“You!” The stall owner jumped up, slapping the table in anger, but Cheng Shuili didn't give him a chance to finish.
“What about me?” She scoffed. “Su Rui is my person; it’s not your place to be snide.”
Her gaze swept over the surrounding shops selling servants. Last time she came, there was only one, but things were different now.
Whoever earns these game coins, it’s all the same, right?
If you don't want to sell, other beastmen are lining up to do so!
She had come prepared to buy a dozen or twenty this time. With over 70,000 game coins in her hand and the previous price at 800 per servant, money was no object.
Cheng Shuili thought this over and turned directly to the neighbor of this stall owner, speaking loudly on purpose: “I’m here to buy servants today, start me off with twenty! If the quality is good, I’ll partner with you from now on!”
The neighboring stall owner had just begun to smile when he heard the one who had mocked them let out a cold snort. Whether out of envy or jealousy, he said bitterly:
“Heh... humans are so pretentious! What’s wrong with saying a few words? They’re just servants, can’t we even talk about them? Old Wolf’s goods next door are far worse than mine! The servants he sold last time were sick and unable to stand within three days! People even came back to settle scores! Don't you believe it!”
What’s wrong with saying a few words?
Su Rui was her person, after all. It didn't matter if she said a few words, but what kind of thing were you? Did you deserve to lecture her?
Cheng Shuili was just about to retort when a roar beat her to it!
The Old Wolf mentioned by the stall owner also had a fiery temper; how could he stand for such talk?
He slammed his hand on the table and scolded, “You dog-brained thing! Every time new stock arrives, you shove your face in to pick first, squeezing us behind you! Do you really think you’re someone special?!”
The dog-headed stall owner didn't back down: “It’s my ability that I can squeeze to the front! If you’re capable, you squeeze to the front too? You’re just a coward, afraid to be the first to take stock, and now you’re shouting? A bunch of wimps!”
“I%%#*￥#”
“You%%#*￥#”
Cheng Shuili: “......”
In short, they started arguing.
However, Cheng Shuili paused, her gaze sweeping over the servants on both sides.
What the Old Dog said was true. Although the servants on his side were dirty, they all had their eyes open and looked energetic. The servants next to the Old Wolf he mentioned were all huddled together, looking noticeably thinner in comparison.
For farm work, the effect would certainly not be as good as the servants from the Old Dog’s side.
Cheng Shuili frowned. These few words confirmed one thing: the goods from the dog-headed beastman were indeed the best.
Su Rui also understood what was going on.
She frowned, her eyes scanning the stalls once more, and finally had to admit that the servants at the Old Dog’s stall were indeed the most spirited.
She felt frustrated, but knew she couldn't delay Cheng Shuili's business, so she lowered her voice and advised: “Should we just buy from the Old Dog?”
The two beastmen's argument happened to come to a pause. The dog-headed beastman had sharp ears and, upon hearing this, let out a cold snort: “You want to buy? I’m not selling to you! Beg me properly, and if I’m in a good mood, maybe I’ll give you this chance!”
Cheng Shuili narrowed her eyes, a cold sneer slowly curling at the corners of her mouth.
She walked slowly to the dog-headed beastman's stall, tapped the table with her fingertips, and spoke in a light tone that carried undeniable pressure: “Oh? Not selling?”
The dog-headed beastman felt a strange chill under her gaze, but still spoke stubbornly: “What? Can’t you understand? If you want to buy, beg me!”
Cheng Shuili chuckled, then suddenly turned to look at the Old Wolf next door, raising her voice: “Since this gentleman isn't selling, I’ll have to go elsewhere. Old Wolf, I’ll take all the servants you have.”
The Old Wolf, who was still angry, had his eyes light up instantly: “A-all of them?!”
Buying from anyone was the same, right? They were all servants; buying them meant they would just get to work!
If they could work for a few days, that was enough!
Thinking this through, Cheng Shuili nodded nonchalantly. “Yes, all of them. However, I have one condition—”
She glanced sideways at the dog-headed beastman, deliberately drawing out her tone, “You must guarantee that whenever you have good stock in the future, you give me priority, and the price... let’s say 30% off the market rate.”
The Old Wolf hadn't even reacted before the dog-headed beastman exploded: “Are you crazy?! 30% off? Do his scraps deserve that?!”
Cheng Shuili ignored him, just staring at the Old Wolf with a smirk: “How about it? If you agree, we can sign the contract now.”
The Old Wolf rubbed his hands excitedly, nodding repeatedly: “Agreed! Of course, I agree!”
The dog-headed beastman's face turned livid, and he slammed the table: “Old Wolf! If you dare to take this order, don't expect to get a single bit of good stock from me in the future!”
The Old Wolf froze, actually hesitating.
Cheng Shuili narrowed her eyes, her gaze lingering on the two beastmen for a moment.
The Old Dog saw this and immediately became triumphant: “If you want to buy, you can only get stock from me now. But the price is double the market rate—1600 game coins per servant. We agreed on twenty, so that’s 32,000 in total. Take it or leave it!”
Cheng Shuili had money, but she wasn't a fool.
She frowned and was about to call Xinxue to buy them for her when she suddenly heard shouting from afar: “The Bell Ringer has arrived!”
“The Bell Ringer is here!”
“Stop trading! Welcome the Rat King!”
The expressions of the Old Dog and the Old Wolf changed in unison. They immediately straightened the black cloth that had been scattered during their argument, prostrated themselves respectfully, and didn't utter a word.
The entire black market fell silent, as if it weren't the same place that had been arguing so fiercely just moments ago.
Before kneeling, the guide whispered a reminder: “Human lady, humans don't need to kneel, but you must stand aside and leave the main path clear for the Bell Ringer.”
Cheng Shuili pulled Su Rui to stand beside the guide and looked in the direction of the shouting.
Unlike their last meeting, the elegant old gentleman was squinting his eyes, sitting on a small palanquin carried by four mouse-race beastmen. The stall owners on both sides were performing deep bows, making the few standing humans look out of place.
The palanquin drew closer. Just as Cheng Shuili thought it would pass by, the Rat King elegantly tapped the palanquin with his cane, and the mouse-race beastmen carrying it immediately stopped and carefully lowered it.
The Rat King opened his eyes, sniffed gently, and then his gaze landed precisely on Cheng Shuili.
“A beautiful human? Long time no see! Thanks to you last time, I was able to complete my collection.”
Cheng Shuili gave a well-measured smile. “You’re welcome. You get what you pay for; it was your own capability that won you those treasures.”
“Yes, you get what you pay for.”
The Rat King repeated Cheng Shuili’s words, elegantly adjusted his bowtie, and tapped his cane on the ground, making a crisp sound.
He narrowed his eyes, his gaze sweeping between the dog-headed stall owner and the Old Wolf, a faint, ambiguous smile hanging on his lips.
“My dear children,” the Rat King’s voice was as smooth as silk, “since when did the rules of the black market allow for the arbitrary oppression of guests?”
Rate on N.U.
