Chapter 91: No point holding onto gold if you’re not around to spend it.

"She’s busy." Felix shot back. "You aren’t even the least bit pleased to see me?"

Alam shrugged and looked down at the fresh batch of bread. "Too bad. Just arrived this morning, was hoping she’d appreciate them. Are you shopping for her? I’ll give you a discount."

"Not funny, old man. I know exactly what you’re up to." Felix raised an eyebrow. "Do you really think she doesn’t tell me everything? Putting a few cherries and chocolate shavings on top and saying it’s a discount while you price the goods twice the usual."

"I swear on my deceased mother I would never," Alam shook his head gravely. "What is it you want to ask?"

"Have you seen any odd groups causing problems lately?"

"There are always odd groups causing problems here." Alam gestured with his hands dismissively. "Just this morning, three idiots claiming to be adventurers had an argument with Godda over there, accusing him of selling fake weapons, and demanded their money back."

"That is harsh." Felix replied flatly, already getting bored with this topic. "Has anybody shaken anyone down lately? Been threatening or attacking people, extorting money they didn’t owe?"

"Yes, plenty of that, as well." Alam nodded enthusiastically. "Just this morning, actually—"

"Sell your bread, Alam." Felix turned away from the counter and started walking, patience wearing thin quickly. His eyes moved across the alleyway to the perfumery stall and its hefty owner talking to his client.

"Maybe he’ll actually be useful."

Felix made his way across the street when the last customers were leaving the shop as he heard coins jingling as the owner collected money into the small wooden box.

"How’s business been?"

He glanced up with narrowed eyes as he registered Felix’s presence. "You. The guild fellow. Those thugs haven’t shown their faces around here since that day, for what it’s worth."

"I’m glad to hear it," Felix said, putting his elbow on the counter. "But I was told there is one more group of this kind running about in the market area."

"Another group like that?" He sighed and wiped hands on the apron. "There are dozens of them in this district. None of them troubled my business ever since and that’s all there is to it."

"Have you seen anyone who behaves strangely? Someone using Duke’s name, or claiming to be associated with Hakimi Morrow?"

The owner of the shop tapped fingers on the counter as he thought. "No, I don’t know anything about the Morrow fellow. Though a few days ago, there was a group of four coming through. All of them had some good swords, real high-quality steel. There was one fellow among them who looked like a proper noble knight, and they kept shouting something about Duke on the way, but I can’t remember what exactly."

"They headed in some particular direction?"

"I think they headed towards the west gate. Must have gone towards the merchant’s market." The owner frowned slightly, not really sure about the answer. "Why are you interested in that suddenly? You didn’t actually get a job from the Duke, did you?" He chuckled at the thought.

Felix contemplated it for a little bit and then stepped back from the counter. "Thank you, I’ll look into it."

The owner turned back to the next client already waiting at the counter.

The merchant’s market spread out wider than Felix expected, less crowded than he’d assumed for a place that supplied half the goods sold elsewhere in town. Fewer permanent structures here, just rows of big tents and warehouses with flaps of canvas fluttering in the wind.

He stood before a vendor with piles of unprocessed animal hide arranged before him.

"This looks expensive. High quality." Felix traced his fingers across the surface of one.

"Excellent eye." The vendor nodded approvingly. "This is Leodus hide. Getting rarer every year now. Five gold a sheet, or I will give you a discount if you take all ten."

"Maybe another time." Felix continued along the row, looking at the others without much interest. "I’ve been hearing about men who have been causing problems around here recently. Carrying fancy swords and using the Duke’s name."

"They sound like the four you are looking for." The vendor’s eyes kept on Felix’s hands which were currently tracing over the goods. "They have passed through here many times."

"Do you know anything about how they look or any specifics?"

"Not much." The vendor considered it for a while. "There is a leader among them, according to my information. One of his men has come here once and asked me to sell him Zevrik hide specifically for the Duke’s daughter. I sold him fifteen sheets at a cheap price, far cheaper than I could have. He wouldn’t stop bargaining and started making threats when I tried pushing back. I am not from Fillipo originally and I did not feel like making a scene. Business is business."

"Fair enough." Felix agreed readily. "No point holding onto gold if you’re not around to spend it. Does anyone else here know more?"

The vendor looked around the market, indicating a man in his late fifties haggling over some crates of goods. "Rodrick. They have picked on him several times already. He can tell you more than I can."

"Thanks." Felix straightened up. "I will get those hides another day."

"I will be here." The vendor shrugged indifferently, turning his attention elsewhere already.

Felix stepped across the road, moving closer to Rodrick’s shop and noticed the crates were already pried open on the outside. These crates were filled with Numen stones that were scattered randomly inside them, which was used for household heating, storing food, and lighting lamps during nighttime. Two customers were arguing over the price, inspecting the stones, and then placing them back and leaving the place empty-handed.

He snorted heavily and sunk back into his chair. "Cheap bastards. They’d take ten stones for this price and still leave me like I steal from them."

Felix walked up to the counter. "Market’s been harsh on you today."