Chapter 59: Chapter 59: The Death of the Traveling Merchant!
After a brief conversation, Rhett returned to his room to rest. As Swita left, his mind was filled with complicated thoughts. He almost stumbled on his way down the stairs, but luckily, Bella caught him just in time, preventing a fall.
"Should I get married and have children? It seems like such a troublesome matter. Would it affect my service to the lord? Sigh," he muttered to himself. "But then again, who will serve the lord when I'm gone?" Swita shook his head and sighed, rubbing his temples gently. "If I do marry, it certainly can't be someone like Scarlett, always gossiping about the lord behind his back..."
...
Four days passed in a flash. The territory ran smoothly, and it was now the morning of January 8th. Rhett didn't expect that a traveling merchant would arrive at the territory so early in the day.
"Oh! You must be the lord of Eagle Town? You certainly have a distinguished aura, unlike the other minor nobles I've met," the traveling merchant said. He was dressed in a brown, hooded cloak, perfect for traveling.
Standing on the Graystone Avenue, Rhett's face remained calm, revealing no emotion. He responded softly, "Judging by your attire, you must be a traveling merchant?"
"You have a keen eye, my lord. Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Angni Kaman, and as you guessed, I am indeed a traveling merchant," Angni replied, removing his hat and bowing slightly, revealing his short black hair.
"Rhett Greem. So, Mr. Angni, what brings you here so early? I assume it's not just for a casual chat," Rhett remarked. He assumed that Angni had come to trade, perhaps to purchase local specialties or sell goods from other places. Given the large bundles he carried, it was clear he had plenty of items on hand.
"To be honest, my lord, I arrived in your territory this morning and noticed your men seem to be digging in the east?" Angni probed.
"Oh, just clearing some land for the upcoming spring planting," Rhett replied casually, brushing off the question with a simple excuse.
"I see." Angni smiled, continuing, "There's something I wanted to mention. On my way here, I happened to see your men digging up an item that appears to be an antique. As it happens, I have a penchant for collecting antiques, so I came to discuss purchasing it from you."
Rhett's eyes narrowed. After only four days, had Kudin's men really made a discovery?
Just as Rhett was pondering this, Kudin came running up, crossing the Graystone Avenue and reaching Rhett's side.
"My lord, this is today's find!" Kudin exclaimed, excitedly presenting a dirt-covered silver plate. He glanced at the traveling merchant, whom he had met earlier that morning, before turning his attention back to Rhett.
"Good job, Kudin. You can head inside and collect your reward from Swita," Rhett said, taking the antique plate. It was about twenty centimeters in diameter, suitable for holding fruit or serving as a dining plate. The silver-coated exterior produced a crisp sound when tapped lightly.
Angni's expression remained unchanged, though he seemed somewhat interested. "Indeed, this is the antique I'm interested in. I'm willing to offer ten gold coins for it! You must know, my lord, it's just a plate with no artistic value. Ten gold coins is more than fair."
After a moment of thought, Rhett shook his head. "No, I think I'll hold onto this plate. It has piqued my interest."
Angni's face stiffened. He prided himself on reading people well and had assumed that this young baron, fresh from the battlefield, would care more about wealth than antiques.
"I see... Perhaps we could negotiate? Fifteen gold coins?" Angni raised the offer by fifty percent.
Rhett shook his head again. "I have some fresh fish from Sun Lake if you're interested. Feel free to take your pick."
"Haha, you're quite the joker, my lord. Carrying fish on the road would only lead to a smelly demise," Angni laughed, but seeing that Rhett's expression remained unchanged, his face fell once more.
"Is there really no room for negotiation?" Angni asked, his tone now calm.
Rhett stared at him directly, about to refuse again when a thought crossed his mind. After a moment of contemplation, Rhett suddenly smiled. "Fifteen gold coins seems a bit low, don't you think? If you don't raise the price, I might have to reconsider selling."
A flash of realization crossed Angni's eyes, and he inwardly scoffed. So that's what this was all about—just haggling for a higher price. He almost fell for it, thinking the baron wasn't interested. Suppressing his irritation, Angni put on a thoughtful expression, as if he was reluctant to continue. "Well... if you're serious about selling, I could perhaps offer five more gold coins."
"Never mind," Rhett replied flatly.
Angni's heart sank, but Rhett's next words gave him a glimmer of hope.
"Instead of gold coins, perhaps a trade for something more useful would be a better option," Rhett suggested, glancing at the large bundles on Angni's back. "What do you think?"
Angni, finally understanding, smiled and slapped his forehead. "Ah, I see now. My apologies for forgetting that option. Please, feel free to choose. As long as the value is equivalent, I'm open to trading."
He then shrugged off his backpack, bending down to untie it.
But at that moment, Earth Spike!
Rhett's eyes turned cold as he cast a spell, sending a spike of earth shooting toward Angni.
Though Angni had bent down, his instincts were sharp. Years of traveling had honed his vigilance, and he wasn't so easily caught off guard.
In an instant, sensing the elemental disturbance beneath him, Angni's expression changed drastically. He leaped back, channeling his mental energy to conjure a blazing fireball in front of him.
Falling Rock!
Rhett remained calm, having already predicted Angni's retreat. It was as if he had foreseen the future, knowing exactly where Angni would go. The falling rock slammed down on Angni's path!
Panic flashed in Angni's eyes as the shadow of the boulder loomed over him. For the first time, a wave of fear washed over him. This earth mage, a second-level practitioner, was the most terrifying opponent he had ever encountered! His timing, precision, and spellcasting were unparalleled. Never in his life had Angni faced such an adversary!
"Why are you attacking me? I haven't done anything to provoke you!" Angni shouted desperately. But with the boulder descending, he couldn't afford to be distracted. He hurled the fireball into the sky, trying to intercept the attack.
Rhett's cold gaze sharpened, and with a mental command, a spike of earth emerged from the ground, piercing through Angni's chest, blood gushing from the wound.
Angni's face twisted in agony, and he spat out a mouthful of blood. His legs gave way, and he collapsed to the ground.
Earth Spike!
Rhett didn't hesitate, casting another earth spike spell. The spike shot up from the ground mercilessly.
"Ahhh!" Angni let out a final, blood-curdling scream as the spike tore through his body. The pain radiated through every nerve, overwhelming him. But the pain was fleeting. As the spike pierced his back and then his heart, Angni's life force drained away in an instant.
The scream echoed briefly before silence fell, the deadly spikes having swiftly ended his life.
...
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