Mercenaries and Adventurers

Kiel gave a brief account of what he had seen and heard along the way, until Knight Crowe led his men to choke all the bandits hiding in the depths of the cave to death.

He stopped talking, his mouth was a little dry, so he swallowed some saliva to moisten his throat. Seeing this, Mr. Simmons quickly brought Keel a cup of warm fruit tea to moisten his mouth.

In a thin and tough high-grade wooden water cup, there is a kind of fruit tea made by smashing fermented fruits. The exquisite earthenware pot next to the long wooden chair is full of pots, through the delicate silver mesh, the residues of the smashed fermented fruit are blocked, leaving only the amber fruit tea that has been fully steeped.

Keel brought it to his mouth and smelled it, a pleasant smell came out, he took a sip, the fruit tea in his mouth was a bit astringent at first, but soon left a warm fruity aroma.

He drank it in one gulp, and Keel was very satisfied with it.

The other businessmen were discussing what Kiel said in low voices. They were amazed at Knight Crowe's excellent command ability and his ruthless violence. So many bandits were directly blocked in the cave, and then they all choked to death. .

Although they said so on their lips, everyone looked very carefree and happy on their expressions. After all, the result of Crow Knight's actions is that they can safely conduct a large amount of safe trade on a large section of the road south of Bingxun Pass for a period of time in the future.

The potential desire to trade that had been suppressed because of the rampant trade bandits before would definitely be greatly released in the near future.

It should be said that there are already some of these situations in Bingyuguan.

Since all the robbers were cleared, the merchants carried out a large number of transactions and trades. As a result, the local employment demand was greatly increased, and many coins were promised in advance to the hired caravan newcomers.

After a large number of local people have money in their hands, they have also quickly increased their consumption positively in the near future. The reincarnation brought about by this is that local consumer goods have been promoted again, and merchants are more eager to start selling.

The money turned around and returned to the hands of the merchants, and the merchants made profits, the Bingxun Pass received taxes, and the locals got all kinds of goods they got. They only paid labor force used.

Everyone is happy.

While talking, the last businessman friend of Mr. Simmons Jr. also came. After this person entered the door, he saw the scene of everyone's lively discussion.

"Banta, you missed something wonderful!" Someone jokingly said to the visitors.

The last person was strong and tall: "Yes, I believe my friend will tell me, right?"

Seeing that everyone was here, Mr. Simmons had a lot of things to do, so he started to get down to business.

He first briefly introduced Kiel to the last person who came, and then asked Kiel to take out two items for sale. Keel unbuttoned the bag at his waist, and placed the small wooden box containing the ruby ​​on the low wooden table facing the long wooden chair, and then Kiel took out the wooden sculpture wrapped in fine cloth, wrapped it in the cloth and put it on the on wooden table.

After the things were taken out, Keir stopped talking and interrupted, and let Mr. Simmons be responsible for everything else.

This is something I said before I came here.

Getting up from the chair, Mr. Simmons knocked on the wooden table, attracting everyone's attention: "Everyone, today is mainly for everyone to get together to discuss the affairs of various chambers of commerce in the future, but before that, my little friend Two valuables have been lost. As you all know, my friend has just returned from a front-line battle against the bandits, and these things are serious spoils taken from the bandits."

"There are not many things. If you like what you say, you can just buy it. Of course, the things are all good things. I let him find a store to deal with the general things. It's useless to talk about it. Time is precious. Everyone just buy it." Take a look at this thing first!"

After speaking, Mr. Simmons opened the small wooden box containing the gems, and took out the not-small ruby ​​from the cloth in the wooden box.

He clamped the two ends of the gemstone with two fingers, and let the bright red ruby ​​show in front of everyone.

"Look, this is a natural gemstone, a red corundum with extremely high hardness. In my opinion, its biggest advantage is its bright color. Just like its tossing and turning experience, blood has soaked every bit of it .That's the color of life, folks."

