CH60 — Money and The Elite

Yoshi came back.

Quite surprising, honestly, I thought he would run away, or at least hide himself some more in the courtyard's tidy but dense vegetation.

I just woke up, cleaned myself preparing for Werner’s arrival, and there it is. Yoshi is just standing there in the house, looking at me. I’m not familiar with cats, but I can tell it’s not the same aggressive look that he gave me last night. Now Yoshi resorts to simply staring at me. Must be ready to flee if I’m up to something fishy. His stance is guarded. But at least he looks approachable.

And well would you look at that… The food on the plate at the intersection of the house and courtyard is gone. Even down to the bone. Yoshi must’ve finished it.

「 Tonk. Tonk. 」

That knock on the gate reverberates across the house, startling Yoshi. Even with its missing left rear leg, he dashes away as it makes its way back to the courtyard bushes. It seems Yoshi is quite shy with visitors.

The knocks must’ve come from Werner Duvine. Just in time. I want to catch up on Yoshi, but professional matters always come first. Besides, if I try to catch Yoshi, it will most likely become a cat-and-mouse chase. Best I leave it be.

「 Good morning, Renald Alderhide. Can you step aside? These books are heavy. 」

He’s not kidding. I can’t even look at his face because that book is so tall.

I step aside to give him room. Without notice, he scurries straight to the main room. Onwards to the desk at the center, where he lays the stack of books and jumbled paper with a heavy thump noise.

「 Oh, since the treasury knows that I’m going to your place, she entrusted me with this. 」He says, as he takes out a pouch from his coat and lays it on the desk next to the stack of books.

「 Reparation money from the Meifen clan, ten Gold. With an additional six months of your salary. 」He adds.

「 Upfront salary? 」That’s very unusual. Unless…「 Are we going to stay in Mojowoso for around six months?

「 Worst case scenario. 」He visibly shivers,「 I would hate staying that long. It’s probably only three months at most. Although our duties are not only tied to trade agreements, it’s mostly a probing mission.

「 The full details of our objectives will be disclosed as we go on our journey. You have more pressing matters. 」

He gestures his hand towards the chair next to the desk, and I follow suit and sit.

「 Your education as an envoy. Moreover, as the Veinard Trading Guild representative.

「 I might come off as an uncaring senior for sending you off to a sudden meeting with one of our partners… In which, obviously, I am. 」

This man…

「 But it was also with a good intention of mine. 」He adds, cutting off my thoughts.

「 We are less than a week away from heading towards the Mojowoso Kingdom. You’ve interacted with one of our local partners. Now you need the experience interacting with the elites of Kasanra. And your quickest way of doing so within our time frame is this auction event that I am proposing right now. 」

He steps aside the coin pouch and the stack of books to the edge of the table.

「 You want to understand Kasanra? Don’t just read reports or books. Go where the money and the elite move.」

He lays out the scroll and opens it across the table. The size of it almost occupies every single free space the table can offer.

「 That’s how you gain the complete picture of Kasanra. 」

It’s definitely not an ordinary paper. Most papers, even slightly newer ones, have a tinge of yellow-ness to them. This one is very white with little blemishes, reminding me of the typical expensive books I've seen in my education.

At the top center of the paper, a striking, elegant typography font that I’ve never seen before.

The Jayavia Auction.

「 What kind of people usually go there? 」I ask, slightly entertained.

「 Mostly rich merchants, but both local and non-Kasanran nobles do come there from time to time. Depending on what the auction has. 」

「 Are most of the participants Kasanra locals? 」

「 Not exactly. All sorts of people from around the world go here. But it’s mostly merchants who go there. 」

「 You make a very good point, I admit. But what about the cost? Don’t they usually need you to put a down payment to even participate? 」

「 Unfortunately, you do need to put a down payment to attend the auction. Three Gold. 」

That’s almost a third of my compensation payment?!

