Chapter 22: Buda the merchant

Everyone waiting anxiously at the village entrance since morning for the merchant to arrive. How many survive during this winter is all depends on how this trade with the merchant.

Just last year, they lost 20 people in the village. Some killed by a beast tide, some died hunger and other died freezing.

The merchant is a kind man and trade with a fair price and sometimes without having a gain whenever he trade before winter in this village but he's not that rich to help this village all the time. Apart from this village, there's also 30 other villager in the 100km surrounding and he can't help them all.

Near noon, they start seeing some long line of caravan approaching the village.

"it's them, it's Buda"

"thanks God they arrived safely this time."

"do you think we can trade all of these?" they look at the meat behind them. after all, some of the meat didn't get processed properly.

"didn't Lain come back last week and say Buda will buy all of the supplies?" one of the aunties look at the elder beside him.

"what do you know, Boris said that our meat quality is too low and it won't sell at a good price"

The villagers look at the elder and everyone start feeling anxious. they're already feeling excited earlier because of the huge amount of resources they gonna trade this time.

"but it's strange.." the elder frown looking at the approaching caravan.

"why there's so many wagon coming here? Isn't our village is the last one Buda visit."

"maybe they just brought all their wagon from the nearby village."

A heat of discussion spiral among the villagers. Even elder Dun join in the fun standing in the middle ready to welcome the merchant. Besides him is Boris, Luna and grandma Nan. Lucis stand at the very corner just being an observer.

"Elder Dun buddy, how are you?." a fat mercenary came down from his carriage with a big smile. He's look about between 30 and 40 with a short beard and thin moustache. From his appearance, he doesn't look like a merchant at all except for his belly. His clothes look pretty normal like a normal town citizens and there's even some scratches here and there. His skin is rough making it obvious that he's been working hard manual labor.

Buda is pretty friendly and greet almost all the villager with some joke added in between. They keep chatting as the long line of wagon slowly gathered to the center of the village.

"boss, all our wagon have arrived." A bulky bald person with a saber on his back came to Buda interrupting his conversation with Boris and elder Dun.

"Ah good, good. Then let's start." all the staff that riding the wagon came down and ready to work.

"Buda, this is our stock this time." Boris tap his hand on the pile up box gathered at the very center of the village. Almost hundred box of meat sorted neatly. Dozen other materials from the beast like some precious bone for medicine, claw and horn and such including the various skin beast carefully packed on the other side

Before Buda even talk, the various professional looking middle age man from the caravan quickly swarming the wooden box feeling exited while at the same time the whole village feeling anxious because they have nothing to trade personally except leave for some that still have resources like Wudie.

"this is good stuff." one of Buda staff shout.

"look, look, this is Mardiv black bear claw. This is good stuff for a medicine."

"here,here, horn of the scale tiger. Perfectly persevere." the staff nod satisfied.

"who is this, who did this to this horn. You should keep this in the green wood box. Who's the Bastard put it here and leaving it to dry!"

Some exited shout and some angry shout can be heard among Buda staff as they appraised the material in the box. It's not Boris or the villagers fault, most of the beast Lucis hunt can be considered rare, they doesn't have the experience to process it.

While all the staff busy looking at the pile up materials. Only one girl that look similar age with Luna inspecting the pile box of meat. She nod, she shake and sometimes she grunts. apparently she's professional at this.

The whole village looking at Buda and the various staff discussion among themselves. their nod bringing happiness on the villagers but their shaking hear sting in their heart

"do you think they'll take everything?" the aunties said. She's call auntie green in the village named by her father sadly.

"they will, but I'm not sure how much they will trade for it." elder moon replied with confidence.

The inspection last for an hour.

"alright. I'll take all of this. How much?" Buda suddenly shout and look around the villagers and finally landed his gaze on elder Dun.

Surprisingly, no one answered and everyone look at Lucis at the back of the group sitting calmly at the boulder. After all, he's the one that hunt all of it personally.

Buda and his daughter Buny look confused with the villagers reaction and follow their gaze to Lucis that also look surprised at the villager reaction.

"err.. What's going on?" Buda ask elder Dun then elder Dun turn his head and look at Lucis.

'why everyone looking at me? Am I too handsome?' Lucis look at all the people including the people from the caravan looking at him.

"ermm.. don't ask me,ask her." Lucis point his finger at Luna that also looking confused. She thought Lucis only want her to get the buyer.

Half of the people frown and shifted their gaze to Luna while the other half look at Lucis confused.

"ermm... Me?" Luna point her finger at herself still confused like the rest of the people. Buny furrowed her brