Chapter 134: Ring of the Moonlit Dawn
She prepared to signal her clerk, but Azriel let out a soft, dry chuckle, crossing his arms over his chest.
"Fifty thousand? Come on, you’re quoting standard market floor rates for salvaged scraps, not master-tier reagents," Azriel said smoothly, his eyes narrowing with practiced ease.
"The market value for an intact Dread-Fang Alpha core in Oakheaven alone sits at twenty-five thousand, given the demand from the vanguard guilds pushing the Irida Woods rifts."
He tapped a finger against the glowing green sheets of hide on the counter.
"These four Corrosive Membranes are flawless tier-one drops with zero acid pitting. Any alchemist or leatherworker in the upper district would pay twelve thousand each just to forge high-grade corrosive-resistant armor for the swamp tiers. Add in the Calcified Toad Horns and the pre-enchanted boss accessories, and fifty thousand barely covers the raw materials."
The merchant blinked, her commercial smile freezing as she realized the young man standing before her wasn’t an ignorant novice pawn, but someone thoroughly versed in guild trade economics and regional pricing.
"Seventy thousand," Azriel stated with calm, unshakable certainty.
"Or I walk across the plaza to the Silverfang Syndicate. I hear their quartermaster is paying a premium for untainted boss components this week."
Beside him, Vesperia masked an amused, thoroughly impressed smirk, thoroughly enjoying how effortlessly he took control of the negotiation.
The appraiser wiped a fine sheen of sweat from her brow, running the numbers again before releasing an exasperated, yielding sigh.
"Sixty-five thousand," the merchant countered, throwing her hands up in defeat.
"Sixty-five thousand credits, and that is my absolute limit without running a deficit on processing fees."
Azriel held her gaze for a beat before offering a faint, victorious smirk.
"Deal. Convert it directly to Imperial Sun-Golds."
"Right away, sir," the appraiser said, bowing her head with genuine respect before gesturing sharply to her assistant.
The assistant returned within minutes, carrying a reinforced, velvet-lined pouch made of heavy basilisk leather.
She set it gently on the polished marble counter before pulling the gilded drawstring open.
Inside rested neat, gleaming stacks of heavy, lustrous gold coins stamped with the imperial wyvern crest, each radiating a faint hum of authenticating aether.
"Three hundred and twenty-five Imperial Sun-Golds," the merchant announced with a respectful, deeper bow.
"Valued precisely at two hundred credits each, totalling sixty-five thousand. The Gilded Vault is honoured by your business, sir."
The merchant cast a discreet, approving glance at the stunning, blonde-haired woman beside him, clearly assuming this wealthy young couple was finalizing a union.
"If it is a formal promise token you seek, young master, you have come to the right vault," the merchant said, tapping a rune on the wall to illuminate the private display cases with soft, warm mana-light.
"In our matriarchal customs, an offering crafted from untainted dungeon alloy carries far more weight than simple decorative gold. It proves the provider’s strength and devotion."
Azriel stepped along the row of pedestals, his eyes scanning the various pieces.
There were delicate bands carved from luminous jadeite, polished mithril rings engraved with protective sigils, and heavy platinum loops embedded with minor elemental stones.
Most were flashy, overstated, or bore aggressive combat stats unsuited for daily wear by a high-ranking noblewoman like Rosalind.
Then, his gaze caught a velvet-lined case tucked near the far corner.
Resting upon a cushion of pale silk was a single, masterfully forged band.
It was crafted from polished Moon-Vein Silver, a dense, lustrous alloy harvested exclusively from D rank dungeon quarries.
The metal swirled with faint, natural ripples resembling calm moonlight over water.
Embedded cleanly into the center was a solitary, teardrop-cut Violet Dawn-Gem, subtle, radiant, and gleaming with a deep, twilight hue that mirrored the exact shade of Azriel’s true eyes.
[Ring of the Moonlit Dawn (C-Rank Enchanted Band)]
Material: Refined Moon-Vein Silver & Polished Violet Dawn-Gem
Effect 1: Calming Ward (Slightly stabilizes mana circulation and clears minor mental fatigue)
Effect 2: Life Resonance (Glows softly when the wearer’s bonded partner is within close proximity)
Description: A finely crafted token of devotion, symbolizing steadfast loyalty and mutual protection.
Azriel studied the subtle, elegant curves.
It wasn’t an ancient, world-shattering relic with an overblown title, nor did it carry overwhelming battlefield effects.
It was understated, resilient, and deeply personal.
Rosalind had poured countless hours and meticulous effort into forging a custom spatial ring keyed exclusively to his mental commands, a rare, priceless convenience crafted purely out of her devotion to him.
In return, he refused to offer a generic, high-born extravagance bought with her own coin.
He wanted to slide something onto her finger that carried real weight, a gift pried from the jaws of dungeon beasts, paid for in blood, sweat, and the lethal work of his own two hands.
Beside him, Vesperia leaned in slightly, her honey-blonde illusion masking her sharp features as she inspected the velvet case.
Her hazel eyes showed two different emotions, one was the happiness for her daughter, she getting a surprise from the one she loved was really amazing and there was this second emotions, which was a slight jealousy, she also wanted one..
