I was an apprentice in Ferren

Chapter 71 Big Business Deal (Two chapters combined)

When we came out of the magic shop, it was already getting dark. The full moon, like a jade plate, had begun to occupy the sky. The number of pedestrians on the road gradually decreased, and all the vendors disappeared.

Although it was not yet seven o'clock, many families had already begun to rest. A few wealthy families lit candles or magic lamps to enjoy the rare tranquility of the day. Occasionally, lewd noises could be heard from some poorly soundproofed rooms, indicating that the most primitive forms of entertainment were taking place.

The liveliest place at night is probably the pub. Some pubs that offer extra services have girls dressed in brightly colored clothes standing in front of them, laughing and chatting. They will make jokes and tease any men who pass by. The bolder ones will even come out on the street to solicit customers, pulling those who are dressed relatively well into the pub to enjoy the good time.

DuPont glanced at him out of the corner of his eye, but it went unnoticed by anyone. He moved lightly along the edge of the street, his black cloak obscuring his figure, but it was his constantly shifting gait that made him unnoticed.

You spend 100 gold coins to learn the stealth ability.

Stealth: You will reduce your movement speed, try to blend into the shadows or use the terrain to conceal your presence, and avoid attracting attention. Maintaining stealth to launch a surprise attack will give you the advantage of surprise and initiative.

After acquiring the money, DuPont immediately purchased the skill and then, following his intuition, began wandering the streets.

Although he was just a beginner and his agility wasn't high, it was enough to deceive the senses of ordinary people. It probably wouldn't be very effective against professionals, but skills always need to be practiced.

The prerequisites for becoming a wanderer are: meeting four of the following skills: gymnastics, sports, deception, insight, intimidation, investigation, perception, performance, persuasion, dexterity, and stealth, and mastering two of them.

They are skilled in dexterous weapons, simple weapons, and light armor.

Master the tools of thieves.

Learn to use terrain, spells, or timing to achieve a sneak attack effect, and kill 3 targets with a sneak attack without being detected at the first moment.

The prerequisites for becoming a wanderer were not difficult for DuPont, but most of them required a lot of time to refine. Killing, on the other hand, was the easiest thing for him.

However, time is a bit scarce right now, so he decided to stick to the original path and advance to the next level as a warrior first. He could then learn the remaining skills and masteries slowly by buying a learning method.

Stealth experience points increase very slowly, but DuPont is not in a hurry. He stops 2 miles from his destination in the black market and rents a room in a tavern called Whisperer's House to rest for the time being.

Although the Wild Boar Tavern was closest to the Black Market, it was also the most conspicuous place. In contrast, the tavern he was in was much quieter. After paying 1 gold, he could stay in the most luxurious room, which included three meals a day and a bathtub. Hot water flowed out as soon as you turned on the tap, which was very convenient.

In addition, the proprietress, with demonic horns on her head, red skin, and a hot figure, held up five fingers with a suggestive smile: "Handsome young man, just five silver coins will get you a soothing bubble bath. Our maids here are all incredibly skilled, and they're all Typhoons~ Their bodies are much warmer than humans~"

"Is that so?" DuPont asked curiously, "It's so expensive just for a shower?"

"Of course not, but if you need extra services, it'll cost an additional five silver coins. If you want her to stay overnight, that'll be another five silver coins plus a five-silver deposit. The deposit will be refunded when you check out tomorrow." The proprietress pointed a finger at the bar, her gaze like that of a female leopard spotting her prey: "How about it, young man? Let me teach you how to be an adult~"

DuPont hesitated upon hearing this, looking quite troubled: "This is too expensive..."

“There’s a reason why it’s expensive. How can a 20-year-old pretty girl and a 40-year-old washed-up aunt be priced the same?” The proprietress smiled as she approached DuPont, her meticulously manicured burgundy nails tracing across his neck. “Don’t worry, I can give you a refund if you’re not satisfied. Our Typhoons have more stamina than humans and elves. I’m just afraid you, little brother, won’t be able to handle it.”

"Hmph, what's the big deal?" DuPont slammed three gold coins on the table, looking quite aggressive. "I want a room on the second floor with a window, the bigger the bed and the bathtub the better, and it has to be soundproof."

"Don't worry, our rooms aren't the kind of ordinary inns where you can stay for fifty copper coins. These rooms, which cost one gold coin, have been blessed with a silencing array by a mage, and even the bathtubs have a heat-preserving function. We guarantee you can have as much fun as you want without the neighbors knowing what's going on."

"Hmm." DuPont took the room number handed to him and looked at the landlady: "Second floor, room 205?"

"Yes, go into the third room in the passage on the left on the second floor. A girl will knock on the door in about three to five minutes. Remember to keep your valuables safe. There has been a war in the swamp recently, and many adventurers have come to the city. The security is not as good as before."

