Dragon's Awakening: The Duke's Son Is Changing The Plot-Chapter 128 - 127 - Clash with a god?

Ding!

[Smoke_Trader: 2 messages.]

Raven bolted upright. "Huh—?!"

He blinked in disbelief. "No way..."

Tapping the blinking name, the chat scrolled instantly with two bold new messages and more incoming.

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Smoke_Trader:

Alright. I’m back.

Sorry for the delay, though. I didn’t have any mortal-tier things in my trade stash, so I had to go offline and check my offline storage.

Now, I have all the mortal-tier things one can ask for, so tell me your requirements, my man.

Even if you want see-through goggles, I am the right person for the trade.

Come on, tell me what you want.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

’Well, damn...’

That was all Rave could say as he looked at the messages.

It turns out that our greedy merchant hadn’t locked him, nor was he ignoring him, but searching for artifacts that could be of use to him.

’What do I do now?’

Technically, their deal was still ongoing since Smoke had gone to fetch items for him, but his prejudice made him think that it ended.

Now, the deal was still on from Smoke’s side, but Raven had gone and confirmed his trade with Windy.

So, the one at fault was Raven, but what could he do now?

He couldn’t go and stop Windy.

Therefore, he decided to come clean with Smoke. free𝑤ebnovel.com

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Raven:

Look, man. First of all, I’m sorry.

I thought that as a greedy merchant, you wouldn’t want to deal with mortal-tier weapons, so you left me on read.

Heck, I thought you blocked me.

So, I turned to another friend.

Now that I’ve confirmed a deal with her, our’s can’t continue.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

There was a long pause before Smoke’s next series of messages.

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Smoke_Trader:

First of all, rude.

While it’s true that I’m greedy, you shouldn’t tell someone what you think of them, even if it were the truth.

Secondly, I won’t cancel the deal.

It wasn’t my fault that you misunderstood the whole situation.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

’What the...?’

Raven frowned as he read through those messages.

’I’m here, trying to apologize to the guy because I realized my mistake, but he wouldn’t let it slide? And he’s calling me rude?’

Raven decided to stop playing nice.

After all, he wasn’t the only one at fault here.

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Raven:

Did you think I was a pushover because I was apologizing to you?

No, brother. You’re very wrong.

I was apologizing because I knew I was partially to blame for this, but as I said, ’Partially.’

It was your fault for not attending to your client for more than five minutes.

You didn’t think about what your client would think and went offline.

It was your fault that I misunderstood everything, so you better get your attitude straight.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Raven did say those things, but he regretted it instantly as he realized who he was talking to.

’Fuck! That bastard is a god!’

The memories of being turned to ash because of the gods’ curses were still fresh in his mind.

Yet, without thinking about it, he was trying to fight a god.

’What would I do if he called me for a fight?!’

The replies came from the other side.

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Smoke_Trader:

Do you want to go down that path, man?

You don’t know how many gods I have connections with.

One word—just one word—and you’ll never get to use this channel.

You’ll be boycotted, you little fucker.

So, you better start the deal.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Usually, Raven would’ve nodded his head and done as he was told because he knew he could never win against a god, but today, something inside him snapped.

He didn’t feel like backing down.

Not before some greedy merchant.

But what could he do?

In this situation, was there anything—

’Aha!’

Then it clicked.

He quickly opened his friend list and took a screenshot.

Yes, there was a screenshot function, and he used it.

Then, he sent that screenshot to Smoke.

That was all; he didn’t say anything else.

Then, he waited until finally—

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Smoke_Trader:

Is that—

Fuck, it is.

How do you have Grandpa_Hot_Pot in your friend list?!

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Yes, Raven had sent the screenshot of Grandpa, the strongest god on this server, in his friend list.

As for authenticity, no one would doubt it.

Because only one person can take one surname—no two people can have similar surnames.

Raven grinned.

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Raven:

I’m not obligated to tell you that.

