Conducting Business
Despite their rather lusty tendencies and high sex drive, there was one thing all of Edrick’s wives agreed upon: The best activities they spent with him weren’t about raunchiness, but general quality time. They never felt safer and more content than when they could just go somewhere with him, or just sit next to him somewhere comfy. It made them fuzzy on the inside.
In particular, they loved being in public with him.
It sounded a bit odd when explained into words, but they wanted to show other people whose wives they were–Or in other words, who they belonged to. It was hard to explain, but it made them feel very good about themselves for some reason... Even if they didn’t like the fact that other men would look at them a ‘certain way’.
There are upsides and downsides to everything, they guessed.
Today, Anoteros had freed some of his time to go somewhere in the company of Hui and Luxuli. His third and fourth wives were more interested in things that kept them home, but they would never say no to an occasion to spend time with their husband.
Hui had books, language, cyphers, and stuff that would have warranted her being called a ‘nerdy girl’ back in his old world–A very cute one with big glasses… Edrick couldn’t think of a reason why any man wouldn’t be interested in a woman of such qualities.
As for Luxuli… His demon wife was interested in practising magic, which did not require her to go out. However, she also had her appraisal ability linked to her eyes, which she had been doing her best to push to higher levels using the Nonsensical Nothing. By now, she could obtain information on living beings just fine, and could even get detailed facts about items as long as they weren’t considered above her level…
Taking into account their respective hobbies, their husband decided to bring them to a market in a town near the Elt clan. These places were rather abundant. Many transactions for cultivators actually took place under such circumstances, especially for the less wealthy ones.
Dedicated shops capable of selling things beyond the basics weren’t common and usually not just pricey, but also selective about their clientele. Apart from this, there were also auctions, but the same criteria applied to those as well. If an auction had low starting prices and didn’t include some bigwigs, then it was probably a scam.
In any case, Hui could look for books, scrolls, and the like, whilst Luxuli could play around, finding hidden treasures and figuring out who was a charlatan, and who wasn’t. It was a game she and Anoteros had often played.
As for Edrick, he wasn’t really looking for anything specific. The system wasn’t stingy with special items of high quality, and he already possessed the perfect weapon. Therefore, he didn’t have any urgent needs, but you never knew when you could run into something of value...
Besides, despite having absurd amounts of money, the richest folks tended to perform trades and pay money with valuable items instead. It wasn’t just about cultivation-related things as well. Paintings, vases, and other decorative items, or even luxury goods such as wine…
You could legitimately give a vase in place of a monetary payment, and it would make many more happy than receiving coins directly. This was usually either because those with an abundance of money preferred shiny stuff instead of coins that they literally had to dedicate rooms to stocking, or because said items had the potential to be sold at an even higher price than the sum required.
In any case, if Luxuli told him about valuable items, he might as well buy them and add them to his treasury. He could use them as payment, or better yet, use them as gifts to make friends. He would need as many contacts as possible once he launched his businesses, started a career in politics, and all of that stuff.
…The demoness looked around like a hawk in search of prey, scanning the stalls and their wares one by one. It was mostly average or inferior things that she saw–Few were the stalls offering items of good quality.
“Oh… Hui”
The demoness pulled on the bespectacled girl’s sleeve.
“This folded, tablecloth-looking thing? It’s actually a big piece of manuscript. It can be restored to be read”
“Nice! Good eye, Luxuli!”
The day went just like this. Anoteros didn’t find anything of interest, but his wives were having a lot of fun, and this was what mattered the most…
‘Mmh…?’
“Luxuli, could you take a look at this, over here?”
“Of course, My Lord!”
The scion pointed at a small vial that contained a minuscule drop of blood. It was the central piece of an old man’s stall, proudly presented as if it were an incredible, priceless treasure, with a sign stating that it was a drop of blood capable of granting an ancient bloodline to the one who would consume it, giving them unparalleled talent and many other boons.
Edrick had felt a reaction from it–Not in the sense that it was actually a bloodline, but that it was a drop of blood linked to one of his cultivation techniques. He had run into several other stalls offering similar things prior to this, and only this one had caught his attention.
Luxuli stared at the vial intently for several seconds, her bright pink eyes glowing.
Meanwhile, the shop vendor had noticed the interest and launched himself into a tirade about how magnificent this little drop of blood was.
“...You see, it is blood taken from an ancient, leonine beast who used to rule over large sections of the continent! Its bloodline can turn even the frailest weakling into a man sculpted in the image of a god!”
“Your strength will skyrocket instantly!”
“Right. Then why didn’t you consume it yourself?”
“Huh… I- I was gravely wounded in a fight many years ago. My physique and constitution had severely degraded alongside my cultivation level! I am not confident in being able to integrate it safely. Therefore, I am giving the opportunity to the younger generation!”
“Sure…”
Edrick let Luxuli whisper into his ear.
“It’s a drop of blood from a strong Guardian Hippopotamus. It says that it could be used to create a good cultivation resource”
“I see. Thanks, Luxuli”
Edrick stared directly at the old man, making him sweat.
“This drop of blood does interest me, but it isn’t what you claim it is. I do not like being lied to, old man”
“...L-Lying? I assure you that I am not lying… I must simply have been confused about the blood’s origin!”
“You appeared quite confident in yourself, however”
“I apologise… But I swear that I truly thought that this was the truth! I was just scared to use it myself because I didn’t believe that I could handle such a powerful bloodline, I swear!”
“Mmh… It is fine, I suppose… Old man, do you have a family?”
“...Yes?”
“Do you have a daughter, niece, or anything like that?”
“...Yes…”
“Good, I know exactly how you can offer me a proper apology, then”
“I-”
“Shhh… I am being courteous to you. Very courteous”
“I… I understand”
“Good, you’ll stay and watch as well…”