I could feel Godwin taking a step back.
"So what is this dicine?"
"I can't tell you that."
"Then I can't trust it."
"Do as you like."
I stood up as if I had no regrets.
"Then continue to do well."
Just as I was about to step out, Godwin said, "Wait, wait. I've changed my mind. Sit down again."
I could hear the urgency in his voice.
"Really?"
I turned my head and spat out, "Of course."
Godwin, suppressing his fiery temper, scratched the back of his head. It ant that his situation was not good.
"Alright, I'll change my mind this one ti. But there won't be a next ti."
I didn't play hard to get, but I made a clear warning.
The more confidently I could walk away, the more it worked in my favor.
I sat down again.
"I've brought a one-day sample of the dicine. I promise you'll know after one day whether this dicine has an effect on you or not."
I took out the powdered dicine from my bag. In fact, it didn't need to be ground into powder for its effectiveness. But then Godwin could have easily identified its components. That's why it was completely ground and mixed.
"Ha, alright. Let's try taking it as a test."
Godwin still didn't seem very convinced. But since there was nothing to lose by trying, he reached out his hand imdiately. I tossed the dicine to him and stood up.
"Take it before you go to bed. I'm busy, so I'll be going."
Bang.
---
"Has the ordered item arrived?"
After leaving Godwin's house, I was at Carson's underground secret shop.
"Yes, it has arrived. It usually takes longer, but since it was a special custor's order, we took extra care."
Carson said with a smile, emphasizing that "you are a special custor" and appealing to his own efforts. Typical of a savvy rchant. But I was not a custor to be swayed by such talk. Carson is fundantally different from the suckers he had deceived so far.
"Then bring the item. I want to check its condition."
"Haha, sure."
Carson went to the warehouse and brought back two bundles of sacks.
"Take your ti to check."
"Hmm."
I untied the sack. Each sack contained herbs. Of course, it was not just any herbs. One was dicinal herbs, and the other was poison. The poison could cause severe vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea, but it also had very high nerve-calming and sleep-inducing effects.
These effects were exactly what was needed for Godwin's illness. But since it was poison, no one sought or used it. Except for a very few users and .
Hardcore users who would pore over every book in the academy's library knew.
If they had read the ancient texts about the side effects and benefits of nurous poisons and their antidotes, they could use this information, which might otherwise be overlooked, to try and cure Godwin.
Godwin's treatnt was not a product of chance. It was a product of effort. And I had to reap the results of that effort this ti, too.
"The condition is good."
There was no sign of wilting. And with this amount, it would be enough until the job was finished.
"Of course. We never deal with shoddy goods. That's the basic principle of doing business, isn't it?"
Carson rubbed his hands with a good-natured smile.
"Good. I'll take the whole sack. How much?"
"Hehe, as you know, since it's not an item we usually handle and was specially ordered, the starting price is 1 gold. But don't worry. The service fee is included. Depending on the difficulty of obtaining it, there will be an additional charge. This ti, it's 20 silver. Finally, adding the item's price of 30 silver makes it 1 gold 50 silver."
A whopping 1 gold 50 silver for a bundle of common herbs and poison that no one else would even look at.
An absolute robbery.
Of course, even though it was so, it wasn't exactly a strain on my finances. But I didn't feel like handing it over quietly. It was a matter of principle. I felt off just being treated like one of the other suckers by Carson.
"This isn't right."
"Huh?"
Carson barely managed to hide his expression, which seed to say, "What's this nonsense now?"
That was exactly it.
I wanted to see that expression. You have to rip off the con artists.
"Why 20 silver for the lowest difficulty level? And 30 silver for the value of the goods? Even after all this, do you still see as a sucker? Especially since you couldn't even sell such poisonous herbs to anyone but ? How about 10 silver for the additional charge and 15 silver for the value of the goods? That seems more than enough to ."
I cut both prices in half.
"Ah, but custor, that's a bit excessive..."
"If what I'm saying is really excessive, then counter it point by point. If it's convincing, I'll pay double. But if it's just nonsense, be prepared."
"Even if you say that..."
Even though I offered a chance to make a windfall by doubling the price, Carson was just sweating and stamring.
He must not have a clear and convincing argunt. He kept glancing at , trying to gauge whether he had a chance. If I had been even slightly gullible, he would have been spinning his smooth talk.
But it seed he figured he couldn't get the upper hand. He sighed.
"Ah, our custor is truly not an ordinary person. The difficulty is not the lowest, but it's indeed low, so let's set the additional fee at 15 silver, and the price of the goods at 25 silver. '10, 15.'"
"No, but there's a limit to how much I can concede... '10, 15.'"
"An original deal is supposed to end amicably without hard feelings, beneficial for both sides. '10, 15.'"
"10, 15."
"Huh, I haven't said anything yet, what's this '10, 15' again?"
"10, 15."
"10, 15."
"Ugh, enough, enough! I'll do it for 10, 15, just stop already!"
"Good. It's a good deal."
"Augh!"
"Temper?"
"Hehe, what temper?"
"Here is 1 gold and 25 silver."
"Th-thank... you..."
"Thank you?"
"I thank you."
"Good work."
Carson took the paynt with a forced smile, and I couldn't help but notice how his hands shook slightly as he counted the coins.
He was too proud to show frustration, but anyone could tell he was biting his tongue. I stowed the herbs away in my bag, ensuring the poison was securely packed.
It would be crucial for Godwin's treatnt, and I couldn't afford any mistakes.
"Always a pleasure doing business with you," I said, turning toward the exit.
"Y-yes, likewise," Carson stamred, still maintaining his strained grin. I could feel his eyes burning into my back as I left the shop, but I didn't care. He knew as well as I did that he wouldn't find a better buyer for such dangerous goods.
Outside, the cool night air greeted , a stark contrast to the stale atmosphere of Carson's underground lair. I took a deep breath, adjusting the bag slung over my shoulder, and began walking toward the outskirts of the city.
Reviews
All reviews (0)