After leaving the shop, Kai wandered around a little and finally came to the Hunters' Market—an independent market run by human hunters, without any Fairies involved.
"Selling Bronze chests, 5 gold coins each!"
"E-grade skill book [FireBall], 15 gold coins!"
"Blacksmith services available—customized swords, weapons, and repairs all in one place!"
"Selling handguns—1 gold coin each!"
"Candy apples, 2 copper coins apiece!"
Looking at the bustling market, Kai was surprised. The last time he was in this area, there had been nothing aside from a few vendors selling food. However, now the whole block was filled with stalls.
Two stalls around him caught his attention—one selling treasure chests and the other selling handguns.
Although treasure chests were common and hunters came across them quite often, the majority of the chests found were Bronze grade.
The grade of a chest doesn't guarantee a valuable item—it depends purely on luck.
Bronze chests generally contain F to D grade items. These items can be anything—from a pinch of salt to a skill book.
Since it depends entirely on luck, those who find chests generally decide to sell them. This was also the case for the vendor selling Bronze chests.
"Young man, are you interested in buying one? I can give you a special discount."
Seeing Kai looking at the treasure chests, the vendor spoke with enthusiasm.
Listening to the vendor's tone and the look on his face, Kai had a bad premonition.
"No thanks, I'm just looking around."
Saying so, Kai tried to walk away.
However, before he could get away, the vendor grabbed him and whispered in his ear:
"What's the rush, young man? If you're not interested in these Bronze chests, I've got Silver ones in the back."
Hearing about the Silver chest, Kai's eyes lit up.
No matter how bad one's luck is, a Silver chest guarantees at least a C grade item.
However, he quickly remembered his financial situation.
Forget about a Silver chest—he couldn't even afford a Bronze one.
The vendor noticed the change in Kai's expression when he mentioned the Silver chest, so he let go and said:
"Don't worry, it's not that expensive. Just 100 gold coins. But if you think that's too much, I can give you a special 20% discount."
Hearing the cost of the Silver chest, Kai declined the offer and, with some effort, slipped away.
Getting away from the man selling treasure chests, Kai stopped at a stall selling various sweets.
"One candy apple."
The vendor handed him a candy apple. After paying, Kai continued exploring the area.
He soon came to the vendor selling handguns and looked at the collection curiously. Although he had never used a gun before, he knew how dangerous they could be.
This was why he was curious—if every hunter carried firearms, their chances of survival could increase exponentially.
"Tango, a case of bullets."
Coming over to the stall, Kai looked at the guns and asked the vendor:
"I have a question. Do these drop from treasure chests, or did you make them yourself?"
Hearing Kai's question, the man in his thirties, called Tango, smiled and handed him one of his homemade guns.
"What do you mean, get them from a treasure chest? Boy, I made them myself. These puppies are my proud creation."
The man said proudly as he handed a case of bullets to a customer standing next to Kai.
""That will be 1 silver coin."
"What? You increased the price again? Yesterday it was 80 copper coins!"
"Do you think I have a factory back at home? I have to work overtime to make these. Also, no one is willing to mine. I'm buying steel at high prices from those damn Fairies."
"Fine, fine. But when is the production of bullets going to start? You know how much we all invested into this."
"Don't worry, those blacksmiths are almost ready. In a week or so, we'll rent some forges and start the production."
While Kai was checking the handgun, Tango and the man went back and forth. Then the man finally left.
"These pricks, do they think making a production line is easy? So, would you like to buy one?"
Kai didn't pay much attention to their conversation; he was busy inspecting the handguns. The gun had a simple design and looked similar to ones used in the early 1900s. It was a single-shot gun, but if aimed correctly, it could surely kill a monster.
"Give me one, and also some bullets."
Kai decided to buy the gun. Even if he didn't go out to hunt monsters, it could still protect him inside the town.
"Here, that will be 1 gold coin for the gun and 2 copper coins for 10 bullets."
Paying Tango, Kai stuffed both the gun and the bullets into his storage bag. Then he kept wandering around.
After walking for a while, he came across an acquaintance.
"Selling Basic Vitality Pills in batches, 50 copper coins each!"
The one selling Basic Vitality Pills was the same boy who had joined the Honey Pill Shop alongside him.
"Ah, Senior Kai. Are you also here to sell pills?"
The boy, named Lucas, asked upon seeing Kai standing by his stall.
"Selling pills? No, I'm just wandering around."
Answering Lucas, Kai thought to himself.
The Honey Pill Shop allows its alchemists to buy extra pills they refine at half the price.
A Basic Vitality Pill goes for about 60 copper coins apiece. At half the price, that would be 30 copper coins.
Selling pills at 50 copper coins each… it seems like Lucas is making quite a profit.
"If Senior ever wants to sell pills, I can be the middleman and buy them all for 45 copper coins apiece."
Knowing that Kai hadn't set up a stall and usually exchanged extra pills he refined for shop points, Lucas gave him an offer.
"I'll think about it."
Saying so, Kai left. Walking around the Hunters Market, he seriously considered Lucas's offer.
Although the shop owner had said a shipment of goods to exchange for Honey Points was on the way and would arrive soon, it's been two months and there was still nothing available to redeem with the points he had accumulated.
Maybe he should just sell the extra pills he refined and hire an assistant with the money he makes.