Chương 291: B5—Chapter 11: Money, Money, Money—Life in Richmens’ World

After the city lord left, we stored the booths, took out three chairs, and waited for the promised manager. The people in the trading area looked at us strangely, and some even whispered and pointed, but we didn't care. It was nice knowing you didn't belong permanently to a certain place, so you didn't give a shit about what others thought of you. An hour later, a man approached us. He was middle-aged, thin, and dressed in a simple gray robe.

The only clue that he might be the promised manager was the small emblem of wheat and a sword over his heart. His most striking feature was his expressionless face—it was like staring at a store mannequin. As he drew near, he stopped a respectful distance away and bowed deeply at the waist, precisely ninety degrees.

"I am manager Sho," he said, his voice as monotone as his face.

"The city lord instructed me to assist you." His unchanging expression unnerved me—it was like speaking to a statue.

"Hello, Manager Sho." I gestured to the others.

"I'm John, and these are Mahya, Al, and Rue. Thank you for your assistance. But I must ask—how exactly will you be assisting us? The city lord wasn't specific." Sho straightened and clasped his hands in front of him. His words were precise and without any inflection.

"Rather than trading in the market, I shall escort you to merchants specializing in large-scale purchases. These merchants will acquire what you wish to sell directly, sparing you the need to deal with individual customers in the market. However, you must offer them a small discount to ensure their profit. It will save you considerable time." His face remained utterly still the whole time he spoke, as if carved from stone. There was no flicker of emotion, no hint of life behind his words. Total blank.

I exchanged a glance with Mahya and Al, who both nodded slightly. Rue gave a low huff, a sound somewhere between approval and impatience. With a small shrug, I turned back to Sho and made a sweeping gesture.

"Very well, lead the way." When the chairs we were sitting on vanished without warning, Sho abruptly changed direction.

"First, we need to address an important affair," he said, his voice flat. We exchanged puzzled glances, our bafflement mirrored on each other's faces, but followed him. He led us to a wooden building that was somewhere between a large shed and a small warehouse, depending on how you saw it. A faint scent of damp wood filled the air inside, and barrels of unknown contents densely packed the dimly lit space. Sho stopped and turned to me, his blank eyes settling on my hand.

"Storage treasures are rare and expensive," he said, his tone steady and devoid of emphasis.

"If dangerous individuals realize you possess one, they will attack you." He patted the pouch tied to his waist.

"Do you have something similar to this?" I glanced at the Manawell Band on my finger, a "gift" from the mages that attacked me in Lumis. The ring improved my mana regeneration and reduced the cost of spells by twenty percent. It wasn't a storage item. I almost corrected him, but Mahya asked, "I'm guessing the pouch is a storage item, but what difference does it make?" Sho shifted his gaze to her, his expression still eerily devoid of life.

"Storage treasures, such as rings, are unbound," he explained with precise clarity.

"This satchel, however, is bound to me. If I die, or if someone steals it and attempts to open it without authorization, all its contents will perish. It can only be opened by a blood relative or by someone granted specific permission during the binding process." Even when speaking of his own death, his face betrayed nothing—not a flicker of fear, not even a trace of concern. The lack of any reaction was unnerving, as if he were a machine delivering facts rather than a person. Spooky.

It took me a while to sift through my Storage. When items were placed directly into it, the search was always quick, no matter how much stuff I had crammed in there. But right now, my Storage was packed to the brim with perishable items. I moved everything else to the storage halls in my house. Despite my connection to the core, searching through those storage halls was much more tedious. I had to scan the items one by one, focusing on each individually.

It wasn't like having an overview or instant knowledge of everything inside; I had to mentally search through the mess piece by piece. Finally, I found a makeup set inside a black velvet pouch with drawstrings that resembled Sho's. I held it up.

"Will this work?" He examined it with a quick glance and gave a curt nod.

