Chapter 94: Miner (6)
Jake bet on Saku's kindness… and won.
Saku's personality was that of a man with principles. He wouldn't break his own principles and rules.
Jake learned about him so much because Saku was vocal about himself. It was also easy to see that he was a kind man. If he wasn't, he would have coldly dealt with Jake's arrogance.
For that reason, Jake believed he could galvanize Saku's manly pride by going equal with him. The problem was that he couldn't find that perfect moment to get him.
When he received the idea to overcome that weakness—Archer's Death Eye—all puzzles fell into a picture of his victory!
Jake only had to execute his plan!
'I had to push him above the limits… and I did it…' Jake inwardly said, breathing heavily. He was sprawled on the ground, his stamina spent. He couldn't twitch a muscle. 'Once Saku's kindness would compel him to return to the limits, I would find a window of victory… all worked well! It's so satisfying!'
Adrenaline washed over Jake as he thought about his win.
It mattered a lot to him.
"I can't believe I'm so proud of ya!" Saku stood up and looked down at Jake, "I told ya not to give anyone edges… and ya forced me to give ya one! Ya planned it so well! Haha! It also means I'm free from ya!"
A lot of things turned Saku so ecstatic.
Well, he could now go mine with a relieved heart.
His wife also would tease him no more. She was right that he was lucky that he didn't have a son, but only daughters! In fact, before meeting Jake, Saku wanted to have a son more than anything, but he was now content with only having daughters.
His princesses were more than he needed!
Jake strained to stand up, "Thank you… and I also want to apologize. I shouldn't have taken so much of your time. But… I really wanted to throw you onto the ground… like I believed I'd learn something useful from it! And I did! Thank you so much for taking care of me! Please accept this."
Jake took ten gold coins from his inventory.
Saku's eyes widened in shock, and his eyeballs even stretched forward.
This player had gold coins already?!
That's so much money!
"No! No! No! Come on! I can't take your hard-earned money! The guild will pay me for teaching ya stuff, and that's enough for me!
I'll also go to mine soon, earning more than enough!" Saku refused with a kind smile.
Jake, however, was persistent about it, "Please, don't make me cause fuss again in the guild."
Saku awkwardly scratched the back of his hair, "Yeah, don't do that."
"I know how much time is worth… that's the lesson I've learned as an adult. I also have enough coins, believe me!" Jake insisted so much that Saku ended up taking ten gold coins.
He couldn't believe it until he felt each coin with his fingers and saw his gift's notifications.
Saku felt compelled to teach Jake something more because of it.
"Hey, Archer," Saku said, gathering Jake's attention.
Jake nodded, "Yes?"
Saku smiled, "Thanks! Ya seem like a good guy learning a lot about the world! Let me pass you some golden advice! An advice worth more than seven mountains!"
Jake smiled, "Sure!"
Saku hit his chest and shouted, "A real man has a savings account!"
"…" Jake blinked a few times.
Saku chuckled, "I mean it. Ya never know what will happen in the future! Ya might need additional money for your daughter's present or wedding anniversary! On a more serious note, what if your business flops? The inflation unexpectedly surprises ya? Those are just common examples!
But a good man is a man prepared! I don't wish this upon ya, but if a rainy day comes on ya and your family, I hope ya will be able to say 'It's fine' to ya beloveds! That's the moment ya will feel so much pride!"
Jake nodded, "Got it. Thank you, Saku."
"No problem!" Saku patted Jake's shoulder a few times.
Jake smiled, "My real name is Jake. Nice to meet ya!"
"Oh, Jake! A strong name! If I happen to have a son, I'll name him Jake… though I hope not…" Saku trailed off while looking away.
Jake tilted his head at him.
-
Jake would usually leave The Miner Guild in the evening.
He left so early because his victory over Saku meant he'd completed his miner lessons and could take a step forward and mine in dungeons! Saku had passed him a few ores that Jake could melt, but Jake wanted even more. He disliked the sudden feeling of lacking resources while grinding.
This feeling was comparable to his mom waking him up to school in his early teens. That was horrendous!
If Jake could, he would gather mountains of resources before each grinding.
The sun was only now going down for a rest, so Jake decided to spend the rest of his day shopping. He'd get snacks for his companions.
Medusa loved to eat dead mice. At first, she didn't want to eat with Jake looking at her, but when that barrier broke, Medusa would fill herself up with good food.
Her hissing afterward would have a tone of affection toward Jake that he'd usually miss because Medusa eating so much and in quite a scary way would take over his mind.
Snakes really could widen their jaws so wide…
Odin liked any type of meat. If it was tough, it was even better.
Wukong would eat anything Jake passed to him. A properly cooked food with a fruit drink was one of his favorites.
Aaron and Viktor would never understand how Jake could spend so much money on that little monkey.
As for Ender, the baby eagle found a liking to bird food from stores. That said, he'd also salivate toward Medusa's dead mice and snatch a few from her.
She would go mad at him and fight him to take back what was hers… but it was difficult against the baby eagle soaring in the skies.
After the shopping was done, Jake headed to Viktor's workplace.
He needed to prepare for his first dungeon expedition.
Surprisingly, Aaron was at Viktor's workplace, waiting for him.
"I heard yer going to a dungeon," Aaron stroked his beard, "Yer need a good bow, then."
Jake's eyes shone once again.