Brain bloom

It's not impossible. She's from another time. Even if most things haven't changed, the trading environment and the people she deals with are no longer the ones she's familiar with.

"Humans are really wicked, but they smell nice. No wonder I like shopping," Yuan suddenly exclaimed softly.

"Are you talking about me? Ugh, all I wanted was to make more money... Okay, I admit I was a bit ruthless. It's already an astronomical price compared to the cost, but even if I wanted to make more..."

Yuan seemed amused and said with a generous laugh, "No, no, no, you're not human. I'm talking about other people. There are filthy souls that the devil loves everywhere."

So they were talking about the neighborhood... Mori Toki was relieved.

……

Before they knew it, they had arrived at a place that Mori recognized. The general store called "No Poor People Allowed" was right in front of them. Even though the name was unappealing, it was a store that Mori liked, since it had a very complete selection of goods.

"Mori, let's go to that store. I... I'm not poor, but I feel a bit challenged. I need to buy something to prove myself."

Yuan squinted as he spoke, referring, of course, to "No Poor People Allowed." "What a clever name," Sen Shi thought. "Some people with strong self-esteem are actually drawn in just like that; I have a living example right here."

Mori remembered the shop owner's name, so he called out loudly as soon as he stepped across the threshold.

"Old man Fultz."

"Welcome, I smell a big deal."

The old man stood up from the back of the shop, his wrinkled, cloudy eyes sweeping over Yuan.

"However, I also smelled the devil's scent. But since you came with me, I won't ask about your identity. Just a heads-up, I don't sell souls in this shop."

Volume 1, Chapter #097, is already sold.

"We don't want to buy your soul, we just want some magical materials." Sen Shi named the materials, which were needed to seal the divine aura emanating from the skull of the first Pope.

"anything else?"

"Not for now."

"Okay, I have all of these. Wait a moment."

The old man's daughter didn't seem to be there today, so he didn't call out her name. Instead, he turned and went into the warehouse behind a door. His attitude remained somewhat indifferent, but he was decisive and efficient in his business dealings.

While waiting, Mori noticed that Osamu was browsing the shelves, and after selecting a mechanical part priced at three gold coins, she quietly tugged at Mori's sleeve:

"This looks like the most expensive one in the store? I don't know what it's for, but I bought it anyway. You know I'm not poor," she said, counting out the gold coins from her pocket.

"Pfft, still worrying about this? Don't worry, who dares to call you poor? The fact that you're here already proves you're rich. Don't buy anything, it's a waste of money."

"Alright then, I won't buy that. I'll keep looking for something to buy as a gift for Dad, preferably something that won't get damaged over time, something he can remember me by. I hope that after I die, he won't forget that he had a daughter like me..."

This statement made the topic a little heavy, and Mori hesitated, unsure whether he should ask the other person why they wanted to die.

Just like the sky at dawn that she was chasing, it was also related to her own death. Why could such a lively and beautiful girl so casually talk about "death"?

"Here it is, what you wanted." The old man pushed open the door, his voice coming from behind, carrying a bag in his hand.

"Um……"

Mori checked the items, and Irene glanced at them as well, indicating that everything was in order.

This shop is still reliable; it managed to gather so many scattered materials all at once, making Sen Shi wonder about the size of its warehouse. Moreover, the price given to the seller was within a reasonable range.

The transaction went smoothly, and upon seeing the gold coins, a slight smile appeared on the old man's face.

As Yu continued choosing gifts, the old man suddenly spoke to Sen Shi mysteriously: "It seems that you really have a powerful person standing behind you."

"you mean?"

"The materials I sold you last time have turned into magic scrolls, right? Don't hide them. If you're going to sell them, just show them. I can already smell it." His eyes were piercing, as if he wanted to see right through Sen Shi's pockets.

Since he took the initiative to speak, Mori also placed the items on the table.

Meanwhile, he was mentally calculating whether to sell to him if he could offer a reasonable price. Building a good relationship with a cunning businessman was always worthwhile. It would be best to inquire with him about any other business opportunities available.

After all, judging from the current situation, the profit margin of the magic scroll business is not as explosive as she thought, and it might be better to use the remaining materials for herself.

"...This is truly rare magic."

He took out his monocle from his pocket, put it on, and carefully examined the ink stains on it.

"The depiction of the three rings of the world is really accurate. Although the magical effects are not perfect, it is still worth the high price."

"You mean you want to acquire it?"

"If you're willing to sell, it's a rare and valuable item, and I won't ask who made it."

He took off his glasses, closed his eyes, and pretended to wipe the lenses, his tone becoming gentler:

“I want to buy it for my daughter to protect herself. That girl always wants to be a traveling merchant, but there are many dangers on the road. If I have such a treasure to protect me, I can feel at ease.”

Yuan's ears twitched slightly; she sensed genuine emotion in the conversation. She shifted her gaze from the shipping container to the side where business was being discussed.

The old man held up one finger: "I can currently offer one hundred gold coins in cash. Does that price meet your expectations?"

Sen was somewhat surprised, not expecting it to actually be achieved... This was exactly what she had expected.

"If it's too low, I can add something. I understand a fair trade."

After saying that, he glanced at Yuan and added something else.

"Although the price will be slightly higher in the auction market, this kind of thing is too eye-catching. There are too many people there, and you sellers might get targeted... Of course, I'm just saying."

Mori didn't listen at all, because she couldn't find a reason to refuse.

