Watching Li Xiuman's departing figure, Brad sighed.
Beside him, his teammates patted his shoulders and offered words of comfort.
“Captain, it’s Miss Xiuman, after all.”
“That’s right, it’s not your fault. If anyone is truly the best match for Miss Xiuman... it’s got to be me!”
“Give me a break. You didn't even dare to speak a word to her over the last ten days.”
“Miss Xiuman is probably the type who doesn't care for money or status. She’s completely different from those women in the Royal Capital who only swarm around money.”
“I guess she really is a flower on a high peak.”
“Exactly, an aloof flower on a high peak.”
Listening to the banter of these bad friends behind him, Brad felt even more depressed.
In times of danger, he could trust them with his back.
When there was no danger, turning his back on them would only endanger his backside.
“Oh well, at least I got her address.”
Brad unfolded the slip of paper in his hand.
His teammates, who had been noisy just a moment ago, instantly quieted down and crowded around, eager to get a clear look at the address.
“Don't look! This was given to me by Miss Xiuman!”
Brad hastily closed the paper slip.
“Captain, that’s not for you to decide anymore.”
“Wait!”
“Hey, grab the captain’s legs! Arms, arms! Hold him tight!”
“I’m the captain, the cap— Mmph, mmph!”
His mouth was stuffed shut as well.
Looking at this scene, who could have guessed that just ten days ago, they were standing shoulder to shoulder, sharing life and death together?
“Now we have Miss Xiuman's home address clearly in sight.”
“How could we let the captain monopolize the chance to write letters to her?!”
“Hey, you guys better not go harass Sister Xiuman! You’re only allowed to send letters!”
On the unfolded slip of paper, four neat words were written.
“White Feather Merchant Association?”
...
“Even the intelligence-lowering curse of the water spirit cannot suppress my intellect.”
“My title as the highest IQ in the skeleton realm isn't just for show!”
Li Xiuman didn't want to sit at home all day receiving love letters from various guys.
If they were young girls, it might be fine, but these were all Lu Zhishen-like meatheads with eight-pack abs, massive chests, and the muscle to uproot willow trees with their bare hands.
Calling those "love letters" was practically generous; they were basically death threats.
Even terrorists weren't this terrifying.
Therefore, Li Xiuman had written down the address of the White Feather Merchant Association.
What magnificent wisdom!
He had been annoyed by the White Feather Merchant Association for a long time.
How were they so good at making money, seizing market trends, and desperately raking in cash?
Watching others make money was even more painful than losing his own.
And watching others make money so easily was the ultimate torment.
Let the love letters from these muscular warriors blind the eyes of that damnable, godforsaken guildmaster who should be handing over all her money to him!
At this moment, Li Xiuman happened to be passing by the White Feather Merchant Association.
The White Feather Merchant Association building was fully completed, but foot traffic was merely average, far from standing out.
This made Li Xiuman feel even more delighted.
It seemed making money wasn't any easier for others than it was for him. Good, good.
His inner peace was instantly restored.
“What a pitiful merchant association.”
“Where is business ever that easy? Just because you made money once, you thought it was easy to come by.”
“Too young, far too naive.”
“This is White Crystal City, not some countryside backwater like White Bear City.”
“Tsk tsk, how pitiful.”
“A merciful skeleton like me just can't stand to see such tragedy. I'll sell my dungeon gains from this trip right here, then.”
Li Xiuman happily strode into the White Feather Merchant Association.
What hypocrisy.
“Master!”
“Lady Rorona, Master has entered the merchant association!”
“What?!”
“Where did Master come from, and what is Master doing here?”
“Lady Rorona, Master likely just emerged from the dungeon. Coming to the association, it seems Master only sold a large batch of dungeon materials.”
“Materials?”
Rorona began brainstorming, pondering the deeper meaning behind Li Xiuman's action.
These past few days, the White Feather Merchant Association had opened for business, but business was far from thriving.
This caused Rorona to question their own abilities once more. Could Master have misjudged them?
“Should we receive Master?”
“No!”
Rorona hastily shook their head.
“Master came here, yet did not head straight to the upper floors, but instead sold materials in batches in the main hall.”
“What do you think Master means by this?”
“...Because selling materials categorized to specific merchants earns more money?”
“...How could that be?! Think deeper about Master’s intent!”
“Master realized the dilemma facing the White Feather Merchant Association and wanted to inspect from the ground up to find where the problem lies! That’s why Master is selling materials around to investigate!”
“Therefore, we vampires cannot make a grand scene. If we engage in such empty formalism, Master won't be able to spot the issues.”
“Right now, treating Master like an ordinary customer is Master's true expectation.”
“So that’s how it is!”
The vampire lackey was struck by enlightenment.
“In the end, I’ve still disappointed Master.”
“Once again, Master has to clean up my mess—just like last time.”
“When will I ever be able to stand on my own two feet like Big Sister Jetis...”
...
“Hmph hmph, trying to rip me off? Did you really think I'm stupid?”
“This skeleton is sharp as a tack! By selling them separately, I earned at least ten extra gold coins!”
Having finished selling his materials by category, Li Xiuman clapped his hands and glanced up at the top floor.
Just now, he seemed to have sensed vampire aura and eyes watching him.
Looks like Rorona is doing well, diligently completing the task assigned to them and investigating the White Feather Merchant Association's connections.
Truly impressive, infiltrating deep into the White Feather Merchant Association in such a short amount of time.
Judging by this, uncovering the identity of the master behind the White Feather Merchant Association is only a matter of time.
When that time comes, I'll drag out this big boss behind the scenes and extort a massive sum from them.
Having sold his materials, Li Xiuman departed from the White Feather Merchant Association.
Just as Li Xiuman left, Brad and his group arrived at the White Feather Merchant Association.
Li Xiuman probably never expected these guys to find the White Feather Merchant Association so quickly.
After all, the White Feather Merchant Association had just opened in White Crystal City, having no local backing and remaining merely a small firm.
“Is this the White Feather Merchant Association Miss Xiuman mentioned?”
“It seems to be just a small merchant association?”
“Let's sell our surplus monster materials here first. We don't have much gold left.”
“Honored guests, how may we assist you?”
“We'd like to sell a batch of monster materials.”
Brad took out his pack as he spoke, then added,
“By any chance, do you know Miss Xiuman?”
“Miss... Xiuman?”
“Miss Xiuman Pound Li.”
“...Please wait a moment.”
Soon, Rorona descended from upstairs.
Brad and Rorona exchanged glances.
“Please come upstairs so we can speak, sir.”
“Thank you for your trouble.”
No one knew what they discussed that day.
However, Li Xiuman clearly remembered that on the very next day, the White Feather Merchant Association suddenly exploded in popularity.
This instantly ruined Li Xiuman's cheerful mood when he happily passed by the White Feather Merchant Association the next day.
Did they... suck away all his good luck?
Had he been offered up as a sacrifice?
Only later did he learn that the White Feather Merchant Association had been targeted and plotted against by a local noble.
That noble intended to use his authority to suppress them, smear their name, and buy them out at a bargain price.
Spies had even been planted among the employees hired by the White Feather Merchant Association.
That noble had now received severe punishment from Grand Duke Rose, nearly being stripped of his noble title on the spot.
Grand Duke Rose declared that in White Crystal City, everyone enjoyed equal rights to do business, and underhanded speculation would never be tolerated!
Li Xiuman felt as though he were in a dream.
This White Feather Merchant Association was simply unreal.
Rate on N.U.
