Modern Weapons Cheat in Fantasy World

The Silver Vanguards and Marcus nodded, prompting the discussion to continue.

"So, my team has visited the Kingdom of Felsis and investigated the remains of the Red Dragon. It was mutilated according to them and beyond recognition."

Marcus chuckled covertly as Merchant Kelly described what happened to the Red Dragon.

"Still, there are a lot of parts to salvage. What I can buy from the remains are as follows," Kelly said, sliding another sheet across the table.

He tapped the list as he spoke.

"Claws—mostly intact. High durability, good for weapon forging."

"Teeth as well. Not as many, but still valuable."

"Sections of the wings. The membrane is damaged, but the bone structure is usable. That alone has applications in crafting and reinforcement."

He moved his finger down the page.

"Scales—this is where most of the value sits. Even fractured, Red Dragon scales retain heat resistance and durability. Blacksmiths will pay heavily for those."

Selene leaned slightly forward, reading.

"...How many are still usable?"

Kelly didn’t look at her.

"Enough," he said. "Not pristine, but not worthless either."

He continued.

"Rib bones, spinal sections—some survived the blast. Not all, but enough to process."

Kael crossed his arms.

"...So basically everything that didn’t get blown apart."

Kelly gave a small nod.

"That would be a fair summary."

Kelly clasped his hands together again.

"Taking all that into account," he said, "and factoring the damage, transport, processing, and resale value..."

He paused for a second.

Letting it settle.

"I am prepared to offer eighty million kinah for the entire salvage."

Silence.

Liora blinked.

"...That’s..."

Selene’s eyes widened slightly.

"...That’s a lot higher."

Kael let out a low whistle.

"...Now that sounds like a real number."

Seraphine didn’t react immediately.

But her gaze sharpened just a bit.

Marcus leaned back slightly. Eighty million kinah, that was a huge amount. But split between five, it dropped fast.

Still good.

But not as big as it first sounded.

He simply reached into a leather case beside him and pulled out a document.

"...Of course," Kelly said calmly, placing it on the table, "I don’t deal in verbal agreements."

He slid it forward.

"A draft contract."

Selene leaned in first, curious.

"...Already prepared?" she asked.

Kelly gave a small smile.

"I expected this meeting," he said. "And I prefer efficiency."

Seraphine stepped closer and picked up the document, scanning through it line by line.

"...Read it carefully," Kelly added. "It grants me full rights to the remains of the Red Dragon you defeated."

Marcus leaned forward slightly.

"...Define full rights."

Kelly didn’t hesitate.

"Collection, transport, processing, and resale," he said. "Everything that can be salvaged from the remains falls under my ownership upon agreement."

Kael scoffed.

"...So once we sign, it’s all yours."

"Yes," Kelly replied plainly.

Liora looked a bit uncertain.

"...And payment?"

Kelly tapped the contract.

"Eighty million kinah," he said. "Released immediately upon signing and confirmation."

Selene crossed her arms.

"...No delays?"

Kelly shook his head.

"None," he said. "Unlike your previous transaction."

Marcus smirked faintly at that.

"...At least you’re honest."

Seraphine continued reading.

Her eyes moved carefully across each section.

"...Transport risk is on your side," she noted.

"Yes," Kelly replied. "Once I own it, I handle everything."

"...And if the remains are less than expected?" she asked.

Kelly looked at her.

"Then that is my loss," he said.

That made Selene raise an eyebrow.

"...So you’re betting on it being worth more."

Kelly smiled slightly.

"I don’t make losing bets."

Marcus let out a quiet breath and reached for the

"...Alright," he said. "Looks clean."

Selene glanced at him.

"That was fast."

Marcus shrugged.

"I already know what this is," he replied. "We get paid now, he takes the risk after."

Kael gave a small nod.

"...Works for me."

Liora still looked a bit hesitant, but she didn’t argue.

Seraphine met Marcus’s gaze for a second.

"...You’re sure?"

Marcus nodded once.

"Yeah," he said. "We take it."

That was enough.

He reached for the quill.

Dipped it in ink.

And signed.

Marcus Manfred.

No hesitation.

He slid the contract forward.

Selene took it next.

"Guess we’re rich," she muttered as she signed her name.

Kael followed right after, gripping the quill firmly.

"Finally," he said as he finished.

Liora signed more carefully, her handwriting smaller.

"I hope this was the right call..."

Seraphine was last.

She read the final line once more.

Then signed.

"It is done."

Kelly took the contract back.

