Another salesman appeared.

From the crowd was another man wearing a suit, but it was an older human with a bushy black moustache. Not far behind him was a donkey pulling a wagon. He stared up at Lito from the back, and stepped up to speak. "Salesman!"

The asura spotted the merchant, and could tell his profession immediately. "Yes, sir?"

He scratched his chin. "You're a merchant and a showman. I respect that. But where's the excitement? Your assistant is beautiful, but you're never going to make it big if you don't go beyond."

This is not at all what I expected him to say. I thought he was going to be territorial, thought Lito. Though he did love making the sales, his true passion was in his showmanship, so he suddenly felt challenged. A burning, competitive feeling came.

Meanwhile, the other merchant was already set up, straight across the road. Though Lito was going to stop soon, things changed. It was war.

"Come one, come all!" the moustached man said. His voice was loud, and as he smacked the side of his wagon, something shot up into the air above him an burst into a colourful show of light. "I have all kinds of goods, and inexpensive as well! I know how difficult things can be these days. Even when you treat yourself, you shouldn't break the bank. Am I right?" He laughed.

Damn him. Was that magic? Lito thought, and clenched his teeth.

People were already turning away. What the man said before wasn't words of encouragement. They were a boast. Almost straight away he was losing nearly have his audience. It was time to turn things up.

"Wow. This guy just made sparks with his hands. Was that fire?" he heard from the crowd.

Due to his smaller size, Lito always had to do more to get attention. He was used to it. From the backpack, he pulled out what appeared to be a rifle, but was colourful, like a kid's toy. He turned it on, and it began to quietly hum. "That sun is still scorching! I haven't forgot. I have yet another limited-time offer just for this season! Other goods you can get any time of the year, but summer is special. Now watch this!"

He aimed it up, and it sprayed a stream of water up into the sky, which misted down on him and the closer customers.

"Oh but don't be mistaken," he continued. "I didn't even fill this up! It turns the moisture in the air into water inside, so you never run out, and it keeps it nice and cool. In other words, infinite water! This is the only one I have, and then it's gone forever. Somebody out there... I know you couldn't pass up such an offer, at two-hundred gold coins!"

He then turned, and sprayed a stream of water all over Alora's body. It soaked her bra and panties. Beads of moisture rolled down her bosom and every other curve of her form.

"Hey!" she called out. "You got my clothes all wet!"

She still thinks she's clothed. Of all things to complain about. That bracelet is brilliant.

"Sorry, assistant. But don't you feel cooler?"

People were already looking back at the soaking-wet beauty. It wasn't enough, however. Lito knew that.

"Weren't we just talking about how Hot it is today?" he added, and all she had left on were her undergarments.

This has to get their attention.