Identification Ability: "Friendship Price"

Ron spoke softly as he returned the bottle to the table, his voice calm but polite:

"True Moonshadow Bat Heart Ash shouldn't be this color. It should be closer to silver, and it should show a faint blue glow under the light, especially when the bottle is gently shaken. Most importantly, the genuine product has a special magical fluctuation that can be sensed even through the bottle."

A flash of surprise crossed Otto's eyes before turning into appreciation. The corners of his lips curved into a subtle smile beneath his beard:

"Not bad! This is indeed a counterfeit. I only wanted to test your level of expertise."

He took the bottle back, admiration coloring his tone. "In this line of work, distinguishing genuine goods from fakes is the most basic survival skill."

As he spoke, he took another small bottle from deeper inside the chest. It looked more refined.

This bottle was clearly much more valuable than the previous one. Complex runes were engraved across its body, and the stopper was sealed with silver wire, giving it an especially solemn appearance.

This time, he simply handed over the bottle without another word or explanation. His meaning was perfectly clear.

Ron accepted it again. The gray powder inside this bottle truly gave off a faint silver-blue sheen, and its texture was much finer, as though moonlight had been captured and condensed into powder.

He carefully removed the stopper and gave it a light sniff. A subtle coolness instantly spread from his nasal passages throughout his body.

His keen mental perception told him that this was indeed genuine Moonshadow Bat Heart Ash, and that its quality was quite good.

That distinctive magical fluctuation was almost exactly the same as the one described in the ancient books.

Precise Identification! Herb Identification experience +2

"This should be genuine, and the quality is quite good." Ron nodded, his tone filled with certainty:

"That distinctive energy fluctuation is very clear. It should have come from the heart of a healthy adult Moonshadow Bat, and the extraction process was very professional."

"I knew it!" Satisfaction spread across the Dwarf's face, making his thick beard tremble as well:

"No wonder Mrs. Allen chose you as her assistant. You really do have an eye for valuable goods. In our line of work, that's the most precious talent of all."

Seeing the wariness in Ron's expression, Otto waved his hand and explained:

"Don't be nervous, young man. After spending enough time in this line of work, you're bound to hear a few rumors. Mrs. Allen's shop is practically a legend in the Black Mist Forest, so naturally, her new assistant would attract some attention. Especially..."

He gave Ron a meaningful look. "When that assistant displays an unusual talent."

"But don't think I recognize you just yet." Otto narrowed his eyes. "A few identifications aren't enough to prove your true ability."

He stroked his thick beard and leaned forward slightly. "What I'm about to bring out will be somewhat more difficult. Let's see whether you really have what it takes."

Otto took a flat tin box from deeper inside the wooden chest. A thin layer of verdigris covered its surface, making it look quite old.

He carefully opened the tin box. Inside was a clump of green, downy material that shimmered with a subtle luster under the lamplight.

"This is the 'Crystalline Moss' listed on your request. At least, that's how my supplier labeled it."

The Dwarf pushed the tin box toward Ron. "It's not something you often see on the market. I'm curious how much you know about it."

Ron's brows drew together slightly.

He had indeed read descriptions of Crystalline Moss in Mrs. Allen's materials, but he had rarely seen the actual thing.

True Crystalline Moss should be dark green, and when the angle of the Observer's gaze changed, it should flash with a crystal-like luster.

Most importantly, it should produce a special sense of "attraction" toward mental power, almost as though it were gently "calling" to its user.

He carefully touched the clump of green material with his fingertip, sensing its texture and energy fluctuation.

It felt soft, but lacked the crystal-like hardness it should have had. It was more like ordinary moss that had been dyed.

Moreover, it completely lacked that attraction toward mental power. Instead, it gave off a faint sense of repulsion.

"I'm afraid this isn't genuine either." Ron made his assessment cautiously:

"True Crystalline Moss should have a special crystal structure that produces a crystal-like refraction effect under the light. It should also react uniquely to mental power, almost actively 'drawing' the user's attention. This sample lacks all those characteristics. It may be a counterfeit made from ordinary moss that has undergone special processing."

The Dwarf's eyes widened, his brows nearly reaching his forehead. "Well, I'll be damned! You even saw through this!"

He slapped his knee and let out a hearty laugh:

"This is indeed a fake. At least half of the Crystalline Moss on the market consists of counterfeits like this, but very few people can see through them at a glance."

Andre stood to the side, dumbfounded. He had never imagined that Ron's attainments in potions had already reached such a level.

The Dwarf nodded in satisfaction, a sincere smile appearing beneath his beard:

"You win, young man. I recognize your ability now. You truly possess a rare talent. Mrs. Allen didn't choose the wrong person."

"Then what about the price?" Ron got straight to the point. He knew this "test" was over, and it was time to discuss the actual transaction.

"For you? Ten Magic Stone Fragments." Otto raised five stubby fingers, then added the five fingers of his other hand:

"That's a very generous friendship price. Normally, I'd charge at least fifteen."

Ron frowned slightly. The price was still quite high. Even for him, with his modest savings lately, it was a considerable expense.

He thought for a moment, then his gaze fell on the pile of materials he had just examined. Suddenly, inspiration struck.

"Can I make a small request?" he asked calmly, a hint of negotiation in his tone:

"If I help you identify some other materials, could I get a better price in exchange? After all, I've already proven my value."

A shrewd glint flashed beneath Otto's blue eyes, and the corners of his mouth lifted beneath his beard:

"Clever proposal! You really do have a talent for negotiation."

He stroked his beard as though considering something. "That's actually a common way of trading on the black market—exchanging skills for a discount."

The Gray Dwarf seemed to make a quick calculation in his head, his stubby fingers tapping lightly on the tabletop:

"Then let's do this. You identify ten materials for me, and I'll give you a twenty percent discount. How does that sound?"

Ron smiled faintly. "Deal. But I should make one thing clear in advance: I'll only tell the truth. If any material is of poor quality, I'll say so without holding back."

"Of course!" Otto replied cheerfully, a broad smile appearing beneath his beard:

"An honest evaluation is more valuable to me. I need to know what my goods are actually worth, not hear a bunch of flattering nonsense."