Who Could Resist That?

Potions.

Enchanted equipment.

Those two things were all he needed.

Kang De said, "We can trade."

At the mention of business, the princess grew serious. "What do you have?"

Kang De looked at her earnest expression and suddenly smiled. "Coca-Cola, as much as you want."

The princess froze, then said with a bashful scowl, "Kang De!"

She seemed embarrassed to have her gluttony yesterday mentioned-in front of other people.

A secret between the two of them.

Something stirred in Kang De's heart, and he said, "Just kidding, just kidding. I can offer you a large quantity of everyday supplies, including all kinds of fresh ingredients, drinking water, alcohol, and so on."

"I also have a lot of spices. Those are available for trade too."

The princess considered this for a moment, looking troubled.

Kang De frowned. "Is that not enough? You don't have to worry about the quantity."

Tina hesitated for a moment, then said, "I trust in your morals and character. I'm sure you would offer enough in exchange and wouldn't force anyone into a trade. But the few potions we gave you were of exceptional quality, rare even in Goth. There are only a dozen or so left on the ship."

Oh, so they're expert-level potions.

Kang De understood exactly what the princess meant.

There were very few of them? What a pity.

He said, "Lower-quality ones would be fine too."

The knight and the head maid both gave wry smiles.

"There aren't any left... The potions allocated to the warriors for battle have almost all been used up. We encountered many fierce battles on our voyage."

Tina said, "The dozen or so top-grade potions we have left were originally meant as a gift for an important figure in the War Guild in the imperial capital. We wouldn't use them unless it were a matter of life and death."

Tsk.

Kang De asked, "What about enchanted equipment?"

The princess sighed. "Those are even more precious. There are six pieces on the ship, all exceptionally valuable items. Along with the treasures aboard, they're meant as gifts to win over and lobby the powerful figures in the imperial capital."

Kang De thought for a moment. "Couldn't you give them spices instead? I have plenty."

The princess shook her head apologetically. "When giving a gift, you can't consider only its monetary value. It also has to suit the recipient's interests, be appropriate for the occasion, and be presentable, so..."

It was simple enough.

An enchanted weapon made by a master craftsman, and twenty cases of Totole chicken bouillon.

Even if the latter's practical value after it became widely used far exceeded that of the former, which gift would give a martial-minded noble who was also fussy and cared about appearances more prestige?

The princess asked, "You may not know this, but the valuables aboard the ship are all intended as gifts for the empire's high-ranking officials and nobles. If you wish to trade for the enchanted equipment, you would have to offer expensive items of equal rarity and splendor in exchange. Can you provide those?"

Tina thought of the various strange and wondrous objects in the valley that she didn't recognize.

Kang De hesitated.

There were actually plenty of rare and splendid objects. The technological marvels of modern society, the appliances and electronics with their various functions, should all be enough to impress these bumpkin nobles from another world.

But electrical appliances needed electricity. Most would need a generator to go with them, or else batteries.

Electricity, however, was one of the sources of power for humanity on Earth. Before he understood the true state of this world, he was unwilling to spread such things around carelessly, lest some legendary magic god, demon king, or saint see through them, tear open space, and appear right in front of him to find out what little secrets he, Great Master Kang, was hiding.

Kang De was a very cautious person, and he had become even more so since arriving in the other world.

He pondered what else of great value he had.

Knowledge.

Books.

Those were absolutely out of the question.

Ever since he confirmed that this other world also had civilization, the bookstore on the shopping center's fourth floor had become its most valuable area, without exception. Besides contemporary bestsellers, it held the works of the wisest and most accomplished people in human history: literature, art, military affairs, religion, science and technology... The wealth of an entire species was printed on those pages, not to be exchanged for any amount of gold.

How could he give away such treasures of civilization?

Damn it, thinking about it that way, it seemed there really wasn't anything he could give the nobles...

There were plenty of dirty pictures, though.

Or perhaps the jewelry in the jewelry store?

Or some interesting toys that didn't involve core technology?

He was deep in thought when he heard the princess say, "It's all right. If you can't think of anything right now, Kang De, you can take your time. You could even go back and look for something."

Kang De didn't give it much thought. Then the princess said, "Head maid Bedela, sorry for the trouble, but please go to my bedroom and bring all the potions and enchanted items to Mr. Kang De."

He looked up in astonishment.

He was met by the princess's gentle smile.

