143 -) Balgar
Year 1452, month 08, day 09
The next morning in Balgar arrived with a crisp, golden light that set the city's limestone facades aglow. Sarya and I stepped out into the bustling streets, our senses immediately overwhelmed by the sights and sounds of the capital. It would be hard to get used to it since it hit us as soon as we got out of the building, but it helped us to ease the tension around us.
Sarya looked especially distracted, which was fine by me since she seemed too shy to even look me in the eye. Even if our feelings were genuine last night, she would not say things like that if she weren't under the influence of alcohol.
We did not want to look for a place to eat just like yesterday, so we had a light breakfast in the inn. As expected, we did not say a word at all during breakfast. After leaving the inn, we spent the early morning wandering through the winding streets, admiring the intricate architecture and the immense size of the statues adorning the squares.
Amidst the sightseeing, we found our way to the merchant's quarter. The process of selling the various trinkets and valuable goods we had brought was a lesson in patience and haggling; after visiting several stalls and enduring the scrutiny of sharp-eyed traders, we finally managed to secure a bag of coins that felt heavy and promising.
The goods were carefully selected by me. Since there were limited spaces inside my inventory, I had to use it as effectively as possible. The things I paid attention to while choosing products were their profit potential in the capital, whether they could be used to establish connections, and whether they were scarce in the capital, which can be sold at a higher price.
It took us the whole day, so we could only inquire about a few things about going into the inner city and about the event that people are gathering for. It is said that we should apply for it when it comes to entering the inner city. The best and fastest way to go was to find someone for a recommendation. Therefore, I decided to hold the other enchanted items I brought with me to appeal to an equipment merchant instead of just selling them.
As for the upcoming event, I heard it would take place in three days. It seems like this is an event they celebrate each year to commemorate the foundation of the Union and ask the gods for their blessing, just a month ago, for the upcoming harvest season.
There was also a special decree that the grand prince was rumored to announce. It was said to be about a city located in the northeast that seemingly disregarded the rules of the Union and refused to comply with any of the calls for reconciliation. They say that the grand prince could decide to send an envoy with a small-scale army just to force them to listen and get some proper response.
None of these attracted me, but I heard that there will likely be a parade where I can take a glimpse of the grand prince, the elected leader of the Hazaroth Union. I have no intention, nor need to, meet with him right now, but who knows, we might see each other face to face in the future.
Selling more than one-third of my inventory while sightseeing the capital with Sarya, we returned to the inn after a dinner in the same restaurant we visited yesterday. There were so many places to see in the big capital, so we decided to wander around while slowly melting down the goods I brought.
The most important issue is to find an influential equipment merchant and sell them some of the equipment I brought aside from the ones with four skill crystals implanted. After that, I can ask them to introduce or lead me to the auction that resides in the inner city. If my qualification for the auction is questioned, I can just show one of the pieces of equipment with 4 skill crystals.
While I was lying on my back on the bed and thinking things over, I heard footsteps and turned. What I saw was that Sarya was coming out of the bathroom. She had a small towel wrapped around her hair and a larger one around her body, leaving her legs exposed up to her hips.
She was still trying to adjust the towel around her head, so she did not notice me staring at her. As soon as she was done, she looked toward me, and our eyes met. She looked a bit flustered at my glance and shyly averted her eyes and turned her head.
I smiled at the sight, then got out of bed with a ‘Hop’. I approached her and held her hand. Raised her hand and spun it over her head, which in return resulted in her whole body turning.
“H-hey! W-what are you do-” She could not even finish her surprised words and tried to balance her body so as not to fall. Fortunately, I did not have to hold her. She managed to regain her balance, albeit barely, when I reduced the force I applied. “Fwuh! I was about to hit the floor. You are getting mischievous, Han.” She said while pouting.
“Hahaha! Don’t worry. I would have caught you,” I said as I pulled her closer to myself, then whispered into her ear, “There's no way I'm letting you go.”
“...” She could not reply as her entire face turned red, even her ears.
That only made me laugh heartily. I tried not to push it to avoid being awkward with her, but she was the one who approached me first. Therefore, there is no need for me to hold back. I will just act like she is my woman from now on.
