A Vow

Kirk stood up and walked toward the door.

"Where are you going, brother?" the broker asked anxiously.

"Sure, I'd like to trade for some Attribute Points, but I'm not going to accept extortion." Kirk sneered. "The price has gone up twentyfold in a single world. Have you gone mad with greed?"

"This is the only place with Attribute Points left," the Contractor insisted. "Even the American China Club has no stock."

While keeping watch, Kirk had secretly contacted Linda of the American China Club. Linda had looked troubled, which suggested the Contractor was telling the truth.

Still, Kirk acted as if he didn't care. "That doesn't mean you can jack up the price! There are ten times as many Contractors in the Space as before. We'll earn plenty of Survival Points in the next world!"

"It's true there are a lot more Contractors now, but don't forget," the Contractor said darkly, "there are more than ten times as many customers, too. The price will only go up in the next world."

Kirk chuckled. "A Veteran can get 50 Base Attribute Points for completing a Main Mission. At your price, he could get 2.5 million Survival Points in one go. Isn't the currency in this Space a little too worthless?"

"If he's willing to sell every single Attribute Point without using any to strengthen himself, then theoretically, yes." The black-mist Contractor nodded. "I can give you a twenty-percent discount: 40,000 each. Take it or leave it."

"How many do you have?"

"I can give you 100. That's all I've got in stock. Hopefully more Contractors return tomorrow; otherwise, there'll be nothing left to sell."

Kirk thought it over, then nodded. "I'll take them."

Adding these to the 100 awarded by the Space main quest gave him 200 Attribute Points. Kirk began