"By the way, would you like dinner, guests? It's getting late and the chef has already gone home, so I can only prepare broth, bacon, and smoked sausage for you. Bread is plentiful."

"That's fine, let her bring it along too."

After taking the key, the proprietress walked ahead with a lantern, her figure curvaceous with every step. But what attracted DuPont the most was the silver collar on her tail, which looked smooth and delicate, swaying with her steps. It seemed to have bones, but he wondered what it would feel like to touch.

Wait a minute, why am I attracted to a tail, a limb that normal people don't have?
But what happens when you lie down? Doesn't it hurt your buttocks? Do you usually sleep on your side?
The journey was short; the proprietress demonstrated how to unlock the door, then jokingly returned to the first floor, interrupting DuPont's guide to otherworldly creatures.

Well, seeing is believing, only practice can reveal the truth. We'll find out the specifics in a bit.

The room is about 40 square meters. The spacious room has a three-meter-long and wide bed. The white wool carpet is soft and comfortable to step on. There are unlit aromatherapy candles and matches next to the clothes rack. There are also several glass bottles of wine in the wine cabinet near the window, with the words "for a fee" written on them.

Aromatherapy: Aromatherapy made from special woods and herbs, with insect-repelling effects.

After taking off his shoes and socks and hanging up his cloak, DuPont changed into the simple cotton shoes he had worn indoors. Stepping onto the soft, warm wool blanket, he couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

This, I must say, is life.

When selling that ring, it's clear that the system's prices are all outrageous. Once this health amulet is sold, there should be at least 2000 left. Then, I can spend some money to renovate his dorm room and improve his living standards, which are comparable to a doghouse.

After opening the window and scanning the street to confirm the terrain was correct, DuPont lay down on the soft bed and quietly waited for the staff to arrive.

Although there is no spring mattress, the thick cotton quilt with a cowhide mat is just as comfortable as a high-end sofa.

After lying in bed for a few minutes, DuPont felt sleepy. Just then, there was a knock on the door. After being granted permission, a beautiful woman named Tiflin, whose appearance was no less stunning than the landlady's and who was even a few years younger, entered the room. When she saw DuPont, her face lit up with joy. She quietly closed the door and said in a gentle voice, "Honorable guest, your dinner is ready. Would you like to eat first or take a bath first?"

"Let's eat first. You can prepare the bathtub while I'm at it." DuPont said, taking off his shirt. "Do you know how to give a massage?"

“Of course, our main customers here are adventurers. They usually have similar needs to relax their muscles, and our strength in Tifflin is widely praised.” The beauty said as she walked into the bathroom: “The customer is booked for the whole night, right?”

"That's right, get a good night's sleep so we can get up early and travel tomorrow."

"Okay, sir. I'll change into a bathrobe. You can come over right after you finish eating."

Two hours later, Tifferin was covered in sweat and panting heavily. This person looked to be only in his teens, but how could his muscles be so muscular? Her fingers were aching from massaging him, but the effect was still not very noticeable.

DuPont yawned, then rolled over and pinned Tifflin down, laughing, "What's with that strength? Fine, you lie there, I'll give you a massage."

Tiflin felt relieved after hearing this, and while taking a bath, he felt a strong craving, since he wouldn't have to exert himself anymore.

The beauty obediently lay down on the bed. DuPont blew out the candles and placed his fingers on Tifferin's neck. The beauty giggled, feeling a little ticklish, but the next second she suddenly felt very tired and fell into a deep sleep.

Hmm, the tail can slip through the gaps between the lobes and swing over the rump, which is quite fun.

After glancing at the clock on the wall, DuPont let go of the slender little tail.

11 o'clock, just right.

Taking out a cloak from his spatial bag, DuPont changed into a night stalker's outfit, opened the doors and windows to determine his location, and leaped onto the street, heading towards the black market.

The city of Whitestone was eerily quiet at night. There were no idle people on the streets. Occasionally, two groups of guards would patrol along the streets with torches in hand, but these guards seemed oblivious to the shadowy figures roaming the streets. They simply walked their own routes calmly, as if the city had no dark side.

They would ignore even if they saw someone who had already fainted in a dark alley.

The guards didn't interfere, and DuPont naturally didn't either. The two estranged lovers glanced at the fighting drunkards, then he moved silently through the streets like a ghost, only making a low rustling sound when his cloak billowed as he quickened his pace, yet attracting no attention.

You've gained a slight understanding of stealth.

He was still far from mastering it, but DuPont had a vague idea of ​​how to practice stealth. Combined with his Elf Boots, it was indeed twice as effective. He wasn't even detected when he got 10 meters in front of the thug.

