Chapter 71 – Deal!

Then a person came into the room that was smelling of different herbs. He was old with a long scruffy beard.

"What do you need me for Rac?" His voice was uneven from not talking to much or perhaps inhaling the herbs that he concocted.

"Check this healing cream, see if it has potential in our market?"

He reluctantly took the bottle with no fate, then he asked one maid to get a few of his kit. While he asked the other one to bring her palm close. He took out a knife and opened a wound in her hand. She had a scared expression, but no one really cared about her thoughts.

Swish

Drip

Drip

With one quick motion, the alchemist created a small wound at the palm of her hand, and it quickly started to bleed.

Then he applied the cream on top of half of the wound, and he kept on observing it. Soon he started to nod. After some time, he had a bit of a surprised expression. With his wide eyes, he nodded at the merchant.

Then the merchant looked at Aile and said, "It looks like we will have a deal, Mr Shadow. Now we just need to work on the details."

Then there was another discussion about the price while the alchemist tried to study the cream with his equipment. He was testing it on different surfaces and with different things to make sure that it is not poisonous or harmful.

In the end, the deal came to a finish, the merchant already had their analysis of Port Kiar, so they were thoroughly aware of the costs and how much the town required materials. Thus the merchant could adjust their profit margins much better. They also seemed very keen on getting an exclusive selling right of the healing cream.

This gave Aile more room to bargain, and the price was set at 10 silver for now. However, it was agreed upon that if its value increases in here, then the Oxe family will also share the profits with Aile. The alchemist was done analyzing the cream too.

He came to Aile in his raspy voice said, "You have a strong alchemist with you if they can put such a complex ingredient concealing Rune. I would love to exchange pointers with him."

"I will inform him, however, he is quite reclusive so it might be a while before you can exchange pointers."

"That will be fine, I will take my leave."

Aile and the merchant finalize their deal. Aile left the healing cream with him as a sign of good fate and tool to be used for advertising. Then they organized their first trade date after 25 days. They picked the location between Cape Tie and Port Kiar close to a well-known hill, which was not on the main route.

Trades that are done on the main route easily get targeted by bandits as it is hard to determine their intentions before it is too late.

The main route is generally travelled by a lot of merchants. Bandits have used posing as merchants to steal from unsuspecting groups. Therefore, the safe option of trading is usually somewhat far away from main routes, and anyone that came in their direction would be considered a foe.

After finalizing the location, the merchant requested to find Jack or news of him upon returning to Port Kiar and send back his finding through a letter during the first trade.

Aile nodded and told him that if he manages to find any news about him, he will send it. Then he bid his farewell, after taking the token of Oxe clan as proof that they will use for their trades.

Aile also gave him a token, that Fiona had prepared.

Aile was happy about the current deal. Not only did he find a partner to trade with, but he also forged a trading route with the Oxe family. Now he no longer has to worry about wealth.

Aile can also fabricate some rumours pinning the murder of Jack Oxe on anyone that blocks his path to economic supremacy in Port Kiar. This marked his last goal in arriving at Cape Tie.

He was happy because he had met another one of his goals. Although everything was not perfect, he had ended up making enemies with another Duke and forced to get married.

However, his goal to gain financial freedom was one that would allow him to peacefully rest and cultivate. Giving him enough time to grow so he can better protect himself in these kinds of situations.

With his new business venture, he will become more influential and get a broader range of connections and control.

He then headed back to the second tavern that he put his luggage at. There he picked up the princess's gift and sneaked out as Aile.

He slowly approached Siren's Song when he noticed two people standing in front of its main door. Looking around at every individual approaching the tavern. The two were Ellie and the cold girl that resembled Hunter. As soon as Ellie spotted Aile, she no longer looked around and maintained eye contact with him, showing that she was here for him.

Once Aile got close, Ellie came closer and extended her hand for a handshake and then put her other hand on Aile's shoulder, tapping it.

"Hello, Aile!"

"Hello, Ellie! It has been a while. How are you?"

Ellie became a bit sad as it reminded her that she had not seemed her mother in a while. She nodded and replied, "I am good, training to be better. How are Danny and my mother?"

"Diana is better, and Danny has left the house to become a merchant. They miss you. When are you going to go for a visit?"

Ellie did not respond, she became even sadder.

At this point, the cold, aloof girl walked close to Ellie and looked at Aile curiously. Aile examined her back. She had black coloured eyes with a bit of yellow and violet mixed with them, making them captivating. Her gaze was cold. She had shoulder-length violet hair and a beautiful uniform and smooth skin. She was older with a more mature body, perhaps in her mid to late teens.

She was no longer in casual clothing but wore a brown and green hunting gear.

Ellie quickly came back to it and realized that Aile and her friend were having an eye contact competition.

"Ok, let me introduce you to each other."

"This is Violet, my friend."

"Violet, this is Aile. The person that we have been looking for."

Violet's expression turned colder after the introduction.

Aile was not bothered by that and simply waved at her and then looked at Ellie. He had a lot on his mind and weather someone took him seriously or hated him was no bother to him.

"Ellie, so what brings you here?"

She opened up her little bag that she carried by her side and took out a few silver coins then handed it to Aile and said, "Can you give those to my mother. I saved it up for her."

Aile sighed and shook his head, "You keep it, Diana will be happy if you are safe, well-fed and well-stocked."

"No, I want her to be happy, so please take it to her."

Aile looked at her, "She is working with Fiona and getting paid enough. You should keep your little money. If you want to make her happy visit her."

The expression of Violet changed, there was clearly some rage, anger and a complex emotion while looking at Aile.

Ellie looked down, hiding her tearful eyes.

Seeing this, Aile became depressed, seeing a little girl weeping because she was forced not to see her mother. He had planned to help her and decided that perhaps now would be an optimum time to see her reaction. If she is actually willing to leave her mercenary lifestyle and go to Diana.

Aile extended his hand and gently tapped her back, "Ellie, can I talk to you alone about something."

Ellie looked up at Aile then at Violet and nodded.

However, Violet step in and with an angry expression said, "What are you going to do to her when you are alone. She is not going anywhere without me."

Aile sighed.

Ellie looked at her and said, "It is fine, Aile is not like them. Do not worry."

"No, you cannot trust them, I promised to keep you safe, I will not let him be with you alone."

Aile looked at Violet with a surprised expression and pointed to the end of the alley, next to the tavern, "Well, that is fine we will just go there and talk, and you can see us from here."

Ellie looked at Violet and then walked towards the alley as Aile followed her. Violet did not look happy, She looked at Aile with intense concentration. Her eyes were conveying that she will be keeping a close eye on him and that he should behave.