Chapter 13: Trading with Smugglers

The prosperity inside Kawanyi City is obviously not comparable to that of A Ru Cun.

Just after entering the city,

Luo De's eyes were hardly enough to take it all in.

The sights that could only be seen during the big market in A Ru Cun here became ordinary, sparse street scenes.

The number of hawkers calling out their wares along the way was countless.

The goods they hawked also made Luo De feel dizzy and overwhelmed.

"The Fertility Blessing you want can only be purchased at the Academy."

"Did you bring A Ru Cun's purchase permit?"

"I remember reminding you yesterday."

Dixiya said while walking.

Given the miraculous effect of Fertility Blessing on planting soil, this Teyvat version of Jinkela successfully made it onto the list requiring strict control.

In the desert region,

Only A Ru Cun has the legal right to purchase Fertility Blessing, and its price is three times that of the rainforest region.

Other tribes wanting to buy Fertility Blessing either have to go through A Ru Cun as an intermediary or resort to illegal means, such as hijacking the Academy's transport convoys or smuggling it from the rainforest region.

Dixiya clearly knew that the Fertility Blessing available through official channels was something Luo De could not afford.

She had even prepared the money to lend to Luo De.

However, to her surprise,

Luo De did not answer whether he had brought A Ru Cun's purchase permit, but instead smiled mysteriously and said, "We won't buy it at the Academy."

"Not buy it at the Academy?"

Dixiya stared for a moment, then asked doubtfully, "Then where are you going to buy it?"

"Just go."

"The place where you bought the Teyvat Character Compendium."

Luo De gave a hehe smile, with an expression of having seen through everything.

Indeed, that was the case.

Like Fertility Blessing, paper books are also items strictly controlled by the Academy.

This thing is not only strictly controlled in the desert region, but also in the rainforest region.

Through official channels, it is basically impossible to obtain.

Only by finding smugglers can one get it.

This is also why Luo De asked Dixiya to do this.

No matter how proper the Blazing Light Beast Hunters mercenary group is, no matter how they abide by Sumeru's laws and regulations.

They are ultimately a mercenary group making a living in the desert.

The people they know range from all walks of life, from wealthy merchants to drifters, covering an extremely broad spectrum.

And smugglers,

are exactly the type of people the Sumeru Mercenary Corps likes to come into contact with.

Dixiya knows some smugglers.

That is only natural.

"."

Dixiya didn't expect Luo De to ask that; after a brief hesitation, she shook her head and said helplessly, "You seem to know everything."

Saying that, she gave Luo De a few strange looks.

She didn't know why.

She always felt Luo De's words and actions were very strange.

He is clearly not a desert dweller.

Yet he is very familiar with the desert's rules.

Moreover, not only is he familiar with the desert's rules, but as someone who is not a Sumeru person, he also knows Sumeru's rules very well.

"He really is a weird fellow."

Dixiya did not refuse Luo De's request, she waved at him and said, "Come with me, remember not to leak that person's identity to others."

"Mm, okay."

Luo De nodded and followed behind.

What Dixiya was looking for,

was a merchant located in the bustling district.

This was something Luo De had not expected.

In his impression, smugglers, these law-breaking individuals, should all be hiding among the marketplaces, concealing themselves with an ordinary, inconspicuous identity.

How could they be openly selling goods in the bustling district like this?

"Ashir, long time no see."

Dixiya greeted the merchant wearing a headscarf familiarly.

"Hey, isn't this Miss Dixiya?"

Ashir, who had just been lounging on a recliner lazily fanning himself with a fan, immediately perked up upon hearing Dixiya's voice.

He jumped up from the recliner, rubbed his hands, and said, "Come see, what do you want today?"

"Do you have Mondstadt's forest pork?"

"You say that, sure we have it—how much do you want?"

A palm-sized piece is fine.

That's so little.

Hearing the words "palm-sized," Ashier's face instantly drooped, and unwillingly he asked: "Would a pig leg work?"

Can't eat that much.

Dixiya shook her head firmly and said: "A palm-sized piece is enough."

Tsk, fine then.

Ashier showed no displeasure despite Dixiya buying less, and remained enthusiastic: "How shall we trade? Mora? Or something else?"

How much Mora?

Five thousand.

A bit expensive.

My Dixiya miss, do you know how far it is from here to Mondstadt? Crossing mountains and ridges, there are man-eating monsters along the way blocking and robbing; five thousand Mora is already the price I'm giving you because you're an acquaintance, otherwise it'd be at least ten thousand.

Looks like.

The two seemed to be haggling over the purchase of imported forest pig meat.

However, Luo De could roughly guess.

The forest pig meat from Mondstadt refers to the Fertility Blessing from the Academy.

I don't know how big a palm-sized piece is, but it should be some kind of unit of measurement.

Five thousand Mora is exactly what it says.

As for the haggling afterward, it's likely that Ashier was complaining about how troublesome it was to produce these goods, giving a reasonable explanation for his price increase.

This is not something Luo De can intervene in.

All he could do was hand over the purchase permit in his hand to Dixiya in front of Ashier.

A Ru Cun has the privilege to purchase Fertility Blessing.

Smugglers have no reason to mark up the price above what the Academy sells for.

As expected.

Upon seeing that purchase permit, Ashier's expression kept shifting.

Since there's an honored guest from A Ru Cun, Miss Dixiya, why didn't you introduce me beforehand?

Ashier's voice was much harsher than before.

Just a small matter, so I didn't mention it.

Dixiya swayed the purchase permit in her hand, but did not say Luo De's name.

Hmph—

Ashier gave a cold snort, didn't press further, and with a stern face announced a new price: "Three thousand Mora."

Smugglers also have their own rules.

No matter what.

Luo De is also a customer.

Although he couldn't make big money from him, a customer is a customer, at most just earning a little less.

As a merchant, any profitable business is good; there's no reason to cause unpleasantness with one's customers.

Compared to the previous quote.

Three thousand Mora is already a forty percent reduction.

But this amount is still not something Luo De can currently afford.

Just as Dixiya was about to pull out money to cover it,

Luo De, standing beside her, said: "Mr. Ashier, I recall you said earlier that besides Mora, other things can be used for trade? I happen to have some good stuff; you can see if it's enough to exchange, how about that?"

He said.

Luo De opened a slit in his clothing pocket and showed the contents to Ashier.

(End of chapter)