Chapter 69: Visiting Terra building again
First of all, he was surprised the information wasn't digital, it came in hard copies.
And second of all, he couldn't explain the nagging feeling that something was amiss.
Everything about Ozink reminded him of all the crooks he'd met in his past life. And one thing they all had in common? They never gave anything out for free.
Seeing the ogre show the same traits, he couldn't help the thought but feel that he'd been scammed.
But Tarkan didn't have the time to verify that. He was in a hurry.
He went and checked the books that had been traded to him. He couldn't help but shake his head in approval, it looked like good stuff.
After flipping a few pages and confirming the quality, he picked all the books up in his hands. Even though the ogres were much shorter than Tarkan and had needed both arms to carry them, he managed to hold everything alone.
Tarkan wasn't willing to use his storage in front of them, and he didn't plan on letting anyone become aware of it.
With the ogre seeing him off, he finally left and found an inn, which was hella expensive, 10 gold per night.
Still, Tarkan paid for a week's stay, totaling 70 gold coins.
Finally, in his room, Tarkan teleported back to Tharn.
--
Tarkan had shared the information he found about the Second Dimension with both Slim and Ricky.
Slim, who usually had an impassive expression, was now in shock.
"That is utter and complete suicide," Ricky said, dread all over his face. He laid down and stared at the sky with exaggerated despair.
"Thank God I caught a big thigh I could live off of, 'cause I'm sure not going to the Second Dimension." Ricky finally sat up and patted his chest with a relieved smile, as if reassuring himself.
"Fuck off," Tarkan said, unable to hold it in.
But anyone who saw him knew he didn't really mean it.
"So what did you plan we do, Master Tarkan?" Slim finally asked.
"We'd be going to a higher tier world," Tarkan replied, looking at both Slim and Ricky.
He had tried teaching them the absorption manual the timer had given him, but whenever he wrote it down on paper, it turned into nonsense. And when he tried speaking it, Slim and Ricky said he hadn't said a word in that direction.
So Tarkan concluded he was the only one allowed to use it, and couldn't be shared.
That meant, if Slim and Ricky wanted to enter the dimension, it became a must for them to move to a higher-tier world.
Which was said to be very expensive.
But Tarkan had money now, so he wasn't worried.
"Master Tarkan, I got 167 million gold coins. Do you think that would be enough?" Slim finally asked.
Tarkan, who had been about to tell them he got the money for them to move to a higher world, was shocked.
He knew he had explicitly ordered Slim not to enter the Second Dimension.
He checked the tattoo on Slim's hand. Tarkan knew he hadn't gone yet, because if he had, the tattoo mark would've changed.
Tarkan couldn't help but wonder how he got the money, and was about to ask.
But Slim beat him to it.
"I got the money from betting on all your fights to win," Slim said, still with his impassive expression.
"Damn, Slim… you believe in me that much?" Tarkan couldn't help feeling touched.
Slim immediately shook his head.
"I only bet on you because if you were to lose, a fatso somewhere would be the one to enjoy our money," Slim immediately countered, wearing a no-choice expression.
Tarkan, who was waiting to hear praise, couldn't help but cough hard, choking on his own spit.
He almost forgot about their contract.
Feeling embarrassed.
Tarkan immediately changed the topic , bringing out the book from his storage.
"This is the information I got about the dimension," Tarkan said.
After Slim and Ricky had glanced through it...
"Let's first inquire about our trip to a higher world."
--
The trio left the mansion and made a short trip, which took them about a day to reach by carriage. A few tame creatures pulled the cart.
They stopped at a large building that had the TERA Association sign on it.
They were the ones who handled travel between worlds. It was believed that the terra association had at least one such building in every world.
The TERA building had been built near Tharn because it was the city of commerce.
The trio entered the building, which looked deserted. Their eyes spotted only one staff member, who was busy watching something on his bracelet and laughing, not seeming to notice their entry at all.
Tarkan and the two walked toward the counter, and the man immediately noticed them.
"How may I help you?" the man asked, immediately composing himself.
"We want to go to a higher-tier world. How do we go about it?" Tarkan asked, not the least bit bothered.
The man couldn't help but smile.
"You came with luck. There's a schedule leaving to a Tier 3 world in four days' time," he said. "Normally it costs just a billion gold coins per activation, but there happen to be two people already onboard. That means the price will be distributed accordingly, one billion split between the travelers. If it's the three of you going, you would have to pay 200 million gold only each."
"You dare call 200 million gold only?!" Ricky suddenly became rabid.
Slim and Tarkan, as if on cue, immediately held Ricky back, who was already throwing his fist.
"Leave me! This guy deserves to be beaten! Don't tell me you didn't hear him call 'a billion gold coins just!'" Ricky yelled like a deranged dog who hadn't eaten for a month, and after seeing food a cage separated him from it.
After a while of calming Ricky down, the account rep had already called the guards, but in no time, Slim and Tarkan settled the matter without conflict.
After which they both paid for the trip.
And immediately left the TERA Association building.
But after that scene from earlier, Ricky had become silent, not saying a word.
Which was very unlike him.
Slim, who was usually unbothered, couldn't help glancing at him from time to time.
"He didn't mean to say 'only' when calling the money. You don't have to beat yourself up over it," Tarkan finally said.
Even he, who was mostly annoyed by Ricky's loudness, couldn't help but try to pacify him.
Tarkan didn't think anything could bring Ricky's mood down.
But something as insignificant as that… could?
Sob Sob Sob..
Suddenly, Ricky started crying.
Both Tarkan and Slim were shocked.
What the hell was wrong with him?
...
..
.
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