Shoes (2)
While YasaengGrill bickered with Ppareumbo over the wooden boots, the Gallery erupted into chaos over his post.
He usually stuck to the attitude of only trading for what he needed. A wild life that didn't require money, let alone titles. Pressure didn't faze him either. What could they offer that YasaengGrill would like? He'd kill for an adult mandrake.
└Just draw some hentai.
└Honestly, that's the only thing I can think of.
└Don't jerk off and get serious.
└I'm being dead serious tho? What the hell do you do for relief in the Four Seasons Forest lol.
└Tofu?
└Holy shit lmao.
That's why users—especially the high-nics who wanted to build a connection with him—were racking their brains. How could they give him something he'd actually like? How could they trade it for an adult mandrake? Ongoing trades were tough due to the instability. But a one-time deal would suffice. And succeeding even once could yield massive profits.
YasaengGrill has the upper hand, where the fuck are you getting adult mandrakes from lol. Right now, he's the only source lol.
└Even regular mandrakes are rare, but adults lol.
└If you ask where to get 'em, everyone clams up.
└That's why they're asking for it. One could legit change your life.
└Are adult mandrakes that good?
└Heard you can make one top-grade elixir from just one.
└And YasaengGrill can dig 'em up like potatoes. Got a whole field right there.
Above all, YasaengGrill had a unique trait: exclusivity. Adult mandrakes were one of those herbs you couldn't buy no matter how much money you had. That rarity alone proved its value.
Trust wasn't an issue either. After the inner core incident, his credibility had skyrocketed.
If they nailed the right "trade," they could score rare goods. And if that built a connection? YasaengGrill got all sorts of support, and the other side profited from rarities. Win-win.
YasaengGrill's request is a real pain. Those shoes he wants are tricky. No average craftsman could pull it off.
But why trade for adult mandrakes when you could just buy 'em with cash lol.
└Nah, Gallery money can't be cashed out. Barter's actually better.
└Oh right, can't cash out.
└Yeah, if you could, the world economy would tank lol.
└Not total collapse, but it'd shake things up bad. They take hefty fees to keep it stable.
└Why not just make 'em and sell for cash? Why trade for mandrakes?
└Exactly. Aren't we sucking up to YasaengGrill too much?
└Try getting an adult mandrake yourself. Then talk.
└I'm saying from a craftsman's view, cash is better. Don't need mandrakes.
└Maybe the higher-ups commission it for cash. Craftsmen browse Gallery a lot too—could turn into an ego war.
└Who's the famous shoe craftsman?
└Dwarves as usual, but demons are edging them out lately.
└Why?
└Sports shoes lol.
└Instantly makes sense lmao.
Above all, money charged in the Gallery couldn't be cashed out. If it could, money laundering and crime would run rampant. This structural quirk made items hold even greater value: rarity you might see once in a lifetime, barter over cash, and rock-solid trust. Those three factors stirred a bizarre atmosphere in the Gallery. Not just high-nics bragging about their wares, but everyone angling to connect with YasaengGrill.
"I assume you've seen the Gallery as well."
"Yes, Your Highness. You mean..."
"Ongoing supply? I'd ignore it. But this YasaengGrill put up a request—with an adult mandrake as payment."
The blond, blue-eyed crown prince Arnold explained gravely. At his words, the graying middle-aged Gorgon grinned broadly. Arnold smirked inwardly at the transparent smile but kept a straight face. He couldn't sit this out either. It was too crucial.
"Long-term contracts with this YasaengGrill are iffy. But a one-off like this? Critical. Especially since he posted the request first."
"Yes, Your Highness. I'll summon the craftsmen postha—"
"Hear me out. Don't rush."
Arnold reined in the overly loyal Gorgon. The man was capable and fine otherwise, but excess was his flaw.
Means he's brimming with ambition.
From a power player's view like Arnold's, the trustworthy weren't the squeaky-clean. Moderately corrupt, moderately just—ambitious types just right. Fulfill their ambitions, and loyalty followed. Easy to trust.
Cross the line too far, and off with their head...
Not there yet. Gorgon was ambitious, not greedy.
"Press too hard, and you'll just piss off the craftsmen. Can you crush with authority and still get quality work?"
"Wouldn't that be lese-majeste?"
"Prevent the crime. We're the desperate ones. Everyone else too."
