章節 8: Chapter 8. Making a deal.
Gold: 0 units
Mana core: 51,840 units.
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The merchants had left town earlier, clearly frustrated. If only they could have left behind their greed—but then, they wouldn't be merchants, would they?
I wasn't too concerned. My talent generates funds daily, and if I ever run out of gold, I can simply sell mana cores directly to the system. No, my reason for wanting this transaction to succeed wasn't money—it was something far more valuable: traffic.
The town was too secluded, known only to a handful of people. If reputable merchants started visiting regularly, smaller traders would follow, eager to grab their share of profits. The ripple effect could change everything for us.
As I mulled over these thoughts, the creak of wooden wheels broke my concentration. A small caravan rolled into town. The leader, a young woman, dismounted with a light hop, dusting her hands on her tunic. She introduced herself with an easy smile.
"Name's Shina. We're a humble group of traveling merchants," she said, her voice warm and disarming.
Shina's carefree demeanor was hard to ignore, and her charisma was infectious. Her caravan folk clearly admired her—every glance, every word she spoke carried an air of unshakable confidence. She was the type of leader people instinctively followed.
Still, I wasn't one to take appearances at face value. This could all be a facade. I called Lucia over and briefed her.
"Lucia," I began, "negotiate with her. If she offers 90,000 gold coins right away, settle for 85,000 gold coins, well, as a sign of respect. But if she doesn't hit that mark, hold firm and get 90,000 gold coins. No compromises."
Lucia blinked, visibly puzzled. "So… you're okay with giving her a discount upfront but not after negotiations?"
"Yes. Trust me on this."
Though still skeptical, she nodded and made her way toward Shina.
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Bring Shina and her folks into the makeshift tent with the mana cores. Shina went forward to check the details and every now and then one could hear her exclaim in wonder.
"What's your offer?" Lucia asked, her tone sharp but professional.
Shina clapped her hands together, smiling brightly. "Fifty thousand gold coins!"
Lucia's jaw nearly dropped. "Excuse me?"
"Fifty thousand gold coins," Shina repeated, still smiling.
Lucia's expression darkened. "Are you joking?" she hissed, barely keeping her composure.
"I—wait, no! I'm serious!" Shina stammered, realizing her mistake too late.
Lucia let out an exasperated breath and stormed out of the inn. "Unbelievable," she muttered under her breath.
Shina chased after her, calling out, "Wait! Please, listen to me! I beg you!"
Lucia halted abruptly, spinning on her heel. Her glare could have frozen a bonfire. "Why?" she snapped. "So you can justify buying 10,000 mana cores for 50,000 gold coins? Do you think I'm a fool?"
"No, no!" Shina raised her hands defensively. "We're small-time merchants. We can't afford the whole batch. But we desperately need them. What if… what if I buy 5,000 mana cores for 50,000 gold coins?"
Lucia crossed her arms, her expression still cold. "I'll talk to Ace. For now, stay in town."
---
Lucia found me at the training grounds, where I was sparring with the soldiers. Sweat dripped from my brow as I halted mid-swing, lowering my blade when I saw her approaching.
"Something happened?" I asked, noting the tension in her face.
"She wants 5,000 mana cores for 50,000 gold coins," Lucia said, clearly annoyed.
I leaned on the hilt of my sword, thinking. "That's not bad, honestly. We'd have agreed even if she'd offered 45,000 gold coins.."
Lucia frowned. "But I thought you wanted to sell the full 10,000 mana cores?"
I shrugged, smirking slightly. "It's fine. Here's what you'll do: give her the full 5,000 mana cores for 50,000 gold coins.. And add another 5000 mana cores.. Tell her to sell them however she wants, but she needs to bring back 40,000 gold coins to our town by next week. If she does, we'll offer her another shipment of 10,000 mana cores nd this time we will charge only 80,000 gold coins.."
Lucia raised a brow. "And if she fails?"
"Then the partnership's over," I said simply. "But I have a feeling she'll pull it off."
---
Back at the inn, Shina was pacing when Lucia returned. She froze when she saw Lucia, her expression torn between hope and anxiety.
"Well?" Shina asked, her voice tentative.
Lucia leaned against the doorway, her arms crossed. "You'll get your 5,000 mana cores," she began. Shina's face lit up, but Lucia continued before she could celebrate. "But there's a condition."
Shina tilted her head. "A condition?"
Lucia nodded. "Ace has decided to give you the full 10,000 mana cores."
"What?!" Shina's eyes widened. "But I said—"
"Listen," Lucia interrupted firmly. "You'll get the full batch. What you do with them is up to you—sell them all, split them, keep some for yourself. But by next week, we expect 40,000 gold coins brought back to this town. We'll be taking the 50,000 gold coins you brought."
Shina stared, stunned. "Forty thousand? And… if we succeed?"
Lucia's lips curved into a faint smirk. "Then we'll supply you with another shipment of 10,000 mana cores and also give you a discount at 80,000 gold coins. Though if you fail, the deal's off."
Shina's tension melted into a confident grin. "That's a bold gamble. I like it. Alright, you've got yourself a deal!"
Lucia extended her hand. "Don't make us regret this."
"Oh, don't worry," Shina said, shaking her hand. "You won't."
Lucia didn't respond but held her gaze for a moment before turning to leave. Only time would tell if Shina could deliver on her bold promise.
---
Ace swung his sword, his mind drifting to the proposal he had Lucia delivered to Shina.
This wasn't just a deal for mana cores—it was an investment in the person, Shina herself. She had potential, a spark of ambition that could thrive under the right conditions.
Still, doubt lingered. Would she rise to the challenge or let greed cloud her judgment? He could only hope she wouldn't falter, that she'd see the bigger picture.
Ace exhaled, refocusing on his blade. Trusting someone was always a gamble, but sometimes, taking a chance on the right person could change everything.
每周推薦票狀態
-- 推薦票
榜單 
-- 推薦票