「 Don’t worry. 」He says as if he read my mind. 「 You can still get your money back if you didn’t get anything out of the auction. But I don’t exactly recommend that. If you are not interested in what they offer, use the down payment to buy food and drinks there. You can’t be a cheapskate when it comes to networking with the elites. 」

He then lightly holds my shoulder, with a knowing look.

「 And besides. If it weren’t for me, your compensation money would be halved by now. 」He winks at me.

So? And I'm supposed to spend all of my gold thanks to your generosity?

「 Hey, I know that look. 」He defiantly crosses his arms,「 I’m doing all this for your own good. The bi-annual auction house is one of the few nice things this place has to offer. 」

「 If it were such a nice thing, then are you also going to participate? 」

「 If you’ve taken a look at the auction listings, then you would’ve known that there are no Veinardian items this time. 」He lets out a sigh.「 Most of their catalogue listed ancient relics, Kasanra exotic artifacts, and also some Lungkin items. Oh, there’s also the occasional Concordis artifacts. But none are Veinardian… 」

He really is obsessed with Veinardian culture. Never mind that, I suppose I'll take a look at the auction catalogue lists. He does bring some good points.

Golden Astrolabe of the Ninth Heaven

A masterwork from the Yunru Clan of the Lungkin Dynasty Nine Pillars Clan. This rare instrument is said to be a complete and accurate world map. The expert craftsman said it will also pinpoint the location of what the beholder desires the most.

Obsidian Grave Mask of Kasanra

Recovered from a sealed royal tomb at the coastal island of Nawa City-State. This funerary and opulence mask from the early Minimus Shihi Era is rumored to be worn by the royal attendant who followed their king to their grave.

Elven War Longbow

A pristine elven war trophy sold by the Honourable Ulrich Fischer, Viscount of the Shiford Kingdom. From their latest skirmish against the elves. Built from never-before-seen elven wood. Rumored to be crafted by their highest chiefman, inscribed with elven runes.

Indeed, none of them are Veinardian items, at least the ones I’ve seen.

Strange… This is an auction scene in Kasanra, yet, in a glimpse from what I’ve seen, very few items are from Kasanra itself. Items all around the world are here; there’s even an elvish item brought to Kasanra, far away from its origin. Yet Kasanra items are far from few…

I don’t know if it simply means that Kasanra is the center of commerce, the middle point… or Kasanra items are not wanted?

I skim read it again. Wait. More importantly, there’s no price tag on any of these items?!

「 They don’t mention the price in the listing? 」I ask.

「 Renald Alderhide, with all due respect. 」Werner raises one of his eyebrows,「 it’s an auction house for crying out loud. The final price varies depending on the bidding. 」

「 Of course, I know that. I’m talking about their starting price. 」

「 The starting price varies depending on each item. And they only mention that at the start of the item’s auction. Alongside their minimum and maximum bid. 」

「 Great, I’m going in blind. 」I let out a sigh,「 I have to carry all of my money to the place then. 」

「 Such is the way of the true elites. 」He agrees with me for once.

「 You can bring your dragonkin lover with you there. 」Werner adds.「 They allow one additional participant for each ticket. Most of the regulars who come there bring their servants or attendants, but it's completely normal to bring a woman too. 」

Shen does need life experience outside the Sky Palace. I can disguise it under a date again. Mayhaps buy her a gift from the auction that she fancies. She deserves it for sticking with me the whole time.

…What does she truly need? Of course, I know the answer… It’s to serve and worship me. But that's not what she needs. That's what she wants. She needs more life experience outside of my influence. It might be a manipulation of some sort. But she needs this…

…She will understand when the time has come…

I resume my reading on the auction catalogue, now skimming the entire list.

Wait…

「 Is that a… rifle? 」

The drawing, by its nature, is quite simple. But I can tell from the outlines of it. It’s definitely a rifle or maybe a musket just like the ones from the Reinhardt territory.