Azriel tapped the glass dome. "How much for this one?"
The merchant smiled warmly, gesturing to the gleaming band with a flick of her claws.
"The Ring of the Moonlit Dawn was master-forged by an artisan of the Upper Valley guild," she explained smoothly.
"It is also woven with a self-adjusting rune, allowing it to resize effortlessly to grace any finger. The listed valuation is two hundred and forty Imperial Sun Golds."
Azriel didn’t hesitate or attempt to haggle down an artisan’s craft.
He unhitched the basilisk leather pouch from his belt, untied the gilded cord, and methodically counted out two hundred and forty heavy, gleaming gold coins onto the merchant’s velvet tray.
The solid clinking of the coins echoed crisply in the quiet salon.
"Wrap it in your finest case," Azriel said evenly.
"Right away, sir!" The merchant nodded respectfully, carefully lifting the band with padded tongs and placing it into a polished ironwood presentation box lined with white crushed velvet.
Azriel tucked the small, heavy presentation box securely into his inner coat pocket, feeling the solid weight rest right over his chest.
He still had eighty five Sun Golds remaining, a substantial personal fortune for an independent hunter of his level.
Turning toward Vesperia, he adjusted his cuffs and caught the subtle, lingering look in her hazel eyes.
While she carried herself with absolute poise, there was a faint, teasing flicker of jealousy tucked behind her gaze as she watched him put the Duchess’s ring away.
Azriel stepped into her personal space, his lips curving into a confident, knowing smirk.
"Don’t look at me like that, Ves. I spotted another boutique on our way here. I’m getting something for you next."
At his words, her hazel eyes sparked with genuine surprise and a flash of excitement.
"Oh? Taking the initiative, are we?"
Reaching out, she laced her fingers firmly through his. "Lead the way, then."
A few minutes later, they stood before an exclusive, discreet establishment tucked into an upscale side street of the merchant quarter.
The storefront was framed in dark, polished mahogany with frosted runic glass, shielded from the rowdier foot traffic outside.
Azriel stood with his arm wrapped securely around her waist, pulling her lush curve flush against his side, while her hand rested comfortably against his hip.
Taking in the discreet sign above the door and the daring, exotic silk lingerie and provocative enchanted silks displayed behind the frosted glass, a rich, rare blush dusted Vesperia’s cheekbones.
"Are you sure about this place, Azriel?" she murmured, casting a sideways glance at him.
"Positive," Azriel replied, flashing a slow, wicked grin as his fingers pressed into the soft dip of her waist.
"It’s the perfect place for a gift tailored just for you."
He gave her waist a firm, possessive squeeze, guiding her toward the entrance.
"Let’s see what catches your eye."
[LIVE CHAT]
[Sadistic69] (Red): AHAHAHA! THE MATRIARCH WAS GETTING JEALOUS OVER ROSALIND’S RING AND NOW SHE IS STANDING IN FRONT OF A LINGERIE STORE!!!!
[Nine_Tailed_Vixen] (Cyan): Azriel picking up on her silent sulking immediately and dragging her straight to a high-end lingerie boutique is peak top-tier harem management
[Moon_Priestess_99] (Cyan): Look at her blushing... hehehe
[I_Love_Leaf] (Golden): Hahaha! He buys the daughter a sweet, elegant promise ring, and drags the mother-in-law straight into the provocative lingerie shop! Azriel has zero chill!
[Battle_Maiden_Vera] (White): Let him cook. Ves is acting tough, but she’s secretly loving every second of this.
[God_Slayer_Klara] (Red): Buy her something black and lace-heavy. We all know how good she looks in it.
[Lusty_Sera] (Golden): I need him to pick out something absolutely scandalous for her next training session... please!
A small chime of silver bells sounded overhead as Azriel pushed open the mahogany door, stepping with Vesperia into the plush, secluded interior of The Velvet Sigil.
The air inside was cool and scented faintly with crushed lavender and rare, intoxicating moon-orchid incense.
Soft, recessed mana crystals bathed the private salon in a warm, amber glow.
Lining the velvet-draped walls were mannequins showcasing the finest craft of the southern seamstresses, intricate undergarments woven from abyssal silk, corsets reinforced with flexible wyrm-scale boning, and sheer negligees pulsing with subtle, body-sculpting enchantment runes.
Behind the counter stood the shopkeeper, a mature, tall Catkin woman with sleek black fur dusting her pointed feline ears and a long, tail swishing lazily behind her tailored gown.
The shopkeeper’s amber slit pupils immediately tracked the pair.
In this matriarchal beastkin society, dominant women took the lead in every financial and intimate affair, yet here was a young, dark-haired male with his hand wrapped boldly around the waist of a breathtaking, honey-blonde noblewoman, practically steering her by the hip.
The feline merchant bowed with smooth, deferential elegance, addressing Vesperia first.
"Welcome to the Velvet Den, Mistress," the panther-kin purred, her sharp eyes taking in the sheer quality of Vesperia’s disguised presence.
"Are you seeking something to adorn yourself for the evening, or perhaps an alluring piece to command your household?"