Chapter 6 : Chapter 6
Volume 1
Chapter 6 : Money Isn’t the Only Thing of Value
“Don’t worry. The color is a little conspicuous, yes, but if you put it in something like red wine, it is completely impossible to notice,” the shopkeeper explained patiently, sensing Muen’s concern.
“And compared with that tiny flaw of being a little too visible, its advantages are far greater. As long as someone drinks even a single drop, even an elephant will go weak all over and collapse to the ground.”
Muen’s eyes lit up. “It’s that powerful?”
“Of course. You get what you pay for. I’ve always run a small and honest business here, fair to young and old alike.”
After boasting shamelessly for a while, the shopkeeper spread those overly fair and slender little hands before Muen and the other black-robed figure and said with a cheerful smile,
“That will be one hundred and thirty thousand Aemirs in total. No bargaining, no credit, thank you very much.”
“One hundred and thirty thousand…”
The corner of Muen’s mouth twitched slightly.
Aemirs were the common currency of this world, and their purchasing power was roughly comparable to RMB in Muen’s previous life.
So how could he possibly fail to realize now that the shopkeeper’s talk of honest business and fair dealing had all been utter nonsense?
What kind of knockout drug cost one hundred and thirty thousand?
Fortunately, he was still the all-powerful duke’s son for now.
A mere one hundred and thirty thousand was nothing to him.
“Will that be a card or cash?”
The shopkeeper rubbed those little hands together excitedly.
It was not every day that two such perfect marks walked through the door at once.
Naturally, an opportunity to fleece them had to be fully seized.
“Card.”
Muen lavishly tossed out his crystal card.
Crystal cards of his grade had extremely advanced confidentiality protections, so he was not worried about exposing his identity through it.
“Splendid.”
The shopkeeper deftly charged one hundred and thirty thousand Aemirs, then took a small bottle from a nearby shelf and offered it up with both hands together with the crystal card.
“Please take care on your way, young master. This is a little gift from me.”
“A little gift? What is it?”
“Hehe, one must preserve a bit of mystery, mustn’t one? But I would suggest using it together with that knockout drug. It will have a miraculous effect.”
“A miraculous effect?”
Would it strengthen the drug’s potency?
Muen frowned.
Since he knew little about alchemical potions, he did not pay much attention to it.
He simply tucked both bottles into his pocket and prepared to leave.
After collecting Muen’s one hundred and thirty thousand Aemirs, the shopkeeper turned toward the other black-robed figure.
“And you, honored customer? Card or cash?”
“I do not have enough Aemirs, nor do I intend to pay with Aemirs.”
The black-robed figure spoke in a calm tone, yet the words themselves were extremely dangerous.
Hearing that, Muen could not help stopping in his tracks and casting a curious glance in her direction.
Could it be that in a place like the underground black market, someone actually dared to rob people in broad daylight?
“Oh? Then what you mean is…” As expected, a trace of chilling coldness seeped out from beneath the shopkeeper’s hood.
“Although I do not have money, I can sell you a piece of information.”
“One hundred and thirty thousand is no small sum.”
“This information is absolutely worth one hundred and thirty thousand.”
The black-robed figure handed the shopkeeper a slip of paper.
“In fact, to certain people, it is worth far more than that.”
“Oh?”
Although he still could not see the shopkeeper’s face, Muen could easily imagine those brows lifting in interest.
“Now this is intriguing.”
The shopkeeper accepted the note, unfolded it, and let that gaze sweep over it with astonishing speed.
For a brief instant, Muen felt as though even the air had frozen.
“Oh my, oh my. Well, this truly is…”
The shopkeeper lifted their head and looked toward the black-robed figure.
There was already a trace of gravity in that voice.
“Are you certain this information is genuine?”
“Whether it is genuine or not, with the shopkeeper’s capabilities, a single investigation will tell you.”
“…You really do trust me. Still, just as you said, this information is indeed worth one hundred and thirty thousand.”
The shopkeeper tossed the knockout drug to the black-robed figure.
“Take it. It is yours.”
The black-robed figure caught it and remained as silent as ever.
Without another word, she turned and left.
Cold and efficient, almost like a machine.
Muen had not even fully processed what had happened before his gaze fell, almost unconsciously, onto that slip of paper.
What kind of information could possibly be worth one hundred and thirty thousand?
“Oh my, young master is interested in this information as well? Then why not let me sell it to you too? Seeing as we are practically old acquaintances by now, I can even give you a discount. I’ll let you have it for only this much.”
The shopkeeper raised nine slender fingers and indicated the price.
“Ninety thousand?”
“Hehe, the young master really does know how to joke. At ninety thousand, my poor little shop would suffer a ruinous loss.”
The shopkeeper paused, then said,
“Nine hundred thousand Aemirs.”
“……”
The corner of Muen’s mouth twitched again.
This time, he ignored the shopkeeper completely, turned on his heel, and walked out.
Using information acquired by gouging him with a knockout drug of unknown actual value, this swindler still wanted to charge him nine hundred thousand Aemirs for it.
Sure enough, this person was nothing but a pure and simple profiteer.
…
“Oh my, oh my. Well, this truly is…”
Even after Muen had left, the shopkeeper still stared at the information written on that slip of paper.
The disguising hood had long since been removed.
Her willow-leaf brows were arched high, as if lifted by the wind.
“Tomorrow was supposed to be nothing more than the coming-of-age banquet of that useless son of Duke Campbell. But if this piece of information gets out, things will become very interesting indeed.”
“Now then, who should I sell it to? The Second Prince seems like a fine choice. He has always disliked that outstanding little sister of his. Given his status, asking for two million should not be excessive, should it?”
“And that old man, Duke Raymond, would certainly be very interested as well.”
“Oh my, one fish, two meals. I really am wicked, aren’t I?”
The shopkeeper propped her cheek on one hand in feigned distress, yet the smile curling at her lips was so alluring that it could stir anyone’s heart.
“Then again, no one ever said that information could only be sold to one person, did they?”
…
“Young Master Muen.”
When Muen returned to the ducal manor, he happened to run into Ann, who had only just come back from dealing with various tasks.
“How did the maid matter turn out? Has it been settled?”
“It has already been handled properly. The head maid will recruit people overnight, and the staff assignments have also been adjusted. There should not be any major issue with manpower tomorrow.”
“That’s good. With time this tight, you’ve all worked hard.”
Muen nodded.
“No, it was our fault for not making the proper arrangements in advance. We have caused concern for you, Young Master.”
Ann bowed in apology.
“There is no need for that. This is what I ought to do.”
Muen waved a hand, signaling for Ann to straighten up.
“You should rest early as well. There will not be any time to rest tomorrow.”
“But I still need to attend to you, Young Master…”
“There is no need. I am not a child who must be looked after in every little thing. Besides, I will be turning in early tonight as well.”
Once he finished speaking, Muen gave Ann no room to respond and simply turned and walked toward his room.
It was better for him to be alone tonight.
The sins he was meant to bear should not be shared by another innocent person.
“……”
But Ann remained where she was, staring at Muen’s gradually receding back.
The trace of doubt that had lingered in her eyes all this time now grew even deeper and more intense.
“How strange.”
As she thought, Ann unconsciously bit her lip.
Even when blood seeped from her lip and dripped onto the white front of her maid uniform, she did not notice it at all.
She only kept staring fixedly at Muen’s back until he disappeared from view.
“Young Master Muen, when did you start becoming so gentle?”