"I see that you are eager to learn herbology young lad. I'm surprised when I watched you extracting the herb, such a great concentration. Well, you have done it. Now you're a Herbalist. Here's your Herbalist Badge and Cloak, it's proof for your status. And while wearing this it also increases your success rate, so don't hesitate and wear it proudly."

  I skipped the skill description and immediately wore the cloak and the badge. It's stylish and comfortable. My appearance now looks great with the badge attached to my left chest, and the dark green cloak with a plant-like logo covered my back.

  Trainer Flask didn't stop with just that, he then said with a new golden question mark on top of his head.

  "You have what it needs to become Herbalist. But a craftsman who produces nothing can't be considered as a full-fledged craftsman. Bring me 20 HP, MP, and SP Potion you made yourself in three days, and I'll teach you my secret recipe for making medicine. Ah, and I will take back your qualification to become Herbalist if you don't finish it until the time limit."

  Another forced quest. But three days... do I have an appointment tomorrow? Well heck, even if I have, I'll just skip that and focus on this quest. If not then I'll be wasting time doing that Job Change Quest.

  And there was that quest to find bandit hideouts. It doesn't have a time limit, but if I want to reap more benefits, then I have to finish it this week. It's double experience and loots, I won't miss it.

  However, the Production Job is weak and fragile. They didn't have any combat-related skill and just useless in battle. I have to think of a way to overcome this weakness.

  Most people who choose the Production Job will level the Job until level 5 and then choose the second Job. But that's taking too much time for me. I need 3 million Exp Point just to level up Herbalist to level 2. And every time it leveled up, the necessary Exp Point will rise exponentially. I don't have the time or knowing the way for producing such an amount of Exp Point.

  But can I learn combat-related skill even with this? Well, it's not too late to ask before I got lost.

  "Mr. Flask, may I ask you something?"

  "What is troubling you young lad?"

  "Do Herbalists have a special combat-related skill?"

  "Hoooh ..., why do you want to learn such skill? You know that herbalist's main goal is to produce the ultimate elixir, so why the fighting?"

  "It's for self-defense. The forest is infested with monsters and there's no safe place in the world now. If I want to keep my life intact when exploring dangerous regions, I think I need to learn a skill or two."

  Trainer Flask nodded and said.

  "Smart reasoning, well, with that mindset, I think you could survive with your own. If you want to learn the combat skill of this Job, then you need staff. A herbalist staff is not like holy staves the Priest use, it looks like this walking stick. I'll teach you if you bought one."

  "Okay then, how much?"

  "Hmmm ...?" The old man tilted his head.

  "Mr. Flask, you sell it right? The walking sti- I mean Herbalist Staff?"

  "I do have it. You want to buy it from me?"

  "Yes. how much for the cheapest one."

  "Well ..., I want to recommend you to one of the best woodworkers in the city, but if you can't wait for it, then there's nothing I can do. This is the worst staff I had, the price is ... 500 Bronze coins."

  [It is said that powerful magicians have used this staff. However, now it's condition is very bad.]

  If I'm remembering it correctly, 10 Bronze Coin worth one Gold Coin. I took the Pouch of Saving and withdrew 5 gold coins. When I give him the coins, he frowned and said with a slightly trembling voice.

  "To not negotiate first and pay it upfront, you ..., don't you know the rule of trading?"

  "I ..., is it wrong?"

  "Of course it does! You even don't compare the prices with the much better staff I have! Here, look at this, this staff here has twice the performance of this staff, but the price is only 560 Bronze coins! You, why are you like this!" Trainer Flask showed me a frustrated expression, his tone seems caring and worried for me.

  I compared the two staff and as he said, the later will greatly increase stats twice the amount of the former.

  "I don't know about that, and from the beginning why did you show me the worst product when you had a better one with almost the same price?"

  "It's trade! Of course, I want to reap more benefits when I'm trading!" He shouted feeling infuriated.

  "I ..., I'm sorry."

  "Tsk, I don't know how you deal with the merchant, but lad, the first thing you have to keep in mind is to negotiate with them. What will happen if they deceive you? Now that I remember it, what did you buy in the market?"

  "... these two herbs." I handed the two herbs I bought from Annette.

  "And how much did you spend on it?"

  "400."

  "in silver?"

  "No ..., 400 gold ..." I lowered my voice.

  "F*k it, boy! You've been tricked!" He once again shouted. We have attracted players and NPCs' attention because of him. I lowered my head because I felt need to do it.

  He began teaching me about the importance of negotiating. And for some reason, I learned the passive skill [Bargaining] after listened to his explanation. Well, it's not bad to learn a thing or two. I learned about the true price of the herbs I bought from Annette. It's only 120 silver, or if it converted into gold, it will be 60 gold coins. She's tricked me for sure, to made me pay six-time the normal price. But, let's be positive, I also enjoy the time watching that busty unrealistic big-breast. Let's assume that 340 gold is the fee for watching her breast.

  In the end, I bought the most expensive staff. Here are the details.

  After being preached about the importance of negotiation, I then applied it when buying this staff. I negotiated until I lowered its price to 782 Bronze from 940 Bronze. Not a bad deal and Trainer Flask also satisfied with the result of this negotiation.

  He then teaches me the skill.

  After learning the skill, here is what my status window looks like.

  Name: Zaki Level: 1 (213.024/3.000.000) Job: Herbalist

  > Unequipped: Novice(10)

  Title: -

  > Unequipped: Explorer

  Health: 390/390 | Magic: 485/485 | Stamina: 440/440 H. Reg: 1.5/hrs | M. Reg: 1.9/hrs | S. Reg: 2.0/hrs

  ATK: 8(+42) | M. ATK: 11(+29) | DEF : 7(+13) | M. RES: 8(+6) | SPD: 10(+1)

  STR: 26 (+5) | CON: 26 (+1) | DEX: 26 (+15) INT: 25 (+19) | WIS: 25 (+8) | CHM: 15 | LUK: 15 Stat Point: 0

  Skill: Herb Collecting(II), Herb Identification, Brewing, Synthesize, Transmute, Staff Mastery, Nature Magic, Bargaining. Skill Point: 15

  Equipment: Head: - Outerwear: Herbalist Cloak (DEX +5, DEF + 8) Innerwear: Padded Cloth Armor (CON+1, DEF +5) Arm: Shabirun Army Bracer (STR+5, ATK+2) Main: Emerald Cane (ATK: 40, M.ATK +25, INT +15) Secondary: - Waist: Blue Coarse Trouser (M.RES+3) Leg: Shabirun Army Leather Boots (SPD +1) Accessories: Aqua Urania (M.ATK +4, M.RES +3, INT +4, WIS +3), Herbalist Badge (DEX +10, WIS + 5)

  With this, I feel like I can get back to Hinnan Woods and challenge the bandit. My stats are greatly enhanced, and I get better weapon. I went to the city plaza. A place filled with player shouting and trading. This atmosphere feels like a free market.

  Fortunately, there are no foreign players chasing me. I still did not know what they were aiming for. Is it because of my Explorer title? Huh, I can't understand what they are thinking.

  I walked to the armor shop to buy equipment. While doing so, I type an invitation to the City Chat Room.