Chapter 203

[Red Flame Heart Ring (Gold): Price: 50,000 Silver Coins (Limited to 1)]

[Ice Burial (Orange): Price: 500,000 Silver Coins (Limited to 1)]

As expected of a caravan of wanderers, the goods they carry are definitely not in the same league as those carried by wandering merchants.

Not only are there plenty of pills, materials, blueprints, and recruitment scrolls, but there's also gold and even Epic Rank equipment.

Especially that last Epic Rank piece of equipment, it seems to be a great bow with ice attributes?

Looking at the series of product information, Shen Xing couldn't help but feel a surge of greed.

Or... should we just rob this caravan?

However, he quickly dismissed the idea.

Prior to this, other players had encountered these caravans and shared the same thoughts as Shen Xing.

However, doing so will lead to a series of problems later on.

First, you and your territory will face a united boycott from all merchant guilds, and no merchant will ever trade with you again.

In addition, these caravans will constantly send mercenaries and hunters to retaliate against you, and will also place bounties on the black market.

At that time, powerful figures will constantly harass our territory, and we will never have peace.

One wrong move and these guys will cut off your head and take it back to collect the bounty.

These are lessons learned through blood and tears from our predecessors, so it's best not to even consider it.

"Gentlemen, is there any treasure that catches your eye?" The pot-bellied merchant rubbed his hands together, his face full of anticipation.

Shen Xing was silent for a moment before speaking, "Yes, I do, but your goods are too expensive. Could you make it cheaper?"

The pot-bellied merchant chuckled, "You flatter me, sir. Our Ouroboros Chamber of Commerce's goods are always clearly priced; we never offer discounts."

Seeing his refusal, Shen Xing remained unmoved. "What if I traded with you using gold coins?"

"Gold coins..." The pot-bellied merchant's eyes lit up instantly. "You have gold coins?"

In the Land of Mist, the official exchange rate between gold and silver coins is 1:1000.

But in reality, the proportion is much higher.

Silver coins are widely used as currency among all lords and factions because they can be obtained in many ways.

Gold coins, however, are extremely Rare and can only be obtained from some ancient ruins, special events, or dungeons.

Furthermore, some special altars, goods, and so on require the use of gold coins.

Therefore, the actual exchange rate can reach 1:1100, and on the black market it can even reach 1:1200.

In the hands of these merchants, gold coins could play a much greater role.

Shen Xing didn't speak, but instead opened his right hand and tossed it gently.

"Bite!"

A gleaming gold coin was tossed into the air, making a pleasant, crisp sound.

The pot-bellied merchant stared wide-eyed, but quickly regained his composure.

"The guest has gold coins; we can discuss it further."

"How about this, you take a look at which items you need first, and then I'll give you a combined price quote, okay?"

"Okay." Shen Xing nodded. "I'll discuss with my friend which items to buy."

The pot-bellied merchant wasn't in a hurry; he stood leisurely to the side and waited.

Then, Shen Xing exited the Land of Mist and sent a message to Xia Wanyin using Green Bubble: "So, have you decided what you want to buy?"

Take Her Eyes With You, she said, "Yes, I'd like to buy a few communication crystals. These can be used to contact units remotely."

"I also have Black Spirit Wood and a silk backpack, but I only have 23,000 silver coins left. I don't know if that's enough."

Shen Xing hesitated for a moment, then replied, "Give me all the silver coins you have, and I'll see if we can negotiate a lower price together."

"Okay, then I'll leave it to you."

Xia Wanyin did not hesitate. She had witnessed Shen Xing's bargaining skills when she encountered that homeless merchant last time.

After logging back in, she handed him a small bag.

[Received: 23116 Vinar Silver Coin]

Shen Xing took the bag and silently glanced at his total assets.

Including the 50 gold coins he received as a reward for winning first place, he still had 11,000 silver coins.

That adds up to 50 gold coins and 34,000 silver coins.

"I've made my choice."

Shen Xing looked up and calmly recited the list. "I need 20 communication crystals, the Finger Worm Small Pill Recipe, 4 pieces of Black Spirit Wood, two silk backpacks, and 5 Kodo Beast Recruitment Scroll."

The pot-bellied businessman grinned from ear to ear as he listened to the list of products the man rattled off. This was a big customer indeed!

"No problem, that's a total of 113,000 silver coins," he said with a smile. "If you'd like to pay with gold coins, I can round it down to 110,000 silver coins, or 110 gold coins."

Shen Xing shook his head and calmly said, "I only have 50 gold coins. Can I buy these goods from you?"

