Chapter 164: The Pitiful and Helpless Little Traveling Merchant

Chapter 164: Chapter 164: The Pitiful and Helpless Little Traveling Merchant

But that wasn’t all. With a conspiratorial air, the merchant presented a thin, palm-sized disc that looked as if it had been polished from the scale of some creature.

"Ta-da! A Deep Dive Lure, a C-level consumable!"

"Toss it in the water, and it releases pheromones that are irresistible to certain high-value fish. The effect lasts for one hour! It’s the ultimate tool for landing a big one!"

"Just 80,000 Black Fog Coins per slice! And it’s buy three, get one free!"

"Esteemed top-ranked human! Are you really not planning on buying anything?"

Traveling Merchant 001 watched Seraphina Sinclair with pleading eyes and added:

"Also, if you’re willing to sell that Bronze Predator you just caught, I can offer 2,500 Black Fog Coins! Or for those Ironrust Catfish you have—while they’re a pain to process—I could take them off your hands, unprocessed, for 200 Black Fog Coins each! We could even barter and settle the difference!"

Seraphina Sinclair stared at it for a long moment, then suddenly smiled. It was an inexplicable smile, one that made Traveling Merchant 001’s skin crawl.

Behind Seraphina Sinclair’s back, it quickly flipped through its employee handbook again. Only after confirming that its line of work wasn’t life-threatening did it finally relax.

Even though Seraphina Sinclair’s smile was unnerving, Traveling Merchant 001 braced itself and forced a professional smile. "S-So... what do you think? Give it some thought? This is a rare opportunity!"

"’Consider it?’"

Seraphina Sinclair slowly put the two broken halves of the landing net pole together, brandishing it slightly. "Oh, I’m considering something, all right."

She rose to her feet unhurriedly and advanced on Traveling Merchant 001, her voice laced with menace. "I’m considering whether you’re taking me for a sucker."

Intimidated by Seraphina Sinclair’s encroaching presence, Traveling Merchant 001 shrank back, but its words remained defiant.

Or perhaps, its programming simply lacked a "reasonable pricing" parameter!

"A s-sucker? How could you say that! Everything is clearly marked and worth every coin! You get what you pay for, Number One!"

’Number One this, Number One that...’

’Just a moment ago, it was just calling me "human."’

As Seraphina Sinclair listened to the merchant’s cries, all she heard was: "Sucker... Sucker..."

"’You get what you pay for?’"

Seraphina Sinclair’s voice dripped with sarcasm. "A D+ Level Bronze Predator—a fish you yourself said is rarer than some C-level species—and you offer to buy it for 2,500. Yet for a single-use lure, a mere consumable, your opening price is eighty thousand?"

"I’m buying this gear to fish. Are you telling me I’d need to catch thirty-two C-level fish with this lure just to break even? Is that right?"

Traveling Merchant 001 froze, then hurriedly counted on its fingers.

Realizing the number was correct, it gave a dry laugh, its voice betraying a hint of panic:

"Er... well... you can’t look at it that way, Number One! True, it’s a one-time use item, but it doesn’t just attract C-level species. If you’re lucky, you could even lure in a B-level behemoth! The probability is only five percent, I admit, but the returns would be..."

A smirk played on Seraphina Sinclair’s lips. "Then tell me, how many Black Fog Coins would you offer for a B-level fish?"

Traveling Merchant 001’s eyes lit up. Thinking Seraphina Sinclair was tempted, it enthusiastically quoted, "For B-level species, depending on the type and condition, the price is generally between 8,000 and 10,000 Black Fog Coins!"

Seraphina Sinclair nodded. Just as Traveling Merchant 001 thought she was about to make a purchase, her tone shifted. "So, you’re saying that even if I caught nothing but B-level fish, I’d still need eight or more to break even. And the probability of attracting even one is only five percent."

Seraphina Sinclair raised an eyebrow. "You’d better explain to me, then, exactly how one is supposed to buy from you without taking a loss."

"Or do you just run a one-and-done business? Rip someone off and never return?"

’How did she suddenly turn the tables on me like that?’

Traveling Merchant 001 was taken aback, realizing that in its excitement, it had let the ridiculously low success rate slip.

"E-Explain? Well... uh... Esteemed Number One, it’s high risk, high reward! Besides, our Traveling Merchants’ Guild has an outstanding reputation. We’re honest with everyone! All our merchandise undergoes rigorous quality control!"

While speaking, it subconsciously shuffled backward, trying to put some distance between itself and Seraphina Sinclair, or perhaps just teleport to another location entirely.

But Seraphina Sinclair gave it no room to retreat. She pressed closer, her voice deceptively calm as she asked, "Is that so? Do you need me to help you think about it?"

Traveling Merchant 001 rapidly searched its databanks for the Merchant’s Emergency Plan for Dealing with Difficult Customers, trying to figure out how to resolve this line of questioning.

But Seraphina Sinclair was out of patience. She drew a longblade from her Silver Moon Earrings, looking ready to strike.

’Of course, she had no idea if this thing could even be threatened, but how would she know if she didn’t try?’

’Besides... if the merchant were some invincible or overwhelmingly powerful being, its reaction to the fish’s attack earlier wouldn’t have been what it was.’

Traveling Merchant 001 had been composed at first, but after another glance at the employee handbook—which confirmed that while its job wasn’t life-threatening, "workplace injury" was a very real possibility—it completely lost its nerve.

Although its Speed was high, it truly lacked the courage to go head-to-head with Seraphina Sinclair, the number one ranker.

"N-No, that won’t be necessary! Number One! I... I just remembered! To celebrate you reaching the top of the rankings, the shop might... possibly... have a hidden, unconventional, one-time-only... newcomer’s discount authorization!"

"Oh?" Seraphina Sinclair didn’t sheathe her longblade. Its tip dipped slightly, tapping casually against the ground. "What’s the discount?"

Traveling Merchant 001’s expression shifted several times as it tried to calculate how to appease the "Number One’s" wrath while still protecting its profit margin.

"F-Fifty percent off!"

It cried out the number as if it were physically painful, but then it saw Seraphina Sinclair’s gaze turn icy and the tip of the blade begin to rise.

It immediately changed its tune. "No! Ninety percent off! Yes! Ninety percent off! For this one purchase only! That’s the absolute maximum I’m authorized to offer! Any lower and the System will flag me for a rule violation!"

Seraphina Sinclair finally retracted her murderous gaze and smiled. "In that case, show me all the good stuff you have. The great Traveling Merchant 001 surely has some B-level, or even A-level, equipment, right?"

The little girl froze, then shook her head frantically.

"A-level?! Number One! You think way too highly of me!"

"How could something like that possibly appear at this stage? It would trigger a regional balance alert! The System would just erase me as a bug!"

It stumbled back a few steps in fright, then rushed forward again, hastily pulling up a document filled with densely packed regulations.

"See! The System’s regulations state that in the current zone, the highest-tier items that can be displayed and sold are C+ Level! Even showing B-level items is pushing the limits!"

Seraphina Sinclair glanced at the bewildering wall of text and clicked her tongue in mock disappointment. "B-level, then. Bring out the best stuff you have hidden away. And don’t try to fob me off with your second-rate junk."