Waukeen, at Long Last-So This Was Where She Was

Facing Hill, who clearly looked filthy rich, the general store owner did not hesitate to name a price for his crate of battered books.

However, greed had not completely clouded his judgment. The man before him was an Archmage traveling for pleasure; that composed expression and terrifying aura told him he could ask a high price, but he absolutely could not extort him.

The general store owner knew what the little glowing orbs circling a Mage meant. He dealt with all kinds of merchants year-round and could be considered well-traveled and knowledgeable.

He knew perfectly well that if the man before him was not an Archmage hunting wanted criminals, then he was one of those people who read too many books and wanted to go out and see the world. Only such people would want to travel farther north, where it was already barbarian and half-orc territory.

What normal person would wander that way for no reason?

Those Mages traveling abroad were extremely knowledgeable about prices. Though they did not haggle much because they had money, they would never be as gentle and refined as this man appeared. If he dared quote a price close to extortion, it would be no different from courting death. Even if he were killed, he would have brought it upon himself.

More importantly, the Mages who came to trade in Ten-Towns seemed to have spells that could detect whether someone was telling the truth. And those were only ordinary Mages!

He did not have anything on him that could resist mind magic, so he absolutely dared not lie.

The man before him might not slaughter people indiscriminately like those Red Wizards, but that did not mean he would not deal with an idiot who dared deceive him.

Then the general store owner's heart stirred.