone on it, ”And what would this be?”

”A polished scale from a red dragon. Eight hundred gold.” Hector replied instantly.

Eris snickered behind me but she managed to turn it into a cough.

Lian Li placed it back into its original location.

My ears perked up slightly when I heard the sound of footsteps coming from behind.