The Gallery was open to anyone meeting conditions. Who knew when shoes meeting YasaengGrill's specs would pop up? So Arnold pondered: how to cut through the fierce competition?
"And time's ticking. Could miss the trade entirely. All effort wasted."
"Then faster—"
"We'll go a different route. Make it so he has to trade, even if he wears other shoes."
"Pardon?"
Gorgon's eyes widened, baffled. But Arnold wasn't done. He laid out his plan freely.
"YasaengGrill. He wants near-perfect shoes. Emphasized durability especially."
"Y-yes. Can't go anywhere with injured feet."
"Above all, trust matters most to him. He'll be extra cautious here."
"Heard he got scammed recently."
I know.Arnold thought. Not quite scammed—nearly. It boosted his trust instead. Made him warier. He even declared expensive items would need high-nic verification before auction. Would such a guy trade lightly? Arnold was certain: no.
Unlike pure goodwill from high-nics, this hinged on trust.
"First, commission military-contracted craftsmen. Military boots as fallback if late."
"Understood."
"Hope for good results. Once made, report to me first—no contacting him."
"I'll deliver!"
Gorgon strode out with a hearty shout. Arnold stared at the empty spot, then looked up. His now-familiar Gallery window floated there.
YasaengGrill will check high-nic posts. Empty thread? Instant suspicion.
Arnold had profiled him: the type who had to reciprocate. Goodwill with goodwill, malice with malice. Smooth personality built him many high-nic friends. Bickered with PassingDwarf sometimes, but they were close.
At least he's no deceiver. He'll pay up with the adult mandrake.
Assuming he got the shoes he wanted. Even high-nics could send junk and ghost. Human malice was terrifying.
Wish I could step in myself...
Arnold eyed his nickname. AbsoluteNo1PrinceArnoldChamp. Cringe-inducing every time. He winced. Better jump off a cliff than post with that. Lucky for ambitious Gorgon.
We show trust first; he'll reciprocate.
Plan: Send shoes first, get mandrake next day. Win goodwill and trust.
For that...
Arnold glanced around. Gallery invisible to others, but caution lingered. Most private privacy. Confirming solitude, he began typing.
Said he'd rather die than post, but life demanded guts sometimes.
YasaengGrill-nim. Please read this. There are tons of high-nics in the Gallery who dig pits and scam. Recommend receiving the item first, then sending the adult mandrake next day. You're always above board, so no worries on your end.
└Who the hell are you to boss him around?
└This guy's sabotaging rivals, right?
└World's a harsh place lol.
└Not harsh. Got scammed that way myself ;;;
└Yeah, sneaky types everywhere. Reverse scams too.
└That's the safe play. Peace of mind.
└What if YasaengGrill ghosts after?
└If he does, I'm already screwed since I can't trade next day? Anyway, thanks for the advice.
└lololol
└lololol
└roflmao
Arnold smiled, satisfied at YasaengGrill's reply. Show trust first, get it back.
One dwarf high-nic will make some, so maybe 1-2 adult mandrakes left.
Best case. Humans peaked high, but dwarf craftsmen were untouchable. Arnold hoped Gorgon delivered. For both their futures.
Mounting one retard.
Happened upon while scrolling Gallery. Caught Arnold's eye: poster was YasaengGrill. "Mounting" meant a scam. Curious which fool bought his distrust, Arnold dove in.
Mounting one retard.
YasaengGrill Got the shoes ready already?
xxx Yeah. But need 2 adult mandrakes instead.
? What bullshit is this?
xxx Shoes come in pairs. You give one, I give one shoe. Or beat me at word chain, get both. I'll start: sewing machine.
xxx Dentures your mom's what kinda asshole is this? Just mounting ya.
└lolololol
└lolololol
└Moron? lmao
└Sewing machine to bait dentures lmao
└No shame lmao
└xxx Delete the post. Or retaliation.
└YasaengGrill Retaliate how? Coming to Four Seasons Forest? Be my guest. Dig your own adult mandrakes.
└lololol
└Real moron confirmed.
└Threats don't work on YasaengGrill gayboy lol
└Kinda refreshing lol.
"Heh heh heh."
Arnold chuckled. World was wide, idiots plentiful. Gallery lesson.
Little more scrolling, then work.
Arnold browsed slowly.
"Aaaaaaaah!"
Like YasaengGrill, he'd peered into the abyss he shouldn't.