The blood-red ruby ​​attracted the attention of everyone in the room. With the swing of Mr. Simmons's arm, everyone's eyes subconsciously followed the brightest color in sight.

Human beings are born to pay attention to the brightest colors, which is an instinct deep in life.

Mr. Simmons was very satisfied with everyone's reaction, and he went on to say: "Secondly, its size is also very important, whether it is used as an ornament as a whole, or cut and modified by a jeweler to become the main body of other ornaments, it is very suitable. Even if it is divided into several pieces and used in a jewelry set, it can be clearly seen that they all came from the same gemstone.”

After finishing speaking, Mr. Simmons put the gemstone on the table, signaling to other friends to watch and play at a close distance: "Come over and take a closer look."

The businessman who was interested in this leaned over, squeezed it up and looked at it carefully. Sure enough, there is no harm without comparison. Compared with the gem brought by Kiel, the gem ornaments worn by merchants on their necks and fingers are far behind.

Not only are they dwarfed in size, but even a little comparison, as long as you are not blind, you can see that Keel's gemstones are very different from theirs in terms of color.

"It's as bright as blood, it's really good." A businessman compared the small ruby ​​on the face of his ring, and found that the difference was too far.

"What about the price, Simmons?" someone asked.

Mr. Simmons nodded to Kiel with a smile, and then continued: "The item is a good item, and I have mentioned all the advantages, so the reserve price is thirty-two gold coins. Anyone who wants it, please discuss it."

"So expensive?" Someone was dissatisfied with the price.

But someone immediately retorted: "Its size is here. I even think it can be cut into five small parts. Two earrings, a ring, a brooch, and a necklace. Look, a whole set can be Eye-catching jewelry. Phew, my wife who is no longer good-looking is afraid to wear this set of jewelry, she will dare to go to the big ball."

"How can it be separated? The better the thing, the better it is to maintain its integrity. In my opinion, there is no need to cut it, just make a gold ring on the outside, make it into a necklace, and put it in the jewelry of the provincial capital. In the store, its price may double within a year." An old businessman had other ideas, compared to using this gemstone himself, he felt that it was a rare commodity and operated for a long time. After a double, it is no problem to double the profit several times.

Others seemed to be enlightened, and were about to express their opinions, but the last tall businessman who came here sneered at the opinions of others, and he gave his own possibility: "If you think it's expensive, make it yourself as jewelry , selling at a high price. Ladies and gentlemen, I’m not talking about you, hey, look at my thoughts.”

The others heard him ridicule the others, so they all looked at him to see what wonderful ideas he had.

The tall businessman pointed directly in one direction of the hotel and said, "Everyone, think about that Excellency, have you thought about it?"

"What?" Someone didn't understand.

Someone reacted: "Gem crown!"

He snapped his fingers: "That's right! Compared to making jewelry, wouldn't it be more valuable to make this dazzling ruby ​​of the right size into a magic gem crown?"

Mr. Simmons stopped others: "Everyone, this may not be easy. Although its color and size are suitable, its internal purity is not very good, and it seems that it cannot be made into a magic gem. At least I am so thought."

After being reminded like this, other people took a closer look at the internal transparency of this gemstone. As Mr. Simmons said, from the side of the gemstone, it is not very good to see the scene opposite the gemstone, and some scenes inside are curved. And fuzzy, which shows that the permeability of the gemstone is indeed not very good.

But the tall businessman didn't think so: "Simmons, you are not a magician, so don't say such uncertain things here. Whether you can make magic gems or not is up to the magicians, isn't it?" Those of us businessmen who haven’t even read ten books in our lifetime can decide. Besides, even if it really doesn’t work, we can imitate it like the crown of Lord Longzos, find a remote place, and place it It is also a way to sell a hundred times the price to other people who don't know the goods."

"Bonta, you're not going to do that, are you?" someone asked.

