“Well, you see,” Odel touched his fingertips together, “Since there are many thieves in this part of Melchior, I never keep much Gil in my store. I must fetch it from the banker. If you choose to leave the rubies in my care, I will have the promised Gil for you here in my store in three days.”

“And how do I know you won’t just run off with my rubies or have me murdered quietly?” Renae wrinkled her brow.

“Oh, so distrustful!” Odel scoffed, “I have many more customers here in Melchior. They offer me much more valuable trinkets in exchange for Gil and the other way around. You need not worry that I will flee with your feeble rubies. However, I will happily give you an item from my store as deposit if that pleases you.”

Pressing her lips into a fine line, Renae acquiesced, “Only because Sera trusts you so much.”

She turned around and walked towards one of the shelves, “I’ll take a nicely polished set of lockpicks.”

“Then a trade has been made,” Odel nodded happily. “Is there anything else I can do for you, little lass?”

“Yes, actually, there’s this one other thing I’d like to trade with you, Odel.” Renae walked back to his table and leaned forward, “This stays between the two of us, understood?”

“Of course.”

“How much Gil would you give me if I brought you King Myghell’s crown jewels?” she whispered carefully. Odel’s eyes widened and a small smirk formed across his lips.

“Oh my, little lass, I did not think you were so reckless,” he said as he rubbed his long beard, “but if you returned to my shop in three days’ time, alive and with King Myghell’s real crown jewels, I would give you 4.980 Gil for the rubies, subtracting the price of the lockpicks. As I sell the jewels, you will receive 2.750.000 Gil over time, but I can give you 100.000 ahead of time.”

“Good lord, that’s more money than we could earn in a lifetime!”

“Sounds like a deal, Odel,” Renae fastened her hair in a ponytail and strategically placed the lockpicks in her hair, “I’ll be going now. See you in three days.”

“Farewell, little lass,” he responded with soft eyes and a smile.

Flashing him a smile, Renae grabbed her bag and pulled up her hood.