A mage? A spell engineer!

Chapter 126 Spring Rising, Winter Winds

"Sir, we've arrived at Via Montorguell." The coachman slowed down. "Don't laugh at me, but I'm not very literate, and there are so many taverns and restaurants on this street. You'll have to find your way around carefully. Just let me know when you get there."

"Okay." Rorschach read the introduction in "The Guide to Spending Money" on the way. The Golden Crown Tavern was originally a small inn in Valuwana. Because the chef's skills were so good, catering became the main business. In the end, it was converted into a small restaurant selling drinks and stews.

"We're here. How much?"

"Give me sixteen copper coins."

Rorschach simply took out a Rivera, got four copper coins back, and got off the carriage. Before him was the place to have dinner: a three-story brick house with a pointed roof, its wooden frame exposed, a sign advertising wine and soup pots, and a simple drawing of a crown.

"Please have mercy, young master. The spring wind is still so cold. Could you give me some money to buy a bowl of soup?" Unexpectedly, there was a beggar at the entrance of the tavern. His hair was disheveled, his face was unsightly, his voice was hoarse, and he was missing several teeth.

The shop owner and staff are all very busy and don't have time to look after their own storefront.

Rorschach gave the beggar all the change from the grocery store and the coachman, along with the glass bottle in his hand: "This bottle can be exchanged for three copper coins at the grocery store."

"Thank you for your kindness, young master! But I'm more likely to use it to fetch water. Are you going to the Golden Crown Tavern?"

Before Rorschach could answer, the beggar continued, "This place has the absolute best meat sauce! You won't find a better place in Valuvana. Eat it plain first, then add some yellow mustard."

Thank you for your suggestion.

"I want to thank you, kind young master. May light and order bless you."

Be careful, the city's order-keepers might kick you out. Rorschach turned and went into the tavern.

The first floor is a combination of a lobby and a bar, and it's currently packed, with most tables furnished with drinks to accompany their meals. The waitress, a young woman in an apron, immediately greeted the new customer, Luo Xia, after placing the food down: "Hello, how many of you are there?"

"Am I the only one here? Are there any seats left?"

"One person. If you'd like to share a table, please come upstairs with me."

After Rorschach nodded, the waiter led him upstairs, the wooden spiral staircase creaking. The second floor had a much lower ceiling, and the waiter found an empty table for four and asked if the customer would be willing to share.

The guest didn't agree immediately, but looked up at Luo Xia before finally agreeing. The one who agreed to share the table was a slick-haired man whose clothes were made of very high-end fabric, but he didn't seem to care about the splattered sauce from the food.

"Please order." The waiter handed Rorschach a piece of paper, which was a simple handwritten menu.

He glanced at it quickly; it was all rural cuisine from the Holy Kingdom, a far cry from the luxurious restaurants of the Starlight Torch Tower. It was more like the eatery next to the market, though not cheap. Even the beggar uncle from before had his share of wealth.

Having found the uncle's recommendation, Rorschach began ordering: "For appetizer, I'd like this foie gras and beef sauce. For the main course, I'd like grilled turbot, and for the side dish, I'd like baked apples. Any recommendations for dessert?" Rorschach was a little curious about what baked apples were.

After writing it down on the charcoal, the server said, "Today we'll only be serving pudding and quince pie for dessert."

Another thing Rorschach had never heard of: "Then let's go with the 'Wimber' school."

"It's oyster season now. Would you like to add half a dozen oysters to your appetizer? Our sauce is quite unique, with a flavor from the harbor." Rorschach glanced at the dishes of the other diners at the shared table; the portions weren't large, so he nodded and accepted the recommendation. It's said that to ensure quality, King Charles XIV of the Sun even passed a law declaring the first and last three months of each year as "oyster season."

"You have excellent taste; this restaurant's meat sauce is a must-try. You look unfamiliar, yet you've ordered this must-try." It turns out you're a regular customer.

"That would be so lucky." Since there were no phones available while the food was being served, and they were just waiting anyway, Luo Xia started chatting with the uncle who was sharing the table with him.