"Yes. Tie it to your waist. It must be visible. When you use your storage treasure, pretend to retrieve items from the satchel." I looped the strings around my belt, securing it in place. Meanwhile, Mahya and Al were shifting restlessly, their fidgeting hard to miss.

"What's going on with you two?" I asked, raising an eyebrow at their unusual unease. Mahya hesitated.

"You've got all the items for sale except a few cushions. Do you really need us to come along for this?" I reached out mentally, directing my question at both of them.

"Didn't you want the Merchant class?" Mahya crossed her arms, her expression skeptical.

"I'll get it in a saner world," she replied curtly, her tone dripping with sarcasm. Al adjusted his posture, standing straighter as he responded in a measured tone.

"I was previously pressed for time due to the unusual circumstances on Earth. Now, there is no need for urgency." I shrugged, more for myself than them.

"Have it your way," I said aloud, waving them off.

"I'll meet you back at the hotel."

"What do you wish to sell?" Sho asked.

"Almost everything you can think of," I replied.

"Tell me the options." Sho's blank expression didn't waver, but he gave a slight incline of his head.

"Be specific. The merchants I take you to will specialize in different goods—textiles, furniture, tools, foodstuffs, or rare materials. If you list your wares, I can ensure you meet the most suitable buyers." His tone remained devoid of emotion, but his words carried a distinct sense of efficiency. It was clear he wasn't interested in guesses or vagueness.

"All of the above?" Sho's gaze didn't waver.

"Is the food rich in Qi or not?"

"Both?" I replied with a slight shrug. He gave a single, sharp nod, his expression unreadable.

"Follow me," he said simply, turning on his heel and heading toward the exit without waiting for confirmation. He led me first to a small establishment tucked away in the crowded part of town. The building was behind a bustling restaurant with tables and chairs on the sidewalk and an incense shop that filled the air with thick, aromatic smoke. A narrow passage, barely wide enough for two people to pass shoulder to shoulder, cut between the buildings, leading to the hidden establishment at the back.

The faint hum of conversation from the restaurant mixed with the earthy scent of incense, creating a sensory clash that mirrored the chaos of the streets. There, I unloaded the foodstuffs I no longer needed. Before leaving Earth, I'd stocked up on beef and chicken, but I'd had to infuse them with mana to keep the peanut gallery happy—Rue being the loudest complainer. With all the superior beef from Zindor and the birds from the occurrence, there was no point in holding on to the lower-quality meat.

I also took the opportunity to buy more dairy products like butter and cream. The only thing that really caught my interest at this stop was their refrigeration boxes. They were crafted from lacquered wood, with cold somehow infused directly into the material. Despite scanning them with my mana sense, I couldn't detect any visible runes, mana clumps, or embedded spells—it was a mystery how they worked.

With each new piece of this tech I encountered, my curiosity grew stronger, to the point that it was driving me crazy not knowing the mechanics behind it. Since the money belonged to all three of us, I didn't add it to my Inventory. Instead, I tossed it into the barrel that had once held copper coins. I couldn't help but imagine the barrel feeling a sense of pride—graduating from copper to gold was quite the promotion.

Our next stop was a wholesaler specializing in mana—or Qi—infused food, located a few streets closer to the rich quarter. There, I unloaded all the mana-rich meat we didn't enjoy. During the occurrence, we harvested everything edible and mana-rich, but unfortunately, not all of it was tasty.

From strange, fatty creatures that resembled sea lions on spindly legs with hooves to giant turkeys sporting long, toothy beaks and bony ridges on their backs and heads, I sold all the cuts we had tried and unanimously decided didn't belong on our menu. Throughout all this, I kept a close eye on Manager Sho, hoping to catch some hint of a reaction. Nothing. It was unsettling, almost scary, like he didn't have a soul. Next, Sho led me to a mansion perched on the border between the upper and lower parts of the city.

