Chapter 325 - 320: I Lose If I Don’t Destroy the Grave

Chapter 325: Chapter 320: I Lose If I Don’t Destroy the Grave

Lobelica World. The Capital of Commerce, Wealth City.

Pipi had long since moved out of his suite at the commerce guild, having purchased a luxurious mansion here in the city.

Having been exposed to the diverse architecture of Earth, what the Akenis called a mansion struck Pipi as utterly tacky. There was no need to analyze its architectural aesthetics; it could be summed up in three words: tall, big, and shiny!

However, the Akenis had far too many things that needed saving. ’You have to tear down the old to build the new.’ Matters of architecture would naturally have to wait for a long, long time.

"Lord Pipi, I have arrived."

Inside the mansion, a fellow who seemed rather short even for an Akenis was led before Pipi by a gatekeeping Beast Slave.

He stared at the three young, beautiful female Akenis draped over the great merchant Pipi and unconsciously gulped.

The very concept of cosmetics had never appeared among the Kaknisen. Its effects, on display in Pipi’s mansion, caused the sheltered visitor to be drawn irresistibly to the three women.

"Hm, so the slave trader Adokinsby is about to set out?"

"Yes, Lord Pipi. This time, we’re heading to the Starlight Plateau. We’ll be following a major slave trader—an honorary member of the commerce guild, just like you—to the Delan Garden World."

Another world!

Pipi shot upright.

"Who is this major slave trader?"

"Heh heh. Well, you know... it’s risky for me to betray my employer!"

Pipi glanced at the man’s greedy expression, then nodded to a Beast Slave.

A moment later, a sack half as tall as the Akenis was thrown down in front of him. The CLINKING sound revealed it was filled with the common currency of the Akenis, Crystal Shields—a type of crystal containing a chaotic mix of energy elements.

"Ten thousand Crystal Shields, maybe more. That’s worth half a year of your income."

The Akenis opened the sack with trembling hands. He gazed at the intoxicating colors within, and by just lifting the sack to test its weight, he knew it contained a little over ten thousand Crystal Shields. He swiftly stuffed the whole thing into the pocket of his small vest.

"Your generosity is unparalleled among our people! The major slave trader is Gumiduo, a famous figure from the commerce guild who was profiled in the second issue of the *Business Opportunities Information Guide*. The one who, within five years, managed to..."

"Alright, that’s enough. I know the periodical, and I’ve read that article."

"Yes, yes, of course! How could you not know? After all, the first issue featured your esteemed name, and the second listed you among the top merchants of the younger generation. Your reputation is immense now..."

Pipi put on a show of enjoying the flattery, then chatted warmly with this Akenis merchant, a man who was usually treated with contempt.

During their conversation, Pipi casually offered him a sports drink he had brought from Earth. The obviously otherworldly packaging was a symbol of status, leaving the merchant feeling so honored that he couldn’t bear to drink it. Instead, he tucked it away in his vest pocket.

Once the merchant had departed in high spirits, the smile on Pipi’s face slowly faded.

The little man who had just left was a perfect microcosm of all Akenis merchants: willing to sell out anyone and anything for a profit, so long as they weren’t bound by a commercial contract backed by powerful Magic Power.

But even commercial agreements weren’t foolproof. Those based on the arbitration council required evidence. Only contracts witnessed by a powerful magical entity, invoked through prayer, allowed for the direct pursuit and punishment of the unfaithful party based on the contract alone.

However, if one could pay the price, it was possible to find another Magic Creature to counteract the witness, or to flee to a world the witness couldn’t reach. After all, the Akenis were famous for exploiting inter-world loopholes.

Both types of contracts were exorbitantly expensive. For the former type, the commerce guild took a direct ten-percent cut of the total trade profit.

For the latter, you had to pay the price to persuade the magical entity, ensuring it would act to uphold its end of the bargain for the sake of the "Penalty Fine."

...

「Treasure City, a lakeside city within the Akenis’s sphere of influence.」

A prestigious commerce guild school was located in its center.

Unlike the school systems on Earth, there was no tailored instruction, no class divisions, and no dedicated teachers.

There was only the commerce guild providing room and board, endlessly drilling the students in the ways of business, and providing some materials on Magic Patterns for self-study.

Occasionally, a guest lecturer would visit. They claimed to be imparting experience, but it was really just an opportunity to brag about their own profits and wealth, making all the young students green with envy.

A young Akenis on the verge of graduation ran excitedly into a large dormitory, clutching a book. The massive, circular stone building housed dozens of his fellow students.

"Look what I got!!"

A few other students looked up at the shout, noticing a special, gold-inlaid book in his hands. It faintly emanated a weak fluctuation of Magic Power, and several Magic Patterns on the cover periodically pulsed with a yellow light before dimming again.

"The third issue of the *Business Opportunities Information Guide*! You actually managed to get one!!"

"HAHAHAHA, you didn’t expect this, did you?! That old-timer who came to brag last time was holding a second issue, and he was so smug you’d think he’d forgotten his own name!"

"I know, right? And it wasn’t even the first issue!"

Ever since hearing that old merchant read some of the spectacular success stories from the second issue, all the Akenis at the school had memorized the name of the periodical.

This sensational publication spread like wildfire. Genuine copies were rare, so merchants who secretly copied and sold them to various regions were everywhere, sparking a craze in a very short time.

But a genuine copy was exceedingly rare, and utterly impossible to counterfeit. On the first day of every seven-day cycle, a long line would form before dawn outside Weike Wei’s periodical shop.

For students still in the commerce guild school, with no business income of their own, obtaining what was clearly a genuine copy of the *Business Opportunities Information Guide* was an incredible feat.