The Red Lands

Griz entered the store and sat down by the counter. On the other side, Lucy and Ming sat in a corner, half asleep. Unfortunately for the merchant, the one he was most wary of perched on the stool opposite him.

He twisted his face in frustration as the kid grinned toward him with eyes brimming with liveliness.

"I'm taking those pelts, no deal here, kid."

Griz spoke in a commanding tone, scrunching up the best intimidating face ever in his life. If the assistant John stood here, he would already be scampering away in fright. Much less for children.

The beaming smile, however, refused to vacate the boy. Instead, the expression changed slowly to a blank stare. The entire face turned red from stifling laughter. Unable to hold it in, Chu burst out into a fit of laughter, exploding like a volcano.

"Phsssstttt! Cough, cough.....ah hahahaha....Mr Griz. Oh, that face and words, hah, I can see why your apprentices steer clear."

Not phased in the least, the boy choked and continued laughing at the best joke in ages. His palms slapped the counter like a drunkard enjoying himself in the tavern. Wiping the tears from his eyes, Chu looked at the still menacing expression struggling to remain on the face across the counter.

He coughed and straightened himself on the high stool.

"Ahem, Ahem. Pardon my rude behavior, Mr Griz. I enjoyed the joke between partners after the troubles we encountered tonight. Please accept my apology for displaying such improper conduct."

The boy's countenance changed slowly into a blank, unreadable face.

The serious face of a businessman giving his all to seal a deal. One compared it to the deadly gaze that stared down on a first-time job applicant from the interviewing panel.

As men who understood the ways and etiquette of procurement and bartering, they stood on common ground. In different worlds and circumstances, they could relate to one another and perceive the ploys of the other party.

Griz rumbled from across the counter,

"You think I won't do it?"

Chu sighed while clasping his fingers together on the counter,

"If you had established yourself as the lone merchant in this village, you would have already killed us to claim that prize. For a person whose hands extend into the empire, that bear is not the first and definitely not the last you've seen. Why take advantage of us little slum children who gratefully fill your coffers?"

The boy stretched his back and continued,

"We may be worthless to others, but to you, we are more useful than those guards outside. Why? It's because we have no fear of risking our lives to make you money. The best advantage you hold over us is that we have no choice since we depend on you to survive. Now, who in their right mind would cut out of a sweet deal like this? In your eyes, we represent high profit, low maintenance."

The stout man shook his head and breathed out a long sigh...

A merchant's main driving force is greed. But the most successful merchants know when and where to unleash it.

A prime example is a hen laying eggs. Knowing when to cut the neck after all the eggs that can be laid is important. Too soon and you risk losing out on more eggs. Too late, and you're just feeding a barren bird.

It was an analogy understood in both worlds.

The burly man sighed again. Intimidation, blackmail, death, and all other scare tactics proved useless in the face of this opponent. They both traveled past such actions and sat at the table negotiating each other's bottom line.

Griz struck first,

"You promised a bargain. Considering that I had to risk the lives of my guards for transport, especially at night in the forest. I think more than half of the price should be deducted." Also, we have......"

Chu interrupted the man with a raised palm.

"Wait, wait, wait. First things first. I want to know how much you plan to offer for the total price of the bear before we start deductions. In a few hours, hunters and adventurers will begin preparing to head out or return from the forest with the catch from their traps. With the commotion those beasts are going to cause, its natural the rest of merchants will be willing to offer better deals. Let me hear what your willing to pay."

Griz had a fleeting feeling that smacking this brat of the stool wouldn't be a bad idea. Not only did he try to get a good price, but he was also threatening him by dealing with his competitors.

If the boy wanted money, so be it; he would play this game.

"We pay sixty silvers for a bear. You can ask around if you like. I can call in any guard and they will say the same. Maybe even less. After all, a wolf pelt sells for just seven to ten silvers."

Griz advised while nodding his head like a salesman selling the best used car of the century.

"Hmmmm....."

