Chapter 005 The Essence of Transactions

To speak frankly, the quality of the items at this small stall is indeed quite good. Several weapons are well-crafted, and there are even two swords with a small amount of genuine mithril. However, it is unfortunate that Konstantin showed no interest in selecting them. Ultimately, he chose a short sword that is about three fingers wide at its broadest point— in fact, this oddly shaped weapon is more akin to the tip of a spear than a short sword. Its exterior is flat and diamond-shaped, tapering into a small grip at the back. The blade is not particularly sharp, making it appear to be merely an ordinary protective tool. Upon closer inspection, one can discern that this item is hollow, with a few tiny pinholes and a faint green hue on the blade, which are sufficient to indicate what was originally contained within.

10,000 gold coins ... ... equivalent to 100,000 silver coins, 1,000,000 copper coins, in this world, could probably buy an entire small town along with the surrounding fields ... ... Even Konstantin, the legitimate son of a great noble, felt somewhat shocked by this amount

Having experienced countless stars, beauties, and images, Konstantin naturally would not be stunned into a daze by the appearance of those around him, like the common folk. However, there was still a hint of astonishment—such a delicate face far exceeded the imagination of an ordinary person. Even in his era, such a visage, comparable to a painting, belonged only to a select few top figures or appeared solely in portraits. This beauty undoubtedly transcended the boundaries of gender, elevating itself to the level of an artwork. Consequently, nearly everyone witnessing this, including some elegant noblewomen, expressed their surprise.

Although there was some turmoil in his heart, the young man remained outwardly composed, not even inquiring about the price of the item. He casually sifted through the weapons, as if his initial purpose was simply to find a weapon that suited him.

For example, in a typical year, a pound of wheat ground into flour sells for two copper coins, while the value of a gold coin is approximately one hundred copper coins. In terms of conventional calculations, ... this means that the current worth of this elf is at least sufficient to equip a large squad of soldiers in the Western Frontier ... If the executor has a good business acumen, they might even add the cost of provisions for three months.

The young man sheathed his sword, quietly reducing the price to one-tenth.

The wanderer introduced himself with a hint of pride, which made Konstantin smile slightly—at least this part-time grocer was not entirely lying. This curved blade indeed came from the hands of the Drow, but it was not a divine weapon; it was merely a standard knife used by ordinary warriors. Aside from its hardness, which was significantly higher than that of regular steel due to the incorporation of fine gold, it had no other special features. As for the flashy scabbard, it was clearly an accessory added later to enhance its value. It was just a standard knife used by ordinary warriors, and aside from its hardness, which was significantly higher than that of regular steel due to the incorporation of fine gold, it had no other special features. As for the flashy scabbard, it was clearly an accessory added later to enhance its value. At least the Drow, who only had infrared vision, would not consider color coordination too much.

Then thirty-eight, either you go find a fool willing to spend three hundred gold coins.

The essence of trade is always accompanied by deception... is it not

Ten thousand!" From a distance, the plump noble shook his head, sighed, and slumped dejectedly in his chair. Yet, in an instant, it seemed he had made a decision, mumbling to himself, he jumped up once more, roaring fiercely as if he were on the verge of collapse: "Ten thousand gold coins!"

His stall was indeed too small, with not much of note. As Konstantin crouched down, he had already found a target worth noting—a stone that appeared rather unremarkable, its surface worn and corroded by flames or acid. Only the charred silver chain surrounding it and a small ornament gave it a semblance of value. It seemed to have originally been a talisman or ornament, but when the boy's fingers touched it, he distinctly felt a tingling sensation, as if it were electrified. The surface was worn and corroded by flames or acid, with only the charred silver chain and a small ornament giving it a semblance of value. It seemed to have originally been a talisman or ornament, but when the boy's fingers touched it, he distinctly felt a tingling sensation, as if it were electrified.

At this moment, the scene has erupted into chaos, with the trafficker, disguised as a regular person, still hoarsely shouting. However, it seems that everyone's attention has completely shifted away from his voice... "Four thousand!" "Four thousand five hundred!" "Four thousand seven hundred!"... The starting price of two thousand gold coins has instantly been raised to a terrifying figure amidst the tumultuous shouts.

Watching that beautiful figure being taken away from the center, Konstantin's gaze suddenly flickered, as if he sensed something in his heart, yet it remained somewhat unclear. The young man touched his nose and noticed that the girl and her servant, who had originally been standing not far away, had unknowingly left the scene. He let out a soft sigh, no longer pursuing his fleeting thoughts, and thus squeezed in with the old steward into a crowd flowing towards the exit.

In fact, Konstantin soon realized that his guess was largely correct; he caught a glimpse of hesitation on the wanderer's face. Although it was fleeting, it brought the young man a sense of satisfaction. This indicated that his assessment had not encountered any significant errors.

