My exclusive card pool

Chapter 32 The Match Girl
"Ether crystal?"

White looked puzzled, then suddenly understood.

"Oh, you mean the magic crystal, right? Maybe it's called differently in different regions."

Magic crystal?

Wang Xi seemed to be thinking about something.

White's expression became a little strange, and after a slight hesitation, he whispered:
"Lord Kai, the most important of the goods we're bringing back to the capital this time is the magic crystal... well, I can't reveal its origin, but it's a crucial ingredient Minister Ando specifically requested."

"Minister Ando?"

"He was ordered to oversee the palace craftsmen and be responsible for developing new weapons."

White looked out the door and lowered his voice:

"It is said that it was Prince Calvin's intention..."

Wang Xi had just arrived and wanted to know more about the environment in the royal capital, so he asked some questions.

White also knew that Gai came from a remote area like Randall and didn't know the situation in the capital, so he patiently explained:
"Prince Calvin is about to marry our Queen Siana, and he's considered the future husband... Rumor has it that he's the second prince of the Clockwork Kingdom across the sea, bringing with him amazing technology and is highly valued by the Queen."

"According to his guidance, the palace craftsmen created magic crossbows and magic cannons, greatly enhancing the power of the royal family."

"It is said that Prince Calvin envisions creating a steel carriage that travels along tracks... but it requires a large amount of magic crystals."

"Now, the royal family has ordered the construction of many giant columnar wonders on the east side of Daphniel. Black smoke is rising from the tops of those wonders like a volcanic eruption. Those magical weapons all come from there."

After hearing this, Wang Xi's expression also became strange.

Is this an alien version of the Industrial Revolution?

A new wave of technology in a fairy tale world?
What the hell…

He remembered the name Calvin, the second prince of the "Clockwork Kingdom".

Then, he asked White another seemingly stupid question:

"What do those wonders run on? Aether...magic crystals? It can't be burning wood, right?"

"Burning wood, of course."

White took it for granted.

"Dafnil is short of coal, so they hired a large number of lumberjacks to go to the Magic Forest... Magic crystals are not common. They are said to be only used to forge new weapons and serve as weapon energy."

Hearing this, Wang Xi was stunned.

Well, it’s still burning wood...

Since this was a magical (and inexplicable) fairy tale world, he told himself there was no need to delve too deeply into it.

Otherwise, great minds like Newton, Einstein, Watt and Tesla would all groan, "Physics no longer exists," from their coffins.

"So these magic crystals can't be sold?"

Wang Xi brought the topic back and asked.

White hesitated for a while, gritted his teeth and said:
"If you need it, Lord Kay, I can give you a 10-pound share."

"You won't be punished by the Chamber of Commerce?"

Wang Xi asked kindly.

White shook his head, indicating that there was no need to worry.

In fact, he had already asked his men to inform the president in advance, and his hesitation and gritting of teeth just now were just an act for Lord Kai to see, in order to make this favor more valuable.

Wang Xi actually saw something, but he didn't point it out. Instead, he smiled, thanked her, and cooperated with the performance.

"Thank you very much, Mr. White."

Ten pounds of ether crystal was not a small amount, as this mineral was lighter than expected, so after White weighed it, he found that it filled an entire wooden basket.

At Wang Xi's strong request, he did not deliberately give a discount and just paid according to the palace purchase price of 10 gold coins per pound, spending a total of 100 gold coins.

As for the six shriveled goblin mushrooms, the original price was 5 gold coins each, but White was adamant and only asked Wang Xi to pay 20 gold coins to take them away.

Both the host and the guest were happy with the coming and going.

Half of the box of gold coins originally given as a thank-you gift was returned. But both Wang Xi and White were very satisfied.

Win-win!

I'm so happy to win!

As for who is losing...

I'm afraid we should ask those dozen guys who were awakened by the "throwing nut" in their dreams.

...

...

Wang Xi was walking on the street, leading the horse.

He was playing with a silver ring in his hand, with a spinning wheel pattern engraved in the middle and words such as "Distinguished Guest of the Chamber of Commerce" engraved on the edge.

This is a token of trust given by White on behalf of the Chamber of Commerce when we parted ways. From now on, you can enjoy discounts and preferential treatment whether you are buying or selling materials or shipping goods.

"The road is getting wider, Brother White..."

Wang Xi smiled and murmured, then put the ring away.

He turned his head and looked at the two large packages hanging on the saddle with an expression of great satisfaction.

One of the two large packages contained materials, and the other was filled with silver coins.

Wang Xi finally took out another 20 gold coins and bought this brown-red horse with a high-quality saddle and bridle, and asked White to exchange the extra money for silver coins.

There were five or six hundred silver coins, bulging and heavy in the bag. White was very confused, wondering what Lord Kay was doing with so many silver coins, which were difficult to carry and attracted attention.

But Wang Xi didn't explain, just smiled.

"I still have 86 gold coins on me, which is enough to last me a long time."

Wang Xi thought to himself and stopped to lead the horse.

"My child is sick, please give me some money."