Checked each signature.

One by one.

Then nodded.

"Good."

He stood up and walked toward the back of the room and then he returned with a chest.

He set it down on the table with a heavy thud.

Kelly reached into his coat and pulled out a key.

"...As agreed," he said.

He unlocked it.

A click.

Then lifted the lid, inside was a stack of gold coins.

"That’s eighty million kinah in gold coin denomination. Feel free to count it though if you don’t trust me," Kelly said.

"No need, we trust you," Seraphine said.

"Yeah and it would be wise it’s the same amount because if it doesn’t, we know where to find you," Kael said.

"I have no intention of having an altercation with the Silver Vanguard. I am not suicidal," Kelly finished calmly.

Kael gave a small smirk.

"...Good answer."

Seraphine placed a hand on the chest and gave a slight nod.

"Then we’ll take our leave."

Kelly inclined his head.

"Pleasure doing business with you."

They stood and was about to leave the building until.

"Marcus."

The voice cut through the room.

Marcus stopped.

The others slowed as well.

Selene glanced back.

"...He’s calling you."

Marcus shifted the chest slightly in his grip, then turned his head.

Kelly was still standing by the table.

Watching him.

Not the group.

Just him.

"Yeah?" Marcus said.

Seraphine studied Kelly for a second.

"We’ll wait outside," she said quietly.

Marcus gave a small nod.

The others stepped out first, leaving the door partially open.

It was just the two of them.

Marcus turned fully and walked back a few steps.

"What is it?"

"According to my sources, you were the one that killed the Red Dragon. For someone with the rank of yours, that should have been impossible. But it was the case. Which is why I want to inquire for your services."

Marcus tilted his head to the side.

"You want to hire me?"

Kelly nodded. "That’s correct. You see, there is a shipment of goods but they’ll have to pass through what is known as the Forest of No Return, where high-ranking monsters dwell. Not even the Silver Vanguards or other high-ranking parties are willing to enter that forest."

"A shipment of goods to a high-danger zone? Wait, why not just avoid it?"

"Because we need the item delivered promptly. Going around would take another month. We wouldn’t want that or we would be in breach of contract, which would cause me a lot of money due to penalties. So instead of paying those penalties, I’ll just contract you."

Marcus crossed his arms.

"So let me get this straight," he said. "You want me to escort a shipment through a place that even high-ranking parties avoid."

Kelly nodded.

"That’s correct."

"And you’re asking me alone."

"Yes."

Marcus raised an eyebrow.

"You’re confident."

Kelly gave a small smile.

"I’m practical," he said. "You achieved something that shouldn’t have been possible. That changes how I assess risk."

Marcus didn’t respond immediately.

He thought about it.

Forest of No Return.

Sounds like the kind of place where things go wrong fast.

Ambushes.

Unknown monsters.

No clear escape routes.

"...What exactly are we transporting?" Marcus asked.

Kelly’s expression didn’t change.

"A sealed cargo," he said. "High value. Sensitive."

Marcus narrowed his eyes slightly.

"...That tells me nothing."

Kelly met his gaze.

"And that is intentional."

Marcus let out a short breath.

"...So I’m walking into a high-risk zone with unknown cargo."

"Yes."

"And I’m supposed to just trust that it’s worth it."

Kelly didn’t hesitate.

"I will compensate accordingly."

That caught Marcus’s attention. 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

"Define accordingly."

Kelly stepped closer.

Lowered his voice just slightly.

"One hundred million kinah."

That was higher than the Red Dragon salvage.

For a single job, and it would be all his, the one hundred million kinah.

"That’s a lot," Marcus said.

Kelly nodded.

"Because the risk is high."

Marcus thought about it carefully and then nodded. "Okay, you got yourself a business partner. I’ll see to it that the cargo will be delivered to the intended parties."

Kelly smiled. "That’s good to hear."

"But I’ll require a 50 percent upfront," Marcus added.

Kelly didn’t even blink.

"...Reasonable," he said.

Marcus narrowed his eyes slightly.

"No hesitation?"

Kelly gave a faint smile.

"I expected that condition," he replied. "Anyone competent would ask for it."

Marcus nodded once.

"Good."

Kelly turned and walked back to the table, pulling out another document from his case.

"Then we formalize this as well," he said. "Different contract. Different terms."

He placed it down and slid it forward.

"Escort contract. Forest of No Return. One hundred million kinah total compensation. Fifty million upfront. Fifty upon successful delivery."

"That would be it."