Chu jumped down from the stool and rummaged through his knapsack. He returned to the counter opening the guide-book for adventurers and travelers. On the yellowed page a rough sketch of a bear with some notes scribbled underneath. Pulling the saucer with the fat candle closer, he read,

"Snow Bear. A king beast of the north. Avoid at all cost since it is very dangerous. Pelt is worth its weight in gold."

Griz nearly coughed up blood. He nearly toppled off the stool from the coughing fit. Teary-eyed from his unexpected outburst he looked up with a ferocious gaze.

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

"Since when can you read?"

"Hmph! You think just because I live in the slums, I've got nothing to do besides wasting my time picking up sticks?"

Chu followed up with a curt reply. He twisted his mouth, his blank face holding an expression of disdain. Palming the counter, he stared at Griz,

"You'd better cough up a good deal or this money tree will dry up! Next time you try to rob me as if I'm an idiot like that one, you will cough up blood on a poor deal."

Griz followed the thumb to the older boy dribbling on his smooth counter in the corner. Turning his face, he admitted this brat had more gib than a street rat in the cities. It was amazing to find someone like this in the slum where most have resigned to die.

He shrugged his shoulders,

"The bear is in good condition. Usually, when the hide is damaged, it is sold to the weapon-smith for armor. Since the pelt is in good condition, this bear has a high likely hood of being sold to nobles as a rug decoration. My offer is ten gold."

If the others were awake, they would probably have fainted. Chu, on the other hand, quietly sat drumming his fingers on the counter.

The last thing you read in novels was about the protagonist spending time on an insignificant thing like buying basic food.

Nobody ever said

'Hey, I went to another world, and the biggest problem was food. Only when it happens to you then you understand. There is a reason since recorded history, food and shelter have always occupied the high positions under basic necessities.'

Only when faced with such a situation does the real trouble begin to show itself.

Flour, oil, soft cheese, butter, smoked meat, provisions, etc. To purchase these items in a bulk that had to last four months, the money would be staggering. Graduating from a fluid meal of flavored water to normal solid food showed the disparity of living conditions. Even something unremarkable like salt was precious here.

In Chu's mind, the cost of living just increased from a few double-digit coppers to a single-digit silver. And this provided the kind of food a low-income family on Earth would be satisfied with!

"Worth its weight in GOLD. You telling me that heavy thing is worth a measly ten gold? Two hundred, nothing less."

A heavy, hairy hand smacked the counter, nearly breaking it.

"You crazy? Where the hell did you read that one pound is one gold in that book? It's a stupid analogy. It's LIKE the pelt is WORTH its weight in gold. Twenty gold, not a dime more."

A small hand slapped the counter, its effect pathetic in comparison to the previous action.

"Heck no, I can start an auction by going in front of the village gate and get a cool one hundred and seventy gold. Merchants are going to beg me to sell."

"The garrison will whip you out before you can even say what you're selling. Forty gold since it's you. That's more than enough to tide a brat over a couple of winters in comfort."

"One sixty, not a dime less. I'm caring for a horde of children. What do I tell them when you take the food out of their mouths?"

"You stinking brat, I'm trying to save your life. Do you know what will happen if word gets out that you have so much gold? You are going to have the biggest bullseye strapped to your back. Sixty gold and a guarantee that you can stay in the Trading Post lodge during winter."

"One hundred and deal. Let's talk about the other expenses."

Chu stared at Griz until the latter finally gave up. Of the two of them, only Griz had a real idea of how much the bear was really worth. In bartering, the key was how high the starting price was called, and being able to whittle it down.

Chu's price was like a dream to Griz. Even if he paid five hundred gold, he made a fortune. Being able to compromise for both of them, thinking they reached a sweet deal, was the best.

'In business dealings, there are no friends.'

Worlds apart, such statements still stand true.

"How much for the transport cost?"

"Four gold. That was a risky venture, and we even rescued your little friend there."

