Chapter 11: A Suitable Partner

A soft whiteness appeared in the slightly dim tavern, causing Longlang, who was waiting expectantly, to immediately narrow his eyes and snatch it into his hand with a speed that was impossible to cover one’s ears: “Oh, what a beautiful, round pearl. Look at such luster, and this smooth feeling, it is completely like the skin of a maiden… Thirty Gold Pulton!”

After a string of praises, Longlang gave a deliberately suppressed price. Such price suppression was entirely out of a merchant’s instinct and had nothing to do with anything else—as for stolen goods? This pearl was one of the few items that could be sold completely intact. The gold necklace inlaid with the Family Crest of Baron Defendi of Vauban County had long been listed by Dean for the melting furnace.

In fact, most of the metal items in that large batch of stolen goods would be handled this way; as for the remaining pearls and gems, the former were easier to sell because most had similar shapes, while the latter required professional talents to cut again—fortunately, Dean knew many such talents, and he could even do it himself.

However, he did not have such time in a short period.

Therefore, the pearls, which were easier to sell, became the most valuable items on his body.

Dean looked at Longlang with a smile and quoted a reasonable price: “Forty Gold Coins, and the remaining two Gold Pulton and eight Silver Horns will serve as your reward for speeding up preparations, and a tip for finding a carriage for me; of course, you must have everything ready before dawn tomorrow…”

“No problem! Before dawn tomorrow, you will see everything you need!”

Faced with such a satisfactory price, Longlang naturally would not object. He nodded repeatedly, and even found Dean more and more pleasing to the eye. When Dean was about to leave, he did not forget to enthusiastically recommend his other services: “Respected and generous guest, on such a night, do you need the company of a beautiful girl? For two Gold Pulton, I can find the most beautiful girl in the town for you—of course, I guarantee she is a virgin!”

“A long enough journey has already made me very tired, and next I have to rest up for an even longer journey… However, thank you for your kindness—I think everything we discussed is a private matter between us; so…”

With a crisp, pleasant sound, a Silver Horn traced a beautiful arc and was caught in Longlang’s hand. The smiling eyes on his fat face were almost reduced to a slit. With light steps inconsistent with his body, he walked out from behind the counter, bowed slightly, and then, picking up Dean’s words, said attentively: “I swear by my name, everything you do here is a secret!”

“That is the most pleasant guarantee I have ever heard!”

Leaving these words behind, Dean pushed open the tavern door again and disappeared behind it amidst the creaking sound.

After the subordinate outside came back to report that Dean had truly left, and went out to stand guard again, Longlang narrowed his eyes to check the previous accounts—doing such business, if one was not careful, one would have died countless times long ago.

Obviously, Longlang was careful enough.

However, a moment later, Longlang suddenly gasped as if he had a toothache: “One Crossbow, two Longbows, two portions of Wolf Moon Grass, three portions of Lizard Flower… Wolf Moon Grass and Lizard Flower should be the main ingredients for preparing several poisons and anesthetics, right? Hiss, could this guy be an Assassin? Did the second son of the York Family offend someone again?”

But immediately, this merchant with multiple identities shook his head and said nonchalantly: “Who cares, anyway I just need to earn money; a forty Gold Coin business is a big deal that ranks high this month! Hmm… should I recommend some reliable helpers to that generous guest tomorrow morning? Perhaps it will be another unexpected referral fee… Mm-hmm, let’s do it!”

…

Even in the night, Dean could clearly ‘see’ the subordinate belonging to Longlang who was standing guard; however, in order to smoothly get the items tomorrow morning, Dean paid no attention to the other party—such sentries were common in every special shop and Black Market. In his past experiences, he had long been used to it.

However, Longlang’s subordinate was obviously an expert.

Not only was he completely blended into the Shadow, but his breathing had also become faint. If not for the experience Dean gained from countless life-and-death situations in his past experiences, he would not have been able to spot the other party at all.

In this regard, Dean was even more confident that he could get what he wanted on time.

As for why he had to emphasize that time?

One must know that in Horn Town, a vicious robbery and murder case had just occurred!