"Deal. Have a safe journey for your daughter." With a sweet, relaxed smile, she pushed the scroll toward the other party. "Hopefully, this insurance will never be needed."

"Hehe, thank you, thank you."

The deal was struck, and as a bonus, old man Fultz gave her a free meal, letting her take a pillow stuffed with cotton. Mori couldn't help but take a few more glances, thinking that this might be what the ancient Demon King would sleep on from now on.

After the pleasant transaction concluded, before leaving, Mori didn't hold back any longer and asked the old man about the market situation.

Are magic scrolls in high demand?

"Of course, such powerful high-level magic isn't easy to buy even if you have money." He was still a businessman, having been in the business for countless years, and asked with sharp eyes, "So, you're planning to give me this business opportunity?"

"Business opportunity?"

"As long as you leave me a little profit margin, I can take everything you have."

"All of them? Do you have that many daughters?" Yuan suddenly interjected.

"It's for business purposes. I only have this one daughter." The old man suppressed the urge to glare at her.

“Next time I have any, I’ll bring them to you first.” Mori agreed with a smile. “You can resell them however you like, just keep it a secret from the supplier.”

"of course."

……

This deal, which emerged unexpectedly, was successfully negotiated, slightly expanding the scope of the business and resolving a troublesome matter.

Mori was eager to go back, wanting to see how sweet Dandelion's smile would be when she reaped this reward. But there was one last thing to do: to lure Huanlong away. As she pondered these thoughts, Yuan nudged her shoulder.

"Look, that guy is waiting for you."

Looking over, Mori saw the merchant who had offered fifty coins earlier pacing anxiously at the crossroads, glancing back and forth every now and then, his former composure gone. Was his name Adams? Mori vaguely remembered.

She quickly figured out the trick; it seemed he'd failed to negotiate a lower price but couldn't bear to miss out on the business opportunity, so he'd been lying in wait. It seems people from all worlds are essentially the same; clashes between clever schemes are always inevitable.

For example, it's foolish for her to question her own business acumen. The other person's actions were also foolish. They're essentially the same; it's just a matter of who has better luck.

Reflecting on his own shortcomings, Mori pretended not to see anything and walked toward the intersection.

Adams caught sight of the two of them and immediately composed himself, pretending to be just passing by as he walked towards them. When their eyes met, Adams said calmly, "The guests from earlier? What a coincidence."

"Oh."

"It seems the items haven't sold yet? Shall we talk some more? I was indeed rude earlier; I should at least have offered you a cup of tea."

Sen did not answer.

The other party continued, "I've been thinking about it. How about I exchange ten different types of intermediate magic scrolls? They're all practical elemental magic scrolls, and each one is priced at eight gold coins. It should be a good deal?"

The items have already been sold.

Volume 1 #098 The Phantom Dragon Trapping Plan

Adams was deeply frustrated by the failure to reach a deal. He walked away in a huff, without even leaving a polite message.

Mori didn't care much, thinking that the other party might not have much cash, but still wanted to make a good profit. However, Mori quickly banished these thoughts from his mind, after all, he was just an insignificant businessman.

In a few more seconds, the other person's name will be thrown into the trash can of memory, never to resurface again.

"Where shall we go next?" Yuan asked with a big smile.

“I suggest you give me the pillow you’re holding first, and I’ll help you put it away. Otherwise…” Sen Shi cleared his throat and reminded him seriously, “A young and pretty girl like you carrying a pillow around in the street will probably attract a lot of attention. It’s quite strange, after all.”

"Is it strange? I'll do as you say." She immediately complied.

"Next, we need to find a dragon."

"dragon?"

"Yes, a phantom dragon. You know what? Such a powerful creature, you can touch it if you pay, it's even become a tourist attraction. Want me to tell you about it? It's quite interesting."

“Okay, I’m listening.” Yuan pricked up her ears, no longer even looking at the city scenery, and listened intently to Mori’s story about the phantom dragon.

……

According to the dragon itself, when it wasn't involved in tourism, it worked at a tattoo shop called "Philiasel." Although Senshi found it hard to imagine how such a large and ferocious dragon could do tattoos, he still had to go and find it.

Having finally encountered a powerful wild phantom dragon, they must do everything possible to lure it away. With the world in turmoil and the Four Seasons in danger, having more help is essential.

But this store is quite hard to find—at least it can't be found on the map.

Mori had no choice but to swallow his pride and ask for directions everywhere. Whether it was because Silvermoon City was too big or because nobody really knew the shop, Mori asked quite a few people without success. Finally, he managed to get an answer from a man with an unfriendly face using silver coins—the man even smiled "friendly" and warned that women shouldn't go to that area.

Anticipating what would happen, Mori silently covered his face even more and forced himself to keep going.

Yuan, on the other hand, followed along with great enthusiasm, treating it as a sightseeing trip, and was cheerful the whole time.

On the way, she would occasionally use a quill pen to write or draw in the book she always carried with her. Whenever she did this, Yuan's eyes would become kind—but there was always a trace of lingering sorrow in the gleam of her eyes.

The place wasn't far, but it was filthy. Even in Silvermoon City, there were dirty places, as Mori had experienced firsthand.

The shops were a jumbled mess, haphazardly set up on the roadside, and their businesses were all illegitimate. The most common type of liquor was homemade wine, and there were even shops that started operating during the day, with flashy women gathering at their entrances.