As we approached, the guards at the gate bowed deeply at the sight of him, remaining bent until we disappeared inside. Still, Sho's expression didn't shift—not a flicker. This guy was something else. Behind the wall lay a wide dirt pathway leading to a three-story building bustling with activity. People moved in and out constantly, creating a steady flow of motion. On either side of the walkway stood wooden buildings of various sizes.

Though they were adorned with winged roofs and other Asian details, they still gave off the distinct impression of warehouses. A man in fine robes approached and greeted us with a deep bow, speaking softly to Sho before turning to me.

"Please follow me," he said, gesturing politely. He led us to a wooden building about the size of my living room. Its polished walls and sturdy construction gave it an air of quiet elegance.

"Please arrange all the furniture you wish to sell," he instructed, his tone courteous but professional.

"Notify me when you are ready, and our appraiser will examine your offerings." I glanced around the modest space and shook my head.

"I need a bigger room." Without a word, he nodded and led us to another building, this one twice the size of the first. I rubbed the back of my neck, feeling a bit awkward.

"Uh, do you have something even bigger?" His eyes widened slightly, the first hint of surprise I'd seen, before flicking briefly to my pouch and ring. Just as quickly, he schooled his expression and gave another nod. As he turned to lead the way, I discreetly removed the ring and stored it, not wanting to draw unnecessary attention. He guided us past two progressively larger buildings until we reached the largest standalone structure on the plot.

"Will this suffice?" he asked with a wave of his hand. The room was massive, roughly a hundred meters long and fifty meters wide. In one corner sat a small cluster of couches and tables, but the rest of the space was completely open. I tilted my head, considering.

"Maybe?" For a brief moment, his face betrayed scandalized disbelief before he quickly regained his composure, nodding curtly. After a short, murmured exchange with Sho, he turned and left, his footsteps echoing faintly in the cavernous room. Now it was my turn. Unfortunately, accessing items stored inside my core was always more challenging. Thankfully, I'd cleared out a lot of supplies at the food wholesalers, giving me more room to work with.

If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it. Hall after storage hall, I transferred the contents into my Storage, pulled out the furniture, and then carefully returned the rest. The process required intense focus and a fair bit of mental gymnastics. By the time every centimeter of the massive room was filled with furniture—stacked three layers high—I was nursing a pounding headache.

Sho promptly notified the staff, and before long, the appraiser arrived. As he stepped inside, his initial confidence seemed to falter. He froze mid-step, his eyes widening as he took in the sheer volume of furniture crammed into the room. After a moment of stunned silence, he took two steps back, shook his head as if clearing his thoughts, and sighed deeply. The resigned expression on his face resembled someone preparing to face a particularly grueling battle.

Without a word, I left him to his task and sank onto a nearby couch. Stretching out with a groan, I closed my eyes and cast Healing Touch in an attempt to ease the pounding in my head. It didn't help. The mental strain of sorting through my core and handling the sheer logistics of the transfer had completely drained me. The couch, despite having maybe only one centimeter of padding, felt like pure luxury after the ordeal I'd just endured.

Hours passed, punctuated only by the quiet sounds of the appraiser diligently working. When he finally approached me, his movements were slow with slumped shoulders, as if weighed down by the effort. He stopped a respectful distance away and bowed deeply.

"House Tulip is willing to offer you 7, 250 gold or 3, 100 spirit stones for the furniture," he said, his voice carefully neutral. I sat up, stretching my shoulders before replying.

"I'll take the gold." The appraiser blinked, clearly caught off guard. His expression shifted just enough to betray his surprise, though he quickly masked it with a professional demeanor. Maybe he'd expected me to haggle or opt for the spirit stones, but I wasn't in the mood for drawn-out negotiations. The stuff hadn't cost us a dime, and gold was simple—straightforward and, more importantly, universally useful.

"Please wait for a short while," he said, bowing again before disappearing out the door. He returned about twenty minutes later, carrying a beautifully lacquered wooden box with an intricate painting of a stork in flight. When he opened it, it was full of gold coins. I stored the box with a nod of thanks.