"Have you ever bought stocks? That's what I do." The man wiped his mouth and right hand with a napkin, then pulled out a business card and gave it to Luo Xia.

Rorschach took it without looking at it closely: "I tried it last year, with Saliana and Helichu."

"By divine intervention! Your judgment is truly exceptional!" This time, the stockbroker was taken aback: "Buying stocks of these large companies is the safest bet. Look, small fry are all falling in value and going bankrupt, only the top-performing stocks on the exchange are holding firm."

"I haven't been paying attention for a while, so what's the current situation?" Luo Xia felt that this report to the bald man would be quite substantial.

"Working capital, sir. It's springtime now, and there are so many places that need cash. Landowners from other provinces want to recoup their funds and invest them in their fields—for irrigation repairs, planting, and seedling cultivation. In short, those who previously invested need money and have withdrawn from the stock market, causing cyclical fluctuations. Do you understand?"

Rorschach nodded. The shucked oysters arrived, and the sauce was indeed unique—a mixture of shallots and red vinegar, not overly sour but rich in flavor, effectively masking any fishy taste and bringing out the freshness of the ingredients. Rorschach gave two oysters to his tablemate and asked him to continue.

"Thank you, thank you." The manager continued, "But this is called market fear. You know, there are only three kinds of people in the stock exchange: stupid brutes, stupid cowards, and smart cowards. Many newly issued small shares quickly went untraded, many factories experienced broken capital chains, and some speculators went bankrupt."

These junk stocks that rose to prominence on the hype suddenly collapsed. Oh, that was in the first ten days of the month; suddenly an entire wall of trading boards was taken down. They were like bubbles, burst by the last winter wind of spring.

"So only top-tier, high-quality stocks are stable," Luo Xia finished speaking for the other person. He had seen this before, things like Jiangxiang Technology and the number one stock in the universe.

"That's right, I'd love to raise a glass with you. Funds are currently concentrated in quality stocks, and they've actually risen even higher despite this minor setback."

"I'm sorry I don't drink alcohol." Rorschach ordered fruit tea.

The meat sauce was indeed delicious. Unlike the meat sauce at Granor House, it was made by stewing beef and then freezing it, allowing the collagen to solidify again. Paired with foie gras and the bread served before the meal, it was unforgettable.

When the waiter brought the main course, he brought another guest with him. He was wearing a trench coat, leather gloves, and fur, and looked travel-worn, as if he had just finished a long journey.

"Can we share a table?" Both the manager and Luo Xia nodded. There were only empty seats at their four-person table. Luo Xia himself was already sharing a table, so of course he wouldn't refuse. The manager, on the other hand, saw a business opportunity: the prices here weren't cheap, and the diners were his potential customers.

The man in the trench coat quickly ordered his food and gave the two men a hasty nod and smile.

The manager continued to chat with Luo Xia as they ate. Luo Xia found the main course to be delicious as well. The turbot had a crispy skin and tender flesh. Even better was the sauce, which was made with a creamy base and mixed with the aroma and flavor of citrus fruits, along with a touch of pepper.

Luo Xia was focused on eating, while the manager, having almost finished his meal, held a wine glass in one hand and talked incessantly: "However, 'Winter Wind' also has other negative effects. The new workshop hired so many people from other provinces before, and some of them went bankrupt, which became an unstable factor."

Honestly, there are so many manual laborers in Valuana now that people are practically worthless. Go to the suburbs and see for yourself; it's frightening. There were fewer sans-culottes before, but now there are more.”

The last dishes were served. The "ground apple" had nothing to do with apples. It wasn't sweet and sour at all. Instead, it was a high-starch tuber that Rorschach often ate in the Empire. The "quince" was diced and made into jam in the pie. It tasted just like apples and had a rich fruity aroma.

"You mean the labor costs in Valuana are very low right now?" The man in the trench coat joined the conversation, immediately introducing himself: "I'm a mid-level partner at the Baldorom Chamber of Commerce, and I'd like to know more about what you're saying."

Bardorom? That's Bart's family business guild. Rorschach suddenly recalled the name from his memory.

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(End of this chapter)