Because the heat flows along a peculiar trajectory, and that shape...! ... Konstantin only needed to reflect for a moment to recall that it was precisely the shape of the enormous pattern on the back!

However, even for those with sharp eyes, it was difficult for Kang to notice that the young master, while drawing his long knife and dagger, discreetly swept a small gem into his sleeve with an inconspicuous motion... The weapons he had already disordered, along with his body, effectively served as a shield. At that moment, the vendor's attention was focused on the shiny coins produced by the old steward, clearly unaware that his merchandise had diminished slightly.

However, if it were only this, it would not be enough to cause a stir... The key moment was when he made contact; the young man suddenly felt a surge of heat rise from the skin on his back. This was clearly not some kind of illusion. Although this sensation came quickly and disappeared just as swiftly, almost in an instant, it was enough to stir something within the young man.

Clearly, such an impolite act of staring at others would invite resentment... Konstantin quickly noticed that several cold, piercing gazes had turned towards him, filled with evident hostility—these belonged to a few attendants standing behind the girl. Although they were merely dressed in the common cloaks of mercenaries, they revealed a lining of studded leather armor, and their weapons were standard-issue longswords. However, from their postures and expressions, Konstantin could deduce that these individuals had all received formal knightly training.

Young master has a keen eye; this is something we obtained at the cost of a friend's sacrifice, a truly extraordinary weapon! Just now, someone offered 300 gold coins, and I couldn't bring myself to part with it...

Is there finally some kind of clue

Moreover, the grass-green short skirt does not provide adequate coverage; the glistening skin on the elf's long legs, combined with her expression that seems on the verge of tears, is enough to drive all male creatures to madness

Constantine turned his head in astonishment and, upon seeing the new upstart making a bidding gesture, inexplicably shuddered again

There is something strange

The youth's gaze swept past the pair of hands that were waving to attract business, then approached and began to rummage through the belongings of the disabled person.

Constantine's previous life was merely that of a third-rate university student, leading a career as a low-level clerk... Although he had seen some experiences of fierce bidding in auction houses on television, those illusory elements could not compare to real sensations... Of course, during his time in the Western Frontier, he had encountered the concept of slave auctions once or twice, but the prices for slaves meant for hard labor were cheap, at most fluctuating around a hundred gold coins, which was far from the scene before him

"Really... damn rich... as expected of the capital..." Konstantin touched his nose and sighed softly. Even without placing a bid, the steadily rising figures still evoked an inexplicable thrill

The act of a candle burning itself to illuminate others is indeed commendable... In my memory, there is a character from a certain classic work who embodies this sentiment, his smile carrying a hint of inexplicable emotion: "If there were more people like this in the world, perhaps our lives would be even better..."

The shape of this object reminded the young man of the meteor dart from his memories, which is why he had a slight inclination to make a purchase. Another important reason is that this item... should not be too expensive

I dislike nonsense; for these two items, the total is thirty-five gold coins

Although this young man is quite young, he evidently possesses some experience as a businessman, as evidenced by the commercial smile on his face. However, his use of the common language is heavily interspersed with a strong local accent, which Konstantin noticed seemed to lean towards the dialect of Derland, a region located to the west of the Empire.

The family knights are akin to the so-called household warriors in the memories of youth, or rather, mercenaries supported by the family. Considering their purpose, a considerable portion of them may be skilled archers adept with bows and crossbows, or agile wanderers. However, the majority are still knights trained from a young age. They are loyal to their families, proficient in wielding greatswords and heavy swords, and excel in charging and slashing while clad in heavy armor

Constantine raised his eyebrows

"Young master, you truly have a sense of humor. Such a sharp weapon..." After hesitating for a moment, the wanderer exaggeratedly raised his voice, seemingly preparing to make a final struggle. However, the young man immediately coldly interrupted his words

10,000 gold coins! This generous gentleman bids 10,000 gold coins! 10,000 gold coins... Is there a higher bid?

What difference does it make? To sternly condemn such inhumane trading practices? Unfortunately, Constantine has no interest in such just actions. The slave trade in the empire has been ongoing for hundreds of years, and this custom on the continent has likely existed for a millennium. The young man does not believe he has the ability to confront the entire society and era, nor has he ever been one to recklessly proclaim justice.

Constantine habitually touched his nose

In front is a free market, where there are sometimes some good items. Would you like to take a look?

In the heart of the young man, there was a certain turmoil regarding the mysterious magic circle behind him. Konstantin had always wanted to explore its secrets, but he was at a loss for clues. He was not a mage, and ordinary books did not contain relevant knowledge. Moreover, the people around him were even more reticent about it. Could it be that today, Taimora had finally bestowed some kind of blessing upon him, allowing him to discover something related?

