THE MOMENT
"Wait, that sounds annoying," 23 looked up at Aurelio with a puzzled expression. Aurelio, 23, and Jenny were walking through a bazaar, seemingly in search of something specific. She asked about it, and the answer surprised her. "Why do you want that?"
"I never even considered it before..," Jenny giggled. They were preparing for a quest she'd done over a dozen times, and not once had the strategy crossed her mind. It helped remind her how well she and Aury worked together. She tended to charge into problems, head-on, with a proper plan. Aurelio preferred to go around problems as much as possible.
"What? It's a good idea?" 23 asked her mother, and Jenny nodded.
"I mean..., yeah...," she said. She was still mildly impressed at how quickly Aurelio formed a strategy, and the volume of minutiae he must've considered to even remember the book existed. "It's a low-tier cursed item that has some crafting use, but most people would never consider equipping it."
"I wouldn't want to wear something that doesn't shut up," 23 laughed. "So..it's like just always talking?"
"Well, it's a book," Aurelio chuckled. "It doesn't 'talk,' but it's magical enough to broadcast its thoughts. And, it's a very deliberate broadcast, so that everyone nearby can hear it give unwanted information and advice."
"But, why do you want it?" 23 asked. "I don't see how it'll help."
"We want to try and keep our thoughts hidden from Hazel Sage," he reminded her. "She's a Mundo, and she'll be able to read our minds as soon as we set foot on her Earth."
"Unless there's a louder, more distracting voice that she'd rather tune out," Jenny explained the plan further to make sure 23 got it. And to make sure she had it right, too. The trio continued to walk along the narrow cobblestone path, passing market stalls on both sides. Aurelio and Jenny were actively looking for the book while 23 was enjoying the energetic atmosphere and being with her parents.
"Oh, that might be one," Jenny pointed out a stall with a large white cube sitting alongside the other enchanted tomes. They weren't looking for a book, it wouldn't be out in the open. They were looking for a secure container.
"Don't say anything...," Jenny looked down and winked at 23 as Aurelio surveyed the stand for a moment, then he approached the vendor. He was a wiry man with a bald spot, a goatee, and goggles pulled up on his forehead.
"Whoa, this is clean work!" Aurelio picked up the white cube and turned it in his hands, inspecting every side, then he looked over and smiled at the wiry man. "Did you enclose this?"
The man was caught off guard. People came to him for magical accoutrements, not to talk shop. Still, he was there to sell. And, a small fib went a long way toward filling his till. He grinned at Aurelio and started to nod.
"Why ye-," Aurelio didn't let him finish. It was a simple test, and now Aurelio knew who he was dealing with.
"Oh no wait..," Aurelio made a sharp nodding gesture, and his engineering visor took shape over his eyes. He looked at the cube through purple glass and shook his head. "I almost missed that, it's a Sharp White Box. That explains the good work," he chuckled and set the cube down. "... wait. It sounded like you were going to say 'yes'." He said.
"Are you going to buy anything?" the man asked. Aurelio shook his head, and his visor disintegrated.
"Honestly...," he made an effort to look ahead and behind at all the vendors around. "I'm looking for a Sharp White Box.. I'd heard I could find them for sale in the Schoolyard... but that's the first one I've found. Any chance you're willing to sell it?" White boxes were expensive through proper channels, but Aurelio knew the going rate there was much cheaper.
"It's the only one I have, and it's holding something...," the vendor shook his head.
"Can't take it out?" Aurelio asked.
"It is an infuriating magical tome that constantly gives unwanted information and advice...," the vendor replied. "The box keeps it quiet."
"You're selling that..?" Aurelio laughed and shook his head. "Why?? Is it a super rare item or something?"
"It is used in crafting...," the man nodded. He was mildly annoyed and torn. The stranger did seem genuinely interested in the box. And apparently clueless about how things worked there.
"Ohh, okay, sorry. If it's a crafting item, I'm sure you go through them; you're the vendor, not me, right?" he chuckled. "That's probably your last one today, huh?"
"No...," the vendor shook his head. "I've been trying to unload that one for a few weeks now...," The realization hit hard. It wasn't a rare item, nor expensive. It was taking up shelf space, and people who needed them probably knew where to find them. “It’s yours for 1.5 million,” he nodded at Aurelio.
“That's more than it cost to get one directly from Sharp Development,” Aurelio shrugged. “They're supposed to be cheaper here.”
“There's still an item in there, you're buying both for that price,” he reminded Aurelio, but Aury shrugged.
“I'm only interested in the box; you're welcome to take out whatever's inside.”
“I can't,” he shook his head. “I don't have a spare to put it in, and the ruckus will get me kicked out of my stall.” The Schoolyard server touted ‘no rules’, but among the countless powerful factions cooperating, there were certainly faux pas. If he took the book out and it drove away all the nearby customers, he would have to answer to several somebodies.
“Oh, that changes things,” Aurelio nodded. “I don't care about whatever it is, but it feels like I'm doing you a favor if I take it too. I'll give you 750k for the whole thing. You get rid of dead product, and I get the box I’m looking for.”
“That's too cheap! The box by itself runs almost 900k!”
“Yeah, you're right,” Aurelio nodded and turned to walk away. “I guess I'd rather pay a bit more to not have to deal with anything else. Thanks!” he smiled, waved, and took two steps.
“Wait!” The vendor decided Aurelio had a point. The magical tome sealed inside was far more trouble than it was worth holding on to. He'd lose a fair chunk between the box and the tome, but he was gaining peace of mind. And some space to stock other items. “Okay, you've got a deal.”
“Not yet,” Aurelio shook his head. “What is this infuriating magical tome inside?”
“It's…,” the vendor sighed. “A Kair-wren's Tome.”
“Really?” Aurelio laughed and shook his head. “That's worthless. 700k flat is my final offer,” he offered the vendor his hand.
“700k..,” the Vendor nodded. “Deal.”