Lars stood inside an equipment shop that seemed simple and homely. This was the first shop he went inside as he planned to window show and scout out the prices first before buying. He figured he should have some time since it was just 7:30 AM. He planned to drop by the quest awarder Astrid Estreya's place sometime before noon.

Well, soon he found out that the shop only "seemed" simple and homely, because the prices were anything but simple. In fact, they were enough to bankrupt him!

And it was filled to brim with ma.s.ses of people, some looking local while more than one out of four looked to be from out of town based on their clothing.

Was the tournament really such a big event...? Phew!

"2 platinum coins for just a pair of gloves...? 5 platinum for a suit of top-grade leather armour...? 7 coins for a high-quality b.a.s.t.a.r.d sword? W-what kinds of prices are these??! This is daylight robbery!" He exclaimed at the sleazy looking shop a.s.sistant attending to him.

The man scowled openly at Lars then whispered loud enough for him to hear, "If you don't have the money, then stop wasting my time, kiddo...!" Then he put on broad smile and clasped his hands together in welcome once more, saying, "Apologies, my good sir. Due to the coming 5-day long selection tournament and the premium auction held on the 4th day, demand for goods has been very high." But Lars knew what the a.s.sistant really meant was, "If you can't afford it, then get lost!"

Grumbling, Lars decided to just stick with his replica Brightstar katana and get some medium-grade flexible leather armour, complete with a set of matching boots and light bracers. He would have chosen to get some half-gloves that left his fingers uncovered or helmet, but he couldn't afford it...

And he had already visited 9 other shops in these 2 hours - only to discover that prices truly were sky-high in every single store! In fact, every other stores goods were even more expensive than that first store!

Sighing and without a choice, he returned to the first store, the same one he had been to earlier.

"That'll be 6 platinum and 39 gold coins please!" The same shop a.s.sistant smiled smarmily at him, as if daring him to prove that he could afford the price. As irritated as Lars was, he still needed the equipment, so he could only grudgingly hand over the coins, nearly cursing under his breath as he did so.

The young mage who now looked like a das.h.i.+ng and valiant young hunter walked out onto the streets a poorer man, the jingle in his purse now turned into the pathetic clacking of less than half what he started with. He grasped his money pouch in sorrow, wis.h.i.+ng that he knew the mythical spell for creating gold as told of in legends. If he did, he wouldn't have to be beggared just from one foray into a store...

'At this rate, how am I going to ever afford a rune or artefact...? I can't even afford to equip myself properly...! And the gap with the rich like that despicable Duke Silvan is only going to grow bigger and bigger with time...! It's truly a difference of heaven and earth between the rich and the poor...'

Lars decided that one day when he came into power and ruled over his own lands, he would make sure to do something about the income gap and the difference in living standards! How could anyone survive with such prices? At least back home there were no such things as runes to make the rich triumph over the talented and hardworking by virtue of money alone!

Then he reconsidered.

'Hmm... There *were* battles.h.i.+ps and nukes and bombs though... That's true...' Then Lars had a moment of truth.

He realised that there was an unbridgeable gap between the rich and the poor. His mouth opened in wonder as the understanding dawned upon him, a revelation that changed his worldview greatly and wiped away the last dregs of his childish innocence about the world.

Money isn't everything...

But without money, you have nothing![1]

For the past 2 days, Lars had been, for the first time, exposed to the cruel reality of the world.

Money. Money made the world go round.

Again and again he had been slapped in the face by this fact, this concept that he tried hard to deny, but finally could deny no longer.

The young man felt his heart and will tremble in confusion and then a newfound certainty.

'Yes... Yes!! If the problem is not having enough money then...' His eyes turned slightly maniacal - No, in an instant his pupils had disappeared, replaced by dollar signs! He had fallen completely into the depravity that is the love for money!

Without money, you could be strong - but still be a no one against the rich and powerful.

He felt like the truth of the universe was searing itself into the depths of his soul.

The boy's eyes began to burn with a pa.s.sionate fire, one that threatened to consume even his very ident.i.ty and soul - so pa.s.sionate, so intense were the emotions overflowing Lars' being that even Kizorik, as demonic as it was, felt fearful!

'Lars...! Lars my boy...!' Kizorik s.h.i.+vered in fear as it felt the waves of life-changing concepts impact the boy. '...His eyes... They've changed... How could this happen so fast? One minute he was shopping happily, then the next... He looks like... A monster even worse than me...'

'He looks like...' Kizorik gulped.

'Those darker than sin, more evil than the devils... Gacha game makers!!!' The penguin's grudge against semi-gambling gaming providers was revealed, a grudge that a.s.signed them the lowest place among the low - even lower than the demons' sworn enemies, the devils!

As Kizorik held these thoughts, the waves of the concept of "Greed" began to settle down in Lars' soul-imprint, melding well with his current laws and ability of Insight.

