Chapter 25: 2 Silver Coins

The bustling market was alive, but the merchant selling his goods with his daughter by his side had little luck with sales.

“If we can’t sell much even today, it’ll be even harder on other days.”

The man sat back on the wagon bench.

His goods weren’t in the highest price range; after all, the royal city never lacked quality products.

The nobles certainly wouldn’t stop at his stall.

So this time, he brought mostly mid-to-low tier goods—like paper and pens—targeted at scholars who didn’t demand the highest quality, just usability.

He’d also visited a few bookstores in the city.

Some shops sold paper of even lower quality than his, yet they had stable customers and trusted, long-term trade relationships.

It was hard for a traveling merchant like him to get a piece of that pie.

“Did I make a mistake buying this batch of cheap paper?”

He’d hoped to sell them at cost price, but the lower price only made people suspect the quality.

It became even harder to sell.

“Father, you don’t have the talent to be a Big Merchant.”

The girl organized the goods.

Under the streetlamp, her usually dark skin took on a hint of warmth.

Actually, as long as the price was right, there would always be customers.

People like Mel Carlo would buy.

If you couldn’t sell even a little, that was just bad luck.

“Don’t be ridiculous. I’m a natural-born merchant.”

As the man sighed, a figure in leather stopped at their stall.

He quickly greeted him.

“Sir, is there something you’re looking for?”

“No, I just wanted to ask if you sold some paper and pens to three children?”

“Sir, my prices are fair. I definitely didn’t cheat any children.

All transactions are by mutual agreement.”

The man explained immediately.

His face, weathered and unshaven, looked even more destitute.

From the moment this person appeared, he was certain of his identity—a member of the royal city’s gang, likely higher than a small-time leader.

It seemed the gang was still investigating the incident with the Duchess’s wallet.

After all, it was a loss for the gang.

They sacrificed a small leader to appease the Duke’s House.

Now, it looked like either he or the three kids were under suspicion.

No matter his doubts, he maintained a smile.

This was basic merchant etiquette.

“Would you also like some paper and pens?”

“Sure, how much?”

The gang investigator smiled.

He’d gathered some information already.

From nearby bookstore owners, he learned that this traveling merchant did business here.

The paper and pens probably came from him.

If you wanted to buy something, you had to pay.

“One silver coin for three paper booklets.

Same price for quill pens.”

“I can buy the paper, but the quill pens are overpriced.

Since that’s the case, I’ll be direct.

I assume you already guessed who I am.”

The gang investigator’s demeanor suddenly turned cold.

“What about the coins the three kids spent?

I want those coins.”

“Sir, there are so many customers every day.

How could I possibly remember every single one?

I thought you were a parent of one of the kids, worried I overcharged them.”

The man wasn’t nervous.

This was the royal city, and patrols by guards were frequent.

The gang wouldn’t dare act openly against him.

He didn’t see any need to keep the secret, either.

But if there was a secret, it ought to fetch a good price.

If that kid chose to use him to escape the royal city, he could get 2500 Orlen in one go.

If the goods couldn’t be sold here, he could sell them elsewhere.

At least he wouldn’t lose money.

“So you don’t intend to talk!”

“No, sir.

I’m a merchant.

Different people have different ways of doing things.

If you’re willing to buy more goods, maybe I can answer your question.”

The gang investigator’s face darkened, his hand reaching for his dagger, but a passing guard’s footsteps made him hesitate.

“How much do you want?”

“How about 500 Orlen?”

“Fine, you merchants are really cunning.”

The gang investigator tossed eight silver coins onto the stall.

One was for the paper, two for the stolen goods, and the remaining five for the information.

“Very well, sir.

I’ll solve your problem at once.

Claire, wrap three paper booklets in a burlap bag for the gentleman.”

The man instructed, then took out two silver coins from the pouch.

Their shine was fresh—more like collectibles than coins in circulation.

“Are you sure?”

“Yes, sir.

I’m sure you can tell at a glance.

These two silver coins are so new, it’s as if they barely circulated.”

A good merchant measures risk.

For 2500 Orlen, he might be killed by the gang.

And that kid might not even come to him.

But 500 Orlen was straightforward.

At least he’d have travel money.

The kid probably never expected the gang would still be investigating months later.

The gang member took the two silver coins and pinched them between his fingers.

The merchant was right.

The coins were remarkably new.

Maybe taking them to the Duke’s House would reveal something, but the matter was already over.

Going there again would just bring more trouble.

Better to start with the little piggy.

“Sir, perhaps you could buy all the paper.

I can give you a fair price.

If you have a sales channel, you could earn a lot.”

“Haha, outsider, you must not know.

These profitable goods are already monopolized by the Noble Chamber of Commerce.

Even I have a hard time selling them.

When you newcomers arrive, they drop the price and make sure you can’t sell.

Merchants like you can’t weather the storms.”

The gang investigator laughed.

He knew the situation well.

The fewer traveling merchants there were, the more profit for local merchants with stable supply chains.

Monopolistic and stable.

But this small merchant was clearly caught in a war between Big Merchants.

“Go home early, country bumpkin!”

The gang investigator lifted the bag and left.

It was meant as friendly advice.

If more Refugees entered the city, there was a risk of looting.

The war between foreign lands and the Demon King’s army never ceased, and more regions were falling.

The merchant’s expression didn’t relax.

It wasn’t the ridicule that stung him, but the awareness of a problem he couldn’t solve.

No one was targeting him specifically.

He was just collateral damage in a price war between local and foreign Big Merchants.

First they drop prices to seize the market, then squeeze out competitors and gain monopoly, so they can set prices at will.

“Father, why didn’t you give him all three silver coins?”

“Because I still plan to earn the remaining 2500 Orlen.”

“Daughter, maybe I should write a Book about merchants.”

The man looked at his daughter, Claire.

Maybe she’d become a great merchant, inheriting his sharp instincts and her mother’s red skin.

“Better not. With your recklessness, Father, the King might have you beheaded by Your Majesty.”

Claire wasn’t in high spirits.

Who would have thought her father would suddenly want to become a merchant?

“Can we go home now? At least we have travel money. Or do you want to sell everything at a loss?”

“I know. At least it hasn’t rained recently, or the paper would be too damp to sell.”

“We can’t sell it anyway, so don’t worry, Father.”

“Why do you always say such gloomy things? Who did you learn that from? I remember your mother wasn’t like this.”