"Ha ha ha! I'm sure we can help you with that!" Benjamin laughed. "I would be honoured if you would simply call me Ben, Sir Arthur."

  The merchant smiled. He just knew that this day would be wrapped up with a legendary transaction, even after applying the discount he promised to Sir Arthur.

  "In that case Ben, I would like to start with something I consider basic. A storage item. I want it to be on the smaller side. Like a brooch, ring, or pouch."

  "Ah certainly! Terry?" Benjamin summoned the man with the gesture of his hand.

  "We have a wide assortment of holding items you might be interested in, Lord Ives. However, we keep them upstairs for better protection along with the remaining enchanted and magic items..."

  "Excellent! I'm glad you have them as well." Arthur smiled and looked around. "Lead the way, Mr Terry!"

  "Sir..." Catherine's finally found her voice, albeit it was still shocked and slightly panicked. "You really don't have to..."

  He lowered his face near her ear. "Don't worry, Cate. I will explain everything later but, in part, I need this to accurately judge the advancement of this country."

  "Yes Sir..." She whispered back, slightly less alarmed.

  They climbed two flights before they passed a set of enchanted doors and two impressive guards. They were slightly over level fifty and their equipment was much better than anything Arthur has seen so far in this country.

  "This gear was custom-made by the Dwarves, Sir Arthur," Benjamin said with a proud smile. "Impressive, isn't it? It's not the best gear in Saftia because the best is always reserved for nobles, but it's close enough."

  Arthur tried his best to maintain a neutral expression, but the seasoned merchant caught his reaction. Whatever he thought about it, he kept it to himself, but the Inquisitor knew that the merchant would ask him sooner or later about this. He even considered summoning one of his daggers, but decided it wasn't worth it. Bragging about the overwhelming technological gap between Arcadia and Saftia wouldn’t get him anywhere. If anything, it might bring him more trouble than it was worth.

  "It's certainly quality equipment..." He started but was interrupted by an angry snarl.

  "Quality? You call one of my best works just... Adequate?!" A stout, strong-framed Dwarf emerged from behind the doors and glared angrily at Arthur.

  "Master Viridian! I wasn't informed that you were in Howthorns!" Benjamin almost jumped. "Lord Arthur Ives, allow me to introduce you to the Master Blacksmith, Viridian Mightyhanded."

  "Lord?" The angry Dwarf piped down slightly but he still eyed Arthur with a stare that expressed his wounded pride.

  Arthur was well acquainted with how some Dwarves could be prideful of their work.

  "Unfortunately, I can't praise your work more than that, Master Viridian." He shook his head, but also knew that honesty was going to work best here.

  Arthur brought out one of his most mundane throwing knives which were considered acceptable to be lost. He wasn't the most proficient in knife throwing, but he lived by the example set by the Emperor - there is no such thing as too many weapons. His storage was full of spare swords, various polearms, daggers, knives, and shields, including a spare aegis.

  "By thy Gods!" The Dwarf's mood flipped instantly as he gently grabbed the knife as if he was touching a holy relic. "If that's a throwing knife you must assume to be lost at some point, I would die to see your sword, Lord Ives..."

  "Master Viridian, I believe that we should serve our customers first..." Benjamin looked at the Dwarf, who quietly nodded and had to visibly force himself to return Arthur's knife.

  "Now I see why your staff insist on selling my weapons to these two kids. They will work for you, Lord Ives?" Viridian rubbed his black beard thoughtfully as Arthur simply nodded. "I imagine your Kitten there will need something to protect herself with as well... Hmmm... I think I have something that might surprise even you, Lord Ives..."

  With that, he disappeared into the adjacent room.

  "I'm sorry, Sir Arthur..." Benjamin rubbed the back of his head.

  "I know a thing or two about Dwarves and their pride, so don't mention it." The Inquisitor shrugged with a wide smile, seeing the deep blush on Catherine's face, hearing her repeat 'his Kitten' under her breath.

  Meanwhile, Terry had prepared various storage items and presented them on a satin-lined tray.

  "How much storage space do they offer?" Arthur asked, perusing the display and deciding that a ring or pendant would be best for his needs.

  "All of them are the biggest storage items we have, and could hold almost as much as this room." The clerk pointed at the nearby room.

  After taking a glance, Arthur nodded happily: the room was roughly five by ten metres and about three metres tall. It was a fairly impressive storage space, and would be enough for Catherine to store her things and have even space left.

  "Excellent!" He picked up a ring made of platinum and gold that intertwined like a rope from which sprouted shimmering flowers made of blue opal with smaller leaves of green jade. "How much for this one?"

  This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

  "Four big gold coins, Sir Arthur." Benjamin named the price. "I'm afraid that I can't apply the full discount, but magic items are the hardest to get, so..."

  "No, no, Ben! Tell me how much it costs without any discounts." Arthur smiled.

  "Five big gold coins..."

  "I love the detail work on it! What do you think, Catherine?" Arthur smiled. Five gold pieces for such a small storage space was basically robbery, but that particular ring was making up for the price with its stunning design. On the other hand, it wasn't as expensive as he had expected, so Saftia had talented craftsmen capable of steadily providing the storage items.

  "Yes, my Lord... It's beautiful." She said with awe and Arthur took her hand and slipped the ring on her ring finger.

  She looked at him with a smile for a moment before she raised her hand and looked at the ring. Arthur looked at Benjamin, but he didn't say a word. However, his mysterious smile alarmed the Inquisitor.

  "Did I do something strange?" He sighed. "Does giving a ring to a woman symbolise anything in Saftian culture?"

  "No, I don't know anything about that." Benjamin shook his head in denial. "I just smiled since you seem to enjoy yourself, Lord Arthur."

