Contract, the Underlying Traits of Ganges Mythology
Vaishya heard the word "transaction," and the caution on his face was briefly replaced by confusion.
He instinctively turned to look at the foul-smelling moat behind him, then at the thousands of Dalits densely packed and curled up along both banks. He truly could not imagine what in this filthy place was worth trading for.
Yet he did not dare be negligent. After carefully choosing his words, he finally asked, "May I ask, sir, what transaction do you mean?"
"When I came to Emperor Taihuang City several years ago, this moat was still clear enough to see the bottom. There were even low-level water-element spirit creatures living in it."
His tone was calm, as though he were merely chatting about an unimportant old matter.
"But in only a few short years, it has become like this. The stench has spread into the city itself. It is truly regrettable.
"So I intend to pay a sum of money and ask you to help clean this riverway. As for the price, you name it."
Vaishya froze, obvious bewilderment surfacing on his face.
He could understand all sorts of intentions from visitors. If the other party were some great figure who could not stand filth, using divine abilities to cleanse the riverway, or directly ordering them by force to clean it within a deadline, all that was within the scope of his understanding.
But this person had actually offered to pay.
Paying them to clean up something they themselves had dirtied, and even saying they could name any price they wanted.
Vaishya's eyes shifted. The instinctive nose of a member of the Ganges Ethnicity told him there might be profit in this.
But that same instinct also reminded him that this matter exceeded his authority. Someone