"Appreciated," I said simply, and we headed out. Outside the merchant house, Sho turned to me, his movements deliberate and precise.

"It is late, and the other merchant houses will soon close. We will continue tomorrow. Where should I meet you?"

"I'm staying at the Rest Pavilion of the Golden Breeze," I replied.

"Can we continue tomorrow morning?" He gave a deep bow.

"Yes, I will meet you outside the Pavilion after the third bell." Without another word, he turned to leave.

"Wait!" I called after him. Sho stopped and turned back, as blank-faced as ever. Not a single flicker of curiosity crossed his expression. I took out one of the larger mana crystals I had on hand—it might have come from one of those hornless rhinos. Holding it out to him, I said, "Thank you for your help today." For the first time, I caught a reaction. His eyes widened—ever so slightly, maybe less than a millimeter—but it was there. A win! I couldn't help but grin.

I felt like one of those tourists outside Buckingham Palace, desperately trying to make the Queen's Guard crack a smile. Victory was sweet. In our suite, I found Mahya and Al lounging in the massive tub, steam curling above the water, while Rue sprawled on the carpet, snoozing without a care in the world. They had the right idea. After the day I'd had, relaxation seemed paramount. The following morning, Sho met me promptly, and we continued the sales process.

It took six full days to unload almost everything we had collected in Tolarib, a big part of the materials we collected in the occurrence—claws, fangs, feathers, bones, furs and pelts—along with food and other perishable materials from Mahya's and Al's Storage that none of us wanted. Not every place paid entirely in gold—some simply didn't have enough on hand—so I accepted mana crystals as well. Every evening, I handed Sho another mana crystal as a token of thanks, but, to my disappointment, he didn't react again.

On the evening of the sixth day, after finishing our last stop, I turned to him.

"Is there a place to sell spirit stones for gold?"

"Of course," he replied evenly, "but I suggest offering them to the city lord first."

"No problem. How do we arrange that?"

"I, or another messenger, will notify you of your appointment with the city lord. If he does not purchase everything, I will guide you to an alternative buyer." It sounded like this might be the last time I'd see him. Despite his soulless, mannequin-like demeanor, he'd grown on me over the past few days. He'd been a tremendous help, and I wanted to give him something meaningful as a thank-you.

"Please come with me to a tea house. I want to give you a few things."

"Why? You have already given me generous spirit stones," he replied, his tone neutral as ever.

"Because you've helped me a lot, and I want to thank you." For the second time since we met, I saw a reaction—his face flickered with confusion for a fraction of a second. Progress! Spend more time with me, buddy, and you might become human one day. He nodded curtly and followed me to the tea house. Once seated with two steaming cups of tea before us, I began. First, I handed him a few spiral A4 notebooks.

"These might come in handy for a manager like you," I said. He inspected them meticulously, flipping the pages and running his fingers over the binding, then thanked me with a small bow. Next, I placed a box of 100 ballpoint pens on the table.

"Let me show you how these work." I demonstrated, scribbling a few lines on one of the notebooks. His eyebrows twitched—barely—but he stood, bowed, and thanked me again. Then, I handed him a pair of sunglasses. He turned them over in his hands, inspecting the hinges and lenses before nodding and thanking me once more. Finally, I pulled out the pièce de résistance: a Telepathy scroll.

"Pour Qi into the scroll, and you'll learn to communicate mind to mind," I explained. He froze, staring at me blankly. That's… an odd reaction.

"Do you know how to direct Qi from your hands?" I asked, wondering if he needed guidance.

"Of course," he replied without hesitation. Maybe the question offended him, but with his expressionless face, it was impossible to tell.

"Then just channel your Qi into the scroll. It's a very useful skill. Even the city lord uses it." Still, he stared at me, unmoving. I rubbed the back of my neck awkwardly.

"Is there a problem?"

"Why would you give me a gift worthy of a clan or sect head?" he asked, his voice betraying none of the astonishment his words implied.

