Chapter 57

"We can have a Trial by Combat," Mali learned and applied, "Let the gods decide the dispute."

Baier-ta was startled upon hearing this, "I am just a merchant and don't know how to wield swords."

"Then you can choose an agent to duel with me."

To be honest, Baier-ta was a bit tempted. He ran a magic potion shop and happened to know some very powerful adventurers, but Mali's words made him feel that there was a trap.

The other party was an alchemist who could make things disappear out of thin air. It wouldn't be strange if he threw out some small gadgets at a critical moment to win, so the risk of a duel was still too high.

However, Baier-ta didn't want to take it to the lord either. After all, with the black and white of the contract, he would naturally be in the wrong.

But he wasn't reconciled to just letting it go. He had finally caught the person, and it was inside the Rose Alliance's stronghold. If he just let Mali go like this, where would his face be in the future?

The hook-nosed merchant's eyes rolled, and a plan came to mind.

"I agree to let the gods resolve the dispute, however... you and I are both merchants, and we should choose more appropriate gods to take on this heavy responsibility."

"You want to take this dispute to the Goddess of Wealth?" Lievre frowned.

The faith on the Leiwateleisi Dalu was relatively free, and the gods believed in by different races and regions were different, but the faith of the merchant group was very unified; almost no one didn't worship the Goddess of Wealth, Proxi.

This goddess was also regarded by the world as the patron saint of merchants and thieves.

"That's right," Baier-ta said, "I believe Proxi will definitely make a fair ruling."

"How will she rule? By comparing whose pockets have more money and who can better please her?" The old alchemist mocked.

Helun, however, thought of something, and his face was a bit strange, "Are you talking about the Wealth Trial?"

"What is the Wealth Trial?"

"It is a competition launched by the priests of the Wealth Temple every year to please Proxi. Before setting off, they give each contestant goods of the same value and require the contestants to sell them within a specified time limit. The person with the most profit is the winner and can get a huge reward and the goddess's blessing."

Helun explained, "But this is the first time I've heard of using the Wealth Trial to resolve disputes."

"Priest Iouli is still in the city, we can invite her to preside over the competition," Baier-ta clearly had already planned it, and he faced Mali impatiently.

"If I win, you pay me 600 Gold Eagles in compensation, plus your right hand. If I lose, our matter will be written off."

"It doesn't work like that," Mali shook his head, "We already signed a contract, so it should be based on the contract."

Lievre also shouted, "This bet is too unfair, the conditions of both sides are not equal at all. If you bully people like this again, I will apply for the Alchemy Association to intervene."

"Alright, if I lose, I will also pay you 600 Gold Eagles," Baier-ta finally made a concession. He still had to do magic potion business and could fall out with one or two alchemists, but he didn't want to offend the entire Alchemy Association.

"And your right hand," Mali added.

Baier-ta hesitated a bit. Although he didn't think he would lose, he had to be cautious about his right hand.

However, before he could answer, a voice sounded from behind, "This is a fair bet."

The speaker was a plump woman with honey-colored curly hair. As soon as she entered the door, she attracted everyone's attention.

There were rumors that the goddess's priestesses of the Wealth Church bathed in rose oil, musk, and milk every day, and applied fragrant balm to every inch of their skin, so their skin was always exceptionally white, smooth, and tender, and had a jewel-like luster.

No matter where they appeared, they would immediately become the focus.

"Priest Iouli, you are back," Helun bowed slightly.

The merchants in the inn also saluted one after another. If there was anyone in this world they didn't want to offend the most, it must be the Goddess of Wealth.

Iouli reached out, took a glass of wine from the maid, and drank it in one gulp. As she swallowed, the full chest under her exaggerated stand-up collar also rose and fell continuously, and a blush appeared on her pretty face.

After drinking the wine, Iouli giggled and threw the silver wine glass to a streetwalker.

"You and I should both work harder to please the goddess."

"We have always been working hard to make money," Helun said.

"Not just making money, but spending money, President Helun," Iouli laughed, "You have to let money circulate, otherwise they are just some small shiny metals. By the way, the idea of the Wealth Trial is good.

"No matter which side wins, they can get 600 Gold Eagles and an arm, right? The goddess will like this proposal."

"But the Wealth Trial has already been held this year," the bearded man reminded.

"It doesn't matter, it doesn't hurt to have another one. The goddess will not refuse the believers' pleasing of her."

Now Helun had no reason to stop it. Although the guild was not directly under the jurisdiction of the Wealth Church, no merchant would not listen carefully to a priest of the Wealth Goddess.

Iouli's eyes turned and looked at Mali again.

"How about it? Do you dare to accept participating in the trial? Alchemist."

"I want to understand the rules first," Mali said, "For example, how many people can I bring, what vehicles can I use, and most importantly, how to ensure the fairness of the competition? How do you know that the money we bring back is obtained through normal trade?"

"Caution, a good quality," Iouli took another glass of red wine, this time she chose to sip slowly, "There are no restrictions on personnel and vehicles. I will cast magic to mark your goods. Any money obtained outside of trade will not be recorded.

"If the buyer and seller collude in advance to trade at a price significantly higher than the market price, it will also be regarded as dishonest behavior and be hated by the goddess, thus losing the competition. In short, you can only accumulate funds through trade."

She stared at Mali, as if thinking of something, and said playfully, "Selling your looks also violates the rules, oh."

"I haven't joined the guild, and without a trade permit, I can't conduct large-scale commodity trade in the city," Mali continued.

"This is simple," the priestess snapped her fingers, "Give him a temporary status as a Rose Merchant so that he can conduct trade normally."

"I will have someone draft the document right away," Helun said helplessly.

"Do you have any other requirements?"

"No, I am willing to participate in the competition," Mali said.

Who knew that Baier-ta would speak again at this time, "I have another request."

After getting Iouli's approval, he continued, "I will participate in this competition with my brother. I propose to add another clause to the bet: the winner can choose one person to join the Rose Alliance and become an official member."