"First big customer? There hasn't been anyone, yet?" Berg asked, wondering how that was even possible as he transferred 17.5 Million credits to Jason's bank account that was connected to his quantum bracelet.

The person who invented quantum bracelets ensured that nobody could hack the bank accounts that were created when a new quantum bracelet was manufactured.

One can only look into someone else's bank account by having the owner's permission or forcefully taking away the owner's quantum bracelet.

However, with the latter option, it was not possible to transfer credits from one account to another because the owner's unique mana fluctuations are required to transfer credits.

Adding multiple owners was possible but it would require the very first person to authorize everything.

When Jason heard Berg Brae's question, he couldn't help but grin behind his mask before he honestly answered

"Yes, Sir is my first big customer. There were other lower-ranked blacksmiths, but upon hearing the citizens outside talking bad about me, they probably didn't dare to enter the shop.

Maybe they feared to be conned by me or that the citizens averted their useless hate or whatever it is that they have against the Golden-Soul shop towards them.

They're probably laughing right now, thinking that Sir will arrest me for whatever reason. 

I don't even think that they even questioned if my prices were justified or not, maybe they have anger management issues or seek a pushover they can blame for something bad."

Right now, Jason tried to build up amity with the government worker to figure out more about the city's problems because he noticed that the citizens behaved very odd.

It was normal for poor people to be jealous of the rich which also included shops daring to exhibit expensive items, but from what he saw, the citizens' behavior was over the top.

Some of them stood already for three days in front of his shop, only to disappear when the shop closed. The next morning, they were already there, waiting for him and his employees to arrive before the shop opened.

Jason was not sure what was going on, but he had the premonition that someone had his hands in this mess, whether it was someone ordering the citizen to stir trouble.

There was also the possibility that these citizens searched for someone they could release their stress on because something bothered them within the city.

However, he was not sure what could cause such a ruckus.

Seeing how Berg flinched for a quarter of a second, Jason knew that he was on the right way, which was neither good nor bad.

Clearing his throat Berg said as a big sweat pearl run down his temples.

"I'll take care of this problem. Once the government clarifies that your shop is legitimate and without any improper goods or prices, there shouldn't be more issues… I'll also tell the Artisan tower and Hunter association that I found a shop selling perfectly purified grade-1 bars, potions, and mana weapons! I hope that is enough to show the government's sincerity"

If Jason didn't wear his mask right now, everyone looking at him would see his furrowed eyebrows.

His expression didn't look good either, after he heard what the government worker said.

Nevertheless, Jason nodded his head.

Without further ado, Berg bid Jason farewell after he received his goods, before reassuring him again that he will take care of the matter.

Walking back to Emily and Silas who were nervously waiting for him to say something, Jason couldn't help but ask himself quietly

"Is it normal for the government to act so courteous when someone complains about the citizens' behavior?... He will take care of the matter? What matter? Holding back the citizens who seemed to have started a siege on my shop?" 

Emily and Silas both heard what Jason mumbled to himself and Emily could only helplessly look at him because she didn't know anything about the real world as she was always nearby the orphanage, absorbing mana. 

However, Silas answered the question Jason asked after hesitating for a moment.

"I don't know why the citizens in front of the Golden-Soul shop seem to target you or the shop itself, but it hasn't been that long since many things changed within the city.

I'm not sure if that's what you mean Sir, but there are a bunch of rumors going around the city. They might be exaggerated or even wrong but maybe they can help you."

Turning to Silas, Jason indicated him to speak, which he did after a short moment to decide where to start.

"I heard from three rumors around the city quite often but I can't say if one of them is true or if all of them are wrong because every single rumor seems weird.

The first rumor is about the Slave market and says that the Jual clan allied with foreign races to experiment with us, poor citizens, to make them stronger. Apparently, mankinds' ability to contract beasts is unique to our race and other races want to create a being that has the foreign races' strength and mana aptitude and humans' unique ability to bind beasts and receive an amplification in strength.

However, I doubt that this is the case, otherwise, we would have noticed something odd, right? I have never seen someone from a foreign race either... It's hard to believe that this could be true!

The second rumor says something about citizens being kidnapped, only to return after several days. After returning they're said to have turned into completely different individuals and from what I saw, these citizens looked like they were addicted to drugs!

This is more likely because Terebrean had lots of problems with drugs over the last few decades.

At least that is what my parents told me.

The third rumor I heard from citizens is that the Jual clan created a powerful potion or medicine, which allows the consumer to enhance his or her mana attitude for a certain period.

Apparently, this 'miraculous medicine' how most citizens name it, cannot be found on the market and only the government or slave market distributes it.

To be honest, I'm not sure whether this rumor is true or not because I heard about it only a few times, and all of these citizens were former drug addicts...

Unfortunately, I don't know more about these rumors, otherwise, I would tell you more.

Maybe one of them is true and the citizens have a reason to act like they're currently doing?"

Carefully listening to Silas' words, Jason pondered for a moment, trying to figure out what these rumors could mean and if there was truth behind them when he heard Emily mumbling.

"Didn't the slave merchants say something from test objects?"

Hearing this, Jason's mind was rattling, trying to figure out what exactly was going on with the city and maybe even the whole Island, Terebrean.

However, in the end, all clues came to one conclusion.

'The Jual Clan is also messing with the island they're governing! If there are so many rumors going around, all of them could be true. At least to a certain extent! If that's the case, The Jual Clan is allying with a foreign race, experimenting with humans, trying to find a way to create the most powerful humans. The 'miraculous medicine' or how it's called might as well be something from the foreign race, the Jual clan is allied with! If that's the case, the drug-addicted citizens that were could have something to do with the experiments about the miraculous medicine, which could also be a drug?'

Jason entered his own world of thoughts and with each minute passing, the possibilities turned only worse which was definitely not good.

Even the best possible outcome was extremely bad in his opinion, and mankind seemed to be even messier than he initially thought if that was even the case.

'Why didn't Shane and Dalia retreat to a nicer island which is governed by one of the kinder big families?!' He thought for a moment before disregarding this idea because it was obvious where the Drake clan would search for Shane and Dalia's whereabouts first.

Hiding in the enemy's territory seemed to work out the best and his masters' could even live above the surface right now without the need to hide below a lake!

This was great, but at the same time, Jason couldn't help but feel that everything was only becoming worse, the more time passed.

Retaining his senses, he looked at Emily and Silas who waited for him to do anything as he said

"Let's go back to work, we should get more customers soon!" 

His two employees were disappointed that he told them what he thought about the rumors.

However, there was nothing they could do except doing as he ordered.

Going back to work, they first refilled the shelves where Jason took out the goods for Berg's large purchase.

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