CHAPTER 49: CHAPTER 48: APPRAISAL SKILLS AND "FRIENDS’ PRICE

Ron said softly, placing the bottle back on the table, his voice calm yet courteous:

"The genuine Moon Shadow Bat Heart Ash should not be this color. It should be closer to silver and exhibit a faint blue glow under light, especially when the bottle is gently shaken. Most importantly, the real thing has a special magic fluctuation that can be felt even through the bottle."

A hint of surprise flashed in Otto’s eyes, which was quickly replaced by admiration, his lips curling into a subtle arc under his beard:

"Nice eye! This is indeed a counterfeit, I just wanted to test your professional level."

He retrieved the bottle, a hint of appreciation in his tone: "In this line of work, distinguishing between real and fake is a basic survival skill."

Then, he took out a more exquisite-looking small bottle from the depths of the box.

This bottle was evidently much more valuable than the previous one, with intricate runes engraved on the body and a silver thread sealing the stopper, appearing particularly solemn.

This time, he simply handed over the bottle without speaking further, the message quite clear.

Ron took it again, this time the gray powder inside exhibited a faint silvery-blue sheen, with a finer texture, as if moonlight had been captured and solidified into powder.

He carefully removed the stopper and lightly sniffed it, a subtle cool sensation instantly spreading through his body from his nostrils.

His spiritually sharp perception told him this was indeed genuine Moon Shadow Bat Heart Ash, and of quite good quality.

The unique magic fluctuation was almost exactly as described in ancient texts.

[Precise Identification! Herb Recognition Experience Points +2]

"This should be authentic, and of good quality." Ron nodded, a tone of certainty in his voice:

"The distinctive energy fluctuation is very evident, likely from the heart of a healthy adult Moon Shadow Bat, and the extraction process is quite professional."

"I knew it!" The dwarf’s face broke into a satisfied smile, his thick beard quivering in accompaniment:

"No wonder Lady Allen chose you as an assistant, you really do have an eye for quality. That’s the most valuable talent in our field."

Seeing Ron’s somewhat cautious expression, Otto waved his hand to explain:

"Don’t be nervous, young man. Being in this line of work long enough, you’ll always catch some news. Lady Allen’s shop is legendary in the Black Mist Jungle, so her new assistant is bound to attract some attention. Especially when..."

He glanced meaningfully at Ron: "When that assistant exhibits unusual talent."

"But don’t think I’ve acknowledged you just yet." Otto squinted his eyes: "Identifying a few times isn’t enough to prove your true level."

He stroked his dense beard, leaning forward slightly: "What I’m about to take out next is a bit more challenging, let’s see if you’ve really got what it takes."

Otto took out a flat tin box from even deeper within the wooden crate, its surface covered in a thin layer of verdigris, looking quite aged.

He carefully opened the tin box, revealing a cluster of green, fur-like material, glinting subtly under the lamp light.

"This is the ’Crystal Moss’ on your list, at least that’s how my supplier labeled it."

The dwarf pushed the tin box towards Ron, "It’s not commonly seen on the market, I’m curious how much you know about this."

Ron’s brow furrowed slightly.

Indeed, he had read descriptions of Crystal Moss in Lady Allen’s materials, but rarely encountered the actual thing.

The genuine Crystal Moss should be dark green and would display a crystal-like glisten when the observer’s angle of vision changes.

The most critical thing is, it should have a special "attraction" effect on spiritual power, almost like it softly "calls" to the user.

He carefully touched the green material with his fingertip, feeling its texture and energy fluctuations.

The touch was soft, but lacked the expected crystal hardness, resembling more of a dyed normal moss.

Moreover, it completely lacked the spiritual attraction, instead giving off a slight repulsive feeling.

"I’m afraid this isn’t authentic either." Ron judged cautiously:

"The real Crystal Moss should have a unique crystal structure, showing a refractive effect similar to crystals under light. Moreover, it interacts uniquely with spiritual power, almost actively ’drawing’ the user’s attention. This sample lacks those characteristics, likely a counterfeit fashioned from normal moss after special treatment."

The dwarf’s eyes widened, eyebrows almost reaching his forehead: "Good boy! You can even see through this!"

He slapped his knee, letting out a hearty laugh:

"This is indeed a fake, at least half of the Crystal Moss on the market is this kind of imitation, but very few can see through it at a glance."

Andre watched on in amazement from the side, never having imagined Ron’s mastery in magic potions was already at such a level.

The dwarf nodded with satisfaction, offering a genuine smile beneath his beard:

"You win, young man. I acknowledge your abilities. You certainly have a rare talent, Lady Allen wasn’t mistaken."

"So the price?" Ron went straight to the point, knowing this "test" had come to an end, it was time to discuss the real transaction.

"For you? Ten Magic Stone Fragments." Otto extended five short, thick fingers, then added five more from the other hand:

"That’s a very favorable friendship price, I would usually ask for at least fifteen."

Ron furrowed his brow slightly, the price was still high, quite a large expenditure even for him who had recently saved a bit.

He pondered for a moment, his gaze falling onto the pile of materials he had just identified, a spark of inspiration flashing.

"Could I make a small request?" he said calmly, with a negotiating tone:

"If I help you identify some other materials, could I get a better price? After all, I’ve just proven my worth."

Otto’s blue eyes twinkled with shrewdness, the corners of his mouth turning up beneath his beard:

"Smart proposal! You do have a knack for negotiation."

He stroked his beard, as if contemplating something: "This is a rather common way of trading in the black market—exchanging skills for discount."

The gray dwarf seemed to quickly calculate something in his mind, thick fingers grasping slightly on the table surface:

"Then it’s settled, you help me identify ten materials, I’ll give you a twenty percent discount. How’s that?"

Ron smiled slightly: "Deal, but I must say in advance, I will only speak the truth. If any material is of poor quality, I will speak frankly."

"Of course!" Otto readily agreed, revealing a broad smile beneath his beard:

"Honest evaluations are more valuable to me, I need to know what my goods are truly worth, rather than hear flattering lies."