My Evil System

I also saw a lot of players in the line. Some were newbies like me, while others were already months in here.

Showing my ID to the guard, I entered Castle Rock without a problem.

Inside, the place was larger than Roselake, and all buildings were made of stone bricks. The alleys weren\'t wide, and the structures were close together that formed around the stairs going to the very top which was the Player\'s Academy.

It seemed like the Player\'s Academy was the center of the town and the town thrived from the guests who came to the Academy to poach the players to their side.

The town was slopy but not exhausting to climb. It was also bustling with activities. They were selling all kinds of things, from fruits, foods, weapons, armor, herbs, etc. And they were bazaars lining the slopy streets on the road.

An old gnome woman was selling buttons, and all kinds of fabrics. Humans were selling unpolished crystals. A dwarf man was selling bags of dust grounded from various metals, rocks, and precious stones.

My attention was stolen by the strange merchandise and the many foods that were waiting to be tasted.

However, like always, it was expensive, more so because it was me with Evil\'s Halo who asked. I wasn\'t worried, though, and went to the merchant\'s guild to sell my lamps.

It wasn\'t hard to find since it was the second-largest structure in this town. It was just a one story high structure, but its ceiling was high enough to be considered as a two story building. Its roof was curved and flags of gil decorated its walls.

There were two guards by the entrance, faces like that of a lizard but walking with two feet and holding a long spear in one hand. They were taller and bulkier than humans, and their slit eyes were intimidating.

They didn\'t barge my way, though when I entered, only their glaring eyes followed me inside.

The interior of the place was more beautiful than I thought. There were sofas and carpeted floors. Flowers and portraits decorating the walls and marble furnishings. There were giant candle chandeliers hanging on the ceiling as well, and the interior was cozier compared to its rough exteriors.

There were all sorts of creatures inside, standing at the front desk while some were speaking on the numerous couches around.

I took a glimpse at the items that they were selling or buying. This place was like a market but only more posh looking.

"Welcome," said a man who was sitting behind a desk. He had a beard and wore a black robe. "Do you want to sell or buy something? Or do you want to auction?"

"I want to sell something," I said and brought out the bedside lamp that Daedalus had made.

It had a simple design of a fairy holding a wand and at the tip of the wand was the Glowing Crystal. There was also a flip switched on the pedestal of the lamp to activate the crystal.

The man wasn\'t impressed, though. "What is it? What does it do?" he asked without much expectation on his face and bored voice.

"It lights the area," I said, and turned on the switch.

The man didn\'t respond for a moment, processing what he was seeing before he shot straight and took his eyeglasses. He then inspected the lamp with eyes stretching as wide as they could.

"What is this . . . sorcery?" he asked and muttered, "It has no candle. It has no fire. But how can it glow like hundreds of candles? How does it work?"

I shrugged. "I don\'t know. A friend of mine invented it. I\'m just here to sell it."

The man stopped and looked at me seriously. "Invented, you say? He made this?"

I nodded.

The man paused and then said after a while, "If you don\'t mind, sir . . . ?"

Sir? "Cross," I told him. Him calling me sir seemed like the lamp was a success.

"Do you mind if you wait here for a bit, sir Cross?"

I shrugged. "Sure."

"I\'ll be right back!"

The man hadn\'t even finished saying his words when he bolted inside a hidden door.

I was left standing alone on the desk, looking like an idiot, before I roamed my eyes over at my surroundings. But only a minute passed before the man came back while catching his breath.

"I\'m sorry for the wait. Please come this way, sir Cross."

I felt eyes on me when I was guided inside that secret door. I wonder if it was only reserved for important guests?

I didn\'t have time to wonder when I was led inside an office, and behind the desk was a plump man with a long hat and expensive vest.

He stood up as soon as he saw me. His height was only half of mine. He extended his hand and greeted me.

"Welcome, to Castle Rock Merchants guild! My name is Perry. Please, take a seat," he said while gesturing towards the sofa.

I sat down and looked around for a moment before speaking, "Are you the owner of this place?"

"Yes, I am. And you\'re Cross? The owner of this magnificent . . . ?"

"Lamp," I said.

Perry\'s smile widened. "Lamp! What a magnificent name!"

He smiled and inspected the lamp from all angles. "I\'ve never seen such a thing before! How does this work?"

"You just press the button over there and it would light up an area. It was a friend of mine who invented it, and he said that I should try selling it in town."

Perry closed our distance, and his eyes twinkled with glee like he had hit the jackpot. "Invented it? You mean that he could produce more of this?!"

"I have plenty of that with me if you want more," I said. "For a price, of course. And yes. He could produce more."

I wasn\'t worried that they would do something to me because if the Merchant Guild was all about money, then they would rather form a good relationship with me if they wanted more of those lamps.

( . . . continuation on NOTES)