I sent it to you to let you know that you can never win against me.

So now, it would be good for you to shut up and fuck off.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Raven stared at the chat for a few seconds but Smoke wasn’t typing anymore.

The guy was probably scared shitless now.

After all, it hadn’t been long since Grandpa had destroyed one of the major god’s sanctuaries because that god had attacked him.

Raven smirked, his fists clenched.

’Yes! This is it! This is the feeling!’

Clutching the bedsheet, he took a deep breath, not letting himself get lost in the feeling of silencing a god.

Of course, Smoke wasn’t scared of him, but Grandpa was his backer, and that alone was enough to make Raven one of the big league players.

Raven closed the interface, now waiting patiently for Windy’s messages.

His protagonistic senses were still telling him that he should talk to the guy, but he ignored it.

He didn’t care about that guy anymore.

But then—

Ding!

[Smoke_Trader: 1 message.]

Raven stared at the notification.

Ding!

[Smoke_Trader: 2 messages.]

[Smoke_Trader: 3 messages.]

[Smoke_Trader: 4 messages—]

"What does this fucker want now?!"

Raven opened the chat.

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Smoke_Trader:

I’m sorry, man.

Please forgive me, but hear me out this once.

Please don’t cancel the trade.

It might not be a big deal for you, but it is for me.

You were the first trader in the early morning of this new month. If I let you go away or let this deal be canceled, I would be struck by the bad luck of trade.

My whole month would be destroyed, so please, don’t cancel the trade.

We can trade anything—the cheapest thing you could want—but please, don’t cancel the trade.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Raven didn’t know what to say.

Smoke didn’t seem to be lying, but that didn’t mean Raven would feel pity for that guy.

If Grandpa wasn’t his backer, who knew what would’ve happened?

He wanted to block this guy, but then, something clicked in his head.

’Wait. Can’t I use this to my advantage?’

A desperate person would never make demands so Raven could get things at the cheapest price possible.

Above all, he still needed something for himself.

A sword preferably.

He could even test out what his protagonistic senses were pointing at.

He grinned and sent a message.

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Raven:

Alright. I won’t cancel the trade.

So, show me all the mortal-tier things you have.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Far away in the divine trading server realm, a chaotic swirl of mana exploded like a mini supernova around one particular merchant desk made entirely of lava-proof obsidian and gold.

"HE ACCEPTED!"

Smoke_Trader’s entire form—currently a six-armed, flaming mongoose hybrid in a bathrobe—shot to his feet, knocking over a stack of cursed price tags.

"YES! THE BAD LUCK IS GONE! BRING OUT THE FILE! BRING OUT THE FILE!!"

His assistant, a small ghostly intern named Jeff, floated in carrying a scroll labeled ’Mortal-tier Things That Don’t Sell.’

Smoke ripped it open with all the ceremony of an auctioneer on espresso and sent it into Raven’s chat.

Ding!

[Smoke_Trader has sent you a file: "All_Mortal_Things_CheapCHEAPCHEAP.zip"]

Raven downloaded it with a sigh, stretched his arms, and opened the folder.

Hundreds of items appeared before his eyes.

There were many things, but Raven was more focused on the weapons. There was a scythe called "Semi-emotional support edge." Then there was this sword that came with a plushy sheath and voice lines like "You got this, champ!" every time you drew it.

Raven blinked. Then blinked again.

All of them were strong, but Raven felt nothing as he looked at them.

Not a damn thing in that entire folder made his heart stir.

’No shiver... no sparkle... no mysterious aura whispering, "I choose you."’

He felt nothing but boredom and vague disappointment—like watching a sequel to a cult classic made by interns.

"Typical," he muttered. "A protagonist never gets hyped over normie weapons."

Raven popped his knuckles and typed.

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Raven:

Okay. I need something special. It doesn’t have to be mortal-tier. Just weird. Unique. Wacky. Mysterious. But a weapon. Something with a backstory.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Smoke_Trader’s tail twitched. His six eyes widened.

