OLD-WORLD EXTRA-Chapter 135: Emir’s Emporium [Bonus chapter]

Stood in front of him was his mother, as she rushed at him, like a bull.

'Not happening.'

Knowing that Laura's actions would cause a scene, Emir said:

[Lyra, repeat previous footage in the cameras of the surrounding area for a moment, actually, make it a range of two kilometers.]

Lyra instantly followed his command, not questioning him or hesitating for a single moment. [It's done.]

Just as her voice echoed in his mind, Emir simply let out two words:

"Flash Step."

Disappearing from his position, he reappeared on top of a building, far away from his mother's devastating hug.

He watched on as Laura kept looking around everywhere, searching for him, while Lyra was chuckling to the side as if watching a comedy show.

Emir joined her in laughter while he eyed Laura's shop, just beside the sidewalk.

It was a modest two-story building nestled amidst the bustling lower district.

Its facade exuded a sense of understated elegance, with large glass windows adorning the ground floor.

These windows acted as portals, offering many a passerby a glimpse into a world of hunters. Mirrors strategically placed behind the relics further amplified their allure, reflecting rays of sunlight and casting a mesmerizing dance of light onto the sidewalk.

The exterior of the shop was unassuming, yet the treasures contained within were far from ordinary... Lyra made sure of that.

Jumping off the building, Emir landed softly and headed straight towards the shop, not even crumbling the ground beneath him as he manipulated Aether into slowing down his descent. While running, he noticed that his mother spotted him, and was now rushing towards him. Picking up the pace, he entered the shop, almost smashing through the door.

Looking around he eyed the place, mesmerized at what his mother had accomplished in such a short period of time.

The relics were carefully arranged on polished wooden display stands and were positioned in such a way that each one seemed to tell a story of its own.

Delicate vases and ornate jewelry adorned with precious gemstones caught his eye, while ancient manuscripts and crumbling parchments piqued his curiosity.

Soft lighting illuminated the space, casting a gentle glow upon the relics, giving the shop a warm and inviting ambiance.

Intricate carvings and delicate tapestries adorned the white walls, creating an atmosphere of mystery and enchantment.

The air carried a faint scent of aged parchment and incense, transporting him to a bygone era.

Each item was meticulously labeled and accompanied by a small placard providing historical context.

His eyes traced the displays, his gaze drawn to a particularly ornate sword, its hilt encrusted with gemstones that shimmered in the soft light.

He then turned his attention to the winding staircase that led to the upper floor.

Heading up, he arrived at a small room, or rather, a small gallery filled with even more relics.

Here, carefully curated exhibits showcased rare artifacts, from ancient weapons and mystical amulets to beautifully preserved augmented suits.

The air on this floor carried an almost reverent hush, as Emir silently marveled at the exquisite craftsmanship and historical significance of each piece.

Stumping him out of his reverie, his mother came in behind him, smashing into him with a hug at the strength of the highest of celestials.

Sure, while Emir was many hundred times stronger than her, he still felt like he was hit, almost as if his body was carefully nullifying his strength, afraid of hurting its nurturer.

'My god I love her,' he thought, kissing her on the forehead while hugging her back as delicately as possible.

'I guess she really missed me...'

He held her closer to him, with a smile plastered on his face.

Looking up, he watched as Lyra entered the gallery, her face the same as his.

Turning back his gaze to his mother he simply said:

"I'm home Mom."

With a sniffle, she voiced out, absolute happiness filling her every word:

"Yes, yes you are home, welcome back..."

Letting go of him after a few moments, she stepped back and said:

"I'm so, so proud of you."

Chuckling, Emir replied, "And I am of you... I must say, I love this shop's design, and you also named the company after me, I'm quite surprised."

Hitting him on the shoulder, she spoke, cheekiness pervading her voice:

"Of course, this was your idea, and it turned out great. But now I have more money that I know what to do with, we give our staff even higher pay than the average market salary, but

we still have a lot of it stacking up."

He shook his head.

"Well, we don't need to worry about that, the Order will interfere soon enough, you can even expect something to happen today, so having this much money saved up will be helpful, though it's good to see that your sense of money didn't become deranged like mine."

Lyra finally joined in the conversation, saying:

"That's fine, you're a Paladin now, normal currencies like the Union Credit would prove

useless to your goals..."

"Although we can still find a use for them now, soon the only currency that would be of use to us would be Valora, it is used throughout the entire local group after all."

Nodding his head, Emir asked, "So out of all these relics, do you have anything you saved up for me? I need a gear upgrade."

Lyra was about to speak, but Laura cut her off as she grabbed him by the arm while saying:

"Let me tell him dear, I want him to see how hard you worked for him."

Emir let Laura do as she pleased, while she continued to drag him downstairs.

"Lyra told me that augmented suits would soon be useless to you, so she focused on finding a better weapon, she also told me of your preferred weapon, being those daggers that you constantly wave around."

"But she didn't find any daggers that would fit you, though she did find something even more special... Let me show you, we've got them in the storage room."

Going behind the counter on the ground floor, she opened a small door, but just as they were about to enter the room, they heard the sound of a bell jingle, indicating that someone entered the store.

'Did mom forget to show that we were closed?' Emir thought as he looked at what he believed

to be a customer.

But then he noticed that his mother's arm flinched, telling him all that he needed to know.

Quickly stepping back from Laura, he gripped his daggers as he thought with a wild smile:

'Speak of the devil and he comes.'