The Shady Merchant

Mel·Carlo listened, completely bewildered. So this man also sold contraband.

"I want to buy, but I'd like to ask if you know of any convenient way to get to Oak City? Because I plan to go." Mel·Carlo voiced his question.

"A child your age, do you intend to go alone? Or are you accompanied by family? Such a long journey isn't suitable for traveling alone." The man dropped his usual smile, scratching his head awkwardly.

"I..." Mel was about to lie, but the man interrupted him directly.

"Perhaps speak more quietly?" the man gestured for Mel to lean closer.

He could probably guess that this child came from the Imperial City Gang and had thoughts of escaping, but his resolve wasn't very firm. Moreover, he saw no need to offend the Imperial City Gang over this matter, as he was, after all, a traveling merchant.

After Mel leaned in, the man spoke softly, "To be frank, I'll be heading to Oak City myself in a while. However, if I were to help you, the price would be a bit steep. I might not be able to do business in the Imperial City anymore."

"I know, helping me means offending the gang. But what are your terms?" Mel·Carlo didn't necessarily need to escape right now, but if another option presented itself, he wouldn't mind.

"2500 Oren. If you can produce 2500 Oren, I'll help you leave the Imperial City, guide you all the way to Oak City, and help you get acquainted with it. I'll be the most qualified guide, and all expenses along the way will be covered by me."

"Why don't you just rob someone!" Mel·Carlo realized then that there were no ungreedy merchants, only greedier ones.

The main issue was the amount. It was almost the same as the money he had stolen. Did this person somehow guess something?

"I'll be in the city until the heavy snow completely blocks the roads. You can find me anytime if you make up your mind."

"Alright, two silver coins. Please pack the paper and pen in a bag for me."

"Burlap sack is 3 Oren. Thank you." The man smiled and extended his hand.

Mel·Carlo took out three copper coins from his pocket and two silver coins from his system space.

"A pot of ink, one silver coin. Want it?"

"What do you think?" Mel·Carlo took out another silver coin. Although he was a little worried, the risk for a traveling merchant was much lower. This kind of person wouldn't stay in the Imperial City forever.

After Mel and the other two left with the paper and pen, the merchant lightly weighed the silver and copper coins in his hand and muttered to himself, "Very good quality silver coins. I almost thought they were collectibles from noble lords."

At this moment, a child beside him spoke, "Dad, can we go back? None of these goods are selling."

"Don't worry, they'll eventually sell. Even if they don't, we still have the money pouch, right?" The man smiled slightly, his honest smile carrying a hint of cunning.

"Can he even afford that much money?"

"Daughter, you shouldn't underestimate a merchant's intuition and information!" The man put the two silver coins into his money pouch and tossed the three copper coins to his child. "Take the money and go buy something to eat!"

News of the Duke's daughter's stolen wallet had already spread, causing a huge stir. He, as a well-informed merchant, knew this even better.

The area where the wallet was lost was right here, so the culprit was likely still in the vicinity. Those two silver coins were already enough to raise suspicion, and the difference between silver and copper coins was even more obvious.

Actually, one burlap sack would have been enough for 1 Oren. He deliberately charged three times the price, and seeing that the kid still paid, it meant either he had no concept of money or he had plenty of it and didn't need to budget carefully anymore.

"Dad, if our goods keep not selling, and that person just now didn't have money, will we..."

"If that's the case, it means the God of Oren isn't protecting us, and we might end up dying in some corner!" A hint of seriousness appeared in the man's eyes. He had invested all his money in these goods, hoping to sell them at a good price in the Imperial City. If he couldn't sell them, he would go bankrupt.

In previous years, selling goods wouldn't have been so troublesome. But now that goods were difficult to sell, it indicated poor economic circulation, with wealthy people unwilling to spend their money.

"Is it the influence of the demon race's war? Or has a large quantity of commodities flowed into the Imperial City?"

The man couldn't figure it out for a moment. Since there were no shipping routes to the north, only the Storm Sea, the only way to transport goods was by land.

After the Demon King's resurrection, monsters on the continent had become more active, and the number of various monsters had increased, making it difficult for traveling merchants like him to profit. The possibility of encountering monsters on the road had also increased.

However, for a small merchant like him, even if he wanted to profit from the war, it was impossible. Those who could engage in that level of transaction were the major financiers of various regions, usually with connections to the nobility.

The man glanced at his daughter again. "Alright, don't worry. At worst, our family will go bankrupt. If that really happens, we can always sell you into slavery!"

Hearing this, the little girl's eyes immediately turned red. At this moment, with her short hair and attire indistinguishable from a boy's, if one didn't ask for clarification, they would truly mistake her for a boy.

"Alright, don't cry. Even if I die, I would never sell my own daughter. Rest assured." The man ruffled his daughter's hair and continued to hawk his wares.

The winter air was cold and dry.

Mel·Carlo and the other two returned to the gang's courtyard. They went back to their rooms and took out the paper and pen.

Looking at the paper and pen, he felt a slight regret. He couldn't help but spend the money.

However, several months had passed, and the gang probably wouldn't be investigating anymore, unless there were still busybodies.

Worries were unnecessary. They would deal with problems as they arose. The key was to continue improving himself.

Akai, being illiterate, was so anxious he kept scratching his head. He had bought these things, but the problem was he didn't know how to use them. He had just wanted to draw, but Lily stopped him.

Lily knew some characters because she was the illegitimate daughter of a priest, but he himself knew nothing.

"Teach Akai. Just the simplest things, he should be able to learn easily." Mel·Carlo began to record the game's content using Chinese characters. Paper and pen were truly important; human memory would fade over time.

This world probably didn't have Chinese characters. Even if someone else found his notes, they definitely wouldn't be able to read them.

Lily looked at Mel curiously. The symbols written on the paper were all unintelligible. Her father hadn't taught her these, and they didn't look like random scribbles.

There was a connection between these symbols.

"Skills, cooldown. Let me see what else... background story, and the crafting of some key equipment sets, and potions. Thankfully, after playing for so many years, these recipes are engraved in my DNA." Mel wrote with a smile, entering a state of complete absorption.

Lily didn't want to disturb him, so she began teaching Akai.

Another day passed, and Akai, the chestnut-haired boy, hadn't remembered a single character. He didn't seem to dislike learning, just kept scratching his head.

"Is Akai that difficult?"

"I can't remember. Teach me again!"

"Let's teach him in the courtyard outside. Write on the ground with a stick, otherwise, we'll waste the paper, and it's expensive."

"Oh." Akai was slightly dejected, but he wouldn't give up.

Mel and Lily could do it, and he definitely could too!