The pot-bellied merchant was stunned and said, "Sir, you're not bargaining, you're attacking me!"

"If we close the deal at this price, I'll be punished by my supervisor when I get back, and I might even be fired."

Even Xia Wanyin, who was standing to the side, was secretly shocked; the cut was far too brutal.

Shen Xing's expression remained unchanged as he continued, "I understand your difficulties. How about this, I'll give you another ten thousand silver coins, plus a Boss Rank Soul."

"Besides, my territory is not far away, about five kilometers to the southwest."

"When your Ouroboros Caravan passes through the Blackwing Plains in the future, you are welcome to rest in my territory. Food and lodging will be provided free of charge."

He paused, his voice gradually lowering. "Perhaps in your eyes, I am merely a weak Tier Two lord, my territory consisting of nothing more than villages and towns."

"But in the near future, my territory will become the largest city in this area, and even in the entire Blackwing Plains."

The pot-bellied businessman's eyes trembled slightly as he listened to Shen Xing's boastful words, and even the fat on his face jiggled a few times.

He wanted to politely decline, but for some reason, he couldn't bring himself to say it.

Based on his extensive experience in meeting and interacting with many important figures, he discerned a certain quality in the young man's eyes.

Confidence, absolute confidence.

That confidence was like the statement he just made—that it would definitely become a reality.

The pot-bellied businessman remained silent, hesitant, and deep in thought.

Finally, he extended his hand, revealing a friendly smile, "Since the customer is so confident, then I'll consider you a friend and take this order."

"West of the Ouroboros Chamber of Commerce, it's a pleasure to meet you."

Shen Xing also extended his hand. "Lord, Shen Xing."

Both sides wore satisfied smiles and quickly completed the transaction.

"Then, I look forward to your next visit." Merchant West bowed with his hand on his chest.

Okay, see you next time.

After Shen Xing finished speaking, he led Xia Wanyin and Leina back onto the Fried Chicken's back and flew away.

The caravan watched them disappear into the distance, a look of emotion welling up in their eyes.

"Deputy Director, you actually made a deal with him?"

A young man walked up to him, saying incredulously, "Even though your pricing is a bit high, we actually lost money on this trip."

"Heh, when have you ever seen me make a losing deal?" West smiled confidently.

"Then you..."

"Little Peter, you must remember one thing," West smiled and said, "Temporary losses are for greater returns in the future."

"This lord is very clever and knows how to seize opportunities."

"Let's forge a good relationship today; who knows, maybe one day when we come to the Blackwing Plains, we'll need his help."

The young man next to him nodded, seemingly understanding but not quite.

"Wanyin, this is for you."

High in the sky, Shen Xing sat on the back of the Fried Chicken and gave her two pieces of Black Spirit Wood, a silk backpack, and 10 communication crystals.

Xia Wanyin happily accepted it, exclaiming excitedly, "Shen Xing, you're amazing!!"

"They actually managed to cut the price so low, and the merchant agreed! That saved us a lot of money!"

Leina, standing beside her, nodded in agreement. "It's truly unbelievable that they managed to get these cunning merchants to agree."

She paused, then added, "As expected of my most respected lord."

Shen Xing smiled and said calmly, "I just felt that his price was a bit too high, so I tried to cut it in half, and I didn't expect it to actually work."

"That's amazing!" Xia Wanyin looked at him with admiration. "And that merchant even promised to come to your territory later, so you won't have to worry about finding people to trade with in the future."

She's right, that's one of Shen Xing's biggest takeaways this time.

Bringing this merchant to your territory is equivalent to having a fixed trading post.

In the future, we can not only trade with them, but also sell the resources in our territory.

It's important to know that most players can only find wandering merchants or caravans by chance in the wild.

It is said that only large cities built by Master Rank lords have stable trade relations.

Shen Xing is essentially laying a solid foundation for his future development.

Next, the Fried Chicken continued to carry the three of them at high speed.

On the way, Shen Xing and Xia Wanyin each began to check the attributes of the treasures they had purchased.

He first took out a thumb-sized, grayish-blue crystal and examined it closely.

[Communication Crystal]

[Quality: Purple]

[Effect: Allows you to set up a separate channel for remote, real-time communication with other crystal holders.]

[Maximum communication range: 300 kilometers]

[Additional effect: Enables temporary screen transmission, consuming 1-10 Soul Stone per second (the amount consumed per second depends on the distance)]

(Note: Beep... beep beep... signal interrupted...)