The Gates Family's Battle Qi

Audrey Gates had long wanted a flying magical beast, but unfortunately, she had always been short on cash. It wasn't until yesterday, after she'd brokered a deal for her father, that she received a reward and could come out to try her luck.

50 Gold Coins was quite a fortune in this world, but flying magical beasts were very difficult to catch and extremely expensive.

She finally found an old Griffon, but it looked quite ill. Its belly had already deformed to a grotesque size, and the shape and color of its beak indicated that this old Griffon wouldn't live for many more decades. Normally, Griffons lived for 200 years; this old one was probably already 160 or 170.

However, Audrey could tolerate that. As long as it could fly her into the sky, she'd be happy. But this one, of all creatures, was being sold for 100 Gold Coins. Was this person trying to take advantage of her youth and inexperience?

"You scoundrel, 50 Gold Coins. I'll generously buy it, Miss. It's only because I pity this Griffon; otherwise, you could wait here until it dies of old age and still not sell it for 100 Gold Coins."

The secret to haggling was to devalue the product, and this Griffon didn't even need much devaluing; it was terrible enough on its own.

"Miss, you can ask around. A healthy Griffon can't be bought for less than 1000 Gold Coins. Although it's a bit old, it can at least fly for another twenty or thirty years." The merchant selling the Griffon argued back with reason.

Hearing the merchant's words, Kerry's eyes suddenly darted. The trading post sold medical robots. He wondered if they could treat sick magical beasts.

If they could, this would be another great project. He could specialize in buying sick magical beasts, healing them, and then selling them. The profit margin would likely be more than tenfold, much faster than mining.

With a plan forming in his mind, Kerry walked closer. The young woman in front of him felt someone behind her and naturally turned around.

Click. Kerry felt his heart skip a beat.

She was a tall, beautiful woman with golden hair, blue eyes, and fair skin. She was like a princess from a fairy tale, with a hint of bossiness and playfulness in her expression. Kerry couldn't connect this face with the person haggling with the merchant earlier. A girl like this should be enjoying afternoon tea in a castle, not haggling in the marketplace.

"What are you looking at? Haven't you ever seen a beautiful woman?" Audrey felt someone behind her and turned to find a pervert staring at her lecherously.

This was Seattle, Gates Family territory. Although she was an illegitimate daughter, no one dared to be rude to a daughter of the Gates Family here.

"If you don't want to be looked at, how would anyone know you're beautiful? I'm just looking. Did I take a piece of you?" Kerry wasn't the type to stumble over his words when he saw a beautiful woman. Since she was a feisty one, he'd engage her in a battle of wits.

Kerry's body was 17 years old, but his soul was 34. He didn't have a girlfriend in his previous life because he was just a commoner and a bit overweight, leading to low self-esteem. This life was different. He was young and rich, handsome and dashing. His online flirting experience from his past life was perfect for this situation.

Perhaps it was the golden finger that changed his mindset, or perhaps it was the great mood from completing a transaction. Kerry felt an urge to flirt with this beauty.

"You, you hooligan! Do you know who I am? You can't afford the consequences of flirting with me here." Audrey felt that this guy, who was a bit handsome but incredibly roguish, was truly detestable. She absolutely had to teach him a lesson.

"I'm not flirting with you. I'm just looking at this Griffon. You're blocking my view. Please move aside." Kerry continued to butt heads with Audrey in his usual flippant tone. It seemed she had some status, so he shouldn't tease her too much; he could approach it indirectly.

"You, fine. You want to look at the Griffon, right? Did you figure anything out?" Audrey could tell this little hooligan probably had some influence at home and was out here flirting with respectable women. He likely had no real skill. If he couldn't figure anything out, she'd see if he still had the nerve to stay here.

"I can see it. This Griffon is seriously ill." Kerry obviously couldn't tell what was wrong with the Griffon, but he knew how to prompt for information.

"Tch, I already said earlier that this Griffon is very sick. Its belly is deformed. You don't need to tell me." Audrey had a comeback ready. If Kerry couldn't say anything more substantial, she'd unleash her spoiled heiress demeanor and mock him severely.

"Boss, how much?" Kerry didn't respond to Audrey and turned to ask the merchant.

"Esteemed sir, you have truly discerning eyes. Only 100 Gold Coins. You won't lose out, you won't be cheated. Take this adult Griffon home." This boss was also good at handling situations. Seeing the two arguing, he knew the old Griffon might be sold. Of course, he had to praise Kerry's discerning eye.

"Are you blind? An adult Griffon? This is an old, weak, sick, and disabled creature. 'Won't lose out, won't be cheated'? I think it's impossible for you to sell this Griffon for 100 Gold Coins within its lifetime." Audrey, hearing the merchant praise Kerry's discerning eye, almost couldn't catch her breath.

"I'll buy it. Here's 100 Gold Coins. Where's the Beast Ring?" Kerry directly paid for the old Griffon.

A Beast Ring was a magical alchemy item used to control adult magical beasts. Unless the magical beast was raised from a young age, most magical beasts needed a contract or a Beast Ring to ensure they obeyed and didn't harm their owner.

"Here's the Beast Ring, esteemed sir. Please take good care of it. I've sold all my small items, so I'll be taking my leave now. Bye-bye."

After speaking, the merchant, fearing Kerry might change his mind, scurried away.

In reality, the merchant had no choice. He was a secondhand dealer. When he first bought this Griffon, the seller had said the Griffon was pregnant. Although it was a bit old, the price of one would quickly become two, making it quite profitable. Who knew that a normal Griffon's gestation period was two years, and this one was nearly five years overdue and still hadn't given birth? He had been thoroughly ripped off.

To minimize his losses, he had to sell it at a low price in the market. Unfortunately, everyone could see that the Griffon's belly was no longer the size of pregnancy; it was clearly ill. It hadn't sold for months.

Audrey, who had just claimed it couldn't be sold for 100 Gold Coins, was slapped in the face by Kerry, her face turning red with anger.

"You spendthrift! This old Griffon wouldn't even sell for 50 Gold Coins, and you spent 100 Gold Coins on Battle Qi. I'll see how you explain this to your family when you get home. Just wait to be punished." Although Audrey had been proven wrong, she felt vindicated thinking about how miserable this guy would be when he got home.

"Excuse me, I make the decisions at home. Besides, this isn't being a spendthrift. I can cure its illness, and then it will be a deal worth several times more." Even a very old adult Griffon would still fetch over 500 Gold Coins.

"Keep bragging. If it could be cured, the merchant would have spent money to cure it long ago. If you can cure it, I'll give you another Griffon." Audrey didn't believe Kerry could cure a Griffon. Since she wanted to teach him a lesson, she decided to lure him into a bet.

"You said it yourself. Don't go back on your word then." Kerry's plan was going smoothly. This way, he could find out her name and contact information.

"But if you can't cure it, you have to give me a young, healthy Griffon." Audrey, having successfully hatched her scheme, stated her terms.

"No problem." Kerry didn't think the trading post would be unable to cure this Griffon.