  "That's indeed the case." Arthur smiled. "Since we managed to get a storage item, it's time to ask another hard question. Do you sell any magical protective gear?"

  "We have a few items like that, but I don't know what you are thinking about, Sir Arthur." Benjamin slowly shook his head. "We have pieces that protect from curses, some debuffs, or items that increase physical and magical resistance. We..."

  "What would you say for a personal barrier, Lord Ives?!" The Dwarf returned with a big grin and a small, golden bell in his hand.

  "A personal barrier?" Arthur raised his eyebrow.

  That was something new. The magicraft required to craft something like that was very advanced, and it was the first time he’d found something like that outside of Arcadia. He took the bell from the Dwarf's hands and kept the comment that it was quite obviously a cat’s collar bell to himself. However, it wasn't as loud as he expected and it chimed with a very pleasant deep pure tone. He channelled his mana through it and nodded with satisfaction. It was sturdy enough to withstand even one of his more powerful skills. A far cry from what his barriers were capable of, but it would certainly keep Catherine safe.

  "Impressive." He smiled at the Dwarf who shook his head in disbelief.

  "Normally, anyone who saw that for the first time would not only be overwhelmed, but also wouldn’t have the slightest idea how to activate it. Lord Ives... I beg of you," Master Viridian dropped to his knees and pleaded, "Can you activate your own barrier? I can assure you that I will keep secret whatever I learn, and no one else here has the skill to appraise your barrier."

  Arthur sighed. Not only was he trying to learn as much about Saftia as possible, but it seemed that the Alabaster Trading Company was dead set on obtaining as much information about him as they could. He considered it for a moment. It would be a risk, but he could get himself a very valuable ally if one of the biggest Trade Companies of Saftia would take his side.

  "What I'm about to show you might be hard to swallow, Master Viridian." He said quietly, feeling Catherine standing calmly nearby. He read it as a sign of the trust she had in those people.

  "I'm ready to admit that I know nothing already. So the shock shouldn't kill me on the spot." The Dwarf stood up and grinned.

  Arthur activated all his barriers and shields. The air hummed with mana, but the effect was far more subtle than what the bell he still had in his hand produced.

  "By my ancestors..." Viridian gasped for air, gaping and shaking his head in disbelief. "I... Compared to whoever created this, I'm just a kid playing in the forge! Ben... You have gained an unimaginable friend."

  "How much for this bell?" Arthur smiled awkwardly as he turned off his shields and barriers.

  "Take it as my token of gratitude, Lord Arthur." Master Viridian looked at him with a serious expression and bowed deeply. "I know that facilitating my request was dangerous and not an easy decision. I'm honoured that you trusted me, Lord Ives."

  "You are right. It wasn't easy." He nodded. "However, I will need allies to survive in this country and if I want to have a chance of finding a way home. You proved to me that you detest slavery and other oppressive practices as much as I do. Your Company, Ben, is probably the closest thing to an ally I have. That's why, Master Viridian, I took the risk and exposed even more than I wanted. But if I want you to trust me, I have to trust you."

  "I'm glad that you are not arguing to pay for this bell." Viridian laughed.

  "I'm wiser than that. Arguing with a Dwarf who has a lot of time at his disposal is a lost fight I won't be participating in." Arthur chuckled, followed by a cheerful laugh from Viridian. A few moments later he asked with a serious expression. "Can I ask you to keep a secret about my gear?"

  Benjamin looked at the Dwarf and his workers, who bowed towards Arthur.

  "We will keep your secrets safe, Sir Arthur. I believe that your arrival was a godsend, albeit I have no idea which God, and that we can help each other. Of course, we will be happy even with your help as a patron..." The merchant smiled mysteriously, and Arthur's Inquisitor's instincts kicked into full overdrive.

  "Well... That might require more than one dinner eaten together to discuss. But I might even consider being a Sword For Hire, if that will take me closer to Arcadia."

  Arthur smiled and approached Catherine, who was shaking slightly. He put his hand on her shoulder until she calmed down and stopped trembling. Only when she smiled up at him did Arthur turn around again.

  "But we can discuss this another time. Please, do tell me, Master Viridian. Can you do something about this humiliating collar?" Arthur asked, pointing at Catherine's slave collar.

  "I can surely destroy this piece of shit..." The Dwarf grumbled.

  "No... Please... I want to keep it for the time being. Lord Ives needs me at his side. He doesn't know our customs and traditions. It was my choice, Master Viridian. I was offered freedom many times, and I will be free, but only when we reach Arcadia." Catherine covered her collar with her hands.

  "I see..." The Dwarf sighed heavily. "We have a limited assortment of those... Hmmm... Actually, I might have something you are looking for."

  A few moments later, he returned with a tray full of various necklaces, chokers, and a few velvet ribbons.

  Arthur picked up one and took a better look at it. "That's really a slave collar?"

  "Well, I purposefully made it to not look like one..." The Dwarf shrugged. "It contains the black metal, gold, and platinum... So its price is steep. Ten big gold coins."

  It was a delicate necklace made of black metal and gold underlined masterfully with platinum. An intricate net of thin wires created an eye-catching web with the red runic stone in the centre. He put a bell below it and looked at Catherine whose eyes were shining in awe. There was no need to ask if she liked it. Arthur took out fifteen gold coins and handed them to Benjamin, who tried to return some of them to him, but Arthur shook his head in denial. There were a lot more things he really needed. But, while his funds weren't endless, he had a few hundred gold coins saved. The Emperor paid his soldiers very well, and the pay of the Inquisitors was even better.

  "Can you attach the bell to this necklace?" He looked at Viridian.

  "Child's play." The Dwarf harrumphed but then grinned. "Even for a child like me..."

  Thank you all for reading.

  I wish you all a great day and as always I wait for your comments.

  A big thanks to and who edited the chapter!