92: A transaction

Chapter 92: A Transaction

Earlier, Lookout Fort.

The leader of the Wart Hog Caravan was a lean Calimshan man who called himself Hassan.

Catherine and her group had arranged to meet him at the Lookout Fort tavern for dinner.

The only tavern in Lookout Fort wasn't large, and it was packed with soldiers who had nowhere else to go.

The air was nauseatingly foul, and with few windows, the entire hall was quite dim.

This place is quite suitable for business, all kinds of business, Jessica thought.

He whispered to Newt beside him, “Keep your eyes open, kid.”

Newt nodded, his hand instinctively resting on the hilt of his sword.

Like Jessica, he possessed darkvision.

Therefore, even though only a few lamps and some candles were lit in the tavern, he could still see his surroundings clearly.

Hassan found a small table for them.

Aside from Catherine and Hassan, everyone else had to stand.

“Alright, lady,” Hassan began, “I heard you’ve already been to see the Black Goat Caravan.

“What, were their prices not to your liking?

“Or is it that what you want, they can’t provide?

“Don’t worry, what they can’t provide, I definitely have here.”

Catherine merely smiled faintly at this.

“Do you think I’m boasting?” Hassan pressed, “Then you’re mistaken.

“We are backed by the Havala Bank; you must have heard of this bank, right?

1

Catherine nodded.

This bank was the largest bank of the Calimshan remnants.

Arthur had recently asked her to withdraw most of his assets from the Havala Bank in Great Al-araksin City.

“There you go, then? Tell me, what do you want?

“Of course, old rules, the first round of drinks is on me.”

Hassan clapped his hands, and the bartender behind the counter immediately understood, beginning to prepare the drinks.

“We have a batch of Chult artifacts to sell,” Catherine said.

Upon hearing this, Hassan asked, “You must have stayed in Great Al-araksin City, right?

“Why didn’t you sell the artifacts there, and instead came all the way to this backwater?”

“Because that place is too big, and our time there was limited, so we couldn’t find a suitable buyer.”

Catherine said, raising her hand to indicate Paul beside her, “And my man told me that you always offer fair prices.”

The Captain looked at the young man and asked, “Should I know you, friend?”

“No, but I know Zalan Li,” Paul replied.

A flicker of panic crossed the Captain’s face, but he quickly composed himself.

Just then, a flamboyantly dressed waitress approached the table, carrying mugs full of ale.

As she handed out the drinks, she winked at everyone, not even sparing Catherine.

Seeing that no one paid her any mind, she wasn't offended and swayed her hips as she walked to the next table.

The Captain took a sip of his ale and asked, “Young man, how do you know him?”

“He once came to me for some business,” Paul said.

“I’m afraid it’s not as simple as ‘some business.’

“Alright, since we’re old acquaintances, there’s no need for us to probe each other.

“Show me the item, and I’ll find someone to appraise it for you.”

“Don’t worry, our caravan has personnel specifically responsible for appraising artifacts.

“The Black Goat Caravan also has them, but I bet they lied to you, saying they needed to invite one from town, right?

“This is their usual trick, to leave you waiting for a while, then come back to negotiate the price.

“They’ve used this method to swindle many nobles who were in urgent need of money.”

Catherine placed the cloth-wrapped jade bird on the table.

After the Captain took it, she picked up her mug and took a sip, but quickly put it down again.

It was arguably the worst ale she had ever tasted.

After a brief look, Hassan quoted a price.

The price was very reasonable, at least much more sincere than what the Black Goat Caravan had offered.

“I don’t even need an appraiser for this thing,” Hassan said, “It’s clearly a good item, and we can make a lot of money selling it to those dignitaries.

“However, lady, as you know, selling to dignitaries is not the same as selling to us; we are merchants, and we need to make money.”

Catherine nodded and said, “I understand that. I don’t mind you making some intermediate fees.

“But I need you to provide some things.”

“Oh? What is it?”

Catherine told Hassan what she needed.

Just like with the Black Goat Caravan, a look of difficulty appeared on his face.

“We are merc—

The Captain hadn't finished speaking when Paul interrupted, “Zalan Li is no merchant.

“And I’m certain he’s here right now.

“He always moves with your caravan, like conjoined twins.”

As soon as Paul finished speaking, Jessica took action.

He handed his mug to Newt and quickly walked towards the table behind them.

Before he even got close, two burly men who had been leaning against a pillar followed him.

Jessica stopped beside that table and asked, “I believe you must be Sir Zalan?”

A wrinkled face emerged from the shadows.

“I am, and who might you be?”

Jessica replied, “They call me Long Legs.”

“Oh, no, no, you’re not ‘Long Legs’,” the other person said, “You are Jessica Hughes.

“The infamous noble killer, Amn Empire’s most wanted criminal, your head is worth a fortune.”

Although the other person’s voice was soft, it was loud enough for Catherine and the others to hear clearly.

Newt wanted to go and assist, but Jessica waved him off.

The Beast Shifter spoke, “There’s an old friend of yours there, why don’t you go over and sit down?”

Zalan Li jumped down from his seat.

He was a dwarf with grizzled hair and a thick gray beard.

“Since it’s your invitation, of course I’ll show some face.”

One of the two burly men casually dragged a chair and placed it next to Hassan.

The other picked up the dwarf and set him on the chair.

As soon as the dwarf sat down, he feigned surprise and said, “Ah~ Paul, my dear child, you’re here too.

“What a coincidence, I didn’t expect you to make so many new friends. Aren’t you going to introduce them to your old partner?”

Paul’s face remained unchanged; he merely greeted calmly.

“Hello, Li, long time no see.

“I think with your ability, you should know who we are without me introducing us.”

The dwarf pouted, “Paul, you’re still the same, no sense of humor.”

He said, taking the jade bird from Hassan’s hand, and while examining it, he said, “You want information about Qingfeng Valley.

“I can share it with you, but this little thing alone isn’t enough.”

“We have more,” Catherine said.

The dwarf returned the bird to Catherine and said, “Lady, we are not talking about money now, but a more sinister transaction.

“Did the Black Goat people tell you how that Pass was obtained?”

Catherine shook her head.

The dwarf explained, “Let me tell you, friends.

“The rancher brands his livestock to prove that the beast is his.

“If you want to freely cross Qingfeng Valley, then you must become his slave and accept the mark he bestows upon you.

“That way, the monsters in the darkness won’t devour you alive.

“We are not allowed to mention what’s inside, otherwise, the next time we enter the valley, we will have to pay the price.”