Mana Stones Exchange Rates
Low Grade to Mid Grade: 400 Low Grade Mana Stones for 1 Mid Grade Mana Stone.
Mid Grade to High Grade: 250 Mid Grade Mana Stones for 1 High Grade Mana Stone.
Maxâs expression frosted over instantly when he read the board and saw these outrageous, intent-on-extorting-them exchange rates.
He gazed down at the fat shopkeeper and asked in an emotionless voice, "These ratesâif Iâm not wrongâall other shops are giving similar exchange rates, right?"
The fat shopkeeper was a peak Five Star mage. Seeing Max was just a peak Four Star mage, he was all smiles and completely at ease, unlike the times when he faced King and even Emperor mages who came to exchange their mana stones.
After all, even though he was a native of the central plains, he wasnât too talented and had only managed to reach the Five Star realm by relying on alchemical medicine and natural treasures.
Therefore, he wasnât strong enough, and because he wasnât fearless like most mages, he always tensed up when facing stronger peopleâeven if they were from the desolate regionâafraid that they might attack him in anger.
But when he saw Max was weaker than him, he naturally didnât feel the same. However... when he looked into Maxâs eyes, he felt a chill in his heart and his body turned stiff.
"I asked you something." Max frowned when he saw the fat man didnât answer and was just staring at him with a wooden expression on his face.
"Ah, y-yes, yes. All shops have similar rates," the fat man hurriedly nodded.
Max didnât want to comment on their vicious methods but couldnât help himself and said, "You people are really ruthless."
The fat man panicked, hearing the rage in his voice. He had already realized Max could easily kill him despite his low realm.
Though all the merchants had an accord with the town lord that she would ensure their safetyâand there were town guards constantly patrolling the market tooâunfortunately, they werenât nearby at this moment.
So, if Max lost control and attacked him...
âNo, no, no. I canât let that happen,â he screamed in his mind and quickly said, raising his hands in front of him as if in surrender,
"Please donât get angry, young master. We arenât ruthless, we are just trying to earn moreâno, no, what am I saying. Yes, what I mean to say is that Iâll give you a good exchange rate."
Max narrowed his eyes, surprise flickering within them.
How could a Five Star mageâespecially someone from the central plainsâbecome so scared facing a
savage
from the desolate regions on his home turf? It was inconceivable to him. Well, it was inconceivable until a few moments ago.
"Oh, so you are not as ruthless, huh?" he asked, his tone softening slightly.
The fat manâs eyes lit up seeing this and he immediately nodded, "Yes, yes. Iâm not ruthless at all."
"I see. Then tell me, what rates do you offer now?" Max asked, staring at him with narrowed eyes.
"I... itâs three... no, two hundred low grade mana stones for one mid grade mana stone, and a hundred mid grade ones for one high grade one," the fat man nervously answered.
Despite how scared he was, he didnât want to reduce the rate too much and wanted to offer 300 low grade for one mid grade and 200 mid grade for one high grade mana stone, but when he saw Maxâs expression becoming cold, he hurriedly reduced the price even more.
Max didnât answer and silently stared at him, making him nervous.
"Y-Young master, itâs the best rate you would find in the entirety of the central plains, but if you are still not satisfied with it, then I willâ"
He gritted his teeth and was ready to bear the loss, but to his surprise and relief, Max shook his head.
"No need. This rate is good."
He knew the mid-to-high grade mana stone exchange rate he offered him was quite reasonable. And since he disliked them because of their extortion practices, he didnât want to become like them and use this manâs fear to extort himâit was beneath him.
While the fat man heaved a sigh of relief, Max thought for a moment before taking out 900,000 mid grade mana stones.
Since there were many low-realmed people in his group like Ella, Maria, Esther, and others, who wouldnât be able to use high grade mana stonesâlet alone mana crystalsâto cultivate, he decided to keep 100,000 mid grade ones and all of the low grade ones.
Not only because the ladies would use them to cultivate, but also because he only had around half a million low grade ones, which would be converted into just 25 high grade onesâa pitiful amount.
After the fat shopkeeper scanned the mana stones and ascertained they were indeed 900,000, he stored them away and gave him 9,000 high grade mana stones.
Max stowed them away, satisfied.
Now, he had over 9,500 high grade mana stonesâmore than enough to rent the rooms on the third floor for several days if necessary.
Before he left the shop, he asked the fat man, "Whatâs your name?"
"Samuel Reeds, young master," the fat man answered.
"I see. It was a pleasure doing business with you, Samuel," Max said and left.
Samuel walked out of the shop and looked around. After he was sure Max had indeed left, his expression turned ugly and he stomped his feet in rage. "Pleasure, my foot!"
"Oh, what is it? Why do you look so angry?"
Right then, a group of three town guards appeared and asked him when they saw him shouting and stomping the ground in anger.
Instantly, Samuelâs expression turned dark and he lashed out, "Where the fuck were you? Why am I paying the town lord protection fee? For you guys to disappear when I need you?"
The guardsâ expressions turned dark. He was just a small merchantâwhere did he get the courage to scold them?
Samuel realized what he had done in a fit of anger, and his face turned pale.
"I-Iâm sorry, respected sirs. I was angry because someone extorted me just a while ago when you werenât here, so... I-I didnât mean to shout at you," he hurriedly stammered out the explanation.
Hmph!
The trio scoffed. They were still angry, but since he had been conned and had already apologized, they chose to forget it and asked,
"Tell us what happened in detail."