…

In the morning in Horn Town, carriages were led out from the back of inns by drivers amidst the shouts of merchants, and then, accompanied by guards, headed towards the north and south exits according to their respective destinations—this was too normal for Horn Town. As the nearest town to the north of the Capital of Emerald, it had always served as a hub.

Merchants coming from the south of the Capital of Emerald and heading north, or coming from the Northland and entering the Capital of Emerald, as well as merchants heading further south, in order not to waste time, would all set off at the moment when the Sun had just risen and the dew had not yet dissipated; if Dean blended in among them, he was naturally confident that he would not be conspicuous at all.

Therefore, he emphasized the time to Longlang—

And facing the temptation of Gold Pulton, Longlang was full of motivation and had everything Dean needed, including the carriage, ready before dawn. He also found an honest and reliable driver; however, after Ye Qi took out another pearl that was a size smaller than the one from last night, the driver immediately happily handed over the horse pulling the cart and the seven-tenths new single-person carriage, as well as the dry food and water inside, to Dean.

“Such a Transaction is really unwise—if you needed a horse and carriage, you should have notified me in advance; I would definitely have produced better goods than this!” Longlang grumbled indignantly about missing a deal—although that pearl was a bit smaller, selling it for twenty-five Gold Pulton was no problem, while the horse and carriage in front of him added up to only twenty Gold Pulton.

The horse accounted for more than ninety percent of the value, and as for that seven-tenths new single-person carriage?

For one Gold Pulton, Longlang could find you an eight-tenths new one, and if you were willing to fork out two more Silver Horns, then even a brand-new carriage could be negotiated.

“If you have needs for food, I can also prepare it properly for you!”

Watching Dean move the disguised Crossbow, Longbow, and herbs onto the seat of the single-person carriage and check the dry food and water under the seat, Longlang started being chatty again—the single-person carriage was not like the traditional carriage with an enclosed compartment that could seat four to six people; its structure was simpler. Apart from the small area behind the driver’s seat that was just enough to stand on, there was only a single seat that could accommodate one person and some luggage, and it was of the semi-open type.

Of course, as the favorite for travelers to go out, such a carriage compartment was mostly for storing some items, and the driver was usually the owner of the carriage and items; however, there were exceptions. In certain special journeys, drivers who knew the way were still quite sought after.

However, for Dean, who had walked almost the entire Goedz alone in the past, the journey was obviously not a problem; moreover, because of his own secrets, Dean did not hesitate to buy the carriage including the horse; but what Dean obviously did not anticipate was Longlang’s nagging.

Looking at this great merchant who would be famous in Goedz in the future, now chattering for a few Gold Pulton, really gave Dean a different feeling—of course, if possible, Dean did not mind watching for a while longer, but looking at the merchants setting off one after another around him, Dean, who had made up his mind to blend in, did not want to miss the time and appear too conspicuous.

“Our business has just begun—this is a letter I left for you. Please open it after I leave… believe me, this is a rare opportunity for both you and me!”

Dean took out the letter he had written overnight and placed it in the hands of the slightly stunned Longlang. Then, without waiting for the other party to react, he flicked the reins and quickly blended into the surrounding merchant teams also moving forward amidst the brisk sound of the horse’s hooves, disappearing without a trace soon after.

Only Longlang remained, looking at the letter in his hand, still with a surprised expression.

“Boss, this letter?”

The subordinate who had been standing silently behind Longlang came up at this moment, looking at the letter in Longlang’s hand with a vigilant face—although it looked harmless on the outside, some highly skilled Thieves could easily turn such a seemingly harmless letter into a lethal weapon .

Whether it was applying poison or putting in something related to Magic, wanting to achieve this was not very difficult.

Longlang himself even sold such drugs and Magic traps.

“No danger, but… interesting!”

After confirming several times, Longlang opened the envelope with a calm expression. When he saw the content of the letter, his face could not help but freeze. Then, he fell silent for a long while; finally, the merchant’s smile emerged again. He murmured in a low voice, then turned and walked towards his small tavern.

And the subordinate who had been standing behind Longlang, although he saw the change in the former’s face, wisely did not ask; after all, as a Guard, he only needed to clearly remember his duties.

As for things beyond his duties?

That was absolutely not what he should be concerned about.