SSS Talent: From Trash to Tyrant Chapter 554: Things Worth Buying

Zafira's lips curved slightly upwards. "I'd say it performs better than many."

"That answer pleases me."

Augusto tapped his fingers twice on the side of the container, deep in thought. "What you're looking for isn't the sort of item I display prominently for the unthinking to handle. Meticulous craftsmanship comes at a cost, and those lacking self-control frequently shatter valuable possessions." He shifted his gaze towards Trafalgar. "As for you, I suspect your desires are the antithesis. Items of utility. Sturdiness. Things you will actually carry rather than simply admire briefly."

"Let me see your selection," Trafalgar stated. "I require practical equipment. Storage for provisions. Water. Sustenance. Guidance. Anything that genuinely warrants its price tag." Augusto's smile widened.

"Precisely. That is the sort of declaration I appreciate."

He moved the box completely onto the counter and drew back the covering cloth. Within, several objects lay in their designated spots. Nothing ostentatious. No superfluous gold adornments. No cheap mercantile ploys masquerading as valuable artifacts. Augusto possessed a keen understanding of his clientele.

He lifted the first item, a bracelet of dark silver with an unadorned exterior and a sequence of minute runes etched along its inner surface.

"This artifact," he declared, holding it aloft between his thumb and forefinger, "is the Pilgrim's Hollow Bracelet. An Epic Rank treasure. A most respectable piece. Utterly uninteresting to the uninitiated, which often signifies true value."

He presented it to Trafalgar.

"It houses an internal dimension designed for the storage of non-living provisions. Rations, water, medical supplies, dried botanicals, spare tools, mundane materials. Place them within, and their burden vanishes from your person. More crucially, anything stored remains preserved in a near-dormant state. Your water stays pure, your food resists spoilage on arduous journeys, and nothing becomes tainted due to careless packing."

Trafalgar took the bracelet, rotating it once in his palm. It felt cool to the touch and possessed a heft exceeding its appearance.

"What is its capacity?"

"Substantial," Augusto replied. "Sufficient for an individual to sustain prolonged travel. Even longer if that individual exhibits restraint and refrains from packing a full culinary setup for mere ostentation." His tail twitched once behind him. "The internal partitioning is robust as well. Liquids are securely contained. Herbs do not absorb the aroma of your preserved meats. This item was conceived for those committed to onward progression."

For Trafalgar, this was sufficient information.

"I will acquire it."

The bracelet dissolved into shimmering light and vanished into his personal inventory.

[Item Acquired: Pilgrim's Hollow Bracelet - Epic Rank]

Type: Bracelet

Effect 1: Stores a substantial quantity of non-living provisions within an internal space, completely negating their weight for the wearer.

Effect 2: All food, water, herbs, and medicine placed inside remain preserved in a pristine, near-static condition, preventing decay and contamination.

Description: A dark silver bracelet etched with minuscule runes on the interior, meticulously crafted for extended voyages and clandestine expeditions. Its capacity is intended not for accumulated wealth, but for enduring resilience.

Augusto's expression shifted to one of satisfaction, making him appear only marginally more menacing than his usual demeanor.

"Excellent. We have commenced auspiciously."

His hand re-entered the container. This time, he withdrew a compass fashioned from pale, smooth bone. A faint tremor ran through its blue crystal needle, as if resisting stillness.

"The Mariner's Bone Compass," Augusto announced. "Epic Rank. A truly exquisite artifact. One of my personal favorites, in fact."

He placed it down with a care that exceeded his previous action.

"It can be calibrated to three distinct locations, waypoints, or vital energy signatures. Once configured, the needle remains steadfastly oriented, irrespective of the atmospheric conditions you endure or the dilapidated ruins you choose to explore. Ascending mountains, traversing forests, navigating coastlines, delving into subterranean passages—it remains unaffected."

"And its secondary function?" Trafalgar inquired.

Augusto rested an elbow casually on the counter.

"It possesses the ability to detect disturbances. Spatial anomalies. Illusory deceptions. Tainted vital energy flows. The very phenomena that transform a straightforward path into a perilous misstep. It will not resolve these challenges for you, but it will provide timely warnings before you blindly commit, like a novice."

Zafira cast a glance at the compass. "That is remarkably practical."

Augusto feigned an expression of hurt. "Esteemed Lady Zafira, I assure you, I do not customarily stock Epic Rank items devoid of utility."

'I possess an instrument with a similar function, though my ring's capability is restricted to specific elements, not all phenomena. This artifact would prove beneficial to me.' Trafalgar, before Augusto could elaborate further, took hold of the compass.

