"Two hundred Spirit Crystals... looks like a fair deal. This design alone feels like it's worth the tag," Tiger Hunt remarked as he pulled the [Refined Chainmail] over his torso.

  At the very least, the System had impeccable taste; every piece of equipment looked magnificent. The chainmail fitted Tiger Hunt’s burly frame perfectly, making him look like a legendary commander—commanding, heroic, and imposing.

  "And these bracers... Manager, can you explain why a pair of bracers costs the exact same as a full suit of chainmail?" Tiger Hunt wasn't suspicious, merely curious.

  In truth, Kael wanted to ask the same thing. However, pricing was the System’s domain, not his.

  "[Bracers of Might]. They include the [Heavy Wrist] effect. If you're interested, feel free to try them on," Kael replied with his signature deadpan expression, skillfully dodging the topic of the price tag.

  "Sounds good. But if I buy these, I'm one step further from my greataxe," Tiger Hunt grumbled, though his hands were already busy strapping the bracers onto his forearms.

  "That will be four hundred Spirit Crystals in total."

  "Manager, I want to know how many Healing Pills you have in stock," Blood Wolf said. He had been standing by the shelves for a long time before finally approaching the counter.

  Just as Tiger Hunt had warned, nothing in this shop was cheap. Even for the captain of an elite mercenary squad, these prices made his heart flutter with anxiety. Unlike Tiger Hunt, who only had to look out for himself, Blood Wolf was responsible for an entire squad.

  Still, a miracle drug like the Healing Pill was an absolute necessity for mercenaries. It was the difference between life and death for his brothers.

  "If you need them..."

  Kael was about to say he had as many as the man could afford, but the System’s voice cut him off, ringing inside his head.

  [System: Mission Triggered: The First Golden Goose.]

  [System: Mission Objective: As a shopkeeper, you are standing before a prime candidate for a 'Golden Goose.' I believe you know what to do. During the mission period, the System will provide maximum cooperation to the Host.]

  [System: Reward: One 'Store Renovation Voucher,' plus the retention of one original idea conceived by the Host during the mission.]

  Hearing the notification, Kael snapped his mouth shut and adopted a look of deep, pensive contemplation. 'Golden Goose'... the System’s choice of words was always a bit twisted.

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  "What’s wrong, Manager? Are you low on stock?" Blood Wolf saw the change in expression and assumed the worst. He slapped his chest firmly. "Don't worry about the gold. When it comes to the lives of my men, I won't be stingy."

  "No, that's not what I was going to say," Kael replied slowly, his eyes locking onto Blood Wolf. "If I'm not mistaken, you're a captain of a mercenary squad, right?"

  To catch a Golden Goose—or rather, a VIP client—one had to understand their identity to recommend the right products.

  "Correct. I am Blood Wolf, captain of the Blood Wolf Squad." Pride seeped into his voice. Being one of the "Three Great Mercenary Squads" of Cloud Mist City was a testament to his prowess.

  Kael glanced at Tiger Hunt. Why does everyone get so weirdly proud whenever mercenary squads are mentioned?

  "Yeah, Blood Wolf is the big boss of a squad. Manager, just do your thing," Tiger Hunt said, stepping in to smooth over the awkwardness.

  Kael nodded and turned back to Blood Wolf. "You want to buy a massive amount of Healing Pills because you fear casualties. Am I right?"

  "Of course."

  "Then I believe that instead of just buying pills to treat wounds, it would be far more effective to enhance your squad's overall power and prevent those injuries from happening in the first place."

  Blood Wolf froze, the logic of the statement sinking in. After a moment of thought, he realized the Manager had a point.

  "I’m listening. What do you suggest?" Blood Wolf asked sincerely.

  "It’s simple. Take a look at the armor and weapons on these shelves. You’ll find your answer there," Kael suggested smoothly.

  Blood Wolf chuckled. "Manager, don't tease me. My squad is equipped with the finest gear Cloud Mist City has to offer."

  Kael kept his hands behind his back, secretly wiping off some grease from his breakfast buns. Then, he said calmly, "Since you’re so confident, why not test my gear against yours before you reach a conclusion?"

  "Manager, confidence is good, but blind arrogance is not," Blood Wolf said, completely ignoring the strange, pitying look Tiger Hunt was giving him. "Fine. Since you insist, I'll prove it to you." He drew the shortsword from his hip.

  "I'll help with the demonstration," Tiger Hunt laughed boisterously, stepping in front of Blood Wolf. He patted his new [Refined Chainmail]. "Go ahead. Hit me with everything you've got. This is fresh from the shelf."

  "Tiger Hunt, we've been friends for a long time. I don't feel right taking a blade to you," Blood Wolf hesitated. He simply didn't believe in the armor’s quality.

  "If we've been friends this long, you should know I wouldn't let you hit me if I didn't have a way to stop it. Just swing!" Tiger Hunt waved him off. Unlike the captain, he had absolute faith in Kael’s merchandise.

  "Fine. Don't blame me."

  Blood Wolf funneled his Battle Qi into the shortsword until it glowed, then swung it with full force against Tiger Hunt’s chest.

  CLANG—!

  A crisp, metallic ring echoed through the small shop.

  The recoil from the impact sent Blood Wolf staggering back three full steps before he could steady himself. Tiger Hunt was only pushed back a single step; the force that managed to penetrate the chainmail was easily dissipated by his own Battle Qi.

  "Wow... the defense on this thing is even better than I thought," Tiger Hunt said, pleasantly surprised. He rubbed the faint white scratch on the links, finding no actual damage.

  Blood Wolf, however, was staring in sheer shock.

  "It... it completely neutralized my strike? That's impossible!" His eyes were wide with disbelief. Even a Crag-Smasher Ape couldn't take a full-force hit from him without flinching, and that was a Class-rank beast.

  Was the defense of this simple chainmail actually superior to the hide of a Class-rank monster?

  "Well? Convinced yet?" Tiger Hunt teased after checking his gear once more.

  "I... No! We haven't compared the weapons yet!" Blood Wolf swallowed hard, refusing to admit defeat just yet.