Chapter 180: Bartering, Part 2

When the lady with the strange accent looked at Dean, Dean was also observing her—her height was far taller than that of the women in the Emerald Northland, such that even average men would need to look up to see her. Her somewhat high cheekbones, combined with her relatively fair skin, revealed that she was a half-blood, mixing Emerald People and Barbarians.

The Four Northern Counties of the Emerald Northland generally did not welcome Barbarians most of the time.

In fact, in the eyes of some County Kings, these Barbarians were synonymous with robbers and bandits; for example, the Marquis of York almost hanged any Barbarian who entered Yorkshire.

Among the remaining three County Kings of the Four Northern Counties, while not as severe, they strictly guarded the borders. After all, Barbarians often indeed engaged in the work of robbers and bandits.

Especially in the northernmost Vauban County, the soldiers’ screening of Barbarians was very strict: even if they confirmed that a Barbarian was not a wanted robber or bandit on the list, they absolutely did not allow large groups of Barbarians to enter the city.

Simply put, if a group of twenty came, at most only one person could enter the city.

This was an order from Marquis Vauban.

Dean naturally agreed with this practice of minimizing risk to the smallest extent—he was very clear on the principle that no matter how solid a Castle was, it could be breached from within.

And this half-blood Barbarian in front of him was obviously in such a situation.

Even if she was a half-blood Barbarian, she might receive slightly better treatment in Vauban City, but it was absolutely impossible for her to reside there; therefore, she could only be considered an Outsider.

Similarly, as a Barbarian half-blood who could communicate relatively well with the Emerald People, her status within the Barbarian tribes was gradually increasing—Dean had no doubt that this was intentional on the part of the Old Marquis.

If it were not for this, the Emerald Grand Duke would have found it extremely difficult to carry out his plan to borrow troops in the future.

Perhaps the Old Marquis had other plans, such as ‘assimilation’ or ‘annexation’, but this did not stop Dean from admiring the Old Marquis’ foresight.

And he certainly would not act in the opposite way—

“Lady, you want to barter? If you don’t mind, could you let me see your items?”

Dean smiled at her and invited her into the reception room.

Behind the ‘Gem Beauty’ shop, there were two reception rooms in total, designed to host guests of different statuses.

Dean invited this half-blood Barbarian lady into the more ordinary of the two, which was generally used to receive common guests who had some transaction volume.

As for the other room?

Most of the time, it was not opened; after all, few people of status would personally step into the shop. However, this did not mean it could never be used.

Things were unpredictable, and no one could say for sure, right?

“Give me a cup of Horned Sheep milk, Lady… what do you need?”

After Dean instructed Old Anders, he turned his gaze to the half-blood Barbarian lady.

“I want alcohol! Strong Liquor!”

This straightforward answer made both Dean and Old Anders smile bitterly at the same time.

“Lady, we are just a small fur and spice shop; we definitely do not keep Strong Liquor to serve guests!”

Old Anders explained helplessly.

“If there is no Strong Liquor, how can you serve guests!”

The half-blood Barbarian lady expressed her dissatisfaction. This dissatisfaction even made Old Anders, who was usually a mild boss, a little angry; he thought this was the other party deliberately making things difficult.

However, Dean, standing aside, waved his hand and ordered, “Go get some fruit wine!”

“Yes, My Lord!”

Old Anders immediately restrained his anger and turned to walk out.

“I am sorry. Our customs here are different from yours. The drinks we usually offer guests are easier to swallow!”

Dean had no anger at all and explained to the half-blood Barbarian lady with a smile.

Dean understood Barbarians too well, so he knew that the other party was not making things difficult before, but rather it was just a habit.

Or rather… even when coming to other places, they did not know how to follow local customs and continued to act according to their own ways.

In fact, it was precisely because of this situation that Barbarians were unpopular in the Northland of Emerald.

As for the South?

It was well-known that Barbarians preferred high mountains and steep cliffs, places with cold climates. For humid, hot, and coastal areas, they simply would not set foot.

“Oh!”

Hearing Dean’s explanation, the half-blood Barbarian lady wanted to say something else, but in the end, she just nodded—The selected half-blood Barbarian was obviously not as stubborn as true Barbarians. If she were a true Barbarian, she would never listen to explanations or advice; they only believed in their own customs, fists, and Strong Liquor.

In short, she had a somewhat “stubborn jerk” vibe.

“Then, can you let me see your items now?”

Dean said again.

“Okay, here you go!”

The half-blood Barbarian directly unbuckled the pouch at her waist and threw it directly at Dean.

Whoosh!