Ancient Long-Barreled War Relic

An enigmatic martial antiquity made out of an unfamiliar lightweight darkened alloy. Notable for its hollow steel barrel, gold ornaments, and traces of manaritium in its construction. Believed to originate from an unknown Concordis civilization of the Verum Shihi Era.

「 Hmm? A rifle? 」Werner confusingly asks.

「 I mean a musket. 」I correct myself. I almost forgot that rifles do not exist in this world.

「 This relic the auction offers, 」I touch the drawing with my index finger, 「 reminds me of the Reinhardt Ishkar Common Regiment. They wield muskets such as these relics. 」I say with a sense of nostalgia flowing to my mind.

Yeah… Elras. I wonder what he’s up to now. The memory of him giving me his own personal sword just as I’m about to board the ship is still fresh in my mind. His sword still tucked in my hip. My mentioning of his gift on my hip makes it feel heavier now.

「 It would be a fitting gift for the honorable Elras Reinhardt. 」I add.

「 So I take it that you are willing to go to the auction? 」Werner replies nonchalantly.

「 Yes. Where’s the auction house? I’ll pay the down payment immediately. 」

I need to exchange the favor back.

「 The auction house is three blocks away from the Veinard Trading Guild. Just give me the down payment, and I'll put it under your name. Then I’ll send you an envelope with the auction house ticket inside. Should arrive tonight. 」

「 What’s this? Are you locking me inside my house? 」

「 I didn’t say you don’t need to read books and reports, dimwit. 」He lowers his eyes, judgingly.「 I’m saying that those things aren’t enough. I just gave you a stack of them. Better start reading them now. You will need every spare time before our diplomatic journey. 」

He gestures to the stack of books and papers. I look at it, and just truly realize how tall it all is.

「 Shit. You’re right. That's pretty tall. 」

「 I heard you were a Bosart graduate. Should be doable enough for a person of your caliber. 」He proudly claims, lightly tapping my shoulder.

Now that I pay a closer look, uncountable pages, and what seems to be six books in total. Considering the tallness of them all, I don’t exactly need a full week to read them all. As long as I put all of my focus into them and read them every single hour, I can finish them very quickly.

「 I can read all of them in a day or two. Don’t worry about it, I can handle the payment by myself just fine. 」I say as I try to stand up and grab the coin pouch.

「 Whoa, relax. 」Werner says, holding my shoulder and lightly pushing it down, forcing me to sit again.

「 Enjoy life for once, for goddess sake. No need to hurry. I’m giving you a favor here. No strings attached. 」

「 Really? 」I say, not easily trusting his words.

「 Just consider it as my payment for taking over my place yesterday, as your senior. 」

「 Fine… Here’s three gold for the down payment. 」I give him the money.

Funny how he gave me the money, and now I give a portion back to him.

「 Great. With that out of the way, I will take my leave. Have fun reading all of those boring texts, Renald Alderhide. Haha! 」

I accompany him towards the main gate. Then, with only one step out of the house, he stops, grabbing the door I just opened.

「 But seriously though, take it easy for once. 」He looks back at me.「  No need to be the perfect diplomat in a few days. Just good enough is completely fine. Toodles~ 」He leaves, while lightly waving his hand.

Here’s hoping his ‘kindness’ doesn’t lead me to another sudden impromptu meeting. Then again, he did give me the training I needed. Better than a senior who just delegates without teaching.

I go back to the table with all of his books and papers that he gave me. I roll up the auction catalogue and move the stacks of books towards me. As I prepare myself to go through the books, at the edge of my view, Yoshi appears.

Yoshi came back, huh, with the same curious gaze at me… Or is that a hungry-type of look? At least Yoshi doesn’t hiss at me anymore.

Even as I work through these dense books, I can still see Yoshi standing there, just watching. Not approaching, not leaving. Just... there.

Somehow that feels nice… having someone choose to stay near me without demanding anything. Without demanding something in return.