Full Immersion [for what it's worth]

Thank him politely and leave.
Or offer to test the bear-detecting necklaces.

Inquire about the compass and the bear necklace.

Maybe also ask about ways to make more coin.

I agree.

"Uh--hey, what was that about the compass?" says Louis.
"Oh! It's..this thing." He holds up what appears to be basically just a normal compass, with a few extra town-related decorations as he'd described before. "The great thing about magical compasses is, unlike the conventional sort, they don't go all haywire when someone's using electrical magic or the like. I guess you could sabatoge one with meta-magic, but it'd have to be intentional, I think. Do you want one?"
"That..might depend on how much it costs. We're a little tight right now."
"Uusually ten coins, but I could make a deal if you're really in need," he starts.

Jeannette interrupts, "Say, perhaps we could test one of those necklaces for you?"
"Hm? What do you mean?"
"The ah, bead necklaces, which are meant to glow near bears. We could borrow one and see whether it actually works. If you know it works you can sell it for more, no?"
"Oh, sure! Yeah, that'd be good. But, I don't really know you. I can't exactly.."
"We could leave what coin we have as collatteral. Right, Louis?"
He nods. "Yeah, sure. If we don't come back you keep the money, if we do, we trade back and maybe you could throw in a compass for the work, huh?"

"Hmm, okay. You've got a deal, sir." He offers a hand, which Louis shakes, and then he hands Jeannette one of the bear-detecting necklaces while the cat-man dumps out the coins on the counter. The shop owner pauses for a moment looking at the coins, however. "You know, this is more than I'd charge for one of those.."
Louis, who had started to turn around and follow Jeannette out the door, halfway turns toward him again. "Well, hang on to all of it anyhow. To let ya know we're serious."
The elf nods. "Okay. See you later!" He waves cheerfully at them as they leave.

"Hup!" Louis hops off the tree, landing and hanging on to a spot halfway down an adjacent tree, and then hops down the rest of the way. The human takes the ladder.
"Show-off."

"So I guess we're lookin' for a bear then. I can't believe that was your idea."
"You don't think I could come up with a good idea?"
"Naw, you just don't seem like the kinda person who's eager to go lookin' for bears, is all."
"Normal bears would leave one alone in the proximity that such a thing as this necklace would be useful," says the mathematician. "If it is monster-bears, like that wolf, I am confident you could distract them long enough for us both to escape. With your..teleport-sword or whatever." She makes it to the bottom of the ladder.
"Good point. And that was some d*** good hagglin', too. I ain't used to that s***." He starts to lead the way out of town again, and then pauses.
"What's wrong?"
"I'unno," says Louis, scratching the back of his head. "Feel like I'm forgettin' to do somethin'..."

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