The pouch brought a considerable gust of wind, flying like a thrown brick. Dean could be certain that if Old Anders had been sitting there, he would have had to consider hiring another shopkeeper.

But for Dean, this naturally meant nothing.

Dean easily took the package in his hand, placed it on the table, and untied the knot binding it.

The half-blood Barbarian lady then spoke directly—

“This was woven by my younger sister Aqiaoli. It is very beautiful, right!”

“Aqiaoli?!”

Dean’s hand, just having untied the rope, trembled, and the whole person froze for a moment.

“Is it Aqiaoli from Chekeduo?”

Dean asked cautiously.

“Yes, younger sister Aqiaoli is quite famous, right? The bracelets and necklaces she weaves are very popular in Vauban City!”

It seemed Dean’s caution was unnecessary; the half-blood Barbarian lady answered directly.

“Northland Beast Tamer… Aqiaoli!”

Dean whispered silently in his heart.

In Dean’s mind, the image of this Barbarian girl instantly appeared. A few years later, at the end of the Second Blood Moon War, she had shone brilliantly during the final pursuit of Emerald by the City people in that battle.

The “Fierce Bear Legion,” consisting of thousands of Snow Bears, charged out of the Snowplains Dense Forest. Under the leadership of this Northland Beast Tamer, they blocked the pursuing City Iron Cavalry, giving Dean and his escaped group a chance to catch their breath. Simply put, this little girl, who was not yet fifteen years old when she stepped onto the stage of Goedz, was Dean’s lifesaver.

However, even though she was not yet fifteen, she was still respectfully called the Northland Beast Tamer by all the Barbarians.

As for the rescued Emerald People and the City people who had suffered a great loss?

They were more willing to call her the “Beast King”!

Of course, that was after the Second Blood Moon War!

As for now?

Dean gently picked up the bracelets, headbands, and necklaces woven from animal hair and plant stems, unable to help but smile softly.

“I will take all of these!”

Dean said so.

“You want all of them?”

The half-blood Barbarian lady looked at the human Noble in front of her and expressed her surprise.

“Mhm!”

Dean nodded.

“Aren’t you going to ask what I want?”

The half-blood Barbarian lady looked a bit dazed.

“The main business here is furs and spices. The former, you Barbarians will not lack, so only the latter… I am willing to accept transactions that match their value!”

Dean picked up one of the necklaces, which was woven from grass rope with a Wolf Tooth as a pendant—

[Rough Will Necklace]

[Type: Necklace]

[Weight: 20g]

[Specification: Normal human range]

[Special Effect: Minor Will Determination]

[Minor Will Determination: Grants a +0.1 effect to Will]

[Description: This is a necklace that looks very rough but possesses magical power.]

[Note: This is something the weaver achieved unintentionally. Although the weaver’s memory is not yet mature, she has shown extraordinary talent.]

“As expected of the Northland Beast Tamer…”

Dean couldn’t help but praise after looking at the prompt from the System.

A little girl of only about twelve years old could create Magic Equipment. If placed on Secret Spell Island, she would probably have been regarded as a true genius long ago.

But in the Barbarian tribe… she was still an ordinary little girl, undergoing the traditional training of the Barbarians every day, and occasionally weaving small items to trade with traveling Barbarians for daily necessities.

“I want twenty grams of Bailanzhi Essence!”

The half-blood Barbarian lady stated this amount.

Bailanzhi Essence, a plant extract obtained after distillation and sun-drying, is a spice with a mild flavor. It can relieve joint pain caused by cold and is popular among Nobles and wealthy merchants in the Emerald Northland, especially within the range of Vauban County.

“Would you prefer… ten grams?”

Perhaps feeling that she was being too greedy and violating Barbarian traditions, the half-blood Barbarian lady said awkwardly again.

“I will give you one hundred grams… believe me, it far exceeds this price! However, my shop no longer has more stock!”

Dean said so.

Although its grade was Rough and its appearance might be unacceptable to normal people, a Magic Item was still a Magic Item; its essence had not changed.

At least three hundred Gold Pulton.

This was the lowest price.

And the price of Bailanzhi Essence?

One gram was about three Silver Horns.

Simply put, this Magic Necklace could exchange for at least one kilogram of Bailanzhi Essence.

“For the remaining part, I will gather it for you as soon as possible, but that will take some time. Can you tell me the location of Chekeduo?”

Dean said with a sincere tone.

Immediately, the half-blood Barbarian lady began to scrutinize Dean with suspicion. At the same time, some bad habits of Emerald Nobles popped into her mind.

Instantly, this half-blood Barbarian lady grasped her weapon: a five-foot-long Wolf Tooth Club full of barbs, thick as an adult’s calf.

She stared fiercely at Dean.