Chapter 32: A Small Investment

Luo De wants to discuss business with himself?

After walking out of the shock of being demanded money on the street, Duo Li's first reaction was to scrutinize the backpack Luo De carried with him.

There were many contraband items inside.

Thanks to years of experience navigating the lower strata of society.

The contraband that Duo Li personally handled could be described in vast quantities.

No need to look with the eyes.

Just by relying on the faint smell seeping out, she could roughly tell what contraband Luo De and Dixiya were carrying.

"Are you looking to sell the items you have on hand, customer?"

Not only Duo Li, but Dixiya thought the same.

If there was anything valuable on her and Luo De that could warrant a business talk with a big merchant like Duo Li,

it would naturally be the plant and animal specimens Luo De collected.

And also that《Rainforest Biological Illustrated Manual》annotated by Ti Nali, a top student of the Vital Discourse School.

However, Dixiya was not optimistic about this deal.

She wasn't worried that Duo Li wouldn't accept the deal; she felt that even if they sold their items, they wouldn't fetch much money.

In Sumeru.

Without a doubt, the most valuable thing is knowledge.

In other words.

The most valuable thing in Luo De's hands is that《Rainforest Biological Illustrated Manual》; according to Dixiya's judgment, selling it for tens of thousands of Mora is no problem.

Such a book, used as teaching material by the Academy, is worth hardly anything on its own.

What matters are Ti Nali's annotations inside.

Those are the most precious knowledge; placed in the Academy, they would definitely be snatched up.

But Luo De would absolutely never sell that book.

Dixiya confidently believed her judgment would not be wrong.

In her view, even if Luo De were penniless and couldn't afford food, he still wouldn't sell that book.

Then, aside from that book,

what else of value does Luo De have on him?

The plant and animal specimens collected from the rainforest region?

Don't joke.

In Sumeru, those things are the least valuable.

The rainforest region is full of poisonous insects and ferocious beasts; only if Luo De had collected a very rare species could he possibly sell them for a high price.

Unfortunately,

The specimens Luo De collected, if Dixiya isn't mistaken, are basically common poisons on the market; even if Duo Li were willing to buy them, they'd likely fetch little value.

However, Luo De's answer surprised both her and Duo Li.

"These things are still useful to me; what I want to do business with you about is another matter."

Luo De and Duo Li locked eyes as he said: "But before we talk business, could you first prove your identity to me? After all, the prerequisite for doing business is mutual trust, right? Duo Li·Sangge Mahabayi, sir?"

Luo De stressed the name Duo Li, then rubbed his fingers together, his intention obvious.

If you want to prove your identity, then produce money.

Unless you lay down eight hundred thousand Mora before Luo De's eyes, he won't believe the person before him is Duo Li.

"."

Duo Li was still encountering for the first time such a troublesome customer.

Before, whenever she revealed her identity, customers would immediately eagerly want to trade with her.

However, Duo Li wasn't angry; instead, she gave Luo De and Dixiya a playful wave.

"Come on, aren't you wanting me to prove my identity?"

"I'll satisfy your request."

Having said that, she turned with her hands behind her back and walked toward a house at the street's edge.

Dixiya hesitated a bit.

But Luo De decisively quickened his pace to follow behind Duo Li.

Seeing him go, Dixiya had no choice but to follow.

"Hey, Luo De."

Walking up to Luo De, Dixiya tugged at his clothes and whispered, "She seems to really be Sir Sangge Mahabayi."

"I know." Luo De replied.

"Ha—ah?"

Dixiya's footsteps paused.

Luo De also stopped, confidently explaining to her: "You didn't tell me this place is Kawanyi, where smugglers gather? And then Sir Sangge Mahabayi is the provider of food and clothing for these smugglers."

"Look,"

"In a crowd of smugglers, openly hawking here and blatantly stealing everyone's business, yet no one dares to speak ill of it, nor does anyone question her claim to be Sir Sangge Mahabayi."

"So, she has over a ninety percent chance of actually being Sir Sangge Mahabayi herself."

Luo De's analysis was sound and well-founded.

This was the most convincing inference he could make without revealing that he already knew Duo Li's identity.

The effect was also very good.

Dixiya really believed him.

The same.

Dixiya is also very angry now.

If she weren't worried about this being a busy market, she estimated she would have exploded on the spot.

"You clearly know she is Old Master Sangge Mahabadai, yet you still went to offend her?"

Dixiya was angry about this.

This was also the first time she spoke to Luo De in such a tone.

Duoli Sangge Mahabadai is certainly no small figure.

She, who commands both the underworld and the legitimate world, as long as she opens her mouth, will definitely have many people eager to take on the commission to kill Luo De to curry favor with her.

Unless Luo De stays in A Ru Cun for the rest of his life and never leaves.

"I didn't offend her."

Luo De, who had been scolded by Dixiya, spread his hands innocently and said: "At first I really wasn't sure she was Old Master Sangge Mahabadai, so I used these words to test her tone, in order to confirm her identity. And look, she isn't not angry, right?"

"Really?"

Dixiya frowned, asking doubtfully.

This explanation is actually reasonable.

Duoli seemed to also not be angry, just being nitpicky with Luo De.

"Mm-hmm, really."

Luo De nodded repeatedly.

"Fine, I'll believe you once more."

Although she still felt something was off, Dixiya decided to trust Luo De once more.

As the female boss of the underworld in Kawanyi.

The house that Duoli took Luo De and them to definitely couldn't compare to Ashier's little shack.

It is a residence that looks ordinary on the outside but luxurious inside.

Before Duoli even entered the door, the guards stood at attention and saluted her.

The attendants inside also respectfully presented warm water for washing hands and face and hot towels.

Seeing this, Dixiya's feelings became uneasy again.

The guard strength here is in no way inferior to the office of the Academy stationed here.

Plus the attendants' greeting of "Welcome home, sir."

All of this served to confirm Duoli's identity.

All the way in silence.

The three of them kept going until they reached a room.

After closing the door, Duoli stood with her hands on her hips, staring at Luo De and said: "All right, now can I prove my identity?"

Her current appearance showed none of the worrisome underworld boss look that Dixiya had feared; instead, she resembled more a petulant neighborhood girl.

The room they were in was just an ordinary one.

Apart from the luxurious decor, there was nothing else special about it.

Nor was there the pile of Mora that Luo De had demanded to see, or a warehouse storing various rare items.

But this time Luo De did not continue to fuss; he placed his right hand on his chest, bowed slightly, and said: "Sorry for what happened before, Old Master Sangge Mahabadai—I admit my doubts about you were my mistake."

This is the desert people's etiquette when apologizing to someone.

Placing the right hand on the chest represents the sincerest apology.

"Hmph, that's about right."

Duoli was pleased with Luo De's attitude just now, raising her chin and saying: "In view of your sincere attitude, the merciful Old Master Sangge Mahabadai decides not to hold your previous rudeness against you, and I will give you a fair price for those contraband items you carry."

"I've said before, I'm not looking for you to sell these local products."

Luo De brought out his most sincere attitude: "Old Master Sangge Mahabadai, I don't know if you're interested in making a small investment."

(End of chapter)