"Hell no, skim two golds off. That bear had already frightened away any predators for miles in the forest. As for that little brat, he is long accustomed to spending all night in the forest."

Chu pointed his head over at Ming as he slept.

"Four gold and anytime you want during winter, I sell you food supplies before winter markup prices."

Griz was looking like a man trading on the line.

"Ha ha ha, no need to be so serious, Mr Griz. I was just thinking about some other things. By the way, do you have smoked Great Horned deer that's been cured?"

The merchant had a surprised look at that out-of-the-way question.

"No, you don't know this but that meat is usually cured and transported to the cities. That meat is treated as a delicacy."

Chu rapped his knuckles again.

"Mr Griz, I promised you a deal. One hundred gold for the bear and the deer pelt is free. In return for this, I want all the deer meat cured and seasoned. Of course, I will gladly spend the money on the sales offer you just gave."

For Griz, this was something he never expected. That bear alone would fetch a price nearly ten times the buying price. Although he lost out on the deer meat, the price of the pelt and complete horned head with antlers would sell for an astounding price. And it was free!!

The cost of seasoning and curing the meat could never climb above a few silvers, but these items were already worth gold coins!

He gave a suspicious look at the brat sitting in front.

"No need, no need to be suspicious. How long will it take for the meat to be ready?"

"The butchering can be finished today, leave a week for it to be cured and ready."

Chu nodded in agreement.

"Good, at that time I want to request to borrow a horse and cart to transport the supplies to my hideout. If you don't trust me, then I would like you to get a loyal person who doesn't run their mouth."

Griz shot another surprised look at him.

"You're not staying in the slums?"

Chu returned a look as if he were staring at an idiot.

"You trying to get me killed? You should have an idea of what goes on in those village slums during winter. I should think everywhere is the same. Best you mark a bullseye on my head!!"

The man nodded in understanding.

"Don't bother, I'll lend you the cart when you're ready. I trust you won't try to make an enemy of the Merchant Guild."

Being wanted by the Merchant guild meant death. The only way to survive would be to live a life in isolation as a hermit. Of course, that wouldn't prevent mercenaries from trying to track you down for the bounty.

Chu nodded and continued.

"Let's seal it by throwing in a seasoned bear leg. I'll send some kids over for some more of those free clothes you have. I'll also take some free old boots. These straw sandals and wrappings will damage my feet. Gimme the gold coins now, and don't forget to add my money from your dumb night assistant. It is always a pleasure doing business with you!"

Griz finally understood. That boy already knew that borrowing a cart was not a problem. If he had stolen it after taking it, the cost of the deer head would have been more than adequate to pay back for it.

Before he knew it, a trust was built up between the two parties. Between two merchants, these little freebies were simply small incentives to gain favors. In the eyes of a villager, however, this was like receiving a huge deal. For the slum residents, it was like heaven descending its favors on land.

As Griz sorted out the coins, it was this one question that kept nagging him.

'WHY THE HECK DOES IT SEEM LIKE I'M THE ONE WHO IS LOOKING FOR FAVORS?'

In his secret pouch, Chu carefully placed his money after counting. The coins were thin and not bulky. If he had to get it in all silver, he would have struggled to carry such a pouch.

Thank the stars, Griz was not a vindictive merchant!

After the deal, Chu and the others sneaked away to the slums. He was quick to blend in with the residents. Griz had long taken the beasts to be processed from prying eyes. Who would believe the rumor that three kids brought in a snow bear?

The guards who went into the forest were the ones from the inner Trading Post compound. As a merchant, Griz would not be stupid to send thoughtless blabbermouths to complete this task.

Even if anyone spread a rumor, you would need to upturn the whole of the slums to find them.

Chu wasn't too worried about it; by the time any troubles started, they would be long gone. When winter chaos hits, they might simply be written off as the first casualties.

Back in the shack, wrapping up in the quilts, he decided to execute his plan.

The basic foundation was finally taken care of. He was ready to expand.