Volgograd (5)

The young nobleman stared at the gleaming Enchanted Armaments in the box, his gaze practically glued to them. His voice trembled slightly. "Th-this set of Hurricane Armament... how many magic crystals does it cost?"

Ang smiled faintly, his voice low and measured. "Very cheap. Just four hundred and fifty magic crystals."

The words were like a serpent's seductive whisper, and the young nobleman's breathing immediately tightened.

He hesitated, then gave a bitter smile. "Viscount Ange... I'm only a minor baron. My family's resources are truly limited. Could you... lower the price a little?"

Ang narrowed his eyes slightly, his tone calm yet impeccably restrained. "You know how precious Enchanted Armaments are. I only brought a dozen or so sets this time, while there are dozens of nobles here. Do you think there'll be enough to go around?"

He did not refuse outright, yet there was not the slightest room for compromise.

The young nobleman fell silent for a moment, gritted his teeth, and finally made up his mind. "Then... Viscount Ange, could you reserve three sets for me? I'll go gather the magic crystals right away."

"You're the first customer to speak up tonight, so I can reserve three sets for you. But only for today." Ang spoke blandly, his gaze like a blade beneath the water's surface—clear yet sharp.

The young nobleman said no more. After bowing deeply to Ang, he quickly left the ballroom and vanished into the night.

Once he had left, the other nobles who had merely been watching from the sidelines could no longer hold themselves back.

Their conversation had already been heard clearly by the sharp-eared people around them, and the atmosphere in the hall immediately became lively.

"Viscount Ange, I want a set! I can pay in magic crystals on the spot!" A