As Wyn and Woya are not around, she started to fill that space without any issue. As she left her body in my hands, I lifted her up in a princess carry and placed her softly on the bed. After whispering a few sweet words in her ear, I started to caress her. When the real engagement began, only the moans of pleasure filled the room.
Sarya and I spent days traveling around Balgar. We visited many places for tourists, merchants, and dungeon raiders, and tried to make as many connections as possible with the merchants and artisans of the capital.
In the end, I managed to sell all of the items I brought with me. I collected 20 platinum coins, which were equal to 2,000 gold coins. I had bought those goods for around 11 platinum coins, so clearing that much profit for a few days of effort was a massive win. For a few days of effort. I also spent around 4 platinum coins to buy goods that might sell well in Yargan when I return. That left me with 5 platinum coins and some variants of goods.
Thanks to my high charisma stat, I am now able to negotiate much more easily, but I am not a professional merchant. I can force the price I want without a proper argument. At best, I would not be scammed unless I have knowledge about the goods I intend to buy or sell.
As for Sarya, she was the main character of the transaction I made so far. She debated prices and asked for the right prices without agitation or being too humble. She led the conversation well and left it to me when I was able to finish it with my skills.
We also managed to find an influential equipment merchant. He is recommended by a few merchants I traded with in the capital, as he has strong ties with the inner city and the auction hall. If we could not find a way to enter the inner city, I was planning to sell it at one of the auction halls inside the outer city where we currently reside.
He first hesitated to introduce us to the people of the auction hall. It seemed he was worried that what we brought would be insufficient in quality, which would damage his reputation as a mediator. So I had no choice but to show him one of the pieces of equipment that I intend to present in the auction.
After seeing the spear I showed him, he decided that it was adequate. So he introduced me to one of the staff members of the auction hall. The man requested a one-on-one meeting with me for the confidentiality of the goods I want to show. Such professionalism: if one of the items I show him were to be displayed, they would not want anyone to know about it without their intention.
I first showed him the spear; I also showed the middleman merchant. He inspected the spear and agreed with its quality. However, he informed me about something else that prevents it from being displayed despite its qualifications.
“Sir, this is a fine piece, and it would be displayed as an auction item in our auction hall without a problem… in a normal situation, of course.” He said without changing his expression like a robot before adding, “To showcase an item in our auction, you have to provide both quality for the item and you have to be a somewhat reliable person yourself. You, Sir, as I informed you, are not well known around the capital despite having some good records in Yargan, but the quality of your equipment is enough to cover that area.”
“What is the problem then?” I asked.
“The problem is that the auction this time around will be quite big, thanks to the upcoming event, and it is possible that even the crown prince and the princess will be attending it.” He said and waited a bit as he read my expression. “What my point is… Sir, you have not qualified to attend the event, let alone auction any item. I am sorry.” He said as he bowed his head, still emotionless.
“Hmm.” I hummed as I thought. It makes sense even if it is unfavorable to me. So even though they knew that there was little possibility for them to accept my attendance, if not impossible, they still showed up. Maybe they just want me to be their future partner, or they just wanted to show some face to the middle merchant. “I understand. However, this is not the only item I have. I can present more than that.” I said confidently.
“It does not matter at all, Sir.” He shook his head slowly. “Even if you have another item with the exact quality, not even if you have two more, it does not make your attendance possible. I am sorry.” He said, bowing again.
“I get it. But let me show you at least.” I said as I started to take the items from my inventory.
“It is good to have confidence, Sir, but as I said-” He started to protest as I kept manifesting equipment, but he stopped mid-sentence when I pulled out the fourth new item.
“I am not trying to sell a piece of equipment, nor a few of them,” I said as I pulled out a shield, the 7th piece of equipment I prepared for the auction, then added, “I am selling a complete set of equipment, each of which has 4 skill crystals.”
“... This…” He left there mumbling. This is the first time I have seen him flustered.
“What do you say?” I asked while grinning, then my smile only widened as I added, “Would this be enough?”