This seems to be an attempt to intimidate the opponent into ceasing their bidding with a method far beyond the usual calling price, yet the girl remained quietly seated, showing not a trace of emotion. It seemed she couldn't even be bothered to take a breath, merely waving her hand. Consequently, the family knight behind her shouted loudly: "Seven thousand!"

"What would this young master like? All the items here are procured from the drow of the Shadowed Realm, and the quality exceeds your imagination..."

If money were to transform into numbers shouted aloud, its significance would seemingly diminish greatly... In an instant, all sounds in the chaotic venue turned into deep sighs, followed by an eerie silence. People held their breath, listening as unimaginable numbers spiraled upward between two voices. In the end, each utterance would tug at the heartbeats of the crowd. In reality, this process lasted only two or three rounds, a mere few seconds, yet in everyone's hearts, it felt as if the world had been slowed down by something, stretching time uncomfortably long... In an instant, all sounds in the chaotic venue turned into deep sighs, followed by an eerie silence. People held their breath, listening as unimaginable numbers spiraled upward between two voices. In the end, each utterance would tug at the heartbeats of the crowd. In reality, this process lasted only two or three rounds, a mere few seconds, yet in everyone's hearts, it felt as if the world had been slowed down by something, stretching time uncomfortably long.

The starting price is 2,000 gold coins, with each subsequent bid increasing by 100 gold coins

As the young man casually drew a short length of the curved blade, the deep, lustrous surface of the sword seemed to attract the light, shimmering with faint golden specks in the sunlight. This hue was characteristic of the dark essence metal, which could only be found in shadowy regions. At the same time, a subtle scent reminiscent of rust began to permeate the air as the blade was unsheathed. The young man recognized it as the scent of dried blood

Of course, after all, weapons of this quality are not common, and it is even rarer for a young man to have the opportunity to go shopping. To simply walk away at this point seems a bit regrettable, so Konstantin hesitated for a moment and chose a genuine weapon.

However, Konstantin heard the old housekeeper's low admonition in his ear. Clearly, this decision was exceedingly foolish, as even the old man's voice rarely carried a hint of sarcasm.

It was a scimitar that appeared quite intimidating, adorned with numerous low-grade gemstones such as turquoise, red zircon, and yellow topaz on its scabbard. The handguard was made of wrapped copper, and a piece of gray animal hide on the handle was exceptionally neatly bound with hemp thread

Five thousand

Although he arrived at Haydon at the same time as Constantine, it was evident that Walter's abilities as a steward were absolutely outstanding. After turning into a small street behind the arena and walking a few hundred feet, their next destination was already in sight.

Thus, amidst the wanderer's expression of helplessness, this transaction was finalized. The brown-haired vendor wore a look of dejection, as if all his hard work had been wasted in this unprofitable deal. It is likely that only those with keen insight could notice the hint of excitement hidden deep within his gaze.

What is even more impressive is the face that resembles a completely expressionless doll, exuding an aura of inaccessibility and untouchable mystery. It compels one to be unable to look away.

For instance, right in front, three individuals with darting eyes hurriedly approached to surround the master and servant, their faces full of ingratiating smiles as they peddled the dazzling gems in their hands. However, Konstantin's gaze was directed towards a stall on the other side.

However, in this realm, such markets have become a necessity in the lives of citizens, as the goods here are significantly cheaper than those in some shops on the market. Being self-produced, they maintain certain advantages in style and characteristics. Those peculiar little items indeed attract the attention of tourists and buyers. Of course, since the market mainly deals in small commodities, the occasional good items often have dubious origins, which is why nobles only visit such stalls out of curiosity from time to time. Just like the antique market in the memories of youth, if you possess extensive knowledge and keen insight but happen to lack a well-filled wallet, this is undoubtedly the best place to strike gold.

Although girls of this age may not be tall or voluptuous, the young lady before me possesses a harmonious figure, standing there with an air of grace. Her long dress, contrasting in black and white, astonishes the young man even more—a standard European-style gown, layered and adorned with clusters of lace and lantern sleeves, accentuating her snow-like complexion. A few small pieces of jewelry, though not dazzling, are exceptionally exquisite, with gems that are crystal clear, clearly of high quality. Such items are typically chosen only by those old aristocrats who possess both taste and wealth.

The climax of the auction has continued, and another rare item has been brought to the forefront. However, as he watched the plump count eagerly rushing towards the contract signing table amidst the crowd's exclamations and discussions, Konstantin suddenly lost much of his interest—clearly, financial power does not correlate with appearance. Observing the man's physique, which could almost be likened to that of a meatball, and his head resembling that of a bulldog, the young man couldn't help but shake his head and sigh.

