Chapter 222 - 147: Ouroboros Trading Company, Kodo Beast Recruitment Scroll

Chapter 222: Chapter 147: Ouroboros Trading Company, Kodo Beast Recruitment Scroll

’Maybe... I should just rob this merchant team?’

But he quickly dismissed the idea.

Other players had encountered these merchant teams before, and many had the same idea as Shen Xing.

But doing so would lead to a series of problems down the line.

First, you and your territory would be blacklisted by all the trading companies. No merchant would ever trade with you again.

What’s more, the merchant teams would continuously send mercenaries and hunters to retaliate against you, and they’d even post a bounty on the black market.

Then, powerful individuals would constantly harass your territory, leaving you with no peace.

One slip-up, and these guys would take your head to claim the bounty.

These were all lessons learned through the blood and tears of those who came before him. It was best not to even entertain the thought.

"Have you seen any treasures you fancy, esteemed guests?" the pot-bellied merchant asked, rubbing his hands together with an expectant look.

Shen Xing was silent for a moment before speaking. "I have, but your goods are too expensive. Can you give me a better price?"

The pot-bellied merchant chuckled. "You must be joking, good sir. The Ouroboros Trading Company’s goods are all clearly priced. We never offer discounts."

Shen Xing’s expression remained unchanged at the refusal. "What if I were to pay with Gold Coins?"

"Gold Coins..." The pot-bellied merchant’s eyes lit up instantly. "You have Gold Coins?"

In the Land of Mist, the official exchange rate between Gold Coins and Silver Coins was 1 to 1,000.

In reality, however, the ratio was much higher.

Silver Coins were the widely used currency among all Lords and factions, as they were relatively easy to obtain.

Gold Coins, however, were extremely rare, only obtainable from ancient ruins or through special events and dungeons.

Furthermore, certain special altars, goods, and other things required Gold Coins.

As a result, the actual exchange rate could reach 1 to 1,100, or even as high as 1 to 1,200 on the black market.

In the hands of merchants like him, Gold Coins could be leveraged for even greater value.

Shen Xing said nothing. Instead, he opened his right hand and gave a gentle toss.

PING!

A gleaming gold coin flew into the air, making a pleasant, crisp sound.

The pot-bellied merchant’s eyes were glued to it, but he quickly regained his composure.

"Since you have Gold Coins, sir, we can certainly negotiate."

"How about this? First, decide which goods you want, and then I’ll give you a final price for the lot. What do you say?"

"Alright." Shen Xing nodded. "I’ll discuss with my friend which items to purchase."

The pot-bellied merchant wasn’t in a rush and waited leisurely on the side.

Then, Shen Xing logged out of the Land of Mist and sent a message to Xia Wanyin via Green Bubble. "So, have you decided what you want to buy?"

"Yes, I do. I want to buy a few Communication Crystals. You can use them to contact your Soldier Types remotely."

"I also need Black Spirit Wood and a silk backpack, but I only have about twenty-three thousand Silver Coins on me. I don’t know if that’s enough."

Shen Xing thought for a moment, then replied, "Just give me all your Silver Coins. I’ll see if I can haggle for a better price on the whole lot."

"Okay, I’ll leave it to you then!"

Xia Wanyin didn’t hesitate. She had witnessed Shen Xing’s haggling prowess when they’d met that Wandering Merchant before.

After she came back online, she immediately handed him a small pouch.

[Acquired: Vinar Silver Coins * 23,116]

Shen Xing took the pouch and silently reviewed his total assets.

In addition to the 50 Gold Coins he’d been awarded for taking first place, he had 11,000 Silver Coins of his own.

The total came to 50 Gold Coins and 34,000 Silver Coins.

"I’ve made my selection."

Shen Xing looked up and unhurriedly read out his list. "I want 20 Communication Crystals, the recipe for Finger Worm Pills, 4 pieces of Black Spirit Wood, two silk backpacks, and 5 Kodo Beast Recruitment Scrolls."

The pot-bellied merchant listened to the long list of items, his smile stretching from ear to ear. This was a big fish!

"No problem. That all comes to a total of 113,000 Silver Coins," he said with a grin. "If you pay with Gold Coins, I can round that down for you. Let’s call it an even 110,000 Silver Coins, or 110 Gold Coins."

Shen Xing shook his head and stated calmly, "I only have 50 Gold Coins. Can I buy all these items for that price?"

The pot-bellied merchant was stunned. "Sir, you’re not just haggling... you’re trying to kill me!"

"If I agree to that price, my supervisor will punish me when I get back. I might even be kicked out of the company."

Even Xia Wanyin, standing to the side, was secretly shocked. ’That’s not haggling, that’s butchery.’

Shen Xing’s expression didn’t flicker. He continued, "I understand your position. So how about this? I’ll add another ten thousand Silver Coins, plus one Boss Level Soul."

"On top of that, my territory isn’t far from here. It’s about five kilometers to the southwest."

"In the future, whenever your Ouroboros Merchant Team passes through the Black Wing Plain, you can rest your feet in my territory. I’ll provide food and lodging, free of charge."

He paused, his voice dropping low. "Perhaps in your eyes, I’m just a weak Tier Two Lord right now, and my territory is nothing more than a small village."

"But in the near future, my territory will become the largest citadel in this area—perhaps even in the entire Black Wing Plain."

The pot-bellied merchant listened to Shen Xing’s bold proclamation, his gaze flickering. Even the fat on his cheeks quivered.

He wanted to politely refuse, but for some reason, he couldn’t find the words.

He had judged countless people and dealt with numerous important figures in his time, and his experience told him that there was a certain quality in this young man’s eyes.

’Confidence. Absolute confidence.’

’It was the kind of confidence that made you believe every word he just said would absolutely come true.’

The pot-bellied merchant fell silent, hesitating, thinking.