Chapter 54 – Trading Post (2)

“You will bring me profit? To this Durandal?”

“It was a wrong expression. It was my expectation that we could make a mutually beneficial transaction.”

Henry was paying attention to his expressions.

In fact, although the meaning itself was the same, the expressions “transaction” and “profit” stimulated Durandal’s curiosity.

One step further from there.

Henry chose a method that a merchant could not help but be interested in.

“When this conversation ends, if you judge it to have been a meaningless talk, sir, I will only receive half of the set price.”

The Osland pure steel ingots set at 400 gold.

Since there were twelve of them, it meant he would lose 2,400 gold.

By this point, Durandal also had to show some sincerity.

“In truth, those who handle these ingots make the same evaluation. That if an ordinary person handles it, it is no different from outstanding steel. However, although you may not know, the true value of pure steel is revealed when utilized as a vessel to contain mana.”

“Fortunately, I know.”

“Naturally the demand is high, but those who desperately want it are not many. Of course, I am saying this limiting it to those with purchasing power.”

In effect, it meant nobles.

Merchants also had sufficient financial power, but they did not command loyal knights.

There was no merchant who would place such valuable armament in the hands of a mere mercenary.

“And among them, there are those who consider their own honor as the greatest value, and just in time, such people have settled in similar places.”

It meant competition had broken out between nobles who were especially prideful.

Since they could not openly wage war, they would want to show off the strength of the knights they held.

“I understand.”

“You will probably be able to obtain quite a few things. Was this a sufficient answer?”

“It is sufficient. Ultimately, the value of a commodity changes depending on the time and situation.”

“Are you perhaps trying to show off your qualities as a merchant? If that is the purpose, even if the conversation continues, I don’t think anything will change, though.”

“No. These were not words spoken to you, Sir Durandal, but for me to reflect on myself. Because I know what kind of person I am dealing with now.”

In truth, it was words spoken to the viewers.

Since they spent their daily lives shut in the magic tower, he thought they would be in the dark about such aspects.

However, contrary to Henry’s expectations.

[Money… generates… money…]

[It’s really a sweet deal haha. They have a sales outlet, and even if they just sit still, people bring them goods haha]

[Isn’t it a position where they make money just by breathing? haha]

It was not that the magicians were in the dark about such parts.

Rather, to the extent that they seemed to know the current flow even better than Henry.

‘I don’t have to explain that in detail.’

Fortunately, it seemed the conversation could become even more concise.

“I will tell you.”

“It seems you have organized your thoughts.”

“A transaction is not called so strictly because money changes hands, nor do commodities strictly mean only things that can be held in hands like this pure steel.”

“Indeed…”

“I think it is because of those nobles you mentioned that this pure steel could avoid heading to the warehouse. Because if not for them, you would have waited until obtaining the highest value.”

“This is unpleasant. For you, thinking before speaking should be the proper sequence.”

“Other than this pure steel, is there an item you need right now, Sir Durandal?”

Henry paid no attention to Durandal’s unpleasant expression.

What was the important factor for a merchant?

Pride?

Honor?

Although those things could not be ignored either, the element that stood above all of them was none other than “profit.”

Durandal was in a position of having lived his entire life as a merchant.

His sense, polished for a long time, smelled a thick scent of money from the question Henry threw just now.

“Something I need.”

“The more such an item is, the better. If it is rare in Vallaran but common somewhere else.”

“May I take it as meaning it is much easier to obtain?”

“It won’t be late even if you make your judgment a bit later.”

“How about the golden bird’s egg said to be found only in the Brang Islands?”

Brang Islands.

It was the territory of the Stormlake Kingdom, which was in a hostile relationship with Vallaran.

In most regions, the golden bird’s egg was traded at a price about ten times more expensive than gold of the same weight, but in Vallaran, it was practically a seller’s market where they could name any price.

“You must tell me the reason first.”

“I heard the Duchess wants it.”

It meant there was a potential customer, he had not established a contact point with that customer yet, and if he only had the golden bird’s egg, he could attempt it.

“Please wait a moment.”

Henry opened the sponsorship shop.

As soon as he used the search function, he could verify the item.

[Golden bird’s egg: 700,000 won]

* It is a golden bird’s egg. It is known that this beautiful shape can never be artificially produced. Extremely rare.

It was as much as 700,000 won.

Although it was a substantial price, Henry did not hesitate.

[Purchased the item.]

*Clench.*

Immediately upon purchase, something was grasped in the hand he had placed in his pocket.

A size similar to an egg.

However, its texture was of a kind that could never be compared to something like a chicken egg.

“I will ask first. At how much will you purchase it?”

“If you really bring it…”

“There will be no bargaining in this transaction.”

It meant that if the price was not to his liking, he would not sell it.

Simultaneously, it meant it would also become impossible to establish a relationship with Henry, not just obtain the golden bird’s egg.

Durandal said after deep contemplation.

“1,500 gold is the best I can do.”

“I will accept.”

Durandal was sincere, and in any case, Henry did not accept the transaction to make a financial profit.

‘I only needed to verify that it was not a lie.’

Subsequently.

*Thud.* At the item Henry laid out, Durandal ended up doubting his own eyes.

“How can this be.”

Even if he stared wide-eyed, nothing changed.

Because what was placed on the table was definitely a golden bird’s egg.

“May I examine it?”

“Go ahead.”

Durandal picked up the egg while wearing soft cloth gloves.

Bringing it near his eyes to examine it first, he soon finished the verification using the tools his escort had brought.

The result was clear.

“It is genuine. There is no room for doubt.”

“Are you going to purchase it?”

“Of course.”

Durandal hastily directed his escort to prepare bags filled with gold.

“It must be heavy, will you be alright?”

“Is there another way?”

