Chapter 34: Merfolk Merchants

Chapter 34: Merfolk Merchants

Chapter 34

Kai blinked twice to make sure his eyes werent deceiving him. He had known about the existence of other races for a long time. Even in the Baquaire Archipelago that was common knowledge. But one thing was knowing, another was coming face to face with one.

With his brain short-circuited, he could only stupidly exclaim. You are merfolks.

One book he read had a chapter about foreign races. It didnt say much except they existed and a brief description.

The merfolk sitting behind a table rolled his eyes, speaking to the other merfolk standing beside him, Father, did we really have to come to this gods forsaken fishing village? Not one of these country bumpkins seems to have ever seen another sapient species in their life.

Kai was too flabbergasted to take offense. Those words were true after all. The one who just spoke looked younger, a teenager judging from the voice. The older one, his father, would probably be a head taller if they were both standing. He had also slightly darker scales and a monocle with a golden rim on his left eye.

Dont be rude Reishi. This is how I started too. No deal is too humble for a true merchant. The father had an almost scholarly tone. When he spoke Kai noticed there were a few more thin sharp teeth in his mouth than what a human would have.

Reishi looked back at them with a snort, at him specifically. Stop gawking. Its not like Im even a thrice-damned siren, just a common merfolk. Merman is fine too, but dont call me fishman if you dont want trouble.

Kai nodded soundlessly. Moui gave him a light tap on the shoulder to make him realize he was standing nailed on the floor by the entrance.

Im making a fool of myself. Come on Kai, get a grip of yourself.

Kai schooled his expression and walked towards the table. Using Acting to look as calm and nonchalant as possible.

Nice to meet you Reishi, Im Kai. He smiled and offered his hand over the table. It wasnt really a thing in the archipelago, but he heard people shook their hands in the Merian Republic. So the merfolk should be familiar with the greeting.

Reishi stared at his hand for a couple seconds. Kai couldnt really interpret the expression on his face, but he made no move of taking his hand.

Was I wrong in my assumption?

Just as Kai was about to take back his hand, sure he would remember this embarrassing moment every night for the next year, Reishi made his move.

Kai tried to not react as the cold webbed hand of the young merfolk touched his. His nails looked manicured and also way sharper than a humans. Surprisingly, the scales on his hand were almost as soft as human skin too.

With a smile Kai couldnt interpret, Reishi shook his hand. The strength he used in the grip would have been uncomfortable if he hadnt advanced his race.

Kai returned the handshake with no problem. If he read his expression correctly the merfolk was surprised at his lack of reaction. Luckily, he did not tighten his grip in a contest of strength. Kai suddenly felt the familiar tingling of mana.

Did he use some kind of skill?

His suspicion seemed confirmed when Reishi showed his sharp teeth in a large smile. But it was his father who talked first.L1tLagoon witnessed the first publication of this chapter on Ñøv€l--B1n.

Its surprising to find a human child who reached the Second Layer so young. He did a short bow. Im Sehn, merchant by trade and the father of this young man. He patted the head of an annoyed Reishi, who didnt seem to appreciate the gesture.

Sehn touched his chin with a thoughtful look, Were you perhaps not born on this island?

Kai took a second to understand the second layer was probably another naming convention for race grades.

Yes, something like that. He answered noncommittally.

It was clear Sehn considered his race grade high for someone born at the bottom of Red like all the natives of the islands and wondered if he was not born in the archipelago. Kai decided to interpret the question more literally. He was not born on Yanlun but on Yatol.

He wasnt technically lying. He just didnt feel like explaining the details and deal with the questions that were sure to follow.

Since the two merfolks took a peek at him, it only felt right to reciprocate. Kai activated Mana Sense and Inspect, trying to be subtle about it. He had to suppress an exclamation when he saw the results.

Reishi was at the second stage of Orange with a type 1 profession. A combination he never saw before. Such a high race and low profession meant he probably unlocked the second seal recently.