"Wait!" He muttered, clicking his claws. "He wants a divine weapon now?! I might actually earn something from this trade!"

He cracked his neck and grinned. This was his real inventory.

Ding!

[Smoke_Trader is uploading a file: "Special_Weapons_ONLY_GIGA_RARE.zip"]

A gallery popped up. Raven leaned in.

- A glowing sword shaped like a banana. Activation: Must be peeled before use.

- A "Justice Hammer," forged by a blind dwarf bard, that sings courtroom drama music whenever swung

- A divine ladle named "Soupender, the Brothbringer." Rumored to have slain a god by stirring their molten core.

- A cursed dagger that turns enemies into interpretative dancers for 7 seconds.

- A sword that only works if you’re emotionally constipated. Raven wasn’t sure whether to be offended or tempted.

Raven stared at it all, open-mouthed.

"Is this a divine garage sale or a fever dream?"

Still, even though the cursed crockpots and semi-sentient umbrellas were labeled "combat ready," he felt nothing.

He typed again.

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Raven:

None of these feel right. Got anything else?

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

There was a long pause.

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Smoke_Trader:

Nope. That’s all.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Raven squinted. His protagonist instincts flared up like a nosebleed around a busty sword spirit.

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Raven:

Come on. Not even something nobody wanted? Some garbage-tier cursed sword that you can’t sell but you don’t want to keep.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Smoke blinked.

Then froze.

Then blinked again.

"Oh. Oh... I have THAT one."

Smoke_Trader slowly typed.

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Smoke_Trader:

...Actually, there is one.

But no one has ever been able to activate it.

It doesn’t glow. It doesn’t hum. It doesn’t even react.

It’s indestructible, but that’s it.

It’s just a weird, ugly black sword that refuses to be melted or sold.

It’s worse than a mortal weapon.

A divine-level paperweight.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

At that exact moment—

STAB!

Raven grabbed his face. His eyes stung.

"Ah! What the hell?!"

His irises shimmered violet.

His Fate Eyes spun wildly, symbols appearing and vanishing like a roulette of destiny.

They were reacting. No—they were confirming.

’This is it!’

The junk sword no one wanted.

Raven grinned like a lottery winner holding a ticket he found under a park bench.

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Raven:

I want that one.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Smoke_Trader paused.

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Smoke_Trader:

...Are you serious?

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Raven replied without waiting.

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Raven:

Dead serious. Send it over. I’ll take it.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Smoke sat back, wide-eyed, mumbling to himself.

"First trade of the month... black-luck curse averted... and now, this lunatic wants that thing..."

He clicked SEND.

Far away, in Raven’s inventory, the ugly, black, unimpressive sword quietly appeared.

There was no glow. No hum. No thunder.

But Raven smiled like a man who’d just unearthed a dragon egg buried under manure.

"This... this is the one."

However, before he could bring that sword out, Smoke’s message arrived.

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Smoke_Trader:

...Um, Raven?

You know that the trade isn’t complete until you send a payment, right?

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

’Oh, yeah,’ Raven slapped his head in realization. ’I need to give him some plot points to make this a trade.’

He stared at his plot points.

[Plot Points: 130,909.]

As he looked at it, he realized what the right amount to send the guy would be.

Far away, sitting on his seat patiently, Smoke waited for Raven’s divinity (plot point) until it came.

[Raven had sent you 1 divinity.]

Smoke stared at the notification for a whole minute before he rubbed his eyes.

’Haha, I must be seeing things.’

He thought that he couldn’t see the zeros after the one, but no matter how much he rubbed his eyes, the number didn’t change.

Raven, on the other hand, unbothered by the fact that his actions almost caused a god to experience a mental breakdown, stared at his remaining plot points.

[Plot points: 130,908.]

’Now it’s even. Good.’

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