"Goth used its people's tax money to purchase these gifts, intending to befriend important figures in the imperial capital in exchange for their promises and support, so they would provide aid for Goth's defensive war."

She said, "Personally, I believe you are also an important person worth befriending. Therefore, I give you all the potions, and hope they will help with your upcoming plans. I also sincerely hope you will remember Goth's friendship, and that this seed of friendship will one day sprout and grow."

"Of course..." She blinked and smiled slyly. "The enchanted equipment isn't a gift. We're only lending it to you. Once you've taken care of things on the island, you'll have to return it to us."

"As for the rent..." She smiled. "One case of Coca-Cola will do."

It was a response to Kang De's joke at the start.

The girl's smile was as lovely as a flower.

Kang De was an innocent young man. How could he have seen anything like this before?

In an instant, the faint sense of distance caused by the earlier tea ceremony etiquette shattered. She had offered him all the rare potions and enchanted equipment without hesitation. That casual decisiveness, that smile as gentle as water, the favor of a beauty, that feeling of "I believe in you"...

Who could resist that?

Calm down, calm down.

Kang De repeated it silently to himself.

Old Wang says pretty women are all big pig trotters. Old Wang says a real man can't be a bootlicker. Old Wang says pretty women are all big pig trotters. Old Wang says a real man can't be a bootlicker...

With those thoughts, his gaze grew much calmer. He nodded and said, "Thank you for your trust."

The princess smiled. "You should trust me a little more too, Kang De."

The girl's eyes were bright and clear, as though they had seen through a great many things.

Kang De accepted the two boxes Lady Bedela brought out, one large and one small.

He opened them and briefly checked their contents, without looking closely.

He closed the boxes and stood up. "I'm grateful for your kindness. I won't let you down. I'll go home now and make some preparations and preliminary plans... I'll ask a few animal friends to patrol and keep watch around here."

The princess said, "You're leaving after only a cup of tea. It makes us look like poor hosts."

Kang De smiled back. "I'll come again tonight and show you Eastern hospitality."

Since he had said so, the princess and the knight didn't urge him to stay. In fact, the people of Goth were busy too. The Black Beasts' attack today had thrown the camp into chaos. They had to check on the wounded, assess their losses, tighten security, plan and build the camp, and continue bringing cargo over from the ship... There was still plenty to do.

"Your Highness, the conversation went smoothly."

Head maid Bedela said, "His attitude suddenly grew cold after tea earlier. I thought his pride had been hurt."

The princess watched Kang De's departing figure and shook her head with a smile. "No. He never showed any sign of feeling inferior from beginning to end. His pride definitely wasn't hurt. On the contrary, what I saw in his eyes was confidence and contempt, as though we were the barbarians he looked down on..."

Tina said softly, "Which raises the question: what kind of background must someone have to look down on the bloodline of the Seven Heroes and the Taidariel Family?"

Bedela said, "I don't mean to question your decision, but... you seem very confident in him."

"That's because there really are so many mysteries about him. I trust my first impression. He's a remarkable person from a remarkable place, and he's kind and sincere. There's no harm in getting to know him and earning his friendship."

The princess's tone was full of certainty.

Before the head maid could speak, the captain strode over.

"I'm afraid I must agree with your decision," he said. "You need to see this."

Captain Oswald opened his large hand.

A piece of crimson metal lay quietly in his deerskin glove.

"This is..."

The princess examined it intently. "A strange color, a strange fragment... It looks like a piece of Kang De's battle-axe."

"We found it while clearing the battlefield. There were extensive traces of fire damage there, along with the black sphere that wounded Knight Cleveland and fragments of an axe that had exploded."

The captain said, "Please look at the break."

The princess looked closely, and suddenly her expression changed.

"This... fire runes, the essence of flame. I recognize this flame pattern. I've seen this enchantment before. This... this is a fragment of the magic pattern from Roar of the Crimson Flame..."

She murmured, "How did Master Suowosi's prized enchantment end up on Kang De's axe?"

PS1: Black Beasts aren't supposed to dissipate in the wind as soon as they die. They only scatter and disappear after their crystals are dug out... Please pay closer attention when you read, dear readers.

PS2: It's eleven thirty again. My Devil May Cry 5... Sekiro is coming out soon too, and I haven't even played The Division 2... Ah, good night, everyone. Please vote for me...