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Carlisle’s decision to lower the price caught Hank and Heath off guard, leaving both of them puzzled. They had all agreed on 200 thousand dollars, and now Carlisle had slashed it to 100 thousand without a word of explanation. Heath glanced at Hank, his brow furrowed, but Hank simply gave a shrug, choosing to remain silent for the moment. He had learned not to second-guess Carlisle too much—after all, the kid was no amateur when it came to negotiating.
Bob, on the other hand, seemed delighted with the deal, perhaps more so because he thought he had driven a hard bargain. The way his eyes gleamed as he looked at the Heavenly Sword and Memory Ring told Carlisle everything he needed to know—Bob was a man who appreciated rare and powerful items, and this was likely a steal in his eyes.
“Fair enough, 100 thousand it is. I won’t ask for a refund, even if the developers take the equipment back,” Bob said, smiling smugly. His tone was light, but there was a certain edge to it, as though he was relishing his victory.
Carlisle couldn’t help but notice the subtle way Bob phrased it. The mention of the developers confiscating the items wasn’t lost on him. It was clear that Bob didn’t care much for the ethical side of things, and his focus was entirely on the profit to be made. The idea that Bob wouldn’t ask for a refund also struck Carlisle as odd. If the developers were to take the equipment back, he was sure Bob would be upset. But Bob’s confidence seemed to stem from a belief that the equipment was worth whatever price he paid, regardless of any future repercussions.
Heath, still processing the situation, turned to Carlisle with a questioning look. “Are we sure this is a good idea? I mean, 100 thousand is still a lot of money, but we were expecting more…”
Carlisle nodded slowly, his gaze drifting to the window. The weight of what they had just done was starting to settle in, but he wasn’t about to let his discomfort show. “It’s enough,” he replied, his voice steady. “We need to keep a low profile. 100 thousand is plenty.”
Hank, still quiet, seemed to accept Carlisle’s decision without further protest, though he couldn’t help but wonder about the sudden change in plans. He’d seen Carlisle make quick decisions before, but this one was particularly bold. The price drop wasn’t something Hank would have done himself, but he wasn’t in the mood to argue.
Bob handed them a large envelope filled with cash, his smile never wavering. “Pleasure doing business with you. I’ll make sure this gear serves my guild well.” He gestured to his computer, where he was already planning his next moves.
As Hank, Heath, and Carlisle made their way out of the room, the hotel’s quiet hum of activity felt oddly surreal. Carlisle was still processing the sale, weighing the consequences of their actions. They had made money, yes, but they had also crossed a line—a line that would be difficult to undo.
Heath turned to Hank as they walked down the hallway. “Do you think we got played?” he asked quietly.
Hank just shook his head. “Doesn’t matter now. The deal’s done. Let’s get out of here before anything goes wrong.”
Carlisle’s thoughts, however, were elsewhere. The exchange with Bob had been too smooth, too easy. He couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more to this transaction than met the eye. As the three of them left the Dragonville Hotel, he couldn’t help but wonder if they had just made a deal with someone much more dangerous than they realized.
