"Weapons?" Tiger Hunt glanced at the light armor Blood Wolf was wearing.

  Compared to leather or cloth armor, which focused on agility, light armor sacrificed a bit of flexibility for significantly higher defense. As the man who led the charge for the Blood Wolf Squad, the quality of Blood Wolf's personal gear was top-tier—the best the city had to offer.

  Swish—!

  Without a word, Tiger Hunt drew the Berserker Greatsword from his back and swung it directly at Blood Wolf.

  "Wait—!"

  BOOM!

  The sheer impact sent Blood Wolf staggering back several paces, nearly crashing into the display counter. A bright, jagged crack had appeared on his chest plate where the greatsword had struck.

  Yet, Tiger Hunt hadn't used a single drop of Battle Qi. It was pure, raw sharpness.

  "Tiger Hunt, what the hell are you doing?! Is that the same sword you used to kill the Crag-Smasher Ape?" Blood Wolf roared in fury.

  A weapon capable of cleaving a Class-rank beast in two was nothing short of a divine artifact. To Blood Wolf's knowledge, no master blacksmith in Cloud Mist City could forge a blade that could shatter heavy hide—let alone premium armor—using only Brave-rank strength.

  "Exactly. And I bought this sword right here, at the Manager's shop," Tiger Hunt said, sheathing the blade with a smug grin.

  "What? You bought that here...?"

  A tidal wave of shock crashed over Blood Wolf. It was one thing to sell miraculous Pills, but for a small shop to carry weapons and armor of this caliber? It defied logic. But the evidence was staring him in the face—literally, through the crack in his chest.

  "So, have you decided? Are you buying or not?" Kael asked in a calm, measured tone. He couldn't let this Golden Goose fly away.

  "I’m buying!" Blood Wolf snapped back, his voice thick with resolve.

  He walked over to the shelves and checked the tags. His face immediately paled. "Tiger Hunt, hold me. I think that hit gave me a concussion. Tell me... what does that price tag say?"

  "Two hundred Spirit Crystals," Tiger Hunt said helpfully.

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  "No, that can't be right. You're seeing things too." Blood Wolf clutched his forehead, caught between laughter and tears. He had to admit the gear was worth it, but equipping his entire squad with this stuff? He’d have to sell his own soul just to afford the deposit.

  "Oh, actually, I’d recommend these for your men," Kael interjected, reading the captain's shifting expressions. He pointed to the items priced at ten Spirit Crystals. "They aren't as powerful as the Refined Chainmail or the Berserker Greatsword, but they’re still miles ahead of what you’re currently using."

  His tone was flat, but the underlying insult to Blood Wolf’s current gear was unmistakable.

  Blood Wolf didn't even argue. After testing a Common-grade set of light armor and a Sharp Zhanmadao (Horse-Slaying Saber), he was completely sold. The quality was undeniable.

  "Twenty sets of armor and twenty weapons to start," Blood Wolf ordered, gritting his teeth. "And for myself... I'll take the Refined Chainmail, the Wind-Spirit Light Armor, and that Frost Crystal Knight Sword."

  "That will be one thousand Spirit Crystals."

  Kael remained expressionless, but internally, his mind was racing as the Common Armor and Weapon Pools started flashing. This Golden Goose was so big that Kael had to restock on the fly.

  Common-grade gear was fairly straightforward—no special effects, just superior base stats and variety in types. Superior-grade gear usually carried one passive effect or skill. Having pulled so many times now, Kael realized the System's current supply was still limited. There were likely many more channels to unlock in the future.

  "Forty-three pieces of equipment in total. We do not offer delivery. How do you plan to transport all of this?" Kael asked while gathering the goods.

  Blood Wolf blinked. In any other shop, a client of his stature would be treated like royalty. This place was truly one of a kind.

  "I’ll go hire a carriage immediately. Don't you worry about it," Blood Wolf muttered, though his irritation was overshadowed by the thrill of the haul. As a captain, he was responsible for the lives of his brothers. This investment was non-negotiable.

  "Understood. Feel free to browse if you need anything else," Kael nodded.

  He turned and walked into the back warehouse. The shelves couldn't hold this much bulk; he needed to bring out the new stock. As he moved crates, he whispered to the System, "I think I can upsell him on some Pills too. System, can we bundle them together?"

  [System: Please clarify. The System will cooperate with the Host's strategy where possible.]

  "Like, a 'Warrior’s Bundle'—a Healing Pill, a Lesser Might Pill, and a Lesser Haste Pill sold together at a slight discount," Kael mused. He was thinking about Blood Wolf’s initial hesitation. If the man only bought Healing Pills, the other stock would move too slowly. Bundles were the answer.

  [System: Analyzing proposal...]

  [System: Proposal accepted. This will become a permanent option after the mission. New Bundle configurations generated:]

  Hot-Blood Combo: Healing Pill, Lesser Might Pill, Lesser Haste Pill. Price: 30 Spirit Crystals. Special Effect: [Hot Blood] — Increases pill efficacy by 30% and grants a brief boost to Attack Power.

  Mana-Surge Combo: Mana-Regen Pill, Lesser Intellect Pill, Intellect Pill. Price: 100 Spirit Crystals. Special Effect: [Mana Surge] — Increases pill efficacy by 30% and grants a brief boost to Magic Potency.

  Death-Defying Combo: Bone-Mending Pill, Might Pill, Haste Pill. Price: 240 Spirit Crystals. Special Effect: [Unyielding] — Increases pill efficacy by 30%. If all three are used simultaneously, the user gains an Undying Body until the effects wear off!