“I have a promissory note I issue myself, but I don’t know if you can trust it. You will be able to exchange it for gold anytime at the Royal Central Bank.”

“I will receive it in a promissory note.”

Now, gold was not important to Henry.

Since a situation where he could obtain 1,500 gold for 700,000 won had come to pass.

Rather, the fact that this Durandal had connections even with the Royal Central Bank was a more valuable income than that.

Henry received the note Durandal handed over.

It was exactly 1,500 gold, and the issuer was Lycos Parvuchi, not Durandal.

“The issuer’s name is different?”

“Please think of it as a meaning of trust. Because Durandal is a name used only in Lupin’s Right Hand. Since you showed trust in me, I am also merely reciprocating.”

“Were you a noble?”

“I don’t think that is an important matter, but…”

“It is true. However, it was only surprising that you, my lord, were not a citizen of the Vallaran Kingdom. Isn’t achieving success in a foreign land a truly difficult task?”

“……Well, yes. It wasn’t easy. However, how about postponing this conversation to later? Today won’t be our last meeting, will it?”

“It seems it was not a meaningless conversation.”

“Meaningless!”

Durandal laughed heartily.

“I apologize if my previous actions were unpleasant. This is truly a place where it is difficult to judge the value of a person faced… Ah, do you perhaps have a dimensional pouch?”

“No. If I had one, I would have received gold instead of a note.”

“Then this item…”

“I cannot speak of it, but I can obtain items in the same way as now. Of course, it is a method accompanied by substantial restrictions.”

“Nonetheless, the ability to obtain the appropriate item at the appropriate time possesses a value incomparable to anything. Of course, in terms of a merchant’s standards.”

“Fortunately, it seems I have become a necessary person to you, Sir Durandal.”

“How is it for you?”

“It must be because I was the same that I spoke these words. Now, as I said earlier…”

“We can make a mutually beneficial transaction.”

Durandal was now wearing a face that was favorable to the utmost.

Because his experience emphasized that Henry in front of him was the goose that laid golden eggs.

To Durandal, who looked at him with eyes as if telling him to ask for anything, Henry brought up the business he had postponed.

“Please adjust the price of the pure steel ingots to 460 gold.”

“460 gold?”

“Yes.”

“…Is that all?”

Durandal asked back in disbelief.

Asking to adjust only the price of pure steel.

Even then, it was at most raising it by 60 gold each.

In the first place, since Durandal also had intended to pay up to 450 gold, wasn’t it a price that went up by a mere 10 gold?

“Since such small change wouldn’t be the purpose, you must have had your own circumstances. The transaction is established. I will pay 460 gold per ingot, a total of 5,520 gold.”

“Thank you.”

“I still have many things I am curious about. Time to talk further…”

“We will meet again soon.”

“Thanks to you, I will be able to obtain the mining rights of a gold mine. I will wait here.”

Information he didn’t need to let know.

This action openly revealed the fact that Durandal held a very great favor toward Henry.

Henry willingly accepted that favor.

“We can meet in a bit closer date. Oh, and also. Could you give me 1,720 gold in cash?”

***

Immediately after exiting Durandal’s space.

Henry was dealing with the chat window of explosive reactions.

[Again and again, you used a cheat key haha]

[Isn’t it too much of a cheat?? Just selling this, he would make tens of thousands of gold easily haha]

[Did you say he buys it with sponsorship funds??]

[It’s probably set that way? I don’t know well haha]

[Right haha, they say only the sponsorship shop doesn’t appear on the screen haha]

[In fact, isn’t it really a cheat key??? haha]

The reaction was exceptionally intense today of all days.

Not only was the amount earned by selling pure steel immense, but to the viewers, it felt as if even the golden bird’s egg was obtained too easily.

“What the viewers said is correct. If my purpose were gold, tens of thousands of gold would not be that difficult. The golden bird’s egg is also around 700,000 won.”

In the first place, it was an amount that could be gathered as much as he wanted just by selling pure steel. If Henry’s dream had been a prosperous environment, he could have achieved it within a few months.

However, Henry had no intention of doing so.

“My dream is not to be a wealthy merchant. Only becoming an outstanding knight is my dream, and the amount sponsored by the viewers is insufficient even to invest in the beads of talent.”

Even the level 3 bead he had to purchase right away reached several million won.

If he invested money in such things, it was certain that he would be pushed back indefinitely.

Because no matter how much gold he earned here, the money that could be used in the sponsorship shop was only the amount obtained through broadcasting.

“Nonetheless, the reason I go through a cumbersome process here is,”

[The item has been purchased.]

“Because it is a necessary part for me as a knight. I cannot break the academy’s custom, nor do I have any intention to. Also, I have confidence that if I establish a relationship with a black market merchant, a moment where it can be utilized will surely come.”

Henry was consistent.

In the first place, he did not rejoice in the fact that he could touch massive money, and if not for the dean’s threat, there would have been no reason to come here.

This was strictly an action chosen “out of necessity.”

“I have not forgotten what is most precious to me. The dream of becoming an outstanding knight is so, and the magicians who watch me now are so.”

[Suddenly became too serious??]

[This is real, right? haha]

[This guy does this once in a while haha. I can’t tell if it’s roleplayer/concept or not haha]

[An extreme roleplayer haha]

It was that expression again.

Roleplayer.

At first he thought it meant a person who did not fit the position, but looking at manager Flame Solo’s video, it was clear it did not hold a negative meaning.

Because in Flame Solo’s video, they were calling Henry Camilton himself a roleplayer.

And Henry was someone who knew how to utilize newly learned knowledge right away.

“Please believe in me. I, Henry Camilton, will become an excellent roleplayer who does not betray the expectations of the viewers.”

BJ Swordmaster