VRMMO: World's First Glyphborne-Chapter 46: Cut Throat Business

After a few more slices of prime bear meat had been sliced off and portioned out, Belladonna raised her head from her work. A lot of raised voices were coming from the front of the Butchers shop, with a lot of language that suggested these voices belonged to Players and that they were getting very annoyed.

Knowing how murderous some players could get when they got angry with NPCs, Belladonna let out a sigh and headed to the front.

She was immediately assaulted with the sight of dozens of players filling the shop front, to the point that they were spilling out of the door and onto the street, as they badgered the Butcher to buy the new meat on the market.

Considering the horde she was facing, the Butcher was handling it very well. She was larger than most here and judging by a few who were sporting bruises or cuts, she had already gave them a satisfactory warning. But that would only add fuel to their irritation instead.

It was only a problem because she didn’t actually have the meat yet. Both that it wasn’t prepared, and she hadn’t bought it. She would have to take some time to get the money together for that much meat, and even then it would be a stretch. This stuff was expensive for a reason, although it’s price might change with these Graceless hunting them more often.

"Listen lady, we know you have it! We saw the girl bring it in here to sell. Just sell it to us. Stop being greedy!" Shouted a Hellion in the front, his hand tightening around a knife that he pointed at the Butcher.

The crowd cheered out in a chorus of agreements. The Butchers brow deepened as she glared at the knife. Her mouth opened to speak, but before she could Belladonna’s voice cut across the crowd.

"She can’t give it to you, because I haven’t sold it to her yet idiot."

All eyes turned to Belladonna as she stood in the doorway, blood coating her hands and the apron that she wore, while she idly twirled the cleaver in her hands.

"I mean you’ve been in this game for how long and you still haven’t figured out that everything isn’t instant? It needs to be cut, portioned, prepared and sold. Only then can idiots like you get it. Heh, I bet you are the type that goes to the stores two minutes before closing and expects to be able to browse for as long as you want."

The Helion, who had named his character ’HornDog’, blushed deeply as she called him out, before anger flushed his face. He turned his knife on her, pushing his way through the crowds, so they were face to face.

He jabbed his knife at her, a smirk on his face as if he had figured out a secret loophole in it all.

"Fine then, you sell it to us."

"The price is 16 Regil per slice."

"16?! Don’t be absurd, I went to the auction house a few days ago and the biggest I saw was 12. Don’t think we’re stupid enough to let you scam us!"

Belladonna raised her eyebrow at the mention of an action house and noted that for later, before scoffing and shrugging without a care.

"Fine then, go there and buy some if you don’t like it. My price is final."

The redness of ’HornDogs’ face grew even darker as he shook with impotent rage. He could feel the gaze of the others behind him, watching and judging him. If it was as easy as she said to get it, he would have just gone the auction house and bought some.

But it sold out as fast as it went up, and he desperately needed it to develop his source. Every single coin that he had spent days grinding for would be spent on just this one slice.

Fidgeting with the knife in his hands, another smirk danced across his lips.

"Nah... How about I just go past you and take some for myself. It’s back there, right? So why don’t you just step aside and-"

Blood sprayed across the faces of the crowd members nearest to him. They’re faces froze on the sinister smiles they had gained when they heard his plan, before slowly melting into an expression of shock and confusion.

They couldn’t even see her move. One moment she was just standing there, the next she had slit his throat with the butchers knife. He barely even had a chance to choke before his body collapsed to the floor and blood oozed around Belladonna’s feet.

With a cold glint in her eyes, she scanned the rest of the crowd with a raised eyebrow. ’Who’s next?’. She didn’t even have to say the words for everyone to know that’s what the look meant. Only after a few seconds did one of them finally move, as a handsome gentleman pushed his way to the front of the crowd.

Ladiesman217 kept his head lowered with a nervous, almost submissive, smile on his face as he held out a pouch of money to the Baroness of Blood. This is what he got for having a fan meet up...

"I-I’ll take one cut please."

Belladonna broke out into her usual shark toothed smile, the one that was definitely going to haunt this mans dreams for the next few days.

"Certainly, One moment please."

She disappeared into the back for a few moments and returned with the meat slice already parcelled and prepared. It was almost as big as his head and, considering the mana density some of those with a high Perception stat could feel within the meat, they started to consider if it was actually worth the price. Perhaps even, if they were getting it at a good deal.

They happily exchanged money for meat, before Ladiesman217 hurried off as he clutched the meat to his chest like it was the most precious thing in the world.

"Now then," Belladonna said with a shark toothed smile, the body of the would be robber still laying at her feet.

"Who’s next?"