The Dark Extra: Awakening of SSS-Skill Demon Emperor Legacy-Chapter 55: Dealing with Dungeon Merchant

La activated his scanning system and began scanning the items floating in front of him from Agares.

He carefully examined each item, evaluating their quality and supply. The rarer and lower the supply, the higher the value.

[Scan complete]

[Total items: 54]

[Calculating total value]

[Calculation complete]

[54 items = 135 monster cores]

The man in green lifted his head and looked straight at Agares. He explained that he could only offer 135 monster cores for all those items, based on their quantity and quality.

Even so, those were just low-tier dropped items. Agares patted his magic pouch and revealed five boss monster cores floating in front of him. He grinned wide.

La’s eyes widened—he clearly hadn’t expected Agares to possess five boss monster cores. They were the most valuable of all dropped items.

"Matron Core? Ghoul Core? Gravelord Core? Steelbone Core? And Vurmok Core?"

"Wait! How did you get all five boss monster cores?" La asked.

No adventurer had ever obtained boss monster cores before. Normally, they only got regular monster cores from floor bosses. But Agares was different.

La glanced behind Agares, checking if someone else was with him. But no one was there—proof that Agares had defeated them all on his own.

"You took them down alone? But how?" La asked, clearly intrigued.

Agares smiled. La didn’t need to know how he did it—only what price he was willing to pay for the cores.

"I’m offering 30 monster cores each. Deal?" Agares said.

"That’s too high. The price is already fixed—you can’t change that."

"Really? Shame these won’t be returning to the dungeon, then."

"Wait!"

Agares smirked, seeing how easily La took the bait. The five items still floated at his side, not yet stored.

"My price is final. No haggling," he said. But La was clever.

"I’ll offer 25 monster cores each. And in return, I’ll give you a discount on armor and weapons."

"How much?" Agares asked.

"10%."

"15%," Agares pushed.

"You?!"

"15% discount, and I’ll sell these at 25 monster cores each."

"Maybe you’d prefer turning these boss monster cores into a weapon spirit instead?" Agares challenged.

La gritted his teeth, completely trapped. Without the boss monster cores, floor bosses would lose 50% of their strength every reset. That would mess with the dungeon’s structure.

’This guy’s bleeding me dry,’ La thought. ’All because he knows how badly the dungeon needs these.’

"Fine. I’ll give you 15%," La muttered in frustration.

Agares smiled. A system panel popped up in front of him, showing the total monster cores he now had, including from earlier.

[Item:]

[1158x Monster Core] [+260]

’With this much, I can buy everything I need for the next phase of the journey,’ Agares thought.

After receiving payment, Agares tossed the five boss cores to La, who caught them eagerly. His smile returned.

"Thanks. You just saved this dungeon’s balance."

"Forget it. Show me what you have for sale."

La nodded. Unlike Li, who relied on digital inventory, La walked over to his cart and pressed a button. In an instant, it transformed into a proper knight’s equipment shop.

Agares stared in shock. His eyes widened at yet another weird thing happening before him. Still, in this magic world, that was to be expected.

’Logic and common sense are useless inside a dungeon.’

"Welcome to La’s Blacksmith Shop."

Not only had the stall transformed, but La’s appearance changed too. He now wore black pants, a black shirt with a vest, and a bandana on his head that gave him a unique vibe.

"What do you want to buy? Go ahead, take a look."

Agares stepped inside and saw rows of neatly displayed swords and other weapons. His attention shifted to three full armor sets made of iron. La approached.

"Looking for armor?"

"That type doesn’t suit me. Too stiff and limits my movements."

"Hmm. So what kind of armor are you after?" La asked.

"Flexible, easy to wear, strong, and has a buff."

"Hah... You’re asking for too much."

La went back inside to search. After about ten minutes, he returned with a mannequin wearing dark maroon armor—distinctly different from ordinary iron sets.

"What’s it made of?"

"Magma Fire Core. Gives you defense and fire affinity true damage."

"But my affinity is darkness."

La froze, noticing the Shadepiercer at Agares’s waist. Right—its aura, and Agares’s, clearly marked him as a dark-affinity saber.

"In that case, I think I have one more thing."

He dashed back in and rummaged through more items. Soon, he returned with a black armor lined with golden patterns.

"This is the only dark-affinity armor I’ve got."

"What’s it called?" Agares asked.

"Velkarion Shroud. High-tier armor, tier four. Comes with buffs."

Agares ran his hands over the armor, his gaze locked on it. It practically called to him. As soon as he touched it, a system panel appeared.

[Item: Velkarion Shroud]

[Tier: Four]

[Durability: 1800/1800]

[Desc: Armor forged from Abyssal Steel and Volcanic Ash of the Ancient Mount Athanor, condensed into a black gem. Has dark affinity and suits demon races.]

[Buff: Increase Dark Affinity Power by 10% || Magic Resistance by 15% || Detection Resistance by 25%]

[Debuff: Reduce Accuracy -15% || Reduce AGI -10%]

Agares took in the buffs and debuffs. Again, like with his sword, his agility took a hit. But thankfully, Shadepiercer’s buffs helped balance that out.

’Hopefully this armor works the same way in battle.’

"How much?" he asked.

"Since it’s tier four, I’m pricing it at 400 monster cores."

"And the discount?"

"Of course. With the 15% off, it’ll be 340 monster cores."

"Sounds fair."

Agares handed over a black pouch with exactly 340 monster cores. La confirmed the count without even touching them.

"Exact amount."

Agares nodded. He tapped his chest twice, and his light armor detached, floating in front of him.

To equip the new one, he tapped twice again. A black aura flashed as the Velkarion Shroud fitted itself onto his body.

It felt heavier—but worth it for the tier and buffs.

"You wear it well."

"Wait! I’ve got something else for you."

La soon returned with a full outfit: a black military-style uniform trimmed with white and a long cloak that reached Agares’s calves.

"How much?" Agares asked.

"That one... it’s free."

Agares narrowed his eyes. It felt odd for La to offer something for free. Suspicious.

"Tell me what you want."

"It’s nothing big. If you ever get another boss monster core, please sell it to the dungeon merchant. I’m begging you."

"I’ll sell all of them—except dark-affinity boss cores. I need those."

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