Dragon's Awakening: The Duke's Son Is Changing The Plot
Chapter 127 - 126 - Divine Merchants.

Chapter 127: Chapter 126 - Divine Merchants.

Raven took a breath, steadying the giddy tremor in his hands as the squirrel fanned him with renewed vigor, sensing something monumental was about to begin.

He opened his system again, this time tapping on the second name blinking at him:

[Smoke_Trader: 4 messages]

Click.

Four previous messages lined the screen:

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

Smoke_Trader:

Hey, hey, hey, man! Do you want the 12 Flaming Chicken Skewers of Apocalypse again?

Or maybe the Pill of Hair Regrowth +10? For resale, of course.

What about the "Absolute Weapon" package? One use only. Big boom. Minor god discount.

... I also got some spicy goddess images from a falling shrine. Mostly untouched.

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

Raven sighed. "He would never change, I guess."

He was the god who would send him messages like internet adds.

’Want free, single goddesses to talk to? You are in the right place, message me for more information.’

’Want to eat something tasty? You know who to contact (me, of course).’

These type of adds.

So, Raven typed a one-word message to the guy.

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

Raven:

Smoke.

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

Smoke_Trader responded instantly.

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

Smoke_Trader:

MAN! You’re alive! I was just about to put you on my inactive gods list.

What’s the deal today? Do you want something special? Forbidden? Embarrassing?

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

Raven didn’t reply immediately.

He let the silence stretch, as he knew what type of god Smoke was.

Despite being a fun guy to be around and the fact that he had many connections, he was the typical greedy merchant type.

He wouldn’t even take deals that didn’t have big margins. Worse, the things he wanted—artifacts for mortals—always had small margins.

Raven wasn’t even sure if this guy would trade, but he still had to try.

After all, beggars can’t be choosers.

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

Raven:

I need artifacts.

The best—

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

There was a beat of silence as Raven wondered if he should turn to Windy already, but somewhere in the back of his head, he felt like there was something he could get out of this guy.

However, before he could speak further, Smoke’s messages came one after another. They were so fast that Raven couldn’t even follow them until they stopped coming.

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

Smoke_Trader:

👀👀👀

I KNEW YOU’D COME AROUND!

Say no more, my divine friend, say no more!!

I’ve got artifacts made from Divine Phoenix’s bones and relics from the extinct Divine Time Monks!

How about a blade that only cuts people who owe money??

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

Seeing those messages, Raven sighed, but trusting his protagonist instincts, he finished his sentence.

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

Raven:

—For mortals.

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

Nothing came for five seconds.

Then a single message came.

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

Smoke_Trader:

.....

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

Looking at it, Raven shrugged. ’What was I even expecting.’

There was no way a guy like him would be interested in dealing with mortal artifacts.

But when he was about to shift to the other chat, Smoke’s messages came.

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

Smoke_Trader:

You—

You baited me.

You fucking baited me.

Tell you what? I don’t care about it.

Today’s been dry on my side. I might dabble in mortal stuff.

Give me a second. I gotta dig into the mortal-tier pile.

It’s under the "Sad Budget" tab.

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

It was Raven’s turn to be surprised. ’Wait, actually?’

The most greedy guy he knew was willing to deal with mortal artifacts? That was newer than Alex getting beat up by a tree trunk.

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

Raven:

Well, I didn’t expect you to say yes, but thanks.

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

With that, Raven waited.

The squirrel fanning him didn’t know what was going on.

In its eyes, Raven seemed to be making expressions while staring at the air, and it was weird.

It was weirder than a squirrel fanning a human.

But the squirrel remained quiet; that was until some time passed, and Raven’s expression scratched.

’Why is there still no reply?’

Raven frowned.

Still, he waited a few more minutes before he finally sent the messages.

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

Raven:

Hey.

Where are you?

I’ve been waiting for some time now.

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

There was still no message.

Heck, the guy was offline!

A greedy merchant-type guy who never gets off the trading app was offline—

"Oh, fuck it!"

Rave cursed, flailing his arms as he realized that he was probably blocked.

But then, feeling something wriggling under his arms, he frowned, only to see the squirrel buried beneath it.

"Oh, shit—!" He quickly gets up, helping the squirrel stabilize. "I’m sorry. I’m really, really sorry."

The squirrel, who was fine as Raven didn’t put weight on him, huffs, then jumps off the bed and runs away, squeaking curses.

It was saying things like ’weird human’, ’almost killed me’, and some curses in squirrel tongue.

Raven stared at the fluffy creature jumping out of the window before he lay back on the bed with a tired sigh.

He couldn’t believe he thought that guy would—

’Fuck. Whatever.’

"Bastard," Raven muttered. "May your socks always be damp."

But thankfully, Smoke wasn’t the only divine contact he had.

With a grunt, he opened his system again and tapped the next blinking name.

[Windy_Wishbone: 10 messages]

Click.

The screen scrolled rapidly.

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

Windy_Wishbone:

Raveeeen~

You there?

Guess what I found today? A wind spirit that speaks in rap lyrics!!

You’d love him!!

I made him perform in my garden!!

....

Also, are you okay? I haven’t seen your messages in a while. :(

Don’t tell me you’re dead.

If you’re dead, I’m totally haunting your altar until you resurrect.

....

