Whispers filled with disgust and contempt washed over Chen Yu like a gentle breeze.
Chen Yu tilted his head, following the sound.
There was no one around him, but at the end of this ‘food street,’ a figure wearing a bamboo hat could be seen.
They vanished into the crowd pouring out of the ‘food street.’
“Boss, this brat called you disgusting!”
Chen Yu stared in the direction the figure in the straw cloak had departed. Hearing Hei Dou’s call, his head tilted.
“Are you sure it was me?”
“Who else could it be? Are you saying it was me?” Hei Dou spread his paws, his gaze suggesting he was merely a cat.
“Shouldn’t be?”
Chen Yu didn’t dwell on it too much.
“I don’t even know him, why would he come here to cause trouble? Maybe he found the goods sold here disgusting. Why would he bother talking about us?”
They were all here to restock.
As such, they were all in the same boat. To call others disgusting would be to insult themselves.
Harming the enemy a thousand, but damaging oneself eight hundred.
There was no need for that.
Moreover, even if the figure in the straw cloak and bamboo hat was indeed targeting Chen Yu, he wouldn’t care. As long as the person didn’t point a finger at him and say it directly, Chen Yu wouldn’t dwell on it.
Why?
Isn’t it better to live peacefully? Why go out of one’s way to invite insults?
It’s bad for mental health.
Not giving the matter much thought, Chen Yu turned his attention to the vendor.
Having encountered a major customer, the vendor couldn’t be happier. He was already contemplating treating himself well that evening and having a good time in the city.
“Hey, shopkeeper.”
Hearing Chen Yu’s call, the vendor quickly looked up, his face beaming with a smile.
A big spender.
He had to serve this one well.
“My lord, you called,” the vendor said with a fawning smile, then whispered softly, “If you’re looking to buy the recipe, then please refrain from asking, so as not to ruin our relationship.”
It wasn’t that the vendor had seen through Chen Yu’s intentions.
Many mercenaries who came to buy goods here had their eyes on the ‘candied chestnuts’ recipe. After all, it was his livelihood, and he would never sell it to outsiders.
“Haha…”
Chen Yu chuckled heartily after hearing this.
“You’re quite vigilant. Don’t worry, I’m not interested in your recipe. If I were truly interested, you would sell it to me.”
“Oh? My lord is so confident?”
“Doesn’t ‘refrain from asking’ actually mean it’s not yet the price you have in mind?” Chen Yu raised an eyebrow slightly. “If I said ten thousand gold coins, thirty thousand, fifty thousand, there would surely be a point where you’d be tempted.”
He had to admit, hearing the figures Chen Yu had just mentioned,
The vendor was indeed tempted.
Tens of thousands of gold coins were enough to live a life of leisure and extravagance. If someone were willing to pay such a large sum for the recipe, he would truly be willing to hand it over.
Unfortunately, he knew it was impossible.
He was a smart man!
Those who could truly afford such sums wouldn’t covet the recipe, and those who wanted the recipe wouldn’t be able to afford the price. Thus, he could only keep it for himself.
“My lord, then what is it you wish to ask?” the vendor asked.
“Where are your city’s shops concentrated?” Chen Yu whispered. “I plan to procure some blueprints and resources. Which district of the city should I head to for this?”
“Go right from our street and straight ahead, that’s the commercial district.”
“Are legendary upgrade blueprints and camp upgrade guides also sold there?”
“Yes!”
Upon hearing what Chen Yu wanted to buy, the vendor knew he was indeed a wealthy patron.
“Legendary upgrade blueprints and camp upgrade guides usually have a high value. A legendary blueprint can cost around 5 to 10 gold coins to buy, and an upgrade guide costs 100 to 200 gold coins. However, they are cheaper during auctions. If you’re not in a hurry, you might want to wait a few days.”
“What do you mean?” Chen Yu raised his eyebrows.
“Our city will be holding an auction the day after tomorrow, hosted by the Elden family of our kingdom. At that time, the legendary upgrade blueprints and upgrade guides you mentioned will be sold in bulk, bundled together. You can save a lot of money by purchasing then,” the vendor kindly advised. “A legendary blueprint can be obtained for about 2 gold coins, possibly less. For an upgrade blueprint, around 50 gold coins.”
“Such a big difference!” Chen Yu was surprised.
Logically, if goods were put up for auction, they should be more expensive. He hadn’t expected the blueprints to be cheaper at the auction.
“That’s for sure!”
The vendor replied with a smile, his tone matter-of-fact.
“Legendary upgrade blueprints and upgrade guides are controlled by these major families. We don’t know how they produce or obtain them. The shops in the city sell them after sourcing from the black market, costing at least 4 gold coins and 80 gold coins.”
Hearing this, Chen Yu smiled slightly.
“Alright, I understand.”
Nodding towards the vendor, Chen Yu turned and left.
As he was leaving, the vendor selling ‘candied chestnuts’ kept calling out, telling Chen Yu to come back often if he found it useful, and that he would always be at this stall.
Melding into the crowd.
Chen Yu was still contemplating the auction.
“Boss, why did you leave?” Hei Dou, perched on Chen Yu’s shoulder, asked in confusion. “We should have gathered more information.”
“We’ve gathered what we needed to.”
Chen Yu tilted his head, smiled slightly, and said, “Do you want me to ask if they’ll be selling catgirls at the auction?”
“What kind of person do you take me for!”
“I don’t take you for a person.”
Hei Dou: ???
His dark eyes were filled with great confusion, his gaze clearly demanding an explanation.
“Aren’t you a cat?” Chen Yu chuckled softly and said, “There’s nothing more to ask him. Knowing about the auction is enough. Asking too much would only expose our identity as outsiders.”
The attitude of the natives towards outsiders was not yet clear.
Chen Yu had to ensure that his outsider status would not be discovered by the natives of the underground realm.
Hei Dou, on his shoulder, frowned and pondered for a moment.
“You want to buy upgrade blueprints and upgrade guides at the auction, you… you plan to attend the auction!”
Upon hearing this, Chen Yu burst into laughter.
“Why not?”
Isn’t this a self-evident question?
He absolutely had to attend!
Is there any reason for him not to attend?
“Brother, I don’t know if you’ve considered this, but I feel it’s necessary to say something,” Hei Dou said in a low voice. “If you want to bid for upgrade blueprints and guides at the auction, you need to think it through.”
“Oh?”
Chen Yu was somewhat surprised by Hei Dou’s attitude.
“Elaborate.”
“Our actions are essentially going against the wealthy merchants in the city or the magnates from other city-states,” Hei Dou said in a hushed tone. “We’re snatching meat from the mouths of others!”
Hei Dou’s eyes were full of seriousness!
Seeing Hei Dou utter such words, Chen Yu instantly gained a new level of respect for him, though he didn’t show it too obviously, his eyes still holding a smile.
“I’m all ears!”
--
Author’s Note:
Good afternoon, have you eaten?