31. Setting up the Traps I

NPCs. What exactly was an NPC? Edmund pondered this and realised, in the context of this world, that meant almost EVERYONE in the world. Everyone who was not playable in the game, was an NPC, and that meant a lot of people who had extremely outsized influence on the game.

In a world like this, where the hero was a really long quest to defeat the demons. Did the hero have a timer, or that didn't actually apply because the hero would mature over the months. Some parts of the game's journey, he remembered, took weeks. He went back to his secret notes again, and revisited all the places where a hero interacted with others.

There were certain locations, where the hero needed to get things done. He tried to remember parts where the hero 'parted ways' with some of the usable heroines. In most games, it was a fairly common trope for the party to split up and accomplish concurrent goals. Edmund realised, what he really wanted to do, was set up situations similar to Don Corneo, where he could lewd the heroines.

Edmund listed down the parts where the hero had to get multiple items, and as he went down the list- he smiled.

First on the list, Sodenterlend.

***

Edmund moved to the City of Sodenterlend, of the Province of Sodenter, home of the Great Antiques Market. It wasn't far from the Province of Natar, it was after all just a neighbouring province. In the story, the hero would take months before he came to this part of town.

"I've never been to this place, Edmund." Aida said, as she stepped out of the carriage. Edmund held her hand, and she was dressed in a tight fitting but extremely elaborate robe. She was a little taken aback when the Count asked her to join him, but the promise of more intimacy and the idea of a trip together was too much for her to resist.

The citizens of Sodenterlend clearly noticed the Count Edmund had a female healer as her companion, and this would spread soon.

"Well, it's been a while since I came too." They walked into one of the largest buildings in the area, a tall three storey building, and then approached a really handsome and rugged man. He was in his mid 40s, about the same age as Edmund, and unlike Edmund, he was dashing in a tough, wild way. He exuded the aura of a man who had seen a lot of shit. "Greetings, are you Master Trader Travis?"

"That would be me, I'm honored for your attention, Count Edmund. My men said you arranged a visit to see me specifically."

"Exactly, I was told you have some interesting items. May I see your wares?"

Travis nodded, and they were led to a room filled with many treasures. He saw a small bracelet of power, and many other magical items. Travis, in the game, was one of the end-game merchants, that focused on swords, shields, and armor for the fighter-type classes. An NPC, so to speak. Edmund was naturally accompanied by his aides. He didn't know why, but he sensed that Travis was highly resistant to his [enthrall]. He would have to gain more fragments before he could control him.

Still, controlling Travis wasn't the goal, anyway. Instead, he saw the item that he was looked for. An old statue of the goddess.

"I want to buy that." Edmund didn't want to get close, because he sensed it was functionally indestructible due to it's stored blessing. In the story, this was one of the 'easier' power ups for the heroes to get, because all he needed to do was gather about 5,000 gold to buy it, but it led to the next stage of the power.

Edmund approached it, and felt something really strong pushing back at him. As he almost touched it, he could feel his skin heating up from holy magic. It was clear he couldn't 'capture' these goddess items directly, and they were only meant for the hero.

That was fine. "It's an ancient statue of the goddess Shera. That'll be 4,000 gold, milord." Travis said. "Do you want to-"

"No. I want to buy it, but I want you to keep it here on my behalf. How much would you charge for security?"

The trader paused, and then nodded. "50 Gold a year, sir."

"I'll pay you triple to have your best anti-theft guards."

Travis nodded. "What if someone wants to buy it?"

"If anyone wants to buy it, tell them it's for sale for 300,000 gold, and before any sale, I want to know who buys it. They'll have to come and see me for my approval." The hero would want it, some day, because contained within it was the goddess's stored energies, and buying it would unlock more of the hero's power. The hero would get it, eventually, but he would make the heroines pay the price for it.

Travis nodded. "That wouldn't get any buyers, milord. I've valued it, and the best anyone would ever try to pay is 4,000 gold. I understand that it is nigh-indestructible and may contain the goddesses' power, but-"

"It's a statement." Edmund smiled. "Would you do it?"

The trader thought for a moment, and shrugged. He was motivated by money. "Sure, why not. I'll move it to the higher value vault."

The aides from both sides quickly had their own meeting at the back to sort out the paperwork, while Travis led them through to show more of his wares. Eventually, he came across a beautiful bracelet of power, meant for knights and fighters. It'll make a good gift to Kiara, and do more to sway Erenia's will. "I'll take that too."

"That's 1,000 gold."

"Deal."

Edmund eventually bought a few more swords and two more sets of armor. Aida was fairly dumbfounded by the sheer values being thrown about. The world of the rich really was different, and then, Edmund froze. He saw a stone carving of a phallus, and felt incredibly, incredibly drawn to it.

"I want that." Aida's eyes saw it too, and she couldn't help but blush.

Travis smiled. "Ah, that's actually not part of my usual wares. It's only 100 gold, but since you've bought my wares, I'll give you a discount-"

"I'll pay full price." Edmund said. "If you find such interesting objects, do let me know."

Travis grinned. "I see the Count's into more... exotic objects."

"Oh yes."

Aida just blushed as she stood next to the count.

***

Once shopping was completed, Edmund brought his companion for a meal, while his aides sort out all the details. The paperwork often took a longer time to negotiate, and payment for such high value was often done through the various commercial bank's accounts.

"I... I'm not used to seeing such large amounts being paid so easily." Aida said. They had a private dining room in Sodenterlend's finest restaurants, where the local specialty was the various kinds of monster-beef and equally exotic types of monster-derived sauces. Edmund smiled at his beautiful companion.

"The nobility can be fairly profligate spenders." Edmund said. "I try not to be, though sometimes we have no choice. Our excess is the artisans and traders' profits. Without the nobility's spending, they don't have many other alternative buyers. The King spends even more on such things, after all, he has a taste for the finer things in life."

The food was good, and they retreated to Sodenterlend's finest inn. The entire inn was booked out for their use, the lower rooms used by the aides and the guards. After a few hours of fairly rigorous bed exercises with Aida, Edmund examined the stone phallus and then, out of instinct, shared his own demonic energies with it.

The stone phallus glowed dark purple, and then transformed into... a stone phallus.

[Infested Stone Phallus. Once inserted into a target, the stone phallus turns invisible and the target is unable to feel it's presence directly. However, can be commanded and cause the target to experience significantly higher sexual desire, is extremely sensitive to touches and will experience sexual delusions. Can be commanded to trigger intense orgasms. Warning : can be dispelled by holy magic]

Edmund grinned.

"Oh this is going to be useful."