Hey!! I tried talking to some other gods, asking if they knew anything about you, but no one seemed to know you.

Are you a mysterious god with some OP background or what?

....

Raaaaveeeennnnnn~!!

Do you want some dancing wind blades? They’re sharp and do twirls!

Also, I saw this mortal bird the other day. It tripped on air. I laughed so hard that I dropped a breeze on a monk.

....

Miss you.

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

There were messages of different dates, and Raven stared at them for a long minute.

Then muttered, "...I’m the worst."

Windy was the only god who talked to him like a person, not a transaction.

Used to be, he’d reply to her wholeheartedly, joke around, and chat about nonsense.

But these days, he barely made time to talk to Grandpa, let alone her.

He sighed, then straightened up and began typing like a man about to commit social fraud.

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

Raven:

Windy!

My ever-breezy buddy!

I’ve returned from... spiritual seclusion.

Listen—

There’s a war going on in my world.

My worshipers have been praying night and day, sacrificing and offering everything they have.

All they ask is for divine aid in the form of artifacts.

Alas! I possess none suitable for mortals.

But as their god, can I let them suffer?!

Absolutely not.

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

He didn’t want to lie to her, but he didn’t want to risk it like Smoke, so he made a sob story.

As a minor god herself, he was sure she was also close to her worshipers. He was making use of those sentiments.

There was a long pause.

Then—

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

Windy_Wishbone:

YOU HAVE A WAR??

RAVENNNNNNN!!

Why didn’t you tell me?!

You dramatic storm cloud!!

Do they need winds?? Rain?? Thunderbirds??

I can send them a sentient weather balloon of vengeance.

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

Raven coughed. ’It’s good that she bought it, but now I feel a bit bad for getting her all riled up.’

But then, he whispers. "It’s all business. Don’t think about other stuff."

Then, he continued the chat.

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

Raven:

No, no, no. You don’t need to go that far.

No need for storms or balloons.

What I really need... are artifacts.

Powerful ones.

For mortals.

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

Windy’s reply was immediate but slightly hesitant.

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

Windy_Wishbone:

Ohhh...

Okay, I can arrange some!

It’ll take a bit though—

Most of my stock is a divine tier, you know?

Stuff that melts mortals if they touch it.

But I can work something out.

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

Raven grinned.

It was time to play his next card.

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

Raven:

Actually—

I don’t want normal mortal-grade artifacts.

I want the best.

Like, top-of-the-top-tier mortal artifacts.

I want stuff like the ones that make kingdoms weep and heroes level up through sheer awe.

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

There was a pause.

Then—

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

Windy_Wishbone:

...Raven.

Are you talking about mortal-tier things that can reach the threshold of the divine tier?

That stuff would cost you more than twenty or thirty thousand. It could go as high as fifty thousand.

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

’That means she can at least prepare those things!’ Raven exclaimed inwardly before he cracked his knuckles.

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

Raven:

Then let me go broke.

If I don’t have enough divinity, I’ll sell some of my divine artifacts.

You tell me what I need to pay later.

What I need now is your assurance.

Give me the best.

The rest will follow.

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

Raven wasn’t kidding this time.

He was going all in.

As he said, he had some divine artifacts, and for many, the divine artifacts he had would be the best thing they could hope to get.

Windy’s next message came slower this time.

Like she was digesting that.

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

Windy_Wishbone:

...

You really care about them, huh?

Your mortals.

Okay.

I’ll see what I can do.

But it won’t be instant!

I’ll call in some favors.

Some gods owe me wind massages.

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

Raven chuckled. "Wind massages..."

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

Windy_Wishbone:

Now tell me—

What kind of artifacts are we talking ’?

Weapons? Defense? Magic trinkets? Fancy hairpins that explode?

I need types!!

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

Raven took a deep breath.

This was the deciding moment.

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

Raven:

Types—I don’t care.

It can be an inheritance, skill, armor, sword, or whatever you think is the best.

But I will send you the abilities of the people who would be using those artifacts.

- One of them needs to be related to sound.

- Then one with darkness.

- One that could be used by a wild person while enhancing their physical abilities—and magical, if possible.

- There must be one related to metals.

- Then, finally, I need something that would help a person improve every aspect of their power. Strength, speed, mana, stamina. Everything.

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

Raven went through them again, and after looking at them at least ten times, he nodded.

’Yes. That’s all of them.’

Then, Windy’s messages came.

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

Windy_Wishbone:

So, you need five items.

All of them need to be top-tier.

Things that would suit people with the powers you mentioned.

Alright.

I’ll try to look for the items.

Give me some time.

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

Raven felt a sense of déjà vu as he looked at the last message, as Smoke had sent something similar.

So, to ensure that it was his paranoia, he sends another message.

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

Raven:

How long would you need, Windy?

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

There was a pause, but before Raven could start a tantrum, Windy’s status changed to typing.

Before long, her reply came.

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

Windy_Wishbone:

An hour at least and a day at most.

Don’t worry, I’ll get it done as soon as possible.

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

’Thank heavens—’

Raven sighed in relief before he slumped on the bed.

He was happy that Windy didn’t turn out to be like Smoke. If she were, then Raven would’ve crashed out.

However, suddenly, another notification’s sound reached his ears.

Ding!

[Smoke_Trader: 2 messages.]

It was Smoke.

He was online and still typing.