He felt himself on the brink of advancing beyond his current realm, the Legendary realm, and into the next higher domain - the Mythical-level!

And then the sense of revelation left him, gradually dissipating like the snow as the heat of the sun arose at the end of winter. It was gone, leaving him dissatisfied and still on the cusp of the breakthrough he desired!

He sighed. Looked like there was still a long way to go...

Until he could possess all the money in Gorun and buy all the power he needed to fulfill his desires!

* * * * *

The above scenes took awhile to describe, but in truth, it all happened in barely 3 breaths' of time. As such, he only ended up standing stock still in the streets for a short 3 breaths - far too long on a busy, crowded roadside!

"Hey idiot! Get out of the way!" A richly dressed man carrying a priceless porcelain vase hollered at him.

"Buffoon! Day-dreaming in the middle of the street?! Ptui! Don't block us n.o.ble knights in our n.o.ble journey of n.o.bility! Scram!" The words came from a mounted, regal looking knight in s.h.i.+ning armour with a golden and white sword at his hip.

"Go home and dream your fantasies on your bed, don't bother us with real lives you stinking n.o.ble brat!" Various peddlers, merchants or customers yelled at him angrily.

He dodged aside to avoid the oncoming traffic and the rush of the pus.h.i.+ng crowd. They were eager to make the most of the customers and opportunities on this mad festive period, unwilling to miss out earning even a single coin extra and hurrying to their business!

Countless more insults were hurled at Lars, but he just narrowed his eyes and ignored them with a look of nonchalance. He was more interested in the new ability that emerged from his soul-imprint as the concept of Greed merged with his existing concept of Insight. And when he laid his eyes on the people who had just haughtily insulted him, he scoffed. Those people...

Were too poor!

"All That Glitters Is Gold..." As he spoke the name of the new concept of Greed he had gained, he looked up and was filled with a sense of wonder - and disdain.

The first ability - Eyes of Valuation. When he looked at anything in his sight, every item of clothing, every accessory, every piece of equipment in his field of vision was a.s.signed a description and a set of statistics. Such as the expensive looking vase carried by the well-dressed porcelain supplier:

Name: Fake porcelain vase.

Description: Actually a clay pot coated in magic paint.

Value: 1 silver.

Statistics: Brittle; no other significant information."

Or the sword and armour worn by the stuck-up, gallant looking knight leader.

Name: Excalibur (Counterfeit).

Description: It's just a lump of lead.

Value: 5 silver - that's a lot of lead!

Statistics:

Weight - 8 kg; useful as a club.

Grade A appearance, Grade G usefulness as a weapon.

Name: Aluminium plate armour.

Description: Aluminium plate armour.

Value: 15 gold - useful for science experiments and tech components.

Statistics: A good subst.i.tute for tin foil when roasting potatoes or meat over the fire. Not bad!

His eyes shone in crazy fervour - with this ability, who could stop him from making money?!? More and more and more money!!!

And with this power, no-one could surprise him with high-powered runes or artefacts anymore!

He would become the Invincible... Merchant!!!

Then Lars blinked. Then blinked, again and again and again.

'Wait... What's my objective again...?' He rubbed his chin and thought about it for awhile, before slapping his palm and balled up fist together.

'Ah yeah! I almost forgot... I need money to get home, buy powerful items and get back together with Moira... I need money... I need money...' And as he spoke the endless mudra of his new-found philosophy, his eyes looked like they had turned into two platinum coins...

Kizorik sighed.

'It's too late for that boy... Next he'll be crazy about Abyss Points...'

Then Kizorik looked downcast and sad as he thought, '...And become a gambling addict like me...'

But that's a story for another time.

* * * * *

Lars strutted through the streets with new-found confidence, holding his head and chest up high as he walked.

With his newfound powers of Eyes of Valuation, and the other ability of "All That Glitters Is Gold"... He whistled as he walked onwards to the auction house to check out the goods that would be placed on sale.

But when he arrived, he fell to his knees in despair as he read the list of items on sale and the starting prices.

"Level 1 Rune: Strength - 42,000 platinum coins."

"Level 3 Rune: Blink - 179,000 platinum coins."

"Blade of Wonders (b.a.s.t.a.r.d Sword) - 463,000 platinum coins."

"..."

"...This world is truly unfair. There is no justice in this world..." He began to weep on his knees, drawing incredulous but understanding looks from the many pa.s.sersby who shared his sentiments, especially the guards of the auction house whose lifetime pay could not buy even the cheapest item in the place they guarded.

"WHY ARE THE TOYS OF THE RICH SO b.l.o.o.d.y EXPENSIVE!!!!?"

*

*

*

[1] Kids, this is just Lars' perspective alright? Money truly isn't everything! I mean, look at me! I'm earning nothing from this book but churning out 75k words in 20 days for... Nothing... Sob sob... For you to read for free... Sob....

Psst... If you vote for this book up to the top 50, I'll be happier to slave away just to write more... D