Robb spoke softly as he set the bottle back on the table, his tone calm yet polite:
"Real Moonshadow Bat Heart Ash shouldn't be this color. It should be closer to silver, with a faint blue glow under light—especially when the bottle is gently shaken. Most importantly, genuine ash has a distinctive magical pulse. You can sense it even through the container."
A flicker of surprise crossed Otto's eyes before it turned into approval. A subtle smirk curled beneath his beard.
"Good eye! This is indeed a counterfeit. I was just testing your level of expertise."
He reclaimed the bottle, his voice carrying a note of appreciation:
"In our line of work, knowing how to spot fakes is a basic survival skill."
He reached deeper into the box and pulled out a more ornate vial.
This one was clearly far more valuable—etched with intricate runes and sealed with silver thread. It had a ceremonial quality to it.
This time, he didn't speak at all—just handed the vial to Robb with a look that made the challenge unmistakable.
Robb accepted it again. This powder had a delicate silver-blue shimmer, its texture finer, as if moonlight had been captured and ground into dust.
Carefully removing the stopper, he took a light sniff. A subtle coolness spread from his nose through his entire body.
His heightened spiritual sense confirmed it—this was genuine Moonshadow Bat Heart Ash, and of excellent quality.
The telltale magical resonance matched perfectly with the descriptions he had read in old texts.
[Accurate Identification! Herb Identification +2 EXP]
"This is authentic. And high-grade too," Robb nodded confidently. "The magical energy signature is distinct. This likely came from a healthy, adult Moonshadow Bat, and the extraction process was expertly handled."
"I knew it!" Otto grinned broadly, his thick beard quivering with the motion. "No wonder Lady Elena picked you as her assistant—you've got a sharp eye. That's a rare gift in this trade."
Noticing Robb's guarded expression, Otto waved his hand dismissively:
"Relax, kid. You hear things when you've been in this business long enough. Lady Elena's shop is legendary in the Black Mist Forest. Her new assistant was bound to attract attention. Especially when…"
He gave Robb a pointed look
"…that assistant shows unusually strong talent."
"But don't get cocky just yet," Otto added, his eyes narrowing. "Spotting a fake or two isn't enough to prove your skill."
Leaning forward slightly, he rubbed his beard.
"The next item I'll show you is a bit trickier. Let's see if you're the real deal."
Otto reached deeper into the wooden box and pulled out a flat tin container, coated with a thin layer of copper patina. It looked old.
Carefully, he opened the lid, revealing a clump of mossy green fibers, shimmering faintly under the light.
"This is supposedly 'Crystalline Moss'—at least, that's how my supplier labeled it."
He slid the box across the table.
"It's rare on the market. I'm curious to see how much you really know."
Robb frowned slightly.
He had read about Crystalline Moss in Lady Elena's research notes, but had never seen a real sample.
Authentic Crystalline Moss should be a dark emerald green and emit crystalline glimmers when viewed from different angles.
More importantly, it had a unique effect on spiritforce—it would "pull" on the observer's focus, almost as if it was subtly calling to them.
Robb gently touched the green substance with his fingertip, testing its texture and magical feedback.
It was soft—too soft. It lacked the subtle hardness of real crystal moss. It felt more like dyed common moss.
And rather than attracting his spiritual attention, it created a faint repellent sensation.
"I'm afraid this one's also a fake," Robb said carefully. "Real Crystalline Moss has a unique crystal structure. Under light, it should show prism-like refractions. And more importantly, it has a distinct resonance with spirit energy—almost like it tries to draw you in. This sample lacks all of that. It's likely ordinary moss treated to imitate the real thing."
Otto's eyes went wide. His thick brows nearly shot to his forehead.
"Seven hells, I'll be damned! You saw through even this one!"
He slapped his knee with a hearty laugh.
"It's a fake, alright. At least half the Crystalline Moss on the market is just like this. But very few people can spot the difference at a glance."
Off to the side, Andrey stood stunned. He had never realized just how deep Robb's alchemical knowledge ran.
Otto gave an approving nod, his beard parting to reveal a sincere smile:
"You've passed, kid. I recognize your ability now. You've got rare talent—and Lady Elena definitely didn't pick wrong."
"Then let's talk price," Robb said, getting straight to business. The test was over—it was time for real negotiation.
"For you? Ten magic stone fragments," Otto said, holding up five stubby fingers, then five more from the other hand.
"That's a special friend price. Normally I'd ask for fifteen."
Robb frowned slightly. It was still expensive—more than he'd prefer to spend, even with his modest savings.
He glanced at the pile of materials they'd just reviewed—and suddenly had an idea.
"Mind if I make a small request?" he said calmly, his tone clearly negotiating.
"If I help you identify some of your other stock, could that earn me a bigger discount? I've already proven my value."
Otto's eyes sparkled, and a wily grin crept across his face.
"Smart suggestion. You've got a head for bargaining too."
Rubbing his beard, he thought for a moment.
"That's actually a pretty common deal in the black market—skills for savings."
The dwarf tapped his thick fingers against the table, thinking quickly.
"Alright, here's the offer: help me identify ten items, and I'll give you a 20% discount. Deal?"
Robb smiled.
"Deal. But just so we're clear—I call it like I see it. If a material's low-quality, I'll say so outright."
"Of course!" Otto replied without hesitation, beaming. "Honest evaluations are more useful to me anyway. I need to know what my stock is really worth—not hear flattering lies."