The tall businessman named Bangta waved his hand: "My chamber of commerce has been so busy recently that I don't have the extra energy to do these things."

Someone choked: "Isn't it financial resources?" But Bonta shrugged and didn't say anything else.

Someone directly said to Simmons: "Simmons, I want this thing, thirty-two gold coins, right? Follow me to my chamber of commerce to get it later."

Someone immediately retorted: "Why did you promise it to you? I offer thirty-three gold coins. My wife has been worrying about her dress for the noble ball recently. With this gem, she can solve a big heart problem." .”

"You guy, if you work on this gem, whether you sell it in a big city or listen to Bangta, if you take a risk to a remote place where you don't know the goods, and sell it to some fools, you may get ten times and a hundred times more. Li, why are you thinking about your wife's mess, as a businessman, you have to strive for more wealth."

"I'm not someone who likes to play tricks. To make money, I have to be upright."

"The wife's sorrow you mentioned is not your excuse, is it? You just want to stand on the moral high ground and win this gem? Let me tell you, we are all businessmen, and we often get together My friend, the crow is mocking Charcoal Black, don't say things that you don't even believe."

"What did you say?!"

Seeing that the two were about to quarrel, an old businessman tapped the table vigorously with his fingers, and the noisy two quieted down: "Quiet! How decent. They are all decent people in the level, don't be those who follow Farmers and women act like quarrels and quarrels. According to me, the topic of finding exquisite jewelry for his wife is left in private and talked about. It is very risky and time-consuming to make a scam. Everyone, who has the free time and extra financial resources now?

Especially in this very favorable situation. So, I took this ruby, thirty-three gold coins. Don't make money with me, I'm old, and compared to money that can never be earned, these rare treasures are what I want at my age. "

Although I don't know if they were persuaded by the old businessman's reasons, everyone else said that they would no longer fight for it, and the things were also in the formal transaction, which was considered to have fallen into the hands of the old businessman.

Of course, since the gold coins have not been handed over to Kiel, the things are still placed with Mr. Simmons. After their party, Kiel and Mr. Simmons have to follow the old man to his chamber of commerce for delivery.

After the transaction came to an end, the merchants present lifted their spirits and focused on another treasure.

Things are always good in the back, and they are also curious about the other thing at the moment.

Mr Simmons put the gem in the small wooden box and handed it to Keel. Keel tucked it into his waist pouch.

Immediately afterwards, Mr. Simmons looked at the expressions of other people, moved the wooden carving wrapped in muslin to the middle of the wooden table, then stroked the outline of the wooden carving with his hand, and said slowly: "Seriously, this treasure If it weren't for the fact that there is no money at my disposal in the Chamber of Commerce, I would like to buy it myself and keep it."

"Simmons, what are you trying to confuse?" Someone wanted to lift the fine cloth outside the wood carving to see what was underneath.

But Simmons smiled and quickly slapped his palm off: "Wait a minute, don't worry, things won't run away. Your behavior makes me lose the feeling I was brewing just now."

This sentence from Simmons made everyone laugh: "It's still brewing. Come on, what is this treasure?"

Mr. Simmons Jr. turned his head and glanced at Keel, who nodded and shrugged his shoulders to signal Mr. Simmons to play as he pleases.

Simmons looked at his businessman friend, and then said: "Before I look at the thing, let me declare that the value of this thing is not low. My friend Keir, he can only accept the price of one hundred and twenty-five gold coins at least." .This is the least price."

"How many?"

"Crazy, more than a hundred gold coins? I can open another shop on the main street!"

"Hehe, I'd like to see what good things you can come up with, and dare to ask for so many coins directly."

Looking at the businessmen and friends, Simmons smiled mysteriously, put the wood carvings away, and then took off the wrapped muslin to reveal the real body of the alien doe wood carvings in his hands.

