The Unscrupulous Merchant

Mel Carlo was completely baffled. So this man also sold contraband.

"I want to buy them, but may I ask if you know of any convenient way to get to Oak City? Because I'm planning to go there." Mel Carlo voiced his question.

"A child your age—are you planning to go alone? Or will your family accompany you? A journey that far isn't suitable for someone traveling by themselves." The man dropped his trademark smile and scratched his head awkwardly.

"I..." Mel had just been about to lie when the man cut him off.

"Let's keep our voices down, shall we?" The man gestured for Mel to lean closer.

He could probably guess that this child came from the Imperial City Gang and was considering running away. But the idea did not seem especially firm, and there was no need for him to offend the Imperial City Gang over this. After all, he was a traveling merchant.

Only after Mel leaned in did the man speak softly. "To be honest, I'll be heading to Oak City before long. But helping you would come at quite a price. I might never be able to do business in the Imperial City again."

"I know. Helping me means offending the gang. But what are your terms?" Mel Carlo did not urgently need to escape right now, but he would not mind having another option.

"Two thousand five hundred Auren. If you can come up with two thousand five hundred Auren, I'll help you leave the Imperial City, take you all the way to Oak City, and help you get familiar with the city. I'll be the most qualified guide you could ask for, and I'll cover all expenses along the way."

"Why don't you just rob me?" Mel Carlo finally understood. There were no merchants who were not greedy—only greedier ones.

More importantly, that number was close to the amount of money he had stolen. Had this man guessed something?

"I'll remain in the city until the snow completely blocks the roads. If you change your mind, you can find me anytime."

"All right. Two silver coins. Please put the paper and pen in a bag for me."

"A burlap sack costs three Auren, thank you." The man smiled and held out his hand.

Mel Carlo took three copper coins from his pocket, then retrieved two silver coins from System space.

"A bottle of ink costs one silver coin. Want one?"

"What do you think?" Mel Carlo took out another silver coin. Though he was a little worried, the risk posed by a traveling merchant was far lower. Someone like this would not remain 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, "Fine-quality silver coins. I'd almost think they were some noble lord's collectibles."

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

"Don't worry, they'll sell eventually. And even if they don't, don't we still have that money pouch?" The man smiled faintly, a hint of cunning hidden within his honest-looking grin.

"Can he really come up with that much money?"

"My daughter, never underestimate a merchant's instincts and information network!" The man slipped the two silver coins into his money pouch, then tossed the three copper coins to the child. "Take this and go buy something to eat!"

News that the duke's daughter had had her wallet stolen had spread long ago. It had caused quite a stir throughout the city, and a well-informed merchant like him knew all about it.

The area where the wallet had been lost was right here, so the culprit was very likely still nearby. Those two silver coins alone were enough to raise suspicion, and the contrast between the silver and copper coins made it even more obvious.

In truth, a burlap sack only cost one Auren. He had deliberately tripled the price, yet that little brat had still paid without hesitation. Either he had no concept of money, or he had so much that he no longer needed to pinch pennies.

"Dad, if our goods keep failing to sell, and that person doesn't have any money either, will we..."

"If that really happens, it means the God of Auren hasn't blessed us. We might die in some corner somewhere!" A trace of gravity entered the man's eyes. He had invested all his money in these goods, hoping to sell them for a good price in the Imperial City. If he could not sell them, would that not mean immediate bankruptcy?

In previous years, selling goods would not have been so difficult. But now that goods were hard to sell, it meant money was not circulating well. Those with money were unwilling to spend it.

"Is it because of the demon race starting a war? Or have large quantities of goods flowed into the Imperial City?"

For a moment, the man could not figure it out either. There were no sea routes to the north—only the Storm Sea—so goods could only be transported by land.

After the Demon King's resurrection, monsters across the continent had become more active, and their numbers had increased. It had become difficult for traveling merchants like him to turn a profit, since the chances of encountering monsters on the road had risen.

But small merchants like him could not possibly profit from war even if they wanted to. Those capable of dealing at that level were wealthy magnates from various regions, usually with some connection to the nobility.

The man looked at his daughter again. "All right, don't worry. At worst, our family will go bankrupt. If things get really bad, we can always sell you off as a slave!"

At those words, the little girl's eyes immediately reddened. She had short hair and dressed no differently from a boy, so without asking clearly, anyone would have assumed she was one.

"All right, don't cry. Even if I die, I'd never sell my own daughter. Rest easy." The man rubbed his daughter's head and continued hawking his wares.

The air at the start of winter was cold and dry.

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

Looking at the paper and pen, Mel felt a little regretful. He still could not resist spending money.

But several months had already passed. The gang probably would not continue investigating, unless there were still busybodies stirring things up.

His worries were unnecessary. Deal with whatever came, and keep improving himself—that was what mattered.

Because Akai could not read, he anxiously scratched his head over and over. They had bought these things, but the problem was that he did not know how to use them. He had just wanted to draw with them, but Lily stopped him.

Lily knew some words. After all, she was a priest's illegitimate daughter. But Mel could not read at all.

"You teach Akai. Start with the simplest things. He should be able to learn them easily." Mel Carlo began recording the game's contents in Chinese characters. Paper and pen were truly important; people's memories blurred over time.

This world probably did not have Chinese characters. Even if someone else found his notes, they definitely would not be able to read them.

Lily curiously glanced at Mel. The paper was covered in symbols she could not understand. Her father had never taught her these, and they did not look like random scribbles.

There seemed to be some kind of connection between those symbols.

"Skills, cooldowns... let's see, what else was there? Backstory, how to craft certain key equipment sets, and potions. Good thing I played for so many years. These recipes are practically carved into my DNA." Mel wrote with a smile, entering a state where he was oblivious to everyone around him.

Lily did not want to disturb him, so she could only begin teaching Akai.

Another day passed, and Akai, that blond chestnut, had failed to remember even a single word. He did not seem to hate learning; he simply kept scratching his head.

"Is it really that difficult, Akai?"

"I can't remember. Teach me one more time!"

"Let's go teach in the courtyard outside. Write on the ground with a stick, otherwise we'll waste all the paper. It's expensive."

"Okay." Akai was a little discouraged, but he would not give up.

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