"No?" Jin repeated while narrowing his eyes in displeasure.
The Goblin remained indifferent upon noticing the hostile atmosphere around its client but decided to clarify things.
After all, it would be a shame for a misunderstanding to arise over something trivial.
"My refusal isn't without reason, my dear friend," it began while staring into the eyes behind Jin's glasses.
"The problem is the law of supply and demand, but also the great versatility of the product you're seeking," it declared while shrugging.
The message was clear to Jin and Tsubaki after the green shikigami's explanation.
Jin truly needed an intellectual subordinate who could compensate for some of his shortcomings.
That was something Tsubaki was incapable of accomplishing.
As for little Nayuta, the cursed corpse sorely lacked experience to perfectly fill that role.
He had to address this weakness.
Thus, the Causal Market had taken this element into account when evaluating the value of Kiyotaka Ayanokōji for the bespectacled sorcerer.
'So my power isn't meant to make things easier for me,' he thought while analyzing the new information the Goblin had provided.
If he insisted on obtaining Ayanokōji, Jin risked paying far beyond the real price the product was actually worth.
He had to change targets but keep his objectives in mind.
"I understand your situation better now," he said while nodding toward the Goblin.
The latter sketched a slight delighted smile after hearing Jin's words.
"Master, what are we going to do?" Tsubaki asked after noticing her owner's contemplative state.
Jin remained silent for a moment.
Tsubaki's question was relevant because he hadn't actually anticipated that the value of the perfect man would increase so much.
Because of this unforeseen issue, Jin had to think further.
"Tell me, can I give criteria to obtain a loyal and intelligent subordinate while leaving the rest to chance? I also add that the subject's value must be equal to Jiro's or lower," Jin proposed without hiding the amused look on his face.
A zero-loss gacha.
It was the only idea Jin had found to bypass the law of supply and demand of the Domain Expansion: Causal Market.
Why? Quite simply because Jin annihilates the rarity of the product he seeks while obtaining a similar element.
In theory, Jin could lose a little.
The curse user could end up with a product meeting his criteria but having a value lower than Jiro's.
However, he would certainly be the winner in the long term.
This path is better than lowering his standards to obtain a less intelligent individual, when Jiro can already offer him more.
'Normally, it's impossible for me to hide information from the Goblins unless I apply vows to my domain. However, by turning the transaction into a lottery, I make the rarity of a product null because I force the market to offer me an unknown substitution to myself,' he thought while sketching a smile.
The lottery broadened the possible offers for Jin while avoiding total price control by the Causal Market.
In the end, no one would really lose in the story.
"Hahaha, splendid~" the Goblin laughed after hearing Jin's proposal.
It held its belly while laughing for a good ten minutes before wiping away a fake tear.
"Indeed, you can access the 'lottery' option. But I don't think you're the naturally lucky type," the entity mocked a little.
Indeed, Jin's worst stat, aside from intelligence, is probably luck.
Perhaps it's an inheritance from the former Jin, or even from Claud, but Jin has a ridiculously low luck stat.
"Whatever, launch the lottery," he said while taking a seat in a more comfortable spot than in front of the Goblin's stall.
The shikigami frowned at Jin but complied. Even though it mocked him, it understood the essence of this lottery well.
'If he gets lucky, then this guy will indeed get a subordinate worth Jiro without paying above the real value of the product,' it thought while analyzing Jin's choice.
Its VIP client's idea was ingenious, but the Goblin didn't appreciate being blind during a negotiation with the other party.
As a being possessing varied knowledge thanks to Jin as a base, it couldn't know something Jin ignored nor the unknowns in the domain expansion.
This limitation made the Goblin omniscient in Jin's domain but also ignorant on many aspects.
Thus, it couldn't know whether Jin would obtain something equal to Jiro's value or lower.
"There are several names in this box, my dear friend. And as you already suspect, each corresponds to your criteria, so don't hesitate to draw," it explained while handing him the box.
Jin stared at the container for a moment. He reached toward it before stopping halfway.
"Problem?" the Goblin asked in a confused tone.
"I just remembered my hand is numb. Tsubaki will do the draw in my place," Jin declared without the slightest shame.
"What?! That's not fair!" the Goblin quickly complained after hearing its client's words.
It was aware of Jin's appallingly low luck stat, but it knew nothing about Tsubaki.
The Goblin doesn't like the unknown.
And right now, it was swimming in it.
"Yet I've never heard of a place where a third party is forbidden from playing for a player, right? Do you want to be 'unfair'?" Jin asked while narrowing his eyes.
At the question from the causal market's client, the activities around Jin and Tsubaki stopped.
The creatures going about their business fixed their gaze on the Goblin, who began to break out in a cold sweat on its hideous face.
"G-go ahead," it said in a low voice.
"Master…" Tsubaki called in a nervous tone after understanding the weight now resting on her small shoulders.
"Don't worry, no matter the draw. I take full responsibility," he replied before patting her head to reassure her.
Tsubaki's stiff body relaxed under her master's caress, then she nodded toward him with a determined air.
"I'll do my best," she said while heading toward the Goblin's box.
She spent a moment rummaging inside the contents.
With each passing second, Jin and the Goblin clenched their fists a little tighter while watching the scene.
Anything could come out of this box.
The only conditions were the human aspect of the target, but also their intelligence.
The last factor was the most worrying.
"There are various types of intelligence beyond the academic one," he thought while seeing Tsubaki's hand emerge from the box with a piece of paper.
Jin didn't want a character with emotional intelligence or only academic intelligence, but the strategic type.
At best, a versatile character.
"So, young lady? Aren't you going to announce your draw?!" the green merchant urged.
Tsubaki jumped a little at the Goblin's exclamation but decided to proceed by unfolding the paper to read the inscriptions.
"Choi Dong Soo…" she said slowly.
(Image)
It was a Korean name.
"Jackpot," Jin said while looking toward the Goblin.
***
Author's note: I owe you more bonuses, guys!!
But also, the protagonist's money problems are now settled~