Cake Challenge and Treasure Deal
"Lady Ptah. Please, have a taste."
The twin-tailed ghost girl stared longingly at the Clear Watermelon Whipped Cream Cake Hura had made, smacking her lips.
"It's so pretty. Almost too pretty to eat."
"If you'd like, I'll make you another one, so don't worry."
"Thank you so much. Bringing me a cake like this."
"It's nothing."
Hura was currently at the Machine Hill graveyard. Baek Bal Baek Jung had bought three loaves of cake bread, so he'd used the leftovers to make the Clear Watermelon Whipped Cream Cake and brought it here.
"...Don't you see your sister?"
Hura turned at the words, spotting a woman with deep blue hair and crystal-like eyes pouting her lips. Sera was wearing a blue jumpsuit fit for a mechanic, which suited her hair color perfectly.
"Sis, you eat too. It's sweet."
"...?"
"If you can block my attack. Petrify!"
Petrify
Hura yanked the necklace from inside his clothes like lightning and shouted. A green light flashed.
But it wasn't Sera who turned to stone—it was Hura. The moment the necklace flashed, a huge, translucent mirror appeared in front of Sera, reflecting the green light right back.
"...What are you doing?"
"Urgh. C-cake. Put it in my mouth."
Hura's body was rigid as stone, barely able to move his mouth to speak. Sera scooped a bit of cake with a dumbfounded look and fed it to him. As Hura slowly returned to normal, Sera asked,
"Can I eat it now?"
"...Eat."
"I was gonna anyway. Geez. What are you doing with some weird toy you picked up?"
"......"
Sera grumbled as she cut a slice onto her plate, then served one to Ptah's plate too. The two popped the cake into their mouths at the same time.
Hura watched them anxiously. His reason for bringing the Clear Watermelon Whipped Cream Cake wasn't purely out of goodwill to share something delicious.
There was a bit of rivalry mixed in. They'd eaten Hura's food before and hadn't fallen under Cooking Charm.
Ptah makes sense—she's eaten Sulis's cooking before. But why doesn't Sis fall for it? Her tastes are picky, sure, but still.
That's why Hura had dusted his one-and-only two-star dish with extra white powder.
Let's see if this doesn't charm you.
Both women's eyes widened as the cake hit their tongues.
"Mmm! Delicious!"
"For real! I didn't know you could make cakes this good!"
"......"
Hura narrowed his eyes at the two pouring out praise without restraint.
"Really?"
"Absolutely! It's been ages since I had cake this good."
"Make me one yourself for my birthday, Hura."
Hura glanced at his skill window. They said it was good, but no Cooking Charm activation.
Tasty, but not that tasty, huh. High standards, these picky eaters.
"Then I'll be going."
"Huh? Already?"
"Yes. I'll be back soon. With something even tastier next time."
Hura shot up, burning with competitive spirit.
Ptah blinked, then spoke in a puzzled tone.
"...? This was plenty tasty, though?"
Sera nodded in agreement.
"Yeah, it was super good, lil' bro."
But Hura shook his head.
"No. Someday, I'll make you something so good you'll cry your eyes out."
"......"
"......"
The two, who had been devouring the cake with crumbs around their mouths, stared at each other.
"...Do what you gotta do."
"Fine by us."
Hura stepped into the elevator.
"Hmph! Just you wait!"
Rumble—
The elevator carried Hura away, leaving the two staring blankly at each other.
"Why's he like that?"
"Beats me."
The moment I left Machine Hill, I pulled up my friends list and called one of them.
Ring ring—
"Hello? May I ask who this is?"
"It's Hura."
"Ah! Chef-nim!"
His voice brimmed with delight.
The one I'd called was none other than TrustworthyMerchant, who'd boasted he'd turn Berry Merchant Company into the top guild.
"Business going well?"
"Haha! Of course! All thanks to you, Hura-nim."
"Glad to hear it. You still in Shin-dong Village?"
"Yes. Just finished selling most of the goods. Leaving tomorrow-ish."
"Perfect. Do you handle jewels?"
"...Jewels?"
His tone turned deadly serious in an instant.
"May I ask what's up?"
"Cleared a dungeon and got a ton of treasure."
"What kind of treasure, exactly?"
"Uh... gold and silver dishes, pearl necklaces, rings, jewelry like that."
"...You're saying you'll sell it to us?"
"Heard some trustworthy merchants I know are nearby."
"......"
A short silence, then a sniffle, followed by TrustworthyMerchant's teary voice.
"Thank you, Hura-nim. You won't regret it. I swear, we'll give you the continent's best price."
"No need to thank me. It's just business. I'm the seller, Berry Merchant Company the buyer."
"It's a huge deal for us. Where should we meet?"
"East entrance of Shin-dong Village."
"Be right there."
I could guess why he was so moved. I'd known it from the start.
Trading pricey treasures that require trust is worlds apart from potions or random ingredients. Merchants prize those deals for the perks.
