Startling Turn

Zhang Tie walked back to the camp with Shabalina. As they went, he listened to her introduction to the Spencer Family, slowly refining his original plan in his mind.

From the information Shabalina had revealed, Zhang Tie knew that, if luck was on his side, he might be able to wring a hefty sum out of the Spencer Family this time. As for the reason, he had long since thought of one: the price Eskil City had paid for charging him double—four silver coins—for entry back then.

That was naked discrimination against Zhang Tie.

He wondered whether this reason would make the Spencer Family cough up blood. If it was not enough, then he could add another—how about Eskil City's reckless wanted notice for the legendary chieftain of the Icefield Giant Bear Tribe?

Eskil City's wanted notice had nearly cost Zhang Tie his life. Although Sea Blue Castle had later stepped in and voluntarily helped him get it revoked, anyone with half a brain could tell that Sea Blue Castle must have paid a steep price to have it withdrawn. The favor Zhang Tie owed for revoking that wanted notice was owed to the Sea Blue Castle Merchant Guild, not to Eskil City.

After the wanted notice had been revoked, because he had been a nobody, Eskil City had casually sent someone over to dismiss him. There had been no compensation whatsoever, and they had even seemed to think they were doing him a great favor. Now that he thought about it, this matter was well worth discussing properly.

When it came to certain matters, Zhang Tie was not broad-minded, much less the sort of man who would wipe off spit from his face and pretend nothing had happened. The Spencer Family had been in the wrong from the start,