A skinny woman with a torn and dirty corset was kneeling on the street, with her hands folded in sorrow.

Wang Xi walked over silently and placed a few silver coins in the woman's hand.

He noticed that at that moment, the woman's cloudy eyes shone with a radiance that was filled with surprise and hope.

"Thank you! Thank you, kind sir!"

The woman clenched the silver coin tightly and kowtowed continuously.

"Your kindness will be rewarded a hundredfold!"

Wang Xi did not reply, but left silently.

He doesn't need a hundredfold return, nor does he need gratitude.

Just want to do it, then do it.

I remember that in his previous life, Wang Xi would not specifically do charity, but if he met someone in need of help, he would often not refuse.

Just lending a helping hand, that's all.

He felt that everyone would encounter difficulties. He felt that what he could do was limited, and a little help might be a lifeline for others.

He led his horse toward the inn White had told him about. He offered a few silver coins to any beggars he saw along the way, regardless of gender or age. "Thank you," he said. "My family and I will pray for you."

"I haven't eaten for three days. You gave me the courage to live, sir."

"This, this is too much, sir..."

“May God bless you and your family.”

Wang Xi walked along the way, giving alms along the way.

But he stopped in front of a little boy for a while. Facing the boy's words of gratitude, Wang Xi smiled and said:

"I have no family."

"Huh?!" The boy was stunned. He immediately realized that he had said something wrong and was about to kowtow and apologize. "I'm sorry, Master! I'm sorry!"

He seemed frightened and quickly returned the silver coin in his hand. Wang Xi shook his head, touched the little boy's head, and said with a smile:

"It's okay. God bless you and yours, too, kid."

The boy stared at the old man as he left.

After walking a little further, Wang Xi finally saw the hotel. A square wooden sign hung from a long iron rod stuck in the wall.

"The snoring of wild boars in the rye woods."

What the hell is that name?

Is this a hint to the guests?

Wang Xi had a 6 in his mind and was about to go in.

He suddenly saw a girl in a white dress curled up in the corner of the hotel.

She looked about fifteen or sixteen years old, with messy blond hair, her head lowered, and a wooden basket in her arms.

As usual, Wang Xi walked up to the other party and handed over a few silver coins.

"I am not a beggar, sir."

The girl noticed the silver coin in front of her and spoke quietly.

Her voice was cold, seemingly numb and without any emotion.

Wang Xi was stunned and realized that he had misunderstood.

"So what are you selling?"

"Matches," the girl whispered. "Ten coppers a box. Want some?"

matches?

Are there still matches in this era?

and……

Wang Xi looked at the girl carefully, trying his best to match her with the fairy tale character in his impression, but he didn't get any answer.

After all, it's not winter and it's snowing heavily.

He silently used Caius's detection again.

Lillian (yellow)

An ordinary girl.

“Can you show me your merchandise?”

Wang Xi asked tentatively.

The girl did not answer, but silently opened the lid of the wooden basket and took out a palm-sized wooden box.

Wang Xi took it and looked at it for a while.

The matchbox was unwrapped, and inside were the same small, black-headed sticks. He took one out and sniffed it; it wasn't some industrial combustion aid, but a fragrant herbal powder.

"Give me all your matches, how much?"

Wang Xi smiled.

The girl raised her head in confusion and asked coldly:
"Why did you buy so many matches?"

Wang Xi finally saw her face clearly.

Dirty, yet very delicate. What's more special is that her eyebrows and eyelashes are blue and white, and her eyes are as beautiful as sapphires.

"I'm afraid of the dark." Wang Xi said nonsense.

He would never say that after you buy your matches, you can go home with peace of mind.

Hearing this, the girl was a little distracted.

"I'm afraid of the dark, too," she murmured. "But I wouldn't be so stupid as to use matches for lighting."

"..."

Wang Xi's smile froze.

"A total of 60 boxes of matches and 6 copper coins."

The girl handed the wooden basket over with both hands and whispered.

But Wang Xi didn't answer.

He didn't dare to answer...

This is not selling matches, it's just selling cakes!

Lillian tilted her head, a puzzled look in her eyes.

“1盒火柴10枚铜币，60盒火柴应该是600枚铜币，怎么变成6万枚了……”

Wang Xi originally thought that the girl did it on purpose, but seeing that her confused expression did not seem fake, he said helplessly.

The girl suddenly looked shocked.

She lowered her head silently and began to count with her fingers.

Soon, she gave up.

Ten slender fingers curled into a fist.

"Yes, it's 600 copper coins."

Lillian nodded.

Looks like a math idiot...

Wang Xi sighed, took out 20 silver coins, and handed them over. According to the market price of 40 to 50 copper coins per silver coin, this was actually a huge premium.

But the girl didn't seem to understand. She just took it silently and said softly:
"Thank you."

"Go home quickly."

Wang Xi smiled kindly at the girl, turned around and left with the wooden basket.

After he led the horse towards the hotel.

The blonde girl's gaze remained on the young man's back, her sapphire eyes flashing.

I don’t know what I’m thinking about.

(End of this chapter)