Chapter 85: Golden Emporium
Lacrosa was as bustling as ever.
The underground city sprawled beneath dimensional doorways, a hub of mystical commerce where anything could be bought for the right price. Lea and Dawn stepped through one of the portals in Renar.
"First address...", Dawn said, pulling out Lady Keter's notes, "Reputable seastone dealer in the merchant quarter."
They navigated through crowds of Pathstriders, merchants, and stranger things. Arriving at the marketplace without much trouble.
The seastone dealer was a weathered woman in her sixties, her shop packed with crystalline samples of every grade and color. She barely looked up when Dawn entered.
"Need something specific or just browsing?"
"Three pieces of the highest quality.", Dawn pulled out her card, "Price is no object."
That got the woman's attention. She studied Dawn with shrewd eyes, then nodded, "Give me five minutes."
She returned with three perfect specimens. each crystal glowing faintly with internal light, the rainbow-blue coloration indicating pure, uncontaminated seastone from deep ocean deposits.
"Two thousand Cee each.", the woman said, "And that's a fair price for this quality."
Dawn paid without haggling. Six thousand Cee for raw materials that would become Lea's weapon.
=0=0=
The second location was in a quieter district, a small workshop where a middle-aged man worked alone. Fourth Step Pathstrider, Lady Keter had said. Creation and Realization.
He examined the seastones critically when they arrived, then looked at Dawn's specifications.
"Surge, Melody, and Resonance. Imbued into these three crystals...", he set them down carefully. "Difficult, but possible. It'll take three hours and cost you fifteen thousand Cee."
"How long if I assist?", Dawn asked.
The man blinked, "You're a Pathstrider?"
"Fifth Step, Erudition and Creation."
His expression shifted to respect, "Then... an hour, maybe less. And I'll cut the price by a thousand if you help with the resonance harmonics."
They worked together in focused silence, Dawn's divine-touched Creation merging with the craftsman's practiced expertise. Lea watched as mystical energy flowed into the crystals, each one slowly taking on a distinct character. Surge crackling with electrical potential, Melody humming with sound harmonics, Resonance vibrating in sympathy with unseen frequencies.
When they finished, all three crystals glowed with power.
"Beautiful work, lady.", the craftsman said, genuine admiration in his voice as he placed the three crystals in a box, "Whoever's weapon this becomes will be formidable."
Dawn paid him, and they left, heading for the third address, the final location where everything would be assembled into a functional weapon.
=0=0=
The address led them to Lacrosa's city center, an area normally restricted to non-citizens. When Lea and Dawn approached the checkpoint, guards in Steam Bat livery blocked their path.
"Sorry, ladies. City center is citizen access only."
Lea pulled out the business card Qaeidat had given her weeks ago. The one with the Steam Bat symbol and golden coin.
The guards' expressions changed immediately. They stepped aside without another word.
Dawn shot Lea a questioning look. Lea just shook her head; she would explain later. They walked through streets that grew progressively more opulent. Shops here didn't advertise. This was where the truly wealthy and powerful conducted business. And of course, where they can see high-rise apartments in the distance.
The two came to the address, finding a shop hung the billboard saying 'Golden Emporium'.
The building could only be described as golden as fuck. Everything, from walls, doors, display cases, to even the street cobblestones leading to the entrance, was made of gold in different shades. Rose gold, white gold, yellow gold, and even some greenish alloy Lea didn't recognize.
It should have been gaudy; instead, it was beautiful. Each shade complemented the others, creating a flowing aesthetic that drew the eye naturally.
"Well...", Dawn said slowly, "This is... certainly something."
They entered through golden doors that opened silently.
Inside, Qaeidat stood behind a counter, her golden hair and eyes matching the decor perfectly. She looked up with that same business-perfect smile.
"Welcome one and all~ to the Golden Emporium!! My name is Qaeidat Habia, you can call me Qaeidat~!!", she introduced herself, then looked over to Dawn, "Princess Ryteline, I presume? Your reputation precedes you."
Dawn's surface thoughts screamed suspicion and caution, "You know who I am."
"I know who everyone is, dear. It's part of the job!!", Qaeidat's smile didn't waver. She looked at the box carrying the seastones Dawn had in her hands, "Ah, crafting service?"