"I shall also acquire this one."

The compass vanished from his grasp as well.

[Item Acquired: Mariner's Bone Compass - Epic Rank]

Type: Compass

Effect 1: Attunable to three designated locations, mana signatures, or landmarks, consistently indicating the chosen target irrespective of environmental conditions or terrain obstacles.

Effect 2: Emits a pulse in the presence of spatial distortions, illusions, or corrupted mana currents that obstruct the intended path.

Description: Fashioned from the bone of a sea creature, this pallid compass features an aged, azure crystal needle. Its sole concern is the destination, disregarding conventional routes.

Augusto's ears twitched in contentment.

"You certainly came prepared to spend. I recognized this."

"You recognized my wallet," Trafalgar countered.

"I recognized both."

The final item drawn from the chest was a pair of dark boots, embellished with delicate crimson stitching. They appeared engineered for arduous journeys across rugged landscapes, salty air, and unforgiving ground that ceased to be accommodating long before the trek concluded. "The Redwake Striders," Augusto announced. "Epic Rank. Solid boots, and truly honest ones.

They make no pretense of being otherwise."

He positioned them next to the vacant spot where the compass had lain.

"The first effect provides unwavering footing on treacherous ground. Be it sand, slick stone, the deck of a ship, mud, shallow water, or loose scree. Surfaces that typically provoke frustration become effortlessly navigable. The second effect mitigates weariness during extended travel and dampens the sound of your steps. It won't transform you into a phantom, but it significantly alleviates the burden of distance."

Trafalgar's hand briefly brushed against the boots.

These were precisely the caliber of item he favored.

"I'll take those as well."

The boots dissolved into light the instant he accepted them.

[Item Acquired: Redwake Striders - Epic Rank]

Type: Boots

Effect 1: Provides stable footing on unstable surfaces like sand, wet stones, ship decks, mud, shallow water, and scattered debris.

Effect 2: Reduces physical strain and muffles the sound of movement during lengthy journeys, enabling the wearer to sustain pace for extended periods without compromising stability.

Description: A pair of dark boots intended for travel, adorned with fine crimson thread and reinforced with tough monster hide. They were crafted for individuals who press onward even when the path turns hostile.

Augusto laced his fingers behind the counter.

"There. Three dependable Epic Rank items, devoid of deception or merchant trickery, and each one is undeniably worth the price I'm asking."

Trafalgar gazed at him impassively. "That last statement is the one I find least credible."

Augusto clicked his tongue. "You wound me."

"What's the damage?" Augusto's grin widened, the kind that seldom boded well for anyone counting their coin.

"Two hundred gold coins per item seems fair."

Trafalgar's eyes narrowed.

"Fair to you, perhaps." He let his words settle for a moment, his demeanor as placid as ever. "Let's set them at one hundred fifty each. It will help maintain a healthy relationship between us."

Augusto placed a hand over his heart as if an act of sacrilege had just occurred.

"Healthy? Trafalgar, at that rate, you're the one damaging it."

"You will manage."

"I am presenting you with merchandise of the highest caliber."

"And I am purchasing three simultaneously." Augusto's ears twitched. His tail gave a single, slower sweep behind him. He recognized the persuasive power of that point.

Trafalgar leaned a forearm on the counter, continuing in the same measured tone.

"You requested my presence because you had valuable stock. I arrived. I am making a purchase without prolonging your business, and I anticipate acquiring more before my departure. One hundred fifty for each."

Augusto stared at him for a significant pause, clearly in distress.

Zafira observed the negotiation silently, though the corner of her lips had already begun to curve upwards. It was the familiar distress Augusto displayed when profit was within grasp but not quite at the exact sum he desired.

Finally, he exhaled through his nose.

"...Very well."

He gestured with a finger towards Trafalgar, as if assigning culpability before the deed was even completed.

"One hundred fifty each. But solely because you're acquiring three, and purely because I'm in an agreeable mood."

"You were not in an agreeable mood."

"I am attempting to regain one now."

Trafalgar's expression shifted minimally, yet a faint hint of amusement flickered within it.

"So, four hundred fifty in total."

Augusto winced. "Yes. Four hundred fifty. You state that figure with far too much composure for someone extorting me in broad daylight."

Trafalgar conjured the gold without any fuss.

"If it brings any solace, you are still profiting."

Augusto seized the payment with the swiftness of a famished creature guarding its meal.

"It offers some small comfort."