“Ah, interested in my wares, young man?” asked the old man behind the stall.

The man’s skin was wrinkled and he looked over seventy-five years old.

Max looked at the price tags at the cores and his jaw dropped as his eyes moved across the table.

A copper core sold for 10 copper coins.

A silver core sold for 100 gold coins.

A gold core sold for 100,000 gold coins.

“Monster cores ain’t cheap,” said the merchant.

“But why are copper cores so much cheaper compared to the rest?” asked Max.

“Copper cores are common,” said the man. “Plus, they only really help a climber reach 9 in mana affinity, whereas a silver monster core will help a climber up to 29. It’s a lot more useful and more uncommon as well.”

Max nodded. That made sense to him.

“Why would anyone buy a copper monster core then?” asked Max.

“Most climbers aren’t interested in buying them, except for the keen young students who haven’t had their year at the climber academy yet. Outside of them, though, its mostly businesses who use copper monster cores to power their factories and equipment.”

Max nodded. That explained why there were plenty of non-climbers here in the market street. In fact, a mana-infused sword might be even more valuable to a mob enforcer than a climber who could rely on their trait in combat.

Max was also happy to hear that copper monster cores weren’t completely useless then. There was indeed a market for them. It just wasn’t climbers.

He felt a lot less worried now about his next question.

“Do you buy copper monster cores?”

“Of course,” said the merchant. “I buy them for four coppers apiece.”

Max nodded. “Okay, well, I got 3068 copper monster cores and I’d be willing to sell them to you at five coppers apiece.”

The merchant’s jaw dropped.

“You insolent young man,” said the merchant. “I’m offering you a fair deal already.”

Max grinned. “Maybe, but so am I. If I sell them to you at five copper coins, you’re still selling them at double the price. Plus—I bet those companies who use copper monster cores for fuel want them in large quantities. I’m saving you a lot of trouble by bringing you so many all at once. For that, I think I deserve a premium, don’t you?”

The merchant narrowed his eyes. Max had outmaneuvered him and there was nothing he could do about it but accept the deal.

“Fine,” said the man. “3068 copper cores at five coppers apiece is 15,340 copper coins. So to make things simple you’ll receive 15 gold coins, 3 silver coins, and 40 copper coins for your trouble. Deal?”

“Deal,” said Max.

Max unloaded his monster cores in the back of the merchant’s stall, filling the area briefly with a mound of cores, until the merchant himself vacuumed it all up into his own pouch.