"Yes.", Dawn said, opening the box, "I would like a gun with these seastones."
"Of course~ it should only take ten minutes!!", Qaeidat replied with a smile.
"Ten minutes?", Dawn asked with suspicion, "That should take hours of precision work."
"For most people, yes.", Qaeidat took the seastones casually, "For me, it's rather simple."
She waved over to the table set for guests, "Please, make yourselves comfortable. There's tea on the side table."
She disappeared into a back room before either of them could respond. Lea and Dawn exchanged another look. The shop was empty except for them, no other customers, no assistants, just golden displays showcasing various mystical items behind glass.
"Lea...", Dawn said quietly, "Who exactly is this woman?"
"I don't know...", Lea admitted with uncertainty, "But she recognized me as a demigod immediately when we met back during your ascension ritual. And Lady Keter sent us directly to her."
The timing feels too much of a coincidence for her.
Dawn's mind worked through the implications, "Either she's extremely well-connected, or..."
"Or she's something else entirely.", Lea finished.
Exactly ten minutes later, Qaeidat emerged carrying a sleek black revolver. The weapon was beautiful, matte black metal with subtle golden inlays along the barrel and grip.
Three distinct chambers were visible in the cylinder where the imbued seastones had been integrated, each one glowing faintly with its respective energies.
"There we are~!", she presented it with a flourish, "The three Paths are perfectly harmonized. It doesn't need ammo as movements can charge it up, shooting energy bullets."
Qaeidat set the weapon on the counter.
"Each shot draws from the energy reserves, about twenty shots before needing to recharge, which will naturally regenerate over time as you move. The weapon itself is indestructible, I made sure of that. The grip should fit your hand perfectly."
Lea took the gun, feeling its weight. It felt right, like an extension of her arm. The craftsmanship was flawless. She could sense the three seastones humming in harmony, their energies intertwining in a complex pattern that made her Fourth Step senses tingle.
"How much?", Dawn asked, pulling out her purse again.
"Oh, no charge~ consider it an investment.", Qaeidat's smile was still business perfect, "Though I do expect you'll remember this kindness in the future, yes?"
Lea studied the merchant carefully. Her emotion radar picked up something strange, not malice, not deception, but a sense of vastness. Like looking at an ocean and only seeing the surface.
"Who are you really?", Lea asked directly, "You're not just a merchant."
Qaeidat's smile widened, "How perceptive~!! No, I suppose I'm not."
She leaned against her golden counter casually. "I have many names, dear guests. Many titles..."
She gestured to the Steam Bat symbol displayed prominently behind the counter.
"I named myself The Golden Order. Or more commonly, the Steam Bat by this world."
The air in the shop seemed to freeze.
Dawn's thoughts exploded with shock. Lea felt her own heart skip a beat.
A god. They had been talking to a god this entire time!! The ruler of Lacrosa, the God of Wealth and Commerce, one of the established powers of this world!!
Qaeidat— no, the Steam Bat, just smiled that same perfect merchant's smile.
"Now then, is there anything else I can help you ladies with today~?"
Tension suddenly heightens. Dawn took a step back instinctively, after all, she had become a demigod when the Steam Bat was watching...
Lea, on the other hand... feel a bit numbed. This is the third god she met in person. Of course, she feels tense seeing a god right in front of her, but after all the shocks Lady Keter put her through, and after nearly being driven mad by the Tome of Light...
A god who is a merchant seems insignificant.
"W-We are fine!!", Dawn exclaimed, grabbing Lea's hand and slowly backing off, "We have to leave now!!"
With that, the two slowly head out of the shop, under the Steam Bat's friendly gaze and business perfect smile.
"See you next time~!!", she waved them off.
As they leave, another guest passes by them, a hooded young girl carrying a lantern glowing with wispy red flame inside. But what startled her was not the grim reaper-like get-up, but the girl's face... half of it was burning like a ghastly skull.
Noticing her gaze, the girl smiled and gave a slight bow before entering the Golden Emporium as the doors closed.
"Let's... not go here unless absolutely necessary.", Lea spoke, walking away quicker than Dawn.
The princess nodded, "I think the same..."