Chapter 182 – Double Tamers

“I insist,” Lin frowned. “It’s the least I can do after…”

“Really, don’t worry,” Ren interrupted her quickly, noticing Jessy’s confused expression.

He turned back to the merchant. “More importantly now, what’s the price for Panther Lizard parts?”

“What rank?” Jessy asked while pulling out a price list.

“Bronze and silver,” Ren specified. “All options.”

“Let’s see…” Jessy consulted her register. “Bronze 1 parts are a hundred crystals each. Bronze 2 goes up to a thousand.”

Min whistled at the difference while Taro and Liu exchanged knowing looks.

“And silver?” Lin asked, her interest evident.

“Silver 1 is ten thousand per piece,” Jessy continued. “Silver 2… twenty thousand.”

“We’ll need five parts,” Ren explained, looking at Lin. “And the higher the level of the pieces, the faster I can cultivate the egg. It’ll depend on how urgently you want it.”

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“There’s also the core,” Liu reminded.

“Right,” Ren nodded. “We’ll need a hundred thousand crystals to feed it properly.”

“It’s less than an orange egg cost,” Taro commented. “Though it’s still expensive.”

Lin remained silent for a moment, clearly calculating options.

“The bronze 2 ones,” she finally decided. “How long would it take with those?”

“About twenty days,” Ren responded while his mushrooms pulsed with approval. “It’s a good balance between cost and time.”

“Then it would be five thousand for the parts,” Lin calculated, “plus a hundred thousand for the core…”

“A hundred and five thousand total,” Min completed.

“Though I don’t know why you want a core but those are 10 crystals,” Jessy added casually, “although I’m not sure if we still have complete bodies to get you one, they normaly send them to the castle fast… it would also be hard to distinguish it among others in the piles.”

“I’ll cross my fingers and give you a tip if you find it,” Lin added.

Jessy smiled. “I’ll do my best to search for it in the refrigeration basement.”

“If you can’t find one, I can help you distinguish them… Do you have the 5 bronze 2 parts available?” Ren asked.

“I can get them while I look for the core in about 30 minutes,” Jessy responded.

“Alright,” Lin nodded. “We’ll return with the money then.”

As they headed toward the exit, Jessy called to Ren.

“Are you sure you want to safeguard objects?” she asked curiously. “Almost nobody does it because of the cost, but if you insist I’ll bring the paperwork.”

“Yes, thanks,” Ren smiled, “but I’ll bring the money when we return.”

When they moved away from the counter, Lin insisted again. “I really can pay for the safeguarding. It’s only fair since you gave me a potion.”

Ren stopped, turning to her. “The potion is a gift. I don’t need anything in return.”

His mushrooms pulsed softly while he continued: “Besides, if you really want to do something, you could reduce training intensity a bit when you have your panther lizard and…”

Min, Taro, and Liu’s laughter resonated through the hallway while Lin smiled maliciously.

“Oh, no,” her smile turned predatory. “You won’t escape that easily. I’m going to pay for safeguarding AND increase the intensity. After all, I’ll need to practice with my new beast.”

Ren’s mushrooms pulsed with what seemed to be resignation while the group headed to the bank. At least, he thought, he had twenty days before the real suffering began.

“You know?” Min commented as they walked. “I think Ren just committed the biggest tactical error of his life.”

“Definitely,” Taro nodded solemnly.

“Totally and completely,” Liu confirmed.

Lin just smiled, already planning new training routines in her mind.

♢♢♢♢

“THEODORE!” Finch’s shout resonated from the bank. “IT’S A WITHDRAWAL OF ONE MILLION CRYSTALS!”

The group stopped just before entering.

Through the door they could see Finch leaning over his counter, his eyes enormous behind his glasses while his mouse calculated frantically.

“What’s happening?” Lin asked, curious about the commotion.

“Finch is just dramatic like this, he likes to entertain others and…” Ren explained to Lin.

“Oh no,” Min interrupted and smiled maliciously. “Looks like someone’s being unfaithful to our mushroom magnate.”

“New love? Ah!” Taro peered through the door and then turned to Ren with a dramatic expression. “Sorry friend, looks like they’re cheating on you.”

Ren rolled his eyes while his mushrooms pulsed with amusement. Inside the bank, Finch continued his monologue.

“One million crystals,” the banker adjusted his glasses while trying to maintain a professional tone. “It’s a considerable amount, you usually make smaller withdrawals Professor Zhao.”

“Today is a special day,” Zhao responded with a patient smile.

“I see, I see,” Finch visibly struggled against his impulse to dramatize as he was before a respected professor. “But still… Theodore, note the transaction in the special book.”

“Your number one fan seems to have found someone richer… Look at him contain himself,” Liu whispered while joining the teasing. “I can almost see how much it pains him not to do his complete show.”

A young but arrogant voice interrupted. “I will deposit two hundred thousand crystals. Doesn’t that deserve some recognition?”

At the counter, Leopold Montclaire, the fifth-year prodigy, observed the transaction with evident disgust.

“Mister Leopold!” Finch’s voice sounded exasperated. “I already told you your numbers are very impressive for your age, however we are in the presence of a respected gentleman. But…”

“But?” The gold rank prodigy looked at Finch expectantly. “I’m a gold rank student in my fifth year! Don’t I deserve your exaggerated dance at least?”

“Of course, of course,” Finch responded hastily. “Theodore, note also the deposit of the young fifth-year prodigy.”

The group entered just in time to see the student in golden robes strutting in front of the counter.

Behind him, Zhao waited with an increasingly impatient expression.

“Could we speed this up?” the professor sighed. “I just need to withdraw that million crystals from my account…”

“A million,” the student in golden robes interrupted. “And you don’t even give our profesor the… proper appreciation?”

Finch seemed to brighten at the opportunity.

“Finch,” Zhao coughed softly. “My withdrawal, please.”

“Ah, yes, yes,” the banker adjusted his glasses. “Excuse the delay. It’s just that young Leopold insists on receiving the… proper appreciation for his achievements.”

Leopold puffed up his chest and interrupted again. “Though my situation is more impressive… I’m a gold rank prodigy at 14! I’m going to deposit two hundred thousand crystals, don’t you get it?”

Finch’s eyebrows rose while his mouse looked up from his calculations.

“Two hundred thousand,” the banker repeated, his voice barely containing his enthusiasm. “Very impressive for someone so young. Theodore, doesn’t it remind you of…?”

The mouse nodded vigorously, his whiskers trembling with what seemed to be amusement.

“Right?” Finch continued while processing Zhao’s withdrawal. “Though of course, some prefer gradual accumulation while others…” his memories drifted toward Ren, “surprise us with THREE HUNDRED AND TEN THOUSAND IN ONE MONTH AND IN IRON RANK.”

Leopold choked on his own saliva. “What?”

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