First, volume shrinks dramatically. A cart of potions becomes one gem—huge transport savings.
Second, less risk of bandits stealing the whole load. No cart means easier evasion, and inventory theft is impossible. PK drops some items at worst, but not everything.
Third, big profits if you're skilled. No fixed price means buy low, sell high.
But newbie guilds like Berry rarely get treasure trades. Trust is key, and who trusts rookies with valuables? Most hit big guilds in cities, which monopolize them.
I'd learned this from Panwol Emo Jjomo and Fantasy World merchant forums. Posts begging "Someone buy my dungeon treasure pleeease—" were everywhere.
Treasure deals are merchants' dream gigs.
But I chose Berry. Why? 'Cause I want to. Like how they cheer my Demonic Chef dream, I'll cheer theirs.
...And trekking far to sell is a hassle.
Honestly, we've barely talked. But I saw my own fire in their eyes. Like I'll become the Demonic Chef, they'll hit big-league someday. My help just speeds it up.
Down the hill, at the village east entrance, TrustworthyMerchant paced like a dog desperate to poop, forehead gleaming.
He spotted me and rushed over.
"Ah! Hura-nim!"
"Long time. Doing well, TrustworthyMerchant-nim?"
"Just call me Trust."
His tone got super polite post-treasure mention.
"Haha, sure. Trust-nim, then."
"Yes."
"No time to waste. Got an appraiser?"
"Dapam—er, AllButDapam does it as a sub-job. Advanced certificate, no worries."
"...!"
Advanced appraiser? Rarer than rare—big guilds fight over them.
"Knew this deal was coming?"
"Opportunities wait for no one."
Trust grinned. Chance favors the prepared. My eye for people was spot-on.
"Dapam's prepping at the inn. Let's go."
"Sure."
Trust led me to a wooden inn. Inside, a hasty desk and chairs awaited.
"Hura-nim!"
Thud!
"Ow!"
Dapam jumped up, knee-smashing the desk.
"...You okay?"
"H-haha! Fine."
Dapam forced a smile, shaking my hand.
"Dump the treasure here?"
"Yes. Accurate to the last coin."
He pulled out his loupe—appraisal magnifier—and spoke confidently. I dumped a huge sack from inventory onto the desk.
Clatter—
"...!"
"...!"
Their eyes bulged like lanterns. Way more than expected.
"Wh-what the..."
"Wh-where did you get..."
The merchants stammered. Even high-difficulty dungeons don't drop this much.
I'd researched and knew my luck was insane. Ancient dungeons are reward-rich but deadly—need 10+ party. Some are "solo dungeons," one-clear only, with 2-3x normal rewards.
Minare's Secret Garden was ancient and solo. Hence the haul.
"Got lucky."
I brushed it off. No intent to share details—appraise already.
They were just shocked, not prying.
"A-appraising."
Dapam louped each item, calling values. Trust echoed and logged.
"Gold bracelet, 30-40 gold."
"Gold bracelet, 30-40 gold."
"Ancient Emperor Minare's bracelet, 300-350 gold!"
"...! Ancient Emperor Minare's bracelet, 300-350 gold!"
"Here you go, Hura-nim. Check it."
Hours later, Trust handed me the ledger with trembling hands. I scanned it, eyes landing on the total.
"...!"
5,340 gold ~ 5,950 gold
My jaw dropped. Expected big bucks, but not this big.
"Appraisals are exact, on Berry Merchant Company's name."
Dapam blinked blurry eyes from loupe-staring, brimming with confidence.
"...Yes. I trust you. Just shocked at the sum."
"Not your average treasure. Lots of ancient-dungeon caliber."
"Yeah..."
I nodded. But now the real game: haggling.
Buyers aim low-end, sellers high. But considering I offered Berry this haul, they'd price generously.
Let's see.
"Your offer first."
Mid-range 5,500-5,600 would be solid; I'd take it.
They exchanged glances, nodded.
Trust spoke.
"5,950 gold."
"...??"
"Round it up. 6,000 gold."
"...!"
I was floored. How do they plan to profit?)
"Shouldn't you keep some margin?"
"We can."
"At max appraisal?"
"That's our cut."
Their eyes were steady. Total confidence.
"Our edge in treasure trades. Buy at max appraise, sell higher."
"The extra 50 is thanks for trusting us, Hura-nim."
"...!"
Not just me—all treasures? These merchants aren't normal.
They're gunning to dominate Fantasy World.
"Appraisal fee?"
"Normally 5% of appraise, but free for you."
"...!"
Usually fixed fees—5 gold for 1,000-gold item or 1-gold junk. Pure luck-based risk.
5% is revolutionary. Rebellion against big-guild monopolies.
Good connection forged.
"So, sell to us?"
They stared intently. But their hands shook under the desk.
"Of course."
"Yes!"
"Score!"
They hugged.
"How's payment? Now?"
"......"
"......"
They stared blankly, then Trust bolted out the door.
"Wait! I'll snag a loan!"