My Girlfriends Are Hardcore Yanderes - Chapter 213

Chapter 213: Changes In the Wind
The bartender almost snapped after hearing such a comment, his patience running thin.

He had seen enough customers complaining about the state of the world, but griping about the price of wine, now a rare commodity, was going too far—even as a joke.

Still, he reminded himself to stay calm. The man in front of him was likely an Awakener, and it wouldn’t do him any good to lose control now.

With a wry smile, he joked, “Sir, it’s 2030 now, not 2025.”

Noticing the change in the bartender’s expression, Asher just smiled.

It was just a side comment on his part because he was happy to be back in his home world—well, what was left of it.

“You’re not from around here, sir?” the bartender continued.

“You can say that,” he responded in a casual tone.

“By the way, I heard this place buys rare items and sells information. Is that true?” he asked, keeping his tone relaxed.

The sudden change in direction caught the bartender off guard, but he knew better than to pry too much into someone’s intentions, especially when they were likely an Awakener.

“Yes, Sir, it’s in the back. I can get someone to help you out.”

“Sure,” he nodded, and a couple of minutes later, another employee arrived.

He was guided to the back of the bar, where a concealed staircase awaited.

Well, it wasn’t exactly a secret—everyone in the underground fort knew that beneath the pub was the mercenary den.

The further he descended, the more muffled the sounds of the pub above became, replaced by the distant voices below.

At the bottom of the stairs, he stepped into an expansive industrialized chamber that looked like something out of an old, abandoned factory.

Exposed pipes ran along the high ceilings, and the walls were lined with rusted metal panels, giving the space a gritty, utilitarian feel.

In one corner, a board displayed job postings—mercenary assignments, escort requests, and surface retrieval missions.

Traders nearby showcased weapons, armor, and rare items brought down from the surface. Their stalls were cluttered with everything from crude handmade tools to finely made gears.

He was guided to one of the traders, a man in his sixties who, despite his age, still looked strong and muscular.

The old man sized him up before asking. “An Awakener?”

Asher choose to go along with it.

Claiming the identity of an Awakener was far easier than attempting to explain that he was a sorcerer—once hailed as the strongest in an entirely different world.

The trader gave him a long, measuring look, but said nothing, seemingly satisfied with his silent confirmation.

“So, what do you want to sell?”

“These things,” he said, pulling a handful of items from his pockets.

They were magic accessories—rings, bracelets, and pendants—crafted from gold and other precious minerals.

Placing them on the counter casually, he showed no sentimental attachment to them; in his eyes, they were just disposable.

“This!” the old man exclaimed, his voice rising with surprise as he touched one of the pieces.

“These are evolved treasures…” the old man whispered, careful not to let anyone else overhear. “Did you enter a gateway and find these treasures?”

Asher nodded, keeping his response simple.

He overheard someone talking about it before he came here—gateways.

These were like portals that appeared randomly or in fixed places, likely a side effect of the two worlds merging.

Humans could try their luck by entering them in search of treasures or relics that could grant different effects and protections.

Some saw it as a chance for fortune, while others viewed it as a gamble to improve their lives.

He didn’t care much about them, though. More than enough items was stacked away in his space bag.

What he really wanted was information.

“Just give me a fair price for them,”

The old trader paused,. The idea of scamming crossed his thoughts—after all, his customer seemed like he didn’t know the true value of the items.

But then, a scary idea followed: what if he was being tested?

The last thing he wanted was to make an enemy of an Awakener whose power and identity was unknown.

He chose caution, deciding to play it safe.

“These items cost a lot of money,” the old man revealed , his voice dropping to a more serious tone. “I need to run it by someone first, to make sure I’m giving you a good price. Can you wait here?”

“Yes,”

With that, the trader bowed his head and excused himself, disappearing into the back room.

Five minutes later, he returned, his expression a bit more serious.

“Please follow me,”

Eventually, they reached a rusty office tucked in a quiet corner. The door creaked as it opened, revealing a man in his 40s sitting behind a desk.

He was smoking a cigarette, the smoke curling up lazily into the air.

“Please, take a seat,” the old man gestured, maintaining a respectful tone.

“And this is our leader, Asim,” he introduced before leaving the room.

Asher nodded, moving to sit in the worn chair across from the mercenary leader.

Asim didn’t say anything at first, simply taking another drag from his cigarette before speaking.

“I’ll be honest with you. I can’t afford to buy all of these items,” he said, leaning back in his chair, his cigarette tapping the ashtray.

Asher kept his expression neutral, though he was a little surprised. The things he thought were just junk were worth a lot more than he expected.

Or maybe this place simply lacked resources. It was tucked away in a deserted area, and the only reason he even found it was his sensitivity to energies.

“How much can you pay, and what do you think they’re worth?”

The man hesitated for a moment before speaking, cautious not to lowball an unfamiliar figure .

In his mind, there was no way a nobody could have acquired these items without sufficient ability.

“All in all, I’d say these treasures are worth somewhere between 200 and 300 million credits.” He scratched the back of his neck, looking slightly uneasy.

“But I can only offer up to 200 million—that’s the entire budget we have available right now.”

‘That much!’ Asher nearly broke his calm facade. If a few trinkets were worth this much, would selling a more powerful item bankrupt an entire city?

It was hard to grasp. Then, it hit him—his home planet was invaded just 5 years ago.

Unlike the previous world, which boasted abundant resources and years of peace, making the creation of magic items way easier.

“I’m willing to give you a discount if you can answer some of my questions,” he offered

Asim’s eyes sparkled after hearing the word “Discount”. He straightened his back, his tone becoming friendlier.

“What is it? Our mercenary group has the best information network within a 500-mile radius. And if it’s further, just let me know. I can contact someone to inquire.”

Asher agreed.

He then grabbed a piece of paper and began jotting down key information he needed before planning his next move.

This method was more efficient, and losing a hundred million for convenience wasn’t that bad—especially since he didn’t really need the money.