"Because you helped me, and I have it to give," I replied honestly, shrugging. His blank stare lingered for a moment longer, and I began to wonder if I'd crossed some invisible line.

"Don't you want it?" I prompted. Finally, something clicked. His face shifted, and for the first time since I met him—maybe even for the first time in his life—he smiled. A real smile. I felt like a superhero. Without warning, he stood, dropped to his knees, and bowed so deeply his forehead nearly touched the floor.

"Thank you," he said, his voice filled with quiet reverence. Startled, I quickly tugged him up by his arm.

"Please don't bow," I said, shaking my head.

"I hate all this bowing and stuff. A simple thank you is enough." Sho rose slowly, his gaze locking onto mine with an intensity I hadn't seen before. For at least ten seconds, he stared at me, as though weighing his next words carefully. Finally, he spoke.

"True power does not need external trappings. It is a quiet force that knows itself." I blinked, caught off guard by the sudden wisdom bomb.

"Thank you," I managed, giving him a polite nod. But internally, I couldn't help but think, Whatever you say, Yoda. The following day, a messenger from the city lord arrived to fetch me. Before I left, Mahya and Al handed me all their crystals to add to the transaction. With everything in order, I set off to see the city lord. As I walked, my thoughts wandered. The dagger I had given the city lord was a fine gift, but compared to Manager Sho's invaluable assistance, it felt lacking.

The lord deserved something more fitting, something meaningful. I scanned my Storage for inspiration, but nothing stood out. My mind drifted back to Sho's words about storage rings, and I had a lightbulb moment like in the cartoons. That's it. All the storage rings I had were packed with food at the time to save space, but now, with the food gone, the issue was resolved. A storage ring would make the perfect gift for a city lord. The messenger led me to the biggest mansion in the city, and wow, it was massive.

Sitting at the highest point in the city, it had an old-school elegance, with red-tiled roofs and wooden details that gave it a commanding presence. It had pastel-colored walls, and dark wood-framed windows that added a touch of class. Balconies and verandas jutted out at every level, making it look like a mix between a palace and a giant traditional house. The gardens around it were just as impressive. A bright red bridge arched over a still pond, its surface dotted with lily pads that looked perfectly placed.

The water reflected the little pavilions scattered across the garden—small structures with curved, tiled roofs that looked like they belonged in a movie set. Bushes were trimmed neatly, and trees had a carefully pruned look, like someone spent way too much time making sure every leaf was in the right spot. Stone paths crisscrossed the garden, leading past bamboo groves and more ponds.

Every few steps, there was something new to check out—a hidden pavilion, a little waterfall trickling into another pond, or clusters of flowering shrubs that smelled amazing. My fingers itched to take pictures, but I managed to overcome the urge. When we reached the mansion's main entrance, it didn't disappoint. The wooden beams were carved with intricate designs, like dragons and flowers, but not in an over-the-top way. It smelled fresh, a mix of pine and blooming flowers.

The whole place screamed wealth and power. The theme continued inside. The interior was just as grand as the exterior. The floors were polished wood, smooth enough to see my reflection, and the walls were a mix of lacquered panels and painted murals that told stories I didn't recognize. Everything felt perfectly balanced, like someone had carefully planned every inch of the place.

The furniture was impressive but practical—solid wood pieces with clean lines, carved with subtle patterns that matched the rest of the mansion's aesthetic. The windows were huge, letting in tons of natural light, and they framed the gardens outside like paintings. It gave the whole space a calm, open feel, even though the ceilings were so high it felt like they belonged in a cathedral.

The staff moved quietly, almost like they were part of the decor, dressed in uniforms that somehow managed to look both simple and expensive. The air smelled faintly of jasmine, probably from the small arrangements of fresh flowers placed on tables throughout the rooms. As we walked through, it was clear that the place wasn't just big—it was designed to impress without being overwhelming. It felt like the kind of place where deals were made, secrets were shared, and power was discussed behind closed doors.

