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[Skill-Eater] Chapter 79: Bee
🕑 Added 2024-08-13 17:01:00 +0000 UTCNow that Edge had made some credits that were easy to explain, it was finally time to gear up. Or at least take the first step in what would become a lifelong pursuit of improving his equipment.
While he couldn’t afford to buy a full kit today, he could pick up some necessities and start planning out what he wanted to add as he continued hunting on the plains.
Only the vendors involved would know the details of each transaction. Spreading his purchases out would let him spend some of the creds he’d earned from convicts’ bounties without anyone realizing that he’d paid quite so much at any given store.
The logistics involved were a lot like money laundering, which made him laugh when he had the thought.
With that goal in mind, Edge walked over to the commercial district with a spring in his step. He was looking forward to having some useful tools at his disposal, instead of the garbage that the wardens gave tourists at the start of their runs.
The district was undergoing some dramatic changes in the wake of the anomaly, a little more every day. Since contact with the rest of the planet was cut off for the time being, the constant wagons running along the main road were a thing of the past.
At least for now, the residents of Puppet Town were entirely on their own. Its industries were struggling to fill the holes in their supply chains and start selling products that met the settlements’ evolving needs.
The price of goods and services was shifting by the hour, as a new way of life began to take shape. With the traders unable to import goods, certain products and resources would become far scarcer. Others would run out completely before long. At least the credit management aspect of the System still worked, although barter had always been a popular alternative to a direct exchange.
The good news was that the settlement had the potential to be self-sufficient, since its hunting and crafting industries were already well-established.
Edge took in the sights and sounds of the commercial quarter as he walked down the street, waving to the vendors lining the sides of the road. Minor merchants who couldn’t afford their own shops.
In addition to the smaller stalls, the district was home to a few dozen stores, as well as two restaurants, several bars, and a café. The weekly Night Sky market took place here too, although he wasn’t sure when it would resume given the circumstances.
While he reviewed what he wanted to buy, he headed toward a large, central building shared jointly by the Crafters’ Consortium. It was a sprawling one-story structure made of brick and dark wood. Inside, a range of goods from various vendors could be found. Items intended for general use instead of custom jobs like his weapon.
Edge walked in through the front door. He said hello to the young woman sitting behind the counter, who had short black hair and bright purple eyes. Her name was Bee, and she was authorized to haggle on behalf of the craftspeople whose wares were on display.
He ran his eyes across the room, trying to decide what he needed now and what could wait until he had more money. “It there anything in particular that you’re looking for?” Bee walked over to stand beside him. She seemed glad to have something to do, since Edge was her only customer.
“I’m ready to start working on my first set of gear. What I buy today depends on how many items on my list I can afford.”
“What are your priorities?”
“Number one is a new backpack. The one that the wardens gave me was garbage before I filled it full of holes and used it to carry raw monster parts. Beyond that, I’m looking for anything that will help me survive in the wild while I go about low-threat hunts in the vicinity of town.”
He pointed toward a rack in the corner. “After that, I could really use some armor. Something that will help me hold my own against stage-one beasts. Once that’s out of the way, I’ll start adding gear that will let me embark on multiday excursions. Although it’s going to be at least a few weeks before I’m ready to take that step.”
Bee nodded as he spoke, taking notes onto a pad of paper. “As far as specific items go, I saw Trapper using bladewire nets to great effect. I know that hers are a custom job, but I wouldn’t mind some basic models to help restrain my prey. Beyond that, I could use some extra clothes, since I seem to ruin mine on a regular basis, and a poncho and hat to help shield me from the weather.”
Edge turned to Bee and smiled. “I already have a high-quality utility knife. But that’s all I’ve picked up so far besides the clothes on my back. Let me know what else you’d recommend, then I can figure out what to buy today, and what to come back for when I earn more creds.”
When he was done talking, she looked up and said, “All of that makes sense. I do have some suggestions to help round out your kit. Even if you can’t get them now, you should add them to your list.” She led him around the room so that he could inspect each of her recommendations in turn.
“The most important piece would be a toolbelt. It will let you access various items without having to go digging through your pack. Useful in general, and potentially lifesaving if you get caught by surprise. The first thing I’d add to it would be a couple of stink bombs. They work great as deterrents, especially against beasts with a powerful sense of smell. Hunters use them to get away from predators, or when their hunt goes bad, although smoke bombs can come in handy too.”
Bee handed him the list when she was finished. “I would also recommend a waterproofing set so that you can coat your boots, pants, and poncho. Last, I would invest in a magtech firestarter and water purifier, although those can wait until you’re ready to range further out. Possibly a wayfinder too, if you plan to head into terrain with poor visibility.”
After asking some questions about the price of each item and engaging in a bit of haggling, Edge decided to buy a new backpack, a toolbelt, a poncho, a hat, a single stink bomb, and the waterproofing kit. It came to a total of fifteen thousand credits, but he knew it was money well spent.
When he had some more cash, he would come back for the rest, starting with a set of inexpensive leather armor that Bee said was unusually durable for its grade.
After Edge tried everything on, they summoned their Guides, and he transferred the credits into her account. Then he walked over to a mirror mounted to the wall and took a long look at his new gear.
