Ix sat up from the bed, which rattled the flimsy table which was its base. He opened his shirt and moved his hand for a moment, pulling out a bag. He opened the bag and took out a few small pieces of plastic.
“Legal tender. Not traceable to any source.”
The eyes of the old man widen together with his smile. “How much is it worth?”
“Each one has a different value. In total, close 103,” said Ix.
The old man’s hands slowly trembled towards the plastic. Ix gently closed the bag and said, “So, can I get it all?”
This broke the man’s trance. He composed himself.
“Yes. You could, and some of the best, but I don’t recommended. You should pick only two at the most. Too many traits can do strange things to you. Most people are not able to handle it. Many have died when they tried to get them at the same time.”
“You would get paid the same, father. Why would you care?”
“I care because I don’t want to get in trouble with the government. Too many deaths bring too much attention.”
“And what stops me from going to another tent?”
“Nothing if the fear of incompatible chips won’t stop you.”
“I can get eight traits with that money.”
“Five.”
“No, eight, and high quality ones too.”
“We could make it six… Wait, I won’t give you so many trait enhancers. I told you, it is dangerous. They won’t give you those many at the labs themselves. Two is the most that you can get.”
Ix started playing with the plastic cards, dropping them as if they were a stream of sand. The old man gulped.
“Are you sure?”
“…I could … give you three. But not one more!”
Ix smiled was a wide as his face. Then he said deliberately, “I want enhanced strength, intelligence, and charisma. Give me the best stuff that you got.”
The old man then rolled up the boxes in the cloths again, and put them aside. He waddled to another corner and got another cloth bundled. He unraveled it with great ceremony and care, and showed the chips to Ix. Ix studied it carefully.
“Mister, I said I wanted the best. You know very well that this is a worse lot than what you first showed me.”
The old shook, and quickly rolled up this bundled, this time without care. He then walked to the door and called out for someone. He mumbled a few words, and then came back to Ix. He patted him on the shoulder.
“It is going to take a while, son. I don’t keep that merchandise here. It is not safe.”
“Of course it wouldn’t. The market is filled with thieves.”
The old man nodded. “That is right. The market is not what it used to be. At one point most merchants were honest, but little by little the good ones died away. Now most are out there to cheat you.”
The old man looked at Ix. They both smiled.
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