Chapter 60: Profiteer TautouAfter walking out of Romon Restaurant, Fike wandered around the bustling streets.
"Conscience Grocery Store… is there really such a store?"
Fike asked a number of pa.s.sersby as he tried to locate the store, but the answers he received all simply stated that they were unfamiliar with the name.
He looked helplessly at the bustling crowd and the high-rise buildings on the streets.
“Where"s the hidden information? Do something!”
He sighed before continuing to explore the vicinity of Romon Restaurant.
Pa.s.sing through the alleyways, he walked past one hut after another before finally finding a dilapidated storefront labelled "Conscience Grocery" at a fork in the road.
The sign was covered in dust, a spider web hanging on its upper right corner.
The store itself was small and shabby.
Moreover, it was located in this deserted alleyway.
Compared to the previous flamboyance of Romon Restaurant, this place looked like something out of the novice village.
"Can I really get the registration form for Yogmo Academy here?"
Fike pushed open the door of the store, slightly perturbed.
A loud and somewhat familiar voice sounded.
“Welcome to Conscience Grocery Store. Tautou is happy to serve you!”
Fike stared at the familiar looking middle-aged man in front of him, who also looked back at him in surprise.
The two cried out in unison.
“It"s you?!”
Without waiting for Fike to speak, the middle-aged man took the initiative.
“Young man, I didn"t trick you. I"ve told you so much information about Romon. It"s not too much to repay me with a meal!”
Fike replied helplessly.
“That"s the cost of a meal? It cost me 78,000!”
The middle-aged man noticed that Fike"s tone did not seem to hold much intention of blaming him. As such, his att.i.tude transformed into one more sophisticated and tactful as he responded.
“Oh, young man, let bygones be bygones. You must have something you want after going through so much trouble to find this place. Our Conscience Grocery Store is the most trustworthy in the business. Tell me what you want. I can give you a fair price and a little discount. What do you think?”
Hearing the man"s words, Fike let go of the grudge in his heart.
After all, it was a small matter anyway. His priority now was to get the registration form for Yogmo Academy as soon as possible.
“I want to buy the registration form for Yogmo Academy.”
A sinister expression grew across Tautou"s face at his words.
“Of course, but…”
“What are your conditions? Just say it!”
“As expected, straightforward!”
Tautou laughed out loud.
Fike stared at the man who was laughing deviously, puzzled.
“What"s so funny?”
Tautou hurriedly waved his hand and replied to him.
“Nothing, Hahaha, nothing. I just, I just thought of some happy things.”
Tautou took out a dusty box from behind the counter.
As he opened the box, Fike saw the registration forms for Yogmo Academy.
Tautou opened his mouth and spoke.
“How about this, young man? I think you and I are fated. How about I give you a fair price, 10,000 Romon gold coins?”
Fike couldn"t believe his ears.
"10,000 gold coins? Is this registration form so valuable?"
Fike immediately retorted.
“Why is it so expensive? 10,000 gold coins can get me a lot of things.”
Tautou replied with a smile.
“Young man, you don"t understand. This registration form… for those who need it, even if it went for a million gold coins, it would still be worth it. For those who don"t need it, isn"t it just a piece of paper? Hahahaha.”
Fike thought to himself that this geezer was obviously trying to con him again.
As such, he responded aptly.
“It seems that I have to go to another shop.”
Seeing Fike turn around to leave, Tautou hurriedly changed his approach, interjecting anxiously.
“Hey hey hey, young man, don"t be in such a hurry to leave. The price is a small matter. How about this, I"ll give you a little discount and a map of Romon?”
Seeing his change in att.i.tude, Fick turned around and asked again.
“How much?”
Tautou smiled.
“Nine thousand.”
As the price was still unreasonable, Fick was just about ready to leave.
However, as he turned around, a hidden message suddenly appeared.
[Hidden Information: There is a Prismatic Crystal in the gray box on the counter. The crystal is a key material in creating an instant killing array for exorcism. You can"t miss it!]
After reading the hidden message, Fike tried to hold back his excitement as he felt his heartbeat quicken. In front of Tautou, he pretended to remain indifferent.
“How about this? I"ll see if you have any other good things on sale in your shop, okay?”
Realizing that Fike had no intention of leaving, Tautou immediately put on a smile.
“Of course, you can look around!”
Fike pretended to do so, nonchalantly scanning through bottles, jars, and materials full of impurities.
After wandering around for a bit, he finally returned to the counter and pointed at the gray box.
“What is this? Can I take a look?”
Seeing that he was interested in the box, Tautou quickly responded.
“Of course, feel free.”
Fike opened the gray box to find what looked like an ordinary stone lying inside it.
He thought to himself, "Is this stone really a Prismatic Crystal?"
The hidden message resurfaced again.
[Hidden Information: The surface of this gem is covered with gravel. Once it is wiped away, the original appearance of the Prismatic Crystal will be revealed.]
"I see!"
Fike smiled as he turned back to Tautou.
“I"ll give you 10,000 gold coins. Give me the registration form, the map, and this stone!”
Tautou was giddy with excitement after hearing the offer.
“Okay, sure! If you like anything else, take it!”
Seeing the man"s eagerness, Fike now had a rough idea of the true price of the registration form.
His tone was cold as he replied to Tautou.
“No need.”
Leaving the Conscience Grocery Store, Fike hastily checked the map of the royal city of Romon.
He found Yogmo Academy, located on the northernmost mountain of the city.
No wonder he couldn"t find it after searching for so long.
He studied the map for a bit before immediately setting off for the school.
Yogmo Academy was located behind a towering stone tablet that looked like it had been misplaced, jutting out on the peak of the mountain.
Fike had now arrived at the foot of the mountain.
Looking up, he saw that the school itself was built on the peak, while a number of other buildings surrounded it halfway up the mountain.
Perhaps they were cla.s.srooms of Yogmo Academy.
As Fike prepared to climb the mountain, he was suddenly stopped by a security guard.
He greeted him politely.
“h.e.l.lo, I"m here to apply!”