The city lord met me in his office, and it was nothing like the offices I was used to. For starters, it was enormous—more like a hall than a workspace. The floor was made of polished wood, and the walls were lined with shelves filled with scrolls, books, and decorative items that probably cost more than my entire Storage inventory. Instead of a regular desk and chair setup, there were low wooden tables surrounded by plush cushions spread through the room.

The tables held maps, papers, intricate wooden carvings, and incense stands that filled the room with a sweet and smoky scent. Behind him, a massive window stretched across most of the wall, offering a stunning view of the gardens. It let in so much natural light I wondered if he even needed lamps. Speaking of which, there were lamps—oil ones, ornately designed, sitting in the corners of the room like art pieces. The city lord himself was dressed far more casually than I expected.

He didn't wear the robe I saw before, but a simple tunic with subtle embroidery and a belt that probably cost a small fortune, judging by all the gems. He stood as I entered, giving a nod that felt both respectful and commanding at the same time.

"Welcome," he said, gesturing to a cushion in front of a table.

"Please, have a seat. I trust Manager Sho has served you well?" His tone was polite but carried an edge of curiosity, like he was measuring me with every word. I nodded, taking the offered seat and trying not to feel too out of place in the grandeur of the room.

"Yes, he was a great help." The city lord's lips curved into a faint smile.

"Good. Let's discuss the matter of spirit stones and gold, then." He ended up buying our entire collection of crystals for over 32, 000 gold and looked like a cat that had just devoured a canary smothered in cream gravy. For a moment, I seriously considered heading straight back to the ruined city, clearing out the rest of the dungeons, and paying him another visit. The only thing that stopped me from jumping up and acting on that impulse was the reminder that I already had more gold than I knew what to do with.

That thought cooled my excitement—barely—but I had a feeling Mahya wouldn't be as restrained. Knowing her, the idea would spark a level of enthusiasm I couldn't hope to match. The best part of the deal? The second his servants handed me the final box of gold, my red light started blinking. As Rue would say, "John love levels." After concluding our business, I pulled out a small void band, placed it in an empty ring box, and presented it to the city lord with a nod. Bowing wasn't my thing.

"Please accept this token of my gratitude for Manager Sho. He was an incredible help." The city lord took the box, opened it, and slid the ring onto his finger. For a moment, he stiffened, his breath catching ever so slightly before he looked up at me.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes," I replied simply.

"He, and you, were a tremendous help." The city lord tilted his head down in what was almost a bow.

"Thank you."

"You're very welcome." With that, one of his servants stepped forward and escorted me to the gate. On the way back to the hotel, I checked the blinking red light, even though I already knew exactly what it would say. Level Up Profession: Merchant level 11 +3 Wisdom, +3 Perception, +2 Luck, +3 Free points Stat points: 3 I added the free points to Strength and made my way back to the hotel. When I arrived, I found Mahya and Al waiting for me, both looking excited.

"How did it go?" Mahya asked, rubbing her hands together like she was about to open a treasure chest.

"Very good—we're even richer now," I replied with a shrug.

"I enjoy hearing that," Al said, his tone calm but clearly pleased. Mahya laughed and gave him a solid pat on the back.

"You and me both." I took out the barrel and tipped it over, spilling gold coins onto the table. The pile was so large, half of it cascaded onto the floor. They immediately started counting, and I left them to it, heading straight for the glorious pool that the hotel pretended was a bath. Sinking into the warm water, I let myself half-soak, half-float, letting the exhaustion melt away. After some time, Mahya came in looking smug.

"Each of us gets 20, 000 and change," she announced, clearly satisfied with the haul. I gave her a thumbs-up, not even bothering to lift my head. The city had been a good stop, sure, but it had drained me. I had to admit to myself—I didn't enjoy trading all that much. I did it to empty my Storage and raise my class, but the fun of it had worn off. Treating unique beasts or even figuring out how to connect to water had been far more exciting and fascinating.

Trading, it seemed, lost its luster and turned into tedious work.