The real shocker was his father, Sehn. Behind those unassuming looks, his race and profession appeared higher than any he had seen before. Definitely Yellow grade race, he couldnt tell which stage, and type 3 or higher profession. The intricate mana network of the merman gave him a headache after a couple seconds he was staring at it. The complexity so high he could not imagine ever making sense of it.

Digging into his memories, he was reasonably certain Virya was higher, but maybe he was at Elijah or Doras level. Back at the estate, he didnt have the ability to tell yet, so he couldnt be sure.

If Sehn noticed his actions he didnt say, he seemed immersed in his thoughts. Not more than a few seconds had passed since Kai gave his answer. Sehn nodded his head sagely like he just solved a difficult puzzle.

Id like to know how you got your hands on them.

Kai could repeat the same old master story but decided to opt for the truth, curious of how they would react.

I crafted them myself.

Reishi broke his business persona for a moment, his eyes widening in incredulity. You are an experienced apothecary at what? Nine or ten?

Here we go again

Kai was a bit disappointed. But it wasnt the worst reaction he had gotten. Obviously, he didnt feel the need to specify his age.

Son, youre missing something, Sehn said.

At his fathers remark, Reishe looked pensive for a moment, before an even bigger shock appeared on his face. You are an alchemist!

It was Kais turn to be surprised. How had they been able to so easily guess his identity?

Apprentice alchemist. He specified.

Thinking about it, Kai understood their reasoning. Thanks to Mana Manipulation he was able to bring out every bit of potential from low-grade ingredients. It was the easiest way to explain the high-quality potions. Rather than a child having the knowledge and ability of a master apothecary.

Reishi nodded, I didnt expect to find an alchemist in this settlement. Not even an apprentice. Im sure it's an interesting story. You must be very talented.

Kai smiled at the compliment, before realizing the cunning merman was trying to stroke his ego to get an advantage in the negotiations.

Not today satan! I will not get buttered up so easily.

Im happy we both realize the quality of my goods.

Reishi stifled his smile. The quality might be good, but they have mundane effects and their grade does not reach the first tier.

Kai only had a vague idea of what half of that meant, but continued to confidently speak. They may be low-level, but they are perfect to sell around the archipelago. Their mundane effects make them only more marketable.

From their brief interaction, Kai had deduced a few things. The old merchant showed no intention of intervening in the negotiations, letting his son take the lead. Adding Reishi's young age and low profession, the picture became very clear.

Sehn wanted his son to get some experience. Which was probably the only reason someone of his level decided to come to a small fishing village in the first place.

It also meant they would travel to other small towns around the islands, making his common low-grade potions easy to sell.

Their verbal sparring continued into a fierce haggling for the price.

Ill offer you 10 copper mesars and Im already buying at a loss here.

10 mesars? I would have been happy with 5. This is amazing. Kai made a mental note to thank uncle Moui for the idea of coming here later.

Despite this, not a sliver of happiness appeared on Kais face, Dont make me laugh. The whole package is worth at least 50 mesars.

Asking for a silver mesar for my stock. Lets goooo!

Reishi acted scandalized at his words and the haggling continued. In his favor, Kai was better at rational verbal sparring. Reishi, on his side, had a firm grasp of the true market values of the potions, which he had not.

Neither was willing to give an inch, but in the end Reishi didnt need to buy them as much as Kai wanted to sell. They settled on a price of 24 mesars and 75 chips. Kai had taken out one of his energizing tonics to sweeten the deal.

Taking the coins from a drawer, Reishi triumphantly gave him the money.

Kai had an inkling he had sold way below market value, but he was satisfied with the deal. There was something the young merfolk seemed to not understand yet.

It didnt matter how much his potions would fetch sold by a reputable merchant in another town. Kai could only sell them in Greenside and he could not turn into a respected apothecary. He would never get half as much coin selling in the market. If Reishi had kept insisting, he was willing to go even lower.

Keep smiling all you want. You could have forced a much steeper deal.

Kai inwardly gloated.