Supreme Devil Lord: I Can Refine All Energy-Chapter 53: Ambrose Wood, A Partnership

The man smiled and introduced himself, "I’m Ambrose Wood. It was a pleasure doing business with you."

He didn’t ask for Eric’s name because Eric clearly wanted to hide his identity and wouldn’t tell him. So, he saved himself the effort and instead took out a green crystal card from his shirt to pay him the credits.

Seeing this, Eric said, "Wait a second."

"Hmm?" Ambrose paused, looking at him with raised brows.

Not giving him time to ask or think anything, Eric put his hand in his robe and took out the remaining spirit stones before placing them on the table. "I want to sell them too."

Ambrose had thought he was hesitating to sell his spirit stones, and this had certainly soured his mood a little, but when he saw another two spirit stones, his eyes brightened.

At a glance, he could tell they were the same as the first one. Still, he took them in his hand and inspected them.

After that, he placed them back on the table and stared at Eric in silence, which made Eric nervous. ’Should I have sold them in other shops separately?’

"Don’t be nervous." Ambrose suddenly said, taking him off guard.

’Huh?’ Eric’s heart skipped a beat, and he immediately became cautious, realizing that despite him trying his best to act natural and confident, he was seen through.

Ambrose’s next words, however, made him relax a little.

"I’ll be honest; I’m really curious and want to ask you where you got them from, but I won’t overstep my limits and do that. So, please be reassured."

Eric composed himself and asked, "Why are you curious? Is there something wrong with them?"

He knew his question would tell Ambrose he knew nothing about the spirit stones, but he didn’t care about that. He just wanted to know if they were any different from the spirit stones sold in the market so he could prepare himself for future transactions.

Ambrose leaned back in the chair and smiled, "There is nothing wrong with them. They are just a little different, as they are one-fifth bigger in size than the spirit stones circulating in the wildthorn province and contain slightly purer energy."

Saying this, he looked at Eric as if waiting for him to say something, and Eric did, "So they should go for a higher price, shouldn’t they?"

Ambrose nodded. "Correct. Their price should be around 5000-7000 credits for one. So, yeah, I wasn’t honest with you earlier. But hey, which businessman is? We need to earn some profit after all."

He chuckled, not feeling awkward admitting it.

Eric nodded, "You are right. But..."

"Why am I telling you the truth?" Ambrose interrupted him with a smile.

"Yes. You should have noticed I didn’t mind 4000. You could have just bought them and earned more profit." Eric said, feeling curious.

"That’s because..." Ambrose looked in his eyes and said,...I feel you have more of them. I could be wrong, though. But hey, if I am not, we can have a mutually beneficial partnership that will bring me and the store more profit."

Thump!

Eric’s heart skipped a beat when he heard him, and dread filled him. ’I really shouldn’t have brought these two out too.’ He thought, regretting his decision. Sure, it would have been more bothersome to sell each spirit stone in different stores; at least he wouldn’t have been caught like now.

"Hey, hey. Don’t go all gloomy on me." Ambrose said, his voice bringing him out of his thoughts.

"Did you not hear me properly? I’m not going to rob you. I’m looking for a partnership here."

Eric took a deep breath and said, "Make me believe you."

Ambrose stared at him silently before placing his hand on his chest, right above his heart. "I bear no ill intent toward you. If I’m lying, may I never be able to progress in my cultivation."

Eric looked at him in surprise and asked, "Did you just take a heart demon oath?"

Ambrose nodded. "Now you can believe me, right?"

"Yes." Eric nodded. He knew warriors/cultivators rarely took a solemn oath, especially after placing a hand on their chest, because they firmly believed if they couldn’t fulfill it, a heart demon would be born in their heart that would hinder the future cultivation. So, usually, if someone took a heart oath, he would do his best to fulfill it. Only those who had no hope of progressing in their cultivation dared to take a false oath. Ambrose clearly didn’t fall into this category.

However, Eric didn’t decide to believe him because of his oath but because he had used {Inspect} on him.

[Ambrose Wood] 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

[Age: 28]

[Cultivation: Novice Realm (Grade Four)]

[Status: Anxious, Sincere.]

[Detailed Description:...]

"Good." Ambrose sighed in relief and then said, "So, tell me. How many more do you have?"

Eric thought for a moment and said, "There should be a couple dozen at least."

"Only that much?" Ambrose muttered, a disappointed look appearing on his face. But then he shook his head and said, "Alright. I’ll buy all of them for 5000 credits a piece. How does that sound?"

"It sounds good." Eric nodded. "But I need you to keep my identity and our transactions a secret."

"No problem." Ambrose agreed. "So, when can you bring them over?"

"In a few days," Eric said. He wanted to use these few days to increase his strength first. In case something went wrong, he would have a higher chance of keeping himself safe.

...

After a short while, Eric left the Old Wood Store, carrying a bag that had three and a half kilograms of spirit stone powder, which Ambrose sold him for 3800 credits per kilogram. The remaining 1700 credits out of 15,000 were in his crystal card. Adding the thousand he had in the card Vivian gave him, he now had a little more than 2700 credits, more than enough to pay for their stay in the middle city for a month.

While leaving the market and walking back to Paul’s house, he was fully alert and constantly checking if someone was following him. Though he had checked Ambrose’s status before leaving the store and he still had no ill intention shown in his status, he knew the human heart was fickle and could change at a moment’s notice. To his relief, however, no one followed him.

On the way, when no one was watching, he stored the bag in his inventory, something he didn’t do the first time because... he had forgotten he had a system inventory where he could store things. Currently, there were 10 box icons on the inventory screen, one of which was gray because he had just stored the bag in it.

’I can upgrade the inventory, right?’ He asked the system. If he could only store ten items in it, it would soon become useless.

[Yes, host. It can be upgraded.]

Eric nodded, ’Good.’ He didn’t ask how he was supposed to do it because most likely, either he had to spend refined energy, or the system would reward him an upgrade in the quest reward. Since he didn’t need more space right now, he was in no hurry.

He walked faster this time, but it still took him around 40 minutes to arrive at home.

Vivian opened the door. She didn’t ask any questions and just nodded at him as he entered the house.

"I’ll be cultivating now, Aunt. Don’t disturb me unless Paul returns or there is something urgent." Saying this, he gave her her crystal card that had 1000 credits. "Also, please help me extend our stay in the middle city by a week."

"Sure." Vivian agreed.

...

Half an hour earlier...

Luke and Joan arrived in front of Liam’s house, and Luke knocked on the door.

Knock! Knock!

"Coming." A manly voice called out, and a few seconds later, the door opened, and Liam’s father, a man slightly short in stature and with a half bald head, looked at Luke and Joan, "Yes?"

’Fuck!’ Luke cursed inwardly, ’Why does this old man have to be home today?’

He knew Liam’s father was also a grade one Novice Warrior even though he became one through unconventional means and therefore was weaker than a normal grade one Novice Warrior. Still, he was a warrior nonetheless, who Joan would most likely avoid fighting.

Joan noticed his expression and asked, "What is it?"

Luke glanced at Liam’s father, who was looking at them with raised brows, and told him in a low voice.

"Oh?" Joan made a surprised sound after hearing everything and then looked at Liam’s father, his gaze disdainful. "No need to worry. If they don’t cooperate, I don’t mind showing him the strength of a real warrior."