Chapter 1647

So Zhao Chi said:

"Hear me out on my thinking.

"The stockings I sold you before had very low durability, only 15 points, but these stockings have 95 points of durability. Although some were lost, they all still have over 80 points.

"And the previous stockings were rough-quality items, so every stat was quite a bit worse than this standard quality.

"Durability is about 6 times what it was before, and the stats have improved by about 65% over before, so there should be at least a 10-fold price increase.

"And everyone understands how equipment works — the stronger the stats, the higher the price. After all, everyone's equipment slots and fashion slots are limited.

"In theory, super-improved fashion's stats are 2.5 times that of ordinary fashion, but the price isn't just 2.5 times.

"5 times or even 10 times is possible.

"Although this fashion of mine only improved stats by 65% over before, the price still has to go up at least 2 times — that's not unreasonable, right?

"With 6 times durability multiplied by 2 times the stat price, that's a 12-fold price increase in total. When I said 10 times just now, I was actually understating it.

"The stockings I sold before were 4 gold coins.

"So my estimate for these stockings is 48 gold coins per pair.

"My satisfactory price is 50 gold coins per pair.

"15 gold coins is a bit low, isn't it?"

Zhao Chi was indeed asking an outrageous price.

But he wasn't talking nonsense either — after all, these figures were all solid.

The previous stockings were also Spider Lady Silk, but those stockings hadn't been super-improved at the time. They had been forcibly elevated to super-improved level by relying on the inherent material properties of the Spider Lady Silk itself.

It was only after that that Zhao Chi bought the Stocking Super-Improvement Manual and truly performed the super-improvement.

So the stat difference wasn't just the 25% gap between rough and standard quality — there was also a gap of 10 improvement points from the super-improvement.

Shopkeeper Wanyan was a little surprised.

In her impression, the Ms. Zhao Si before her was a person of few words.

She hadn't expected so many words this time.

More than everything she'd said before put together.

Actually, Zhao Chi had previously just been afraid that the more he said, the more mistakes he'd make.

And at that time he was under noble rule, in the black market too, so he had been careful with his words.

But now things were completely different.

If he could negotiate the price up a bit more, of course he'd negotiate more.

Shopkeeper Wanyan smiled gently.

Then she said softly: "What you've said is very reasonable, and the figures and analysis are all correct. But the price difference between us is too great — there must be some aspect where the two of us have a fairly large difference in perception. I've already noticed it's the durability aspect. May I analyze it for you?"

"Go ahead."

Shopkeeper Wanyan said with a smile: "Durability is indeed a major factor affecting fashion's price, and one of the factors that directly raises the price — that's certainly not wrong. But the price increase from durability isn't a linear increase either."

Zhao Chi said nothing and continued listening.

Shopkeeper Wanyan analyzed:

"First of all, most of us don't buy fashion for looks — if you wanted looks, no one would buy fashion. After all, there are so many pretty clothes out there, and clothes are much cheaper too.

"Everyone basically buys and wears fashion for actual combat, for battle, to have a little more advantage when fighting the enemy.

"That's the essence of buying fashion, right?"

That was certainly right.

Zhao Chi nodded.

Shopkeeper Wanyan said with a smile:

"So when you're fighting on the battlefield, what mainly matters is the equipment's stats.

"Although durability is very important, during combat, the fashion's durability can't help you.

"After all, fashion isn't the same as equipment. Equipment needs the durability stat to share the damage taken by the body, so it has a greater impact on price.

"And even for equipment, durability isn't completely linearly related to price, let alone fashion.

"To put it dramatically, during combat, the fashion's durability is a useless stat.

"But then again, if you really insist on being precise, these 95-durability stockings can indeed withstand 1-2 more attacks from the enemy.

"But when setting the price factors, this factor has already been taken into account. After all, more durability does indeed make the price a bit higher.

"The real use of more durability is actually during normal preparation — the more durability, the longer you can wear it.

"All of this has been considered.

"But the factor that affects price the most is still stats — that's what affects fashion's price the most.

"Durability does affect it, but it's still far less of a factor than stats.

"Can you understand it when I put it this way?"

Li Ruanyu had actually covered all of this in class.

Zhao Chi had listened carefully at the time.

So he knew it all.

He was just trying now to see if he could push the price up.

But it seemed Shopkeeper Wanyan had no intention of budging.

Then forget it.

15 gold coins already exceeded the price Zhao Chi had calculated himself — it was already very good.

"I can understand." Zhao Chi nodded.

Shopkeeper Wanyan said happily:

"Talking with you really is refreshing—you're certainly not like an ordinary female customer.

"Actually, beyond these factors, we still have to consider all sorts of other factors.

"After all, we're not like you—we're merchants, and we have to pay quite a lot of taxes to the World-Breaking Army.

"High-quality fashion like this runs over ten gold pieces a pop, so the taxes we pay are also very high.

"On top of that, more and more people are coming to Cape Cliff Town now, and lots of people are scrambling for shops like this, so the rent is very expensive too—definitely a lot more expensive than you'd imagine.

"And there are all kinds of other costs piled on top of each other, so the price really is hard to raise.

"Most importantly, we don't run this kind of fashion for profit.

"Basically it's half-selling, half-giving to friends, so we really haven't kept any margin.

"You're an old friend of mine too—you should have heard me say this before.

"But rest assured, giving things to friends and the like is the Ruby Merchant Guild's own behavior—we won't use your interests to give gifts to others.

"So every price I quote you is in line with the market, and the most appropriate price within my knowledge.

"And it's even a little on the high side.

"But likewise, as a friend, I can privately give you some concessions.

"Your fashion is genuinely excellent—once I report it to the guild, I should get some personal bonus, and I can share it with you.

"What do you say?"

That's not necessary.

Zhao Chi had really only been haggling just now; he wasn't short on Shopkeeper Wanyan's bonus.

Looking at it so far, Shopkeeper Wanyan was still quite decent.

What she'd just said really was all true.

When people bought fashion, they did mainly look at attributes—durability was certainly one factor, but definitely not the main one.

And the taxes and shop rent she'd mentioned were also real.

Zhao Chi had also confirmed the half-selling, half-giving thing Shopkeeper Wanyan mentioned through Li Ruanyu's side.

Which was why he'd always chosen to work with Shopkeeper Wanyan.

But just as Shopkeeper Wanyan said, their half-selling, half-giving was their own decision and had nothing to do with Zhao Chi. Though he did feel a bit of admiration in his heart, he certainly wouldn't lower the price.

After all, the whole point of selling to Shopkeeper Wanyan was to make money—otherwise, wouldn't it be better to sell everything to Li Ruanyu?

As for her bonus, he definitely wouldn't take it.

Then let's leave it at that.

Zhao Chi said: "No problem, I agree with your analysis. Let's price these stockings at 15 gold pieces."

Shopkeeper Wanyan beamed like a flower: "Wonderful! Ms. Zhao Si is indeed decisive."

"Take a look at this too."