Labor Costs
The inspectors brought by Black were extremely professional in their work of inspecting this special batch of "goods".
They were each responsible for a specific area, and their movements were precise and meticulous, without the slightest hesitation.
They skillfully untied the rope from the burlap sack, revealing Sauron head inside that had been partially treated with lime to prevent rapid decay and mask the odor, but whose facial features and hair color were still discernible.
Occasionally, they would exchange a few words in hushed tones, using jargon or code words that Karl couldn't understand, their tone as casual as if they were discussing the weather.
Their calm, almost cold-blooded attitude, treating human heads purely as "commodities" to assess their "quality," sent a subtle chill down Karl's spine as he watched from the sidelines.
These merchants, or rather the forces they represent, have clearly become accustomed to this bloody business dealing with death, violence, and spoils, and have completely "dehumanized" and "commodified" it. This extreme disregard for life is another level of cruelty.
The examination lasted for quite some time, with a clear focus on the most valuable and difficult-to-fake head of Sauron the Berserker.
The inspectors examined almost every Berserker's head, repeatedly comparing features to ensure there were no cases of misrepresentation or disguises using ordinary soldier heads.
Finally, when the last batch of samples was repackaged and put back, the inspectors gathered around Black and whispered their reports, their voices barely audible.
As Black listened, he nodded slightly, his previously serious expression gradually softening to reveal a look of satisfaction, even a hint of surprise.
Clearly, the test results exceeded his expectations; the "quality" of this batch of "goods" was excellent.
He turned to Karl, who had been patiently waiting by his side, and his face once again displayed that professional smile with just the right amount of apology. He bowed slightly and said:
"I apologize for keeping you waiting, my Lord. My men have thoroughly inspected your shipment... um... 'special goods,' and it is indeed of superior quality and in excellent condition."
"Especially those nearly three hundred Berserker heads, with their distinct features, clear totems, and unique muscle and bone structures, are absolutely impossible to fake. We are very satisfied and can now proceed with the transaction."
Only then did everyone leave the cold, damp basement, which was filled with lime and a faint smell of decaying corpses, and return to the surface.
The pale but still bright afternoon sunlight and the crisp, fresh air were invigorating, dispelling the uncomfortable atmosphere from the basement earlier.
In a relatively quiet but simply furnished side room of the Lord's Residence, a maid served hot tea and then quietly withdrew, leaving only Karl, Edgar, Black, and his chief appraiser.
As the buyer, Black spoke first, attempting to control the pace of the negotiations.
He cleared his throat, a shrewd calculation on his face, and announced his pre-prepared, seemingly "fair" bottom price:
"Your Excellency Lord Karl, according to the kingdom's past practice of offering bounties to the Sauron, and... well... the relatively stable standard price we use in this line of work, a genuine Sauron Berserker's head usually costs thirty gold coins."
"The head of a regular soldier is worth five gold coins; as for the heads of those militiamen from the Vanguard Camp ..." He paused deliberately, a dismissive expression on his face.
"To be honest, this kind of stuff isn't worth much on the market. Usually, nobody wants it; it's mostly used to fill out inventory or... well, to get rid of it. But considering that your goods are complete and in excellent condition, Lord, we're willing to buy them all as a sign of sincerity. We'll price each one... five Silver coin."
"What do you think of this price? It's a fairly fair market price."
Karl listened quietly with his head down to Black's well-organized price quote. Only when Black finished speaking and looked at him with a mixture of expectation and a hint of probing did Karl calmly meet Black's gaze.
"Mr. Black, the price you quoted is indeed the market price for ordinary bulk goods, I don't deny that. However, you seem to have overlooked, or rather, deliberately avoided, a crucial factor."
"You are merchants, buying and reselling, making a profit from the price difference, and bearing commercial risks. But my soldiers and I, on the battlefield, used our blood and lives to cut off these heads one by one from the necks of the ferocious Sauron."
"What we paid was the risk to our lives and heavy casualties. Shouldn't that include a considerable 'labor cost'?"
Karl leaned forward slightly and stated his price firmly. "Therefore, my price is fifty gold coins per Berserker's head; ten gold coins per regular soldier's head; and ten Silver coin per militiaman's head. This price is barely worth the blood my soldiers have shed."
Upon hearing this, Black's face instantly contorted with exaggerated surprise, almost jumping up. "Fifty gold coins? Ten gold coins? My lord! This... this price is outrageous! It far exceeds the industry standard! Even if we transport it there, it will be difficult to sell it for such a high price! This will cause us to lose money!"
Karl watched Black's theatrical surprise with a blank expression, a cold smile playing on his lips.
He didn't rush to refute, but waited for Black to finish speaking before slowly and deliberately asking a question that hit the nail on the head:
"Mr. Black, don't rush to claim you're losing money. Let me ask you, besides me, Carnford, in the entire Northern Territory of the Goldflower Kingdom, or even the entire kingdom, can you find another seller who can provide such a large quantity at once, especially one containing nearly three hundred Berserker heads?"
These words were like the most accurate Crossbow Bolt, instantly piercing through all of Black's pretense!
His expression froze instantly. He opened his mouth, seemingly wanting to habitually argue, "Perhaps it's available elsewhere," or "The price can be negotiated," but something seemed to be blocking his throat, preventing him from uttering any convincing syllables.
Because both he and Karl knew perfectly well that what Karl said was a stark and irrefutable fact!
Before this epic defense of Carnford, when had the Sauron ever suffered such a devastating, organized defeat, with so many heads being chopped off in such a disciplined manner, in the Northern Territory of the kingdom, or indeed throughout the entire kingdom?
For other border fortresses, it was already difficult to defend the city, and the heads captured were often scattered and mainly from ordinary soldiers.
It's unprecedented for someone like Carnford to not only repel an army of 100,000, but also to reap such terrifying "victories" in the counterattack and pursuit!