At this moment, this deal has already been finalized. It must be said that desire is truly a force that leads people towards evil. In reality, such a large sum of money is enough for an ordinary person to live like a local emperor, yet it is now only used to exchange for a humanoid creature

Although he is the legitimate eldest son of the Duke and the first heir of the Connolly-Vice family, Konstantin is not wealthy. In the Phoenix Empire, a noble's income before reaching adulthood consists solely of a fixed allowance provided by their parents. As a military man, Duke William is not generous in this regard, so Konstantin's savings over the past decade or so are quite limited. It is probably less than 100 gold coins, a figure that is considered neither high nor low among the nobility.

These individuals, while not exceptionally strong, can be quite troublesome. Particularly, certain specialized training methods often endow them with the characteristics of death warriors. When necessary, they can create opportunities to kill the enemy at the cost of their own lives. Clearly, those who can afford such guardians are powerful nobles. Moreover, individuals with military authority, such as in the household of Duke George, do not require family knights—the legitimate knights of the Griffin Order are undoubtedly far superior to such individuals.

The host shouted frantically, but in the end, all that was returned was the audience's noisy exclamations about that terrifying price. After three rounds of bidding, no one placed another bid.

He is not sure whether this price is appropriate, but he recalls that in the Western Frontier, hiring a reasonably skilled mercenary for a not too deep adventure in the Shadowlands would require this amount of money, so the price of this knife should not exceed it by much. Although he cannot be certain, we know Konstantin's true identity; he comes from a world with a highly developed commerce, and he happens to be a person of modest means. Having been a small citizen with no bright future for thirty years, is he not capable of haggling when buying things?

Perhaps it is precisely for this reason that the isolation zone around them appears particularly wide compared to others

In contrast to the surrounding clamor, this beggar appeared somewhat shabby, with merely a dirty piece of burlap spread on the ground, upon which lay a haphazard assortment of objects, most of which were weapons, along with a few inconspicuous trinkets. However, what caught the young man's attention was the vendor, a fellow likely in his early twenties, with a head of fiery red hair that had become dust-stained to a purplish hue. He wore a tattered half-leather armor favored by wanderers, which was covered in numerous small scratches, indicating it had been used for quite some time. His belt was adorned with a haphazard collection of items, including four or five daggers and short swords.

The boy's brows twitched slightly, as the items associated with the term "magic" are generally quite expensive. Although this small trinket appeared to be unremarkable, based on the limited knowledge he had acquired from several accompanying mages, the spells sealed within talismans and similar items should shatter and disappear once fully consumed. The item before him still seemed to hold some value. At the very least, it could be recharged or used as material for other purposes. The spells sealed within talismans and similar items should shatter and disappear once fully consumed. The item before him still seemed to hold some value. At the very least, it could be recharged or used as material for other purposes

Strange, it seems that something is not right...

As he walked along the streets, the young man casually glanced at the various stalls around him. This so-called free market was not particularly regulated; most of the goods were either handmade by local artisans or farmers, or second-hand items. It resembled the flea markets he often visited in his previous life. The vendors operating here were unlicensed, and their goods were either stolen or smuggled. The variety was quite extensive, and some adventurers would also sell their spoils here, ranging from ores to weapons, or even second-hand goods. The prices were astonishingly low; items that would cost five gold coins in a regular shop could be found here for less than three copper coins. However, while these items were nominally claimed to be spoils from various adventures, their true origins were likely unclear to anyone. In contrast, the quality of the goods offered here was entirely unguaranteed.

She was a girl, and she even appeared to be a little younger than Konstantin.

A sudden sound erupted not far from Konstantin, causing him to shudder involuntarily. Although nobles often saw gold coins flowing in and out like water, the purchasing power of these small, golden pieces in this world was still quite formidable.

The girl herself seems completely indifferent to the gazes directed at her, merely coldly observing another direction, where a group of servant-like individuals is crowding around a short and stout figure, who appears to be quite a person of means. So far, he has been leading the trend of the prices. Although Konstantin does not fully understand the nuances of the auction, he can guess that the ownership of the elf before him should now be determined between these two individuals.

Is it a family knight

As expected, after a brief moment of contemplation, the other party raised the price once again: "6,000."

As for purchasing it at a higher price, that is simply unimaginable—10,000 gold coins is not something I can afford. Although this high-end item is clearly worth that price, even doubling it wouldn't be considered unusual. Perhaps the Duke has the financial means for such an expense, but Konstantin does not believe that his thrifty father would spend such money on this little brat.

Constantine squinted his eyes, seemingly dazzled by hair that resembled golden satin.

That fellow is a celebrity in Haydn City... the Candle Count of the Feishi family. His lecherous habits have brought him countless troubles, yet surprisingly, he remains unchanged to this day... Young Master Konstantin, that is the downfall of the nobility; please take it as a cautionary tale.