Chapter 76. Problem Customers
The next day was a down day, relatively. Only a few small ships pulled into the docks, and not all the salesmen bothered to set up their stalls at all, let alone hawk their wares as aggressively as they had the previous day. Rhys’s and Bast’s stall, on the other hand, maintained a long and winding line. They were still in the fad phase, and Rhys was loving it. Just as he’d promised, gold flowed like water from their customers’ pockets directly into their hands. The new ships full of students gave them inquisitive or dismissive looks, unwilling, for the most part, to brave the long line in order to try their wares, but a few joined the lines, or had big, curious eyes, and Rhys knew he’d gotten them hooked from having such a long line alone. Even the ones who gave him dismissive looks had noticed him, and that was the most important thing. The second he could stick in the mind of prospective customers, he’d won.
Of course, it wasn’t all smooth sailing. Two problems had reared their heads, in the form of a white-haired Empire trainee and a beautiful young lady from the Uninhibited Wealth School.
“I’ll take everything this stall has,” Laurent declared haughtily, looking down on Rhys. His eyes bored holes into Rhys’s face.
Gods, I hope my makeup is passable again today, Rhys thought, looking half-away to keep Laurent from getting too good of a dead-on look at his face. The way the guy was staring, he was no longer worried about being seen through, and more worried about Laurent recognizing him out of costume, despite all the work he’d put in.
Laurent stared, barely keeping his jaw from going slack. Gods, she’s so cute. I want to stand here and bask in her cuteness all day. I wonder if buying out her whole stock will get her attention?
“Dear customer, our stall has a limit of three bags per person,” Bast rumbled in all-but-his-usual-voice, coming up behind Rhys. He glared death at Laurent, his hand reaching to his hip, where he’d obstinately tied a sword despite Rhys’s best efforts. “It’s better if no one associates you with swords!” “But how will I protect you?” In the end, he’d begrudgingly allowed Rhys to buy him a cheap sword in the marketplace, so he would appear to be no more than a merchant showing off sloppy but trendy wares, as opposed to wearing his actual sword into the stall. He’d almost insisted on that, until Rhys pointed out how obvious it was and how easily it was tied to the Sword Saint’s apprentice. Only then, when Rhys had brought up his Master, had Bast finally caved.
Laurent startled. He glanced at Bast, giving him the usual wary look. His eyes narrowed. “I was talking to Rina.”
“And Rina says there’s a limit of three bags per person!” Rhys chirped, quickly stepping in front of Bast. “Thank you so much, loyal customer. If you want more bags, you can get back in line!”
Laurent’s eyes turned back to Rhys. He nodded and handed over the gold, then obediently got back in the end of the line.
Rhys breathed out. “Jeez.”
“Why not just let him buy out the stall? You’ll get your money then,” Bast said, not understanding.
Rhys shook his finger. “I understand the sentiment, and I do like gold, but you’re looking too shallowly. If I sell all our potato chips to him, who experiences our potato chips?”