A silver coin traced a gleaming arc under the light of the porch lamp. A look of astonishment crossed the face of the burly man who had been greeting people with a broad smile. He reached out but failed to grasp the silver coin that was so close to his hand, only managing to catch it when it touched his forehead.

Despite being teased like this, the burly man showed no anger on his face; instead, his eyes were filled with fear and horror.

What uncanny skill!

The next second, another silver coin fell in front of him. This time, he caught it with lightning speed and spotted the somewhat thin figure a few meters away.

"Any good deals today?"

"Today we have a magic ship from the east, bringing special weapons, medicines, and desert dancers. Those women have a captivating charm. As for the rest, it's pretty much the same as usual; it all depends on your needs, esteemed guest."

The captain answered quickly, and the next second the dark figure nodded and pushed the door open. The henchman next to him was stunned, and after a few seconds he asked in a low voice, "Boss, who is this?"

The captain thought for a few seconds and really didn't remember the figure, but he naturally wouldn't say that in front of his subordinates. He sternly shouted, "Why ask so many questions? Knowing too much won't do you any good!"

Upon entering the room, a rather attractive maidservant carrying a lantern and dressed provocatively greeted them with a sweet smile: "Hello, guest, I am Bingbing. This way, please."

DuPont tossed a silver coin, which Bingbing caught with an even sweeter smile: "Are you here to gamble, seek pleasure, or look at magical items?"

DuPont lowered his voice and said slowly, "Just browsing, and maybe sell something."

"Oh, okay, this way then." Upon hearing that he was there to sell something, Bingbing's enthusiasm waned considerably, but she still led him through the door on the left with great professionalism. After going inside, a dark passage leading to the basement appeared every few steps. The dim light made DuPont's palms sweat a little.

However, according to his observation, the maid in front of him was an ordinary person and should just be a receptionist who came to make quick money.

Putting aside his doubts, DuPont followed three steps behind the other person and slowly descended the stairs. About 20 steps later, the lights came on, and several magic lamps completely illuminated the entrance to the basement. Bingbing opened the door and bowed, saying, "Please come in."

Stepping into the room, one sees that this black market is about 200 square meters in size. The decoration is simple, but there are many simple stalls. The most eye-catching thing is that the words "half-year tax" are engraved in gold on one side of the wall. Under the words, there is a richly dressed dwarf. On the table next to him, the words "certificate processing and tax payment" are written.

"You don't need to pay taxes when you buy things, but you still need a license to sell them. The exact price depends on your needs, customer." Bingbing said, bowing slightly. "Thank you for your patronage. Happy shopping!"

As she spoke, she turned and left, her swift movements making DuPont blink.

I'm only paying one silver coin for this little service?
"Hey, new here, huh?" The speaker was a half-orc. He approached DuPont and teased, "These girls only like to keep the high rollers at gambling. They rarely get any extra money while they're here, so they're basically abandoned after they're given away."

"Nice to meet you," DuPont glanced at the overly familiar fellow. "I'm Xiao Se, what's your name?"

“Johnny is an information broker, and he sells things occasionally.” The orc chuckled憨厚ly. “If you’re interested, you can hire me for just 1 gold to tell you about things around here. I know the merchants here very well, and I know what they sell.”

"Goodbye." DuPont said and walked away. Johnny was stunned for a moment, but still followed. "Haha, just kidding. One silver coin is enough."

“To sell something, first buy a token from Old Man Muso for 1 gold. You can get it back later, but if you successfully sell it, it won't be refunded, and you'll have to pay an extra 50% tax. That is, if you sell something for 100 gold, you'll have to pay 5 gold.” Johnny pointed to the dwarf sitting at the window. “As for what you want to buy, from church potions to magical items, we have it all. The prices are generally 50% to 10% cheaper than in magic shops. Selling things is a bit more of a matter of chance, since the specific needs depend entirely on the buyer. Of course, you can name your price.”

"There's also a managed model. You hand your stuff over to Old Man Musso, who's in charge here. As long as you give him a 10% commission, he'll help you find suitable customers and prices as soon as possible. Generally, it only takes a few days at most to sell what you want to sell. However, fixed taxes still need to be paid, but there are absolutely no security issues."

Is the maximum charge 8.5%?

DuPont tossed a silver coin, which Johnny caught cleanly. He laughed and said, "But I still recommend that you hawk your wares yourself for a while. Many useful little things sell very well. If you can lower the price, other vendors might buy them too. Selling them out early is much better than waiting here for customers."

DuPont remained silent after hearing this, then approached the dwarf steward and took out the health amulet: "Can you give me a price for this?"

"Oh?" The dwarf glanced at it casually, then his pupils widened instantly as he looked at DuPont with a beaming smile: "Big business, how do you plan to do it?"

(End of this chapter)