Chapter Four:

The Kaira Star Crystal


His eyes were fixed on the gleaming magic charm on display for a long minute, then he decided to go inside to chat with the salesman in charge of the store. Makerboy walked to the front door and pressed his hands hard against the handle, the door opened and he entered the jewelry store as many sparkling items caught his eye.

The green-haired Inkling had been to this place before, to buy one of these gleaming beauties for the women he'd been dating. But right now, he had to talk to someone about the price of the Nectaria Crystal Charm. It couldn't be super expensive, right?

Makerboy walked to the front desk, and tapped the bell. A ring filled the store, but nothing seemed to happen. He tapped the bell again, making another ringing noise. Something thumped, and someone grunted with annoyance, it seemed to be coming from the back room.

DING-DING! Makerboy dinged the bell with annoyance, trying to get the store manager's attention.

"Okay, okay! Cut it out!"

The store manager finally emerged from the back room, wearing a straw hat, and Makerboy was surprised to see who it was. Aziz Mariz, the ice cream man from Port Aurora, was in charge. This was unexpected, but Makerboy had seen him sell chili at the Spicy Man Festival and he'd done some hat sales, perhaps Aziz running this place wasn't too odd.

Aziz looked at the green Inkling waiting for him and his face lit up with slight surprise, perhaps some recognition. "Makerboy!" He cried, "How may I be of assistance today?"

"Hey, Aziz." Makerboy shook Aziz's hand, "I see the Necteria Crystal Charm on display, was thinking about getting a gift for my girlfriend Saiko, how much for it?"

Aziz chuckled, "Ah, the Necteria Crystal Charm. You want it? It's all yours, Makerboy. It'll only cost you, twenty-thousand dollars."

Makerboy's eyes widened with shock. Was this a scam? He didn't have that much money!

"Ah crap." He groaned.

"What?" Aziz asked.

"I... I don't have enough money, Mr. Aziz." Makerboy said as he brought out his phone to inspect how much money he had, "If my budget count is correct, I'm... shoot... five-thousand dollars short, I only have fifteen-thousand dollars. Shoot! There's gotta be a way to get just enough money for that."

Aziz giggled. "Interesting... I suppose I can assist you with getting that money. Have you heard of the Kaira Star Crystal?"

Makerboy looked at him, "What's that?"

Aziz grinned madly. "I'm glad you asked, Makerboy." He said, he pulled out a phone and showed Makerboy a large pentagon-shaped crystal that glowed a shade of orange-red. Makerboy looked at the image and he almost drooled, that gemstone looked so gorgeous.

"The Kaira Star Crystal is a gemstone that was found in a meteor that crashed in the ocean recently..." Aziz explained, "It was found while pieces of the meteor were being salvaged, then it was placed inside the Vilron-Phrisk Vault in the mountains not too far from Inkopolis."

"Interesting." Makerboy quipped, "What's the catch?"

"My friend..." Aziz chuckled, "If you got that crystal and sold it to a pawn shop, you'd get a lot of money, perhaps just enough to buy that charm you want. And I am the only store manager who will EVER give you such advice, k?"

"But if I'm gonna get the crystal..." Makerboy scratched his chin, "I'm gonna have to break into the vault. Of course, that's gonna be hard, and I don't want to get busted and arrested for the break-in. Looks like I'm going to have to make plans and ask people for assistance."

Aziz pat Makerboy on the arm. "Good luck, my friend." He said encouragingly, "I'll take care of the Nectaria Crystal Charm until you return with the amount of money. Go get that crystal, make your girlfriend happy..."

Makerboy smiled confidently, then he walked out of the shop. As the green Inkling departed, Aziz smiled evilly; "Yes, sell it to the pawn shop, so I can buy it to sell it to her. It'll be quite the investment, and she's going to love what's on display the next time she comes to this place. Oh, money and jewelry go together so well."

He laughed maniacally, then Makerboy stepped back into the shop. "Did you say something, Mr. Aziz?" He asked.

Aziz chuckled nervously and told the Inkling that he didn't say anything, then Makerboy departed the shop once more and Aziz rubbed his hands in a sinister manner. And, unbeknownst to him, someone was watching from the shadows in the air vents...