Stacking My Abilities

"Hey." Jeff smiled and nodded. "Got to say, this is the perfect weather for fruit collection."

"Yes! Good luck is with us today!" Making thumping noises, the bard jogged up the platform. 

"Mind if I take a seat?" The bard asked with a pleasant smile. 

"Yeah, of course, go ahead." Jeff nodded. 

"Tako Balls huh." The bard casually dropped his green hat onto the table. 

"Yep. Want some?" Jeff offered. 

"No thanks." The bard waved his hand. "But, you do look pretty bored right now. If you have a nice drink, I have a nice story. Or, if you have a nice story, I've got a nice drink. How bout it?"

"How bard of you." Jeff chuckled. 

"Well. Got to keep the tradition going." The bard chuckled as well. 

Jeff blinked a few times in thought. 

Well... As a beginner, Jeff did need more information about this adventuring trade. Jeff had done some homework beforehand. However, that's mostly outsider information. Only experienced insiders knew the detailed trade rules. 

'Since I'm planning to work alone for now, where else could I get this information?'

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'Bards are basically info brokers right?' Jeff made a decision in his mind. 

Raising a hand, Jeff popped an one-cubic-meters metal container onto the floor. 

Yeah... Inventory slots could only store identical items. So, if you had a bunch of random stuff to carry around, what do you do? 

The answer: Throw them into a container. Then pop the container into your inventory. 

This was the norm nowadays. As a result, the bard didn't look surprised at all at the appearance of the container. 

Jeff lifted opened the lid. This container was mainly for foods and cookware. Pots. Cups. Butter. Flour. Oatmeal. Salt and pepper. Fire crystals. It's basically a small portable kitchen here. 

One cubic meters doesn't sound like it's a lot. However, the trunk space of a mid-sized SUV was about this size. 

Wearing an awkward smile, Jeff hesitantly pulled out 2 bottles of rice wine. 

Seeing the bottles, the bard's smile froze. 

"Seriously now... This is the cheapest rice wine out there right? 3 bottles for 1 bling?" The bard sounded disappointed. 

Jeff's cheek twitched a little. It's 5 bottles for 1 Bling actually. There was a sale. 

Well, it's worth a try. Wearing an apologetic look, Jeff put back the rice wine. Looking at the bard with squinting eyes, Jeff ticked his tongue. 

Taking in a deep breath, Jeff gritted his teeth. 

Seeing Jeff's constipated (indecisive) look, the bard's eyes lit up in anticipation. 

"Alright. Alright." Jeff sighed. 

"I don't have much of this either. Your story better be good." Jeff carefully pulled out a metal canteen. 

"Of course." The bard confidently nodded. 

Jeff took out two shot glasses. 

Before the bard could complain about the size of these cups, Jeff opened the canteen lid. 

Instantly, a rich alcohol smell filled the air. It's a strong! But there's also a pleasant and sweet undertone to it. 

The bard took in a deep breath. Squinting his eyes, the bard seemed to be drunk by the smell. 

Squinting his eyes, steadying his hands, Jeff poured the clear oak-brown liquid into the shot glasses. 

Watching Jeff in silence, the bard gulped. 

"I usually drink in sips." Jeff slowly pushed a shot glass over the table. 

"But today. I feel like celebrating." Jeff downed the shot in one gulp. Feeling the burning liquid slipping down his throat, Jeff slowly breathed out. The warm feeling was starting to expand around his chest now. 

'When was the last time I drank lavishly like this?' Jeff felt like he'd been hit by a wave of nostalgia. 'Three years already huh...'

Seeing Jeff's way of drinking, the bard's eyes flared up with a competitive spirit. Bringing the shot glass to his nose, the bard took in another deep breath. Without further hesitation, the dude downed the shot as well. 

"Ough ough." The bard coughed and patted the table. 

Leaning back, the bard took in a deep breath. "WOOOOOOH!"

"Tsssss... Ahhh!" The bard shook his head. "Man!"

After calming down, the bard looked at Jeff with an examining look now. 

After looking around with an alert gaze, the bard leaned closer to Jeff. 

"Strong drinks like this are certainly beyond commoner level. It's at least noble level. No. Maybe even royal level." The bard whispered. The dude seemed rather excited right now. 

"Did you make it yourself?" The bard asked with beaming eyes. "You can make a lot of Blings by just selling this drink to nobles. I got connections if you need it." 

Jeff quickly waved his hands. 

"You are overestimating me." Jeff shook his head. "I wish I'm capable of brewing drinks like this. But no. I got this through connections as well."

PAUSE: In reality, no, Jeff had no connections in this world. 

He brewed this classic beverage himself. As a poor college student studying general science, and a member of the brewing club, Jeff had some experience with homemade whiskey. 

Prior to this, Jeff already knew that if he'd sold this drink to the nobles, he could earn a big profit. 

However, when nobles got involved, sage-tiers would possibly get involved as well. 

Before, being a weak early-tier, Jeff didn't want to deal with sage-tiers. It's just too risky. 

Jeff preferred to be cautious in this foreign world. After all, it's not like he had wealthy or powerful connections here. Jeff could only rely on himself. 

Jeff wasn't sure whose cake he'd be touching by entering this market. He wasn't interested in finding out either. 

'But now, I'm a late-tier with stacked abilities already.' Jeff shook his head as if he's disappointed in himself. 'I can take some risks and test the waters now. Let's see what happens after I pull out this drink.'

One step at a time. No need to go all-in at the beginning. 

'Based on the response I see, I'll decide whether to reveal my brewing capabilities or not.'

The bard looked at Jeff up and down. Seeing Jeff's cheap outfit, the bard nodded at Jeff's claims. 

"What's it called?" The bard comfortably leaned back against his chair. 

"It's call it..." Jeff squinted. "Whiskey."

"Whiskey..." The bard nodded. This guy was still enjoying the drink, savoring this moment. 

"Erhm..." The bard cleared his throat and shook his head. He was getting in state for storytelling.