The entire wood carving is 234 centimeters high and four fingers wide, slender and slender as a whole. The white heterogeneous wood is elegant and noble, and it is paired with master-level animal wood carvings, so that everyone who sees it, whether men, women, old or young, or businessmen and attendants, after seeing it for the first time, will not say that they like it very much, at least Wouldn't hate this animal wood carving for any other reason.

The onlookers looked at the wood carving in Simmons' hands with different expressions.

"It's just an ordinary wood carving of animals. Although it looks good, how can it be worth so many coins." Someone dismissed it.

"This line. Ah, the eyes of this little deer are so meticulously and vividly carved. Moreover, the wood carvings are obviously white, but they show the complex fur of the deer through hidden patterns. The technique is really exquisite. Hey, if it is in Wang All, it is indeed worth the price. It’s a pity.” Some people only need to look at it and feel that this thing is good, and its artistic value is not comparable to the vulgar things like gems just now.

"Xixiu. Well, it's hard to say, hard to say. Simmons?" The old businessman took a deep breath, then frowned and looked at Mr. Simmons Jr., asking in doubt.

Simmons smiled mysteriously, and pushed the wood carving forward on the table for a distance, making it closer to the businessmen.

The tall businessman Bonta looked at the secret expression of the old businessman and Simmons, raised an eyebrow, squatted down, and put his nose close to this lively and beautiful doe wood carving.

sniff.

Bonta narrowed her eyes as if she had been hit on the head with a stick, and opened her mouth slightly.

Soon, he came back to his senses, and then looked at the pure white wood carving that was no more than one hand tall with surprised eyes. He then asked, "What's the official name of this thing? Simmons?"

Little Mr. Simmons coughed lightly: "The trophy, the origin is complicated. And it doesn't have a sculptor's signature on it. But I call it-the alien dwarf forest spirit doe soul wood carving."

Keir rolled his eyes cryptically, expressing contempt for Mr. Simmons's ability to put on airs.

"Dwarf forest spirit?" Banta businessman didn't know much about this alien race other than humans, so he looked at the oldest old businessman among them.

"Dwarf forest elves are a different race from humans. A small number of them live in alien kingdoms deep in the mountains where humans are forbidden to enter. Although there are few people, they are born with magical abilities, so they have their own country. It is not within the scope of human management."

After a pause, the old businessman continued: "They are different from elves~www.readwn.com~Although they have their own country, they are sparsely populated, so they seldom show up, but their unique artwork is very popular. For example, this pieces."

After finishing speaking, the old businessman motioned to Simmons: "Take it here and let me smell it?"

Mr. Simmons handed over the wood carving: "Soul wood, please smell it carefully."

The old businessman took over the woodcarving, and first looked at the fine woodcarving carefully, with careful movements.

"This thing is very tough, you can hold it with confidence." Kiel said.

The old businessman glanced at Kiel and nodded: "I know, I know. The cherished soul wood is the mask that the nobles put on their faces after death. It is said that the soul of the deceased can stay safely before entering the kingdom of God. Next to the corpse, calmly waiting for the divine messenger to receive us."

He put his nose close to the wood carving, took a deep breath, slowly closed his eyes, and remained silent for a while.

The businessman next to him couldn't help coughing lightly, which made the old businessman put down the wood carving in dissatisfaction.

Although the old man didn't say much, other merchants knew how extraordinary this thing was, and immediately leaned over and took a deep breath and closed their eyes.

The room fell silent.

After a while, every businessman who had inhaled the aroma of the woodcarving was refreshed, with the corners of their mouths raised, obviously in a good mood.

Little Mr. Simmons beckoned to the other merchants and servants in the room: "You all come and smell it, anyway, it's nothing but smelling it, and feel the unique charm of this precious treasure."

The merchant's attendants looked at each other, and saw that the presidents and vice presidents of each family did not object, but only smiled at the corners of their mouths. They couldn't help but boldly moved to the other side of the wooden table, and each sniffed that this was not something they could do in this life. An affordable treasure.