Interspecies Trader

“Welcome, Mr. Urtek. I’m Crali Vejas, acting ruler of Geola.”

I focused my attention back on the younger woman.

“It’s an honor to meet you, lady Vejas.”

“Call me miss.”

“Yes, miss Vejas. Please call me Tila too.”

“All right. Now, are you aware of the current situation?”

“Not really. As you know, I just arrived from Makji. I can only guess it doesn’t seem to look very good.”

“Indeed. Geola is currently quarantined because of a disease outbreak. We have judged it to be at a pandemic level and no one is allowed to enter and leave the city until further order.”

“A pandemic? That’s terrible.”

“Yes. Let me get straight to the point. I called you here because I’d like you to help with the current situation. Our herbalists and life mages are powerless against this new sickness.”

The disease was even worse than I expected. A pandemic was still fine if there was a cure for it. However, a disease without any remedy or vaccine was the absolute worst. It was no wonder they were desperate enough to even ask someone like me for help.

“Me, miss Vejas? I’m just a trader. How can I help with a pandemic outbreak?”

“Well…”

Crali hesitated, sending glances toward her mother. Just that alone told me everything. It looked like it wasn’t her idea to have me here but her mother’s instead. She shook her head and continued.

“Please do everything in your power. I heard you managed to get your hands on those selnic items. This is a technology that has never been seen before. Is there a way you could procure a cure for this disease in the same way?”

That was a good question. Could the inner world have a cure or a vaccine for this disease? Nevertheless, that wasn’t what was important right now. Even the most terrible merchant would know that the situation was advantageous to them. It was time for me to press my edge. I scowled, trying to give the impression of being unhappy.

“Isn’t it shameless of you to ask for help after putting me under surveillance? Do you think I didn’t notice your agents spying on me all the time?”

Crali opened her mouth to answer but then closed it. She clenched her fists a few times before finally answering.

“I… I apologize for that. I promise that won’t happen anymore if you can help us with the pandemic.”

I had thrown a random bait and she had bitten straight away. Despite her strong and relaxed impression, she was still green behind the ears. An experienced politician would have acted dumb and denied everything to the end. She was only giving me more ammunition by acting in this manner.

“It’s not something I can forget easily. A merchant’s worth is in his trade secrets, after all. Which is what you were trying to steal from me.”

She bit her lips but didn’t answer immediately. After a few seconds, she queried.

“…What do you want?”

There were many things I wanted. A house in the bunnies’ village would be amazing since it was already protected by Geola’s army. It was definitely safer than inside Geola, a place filled with pickpockets, spies, and hot-blooded fighters. A shop in Geola was the obvious next choice. Not a spot in the market but a real permanent store that people could access throughout the day. The sales from such a place wouldn’t be comparable to the ones coming from being a market seller.@@novelbin@@

However, before any of these material demands, there was a single thing that far topped all of them.

“First, I make no promise whatsoever about being able to help with the disease. Second, no matter the result, I want the spying on me to stop. Third, if I manage to help in any way, I want absolute protection from you two.”

Her face flushed at my demands and she yelled.

“You’re insane! Protection from me and my mother? Do you even know what you’re asking? Do you think we’re free enough to protect someone all the time?”

I remained calm and smiled slightly.

“Maybe not you but isn’t your mother, lady Vejas, quite free?”

This was a bold statement but I wasn’t too worried if my judgment was correct. We both looked at the woman lying down on the sofa, who was peacefully watching us, and even Crali couldn’t deny this truth.

“Ugh… Still, do you think the strongest person in the region would waste time protecting you?”

“I’m not asking for a bodyguard or anything like that. I’m just saying that in the rare chance I’m in danger, I’d like to receive unconditional help from you two. It isn’t much in exchange for saving Geola’s citizen lives, right?”

“Even so… We can’t make exceptions like these…”

“It’s fine. We accept.”

We both turned toward Angin again, surprised by her interruption. She was now sitting instead of lying down, her voice soft but full of authority, the kind I knew belonged to people used to being obeyed.

“Mo… Mother?”

Angin ignored her daughter and stared at me before continuing.

“Depending on your success, you’ll get rewarded accordingly. We’ll use your protection as the base reward for saving Geola’s citizen.”

I was finally negotiating with the real power in the room and put my full attention on her. I knew I didn’t stand a chance in terms of knowledge and wisdom against someone so much older than me but that didn’t mean I shouldn’t try my best.

“May I ask what criteria will be used as a threshold for success?”

“Shouldn’t you be glad to help save people? You shouldn’t be excessively greedy!”

Crali interrupted us. I glanced at her while Angin completely ignored her.

“I’m a merchant. I don’t move without honest compensation. That’s separate from the joy I feel by helping other people.”

This left the woman speechless while her mother continued.

“You negotiate with me from now on. Don’t pay attention to that girl.”

“Mom!”

“Yes, my lady.”

“As for your question, you may ask for an additional reward for each 10% of people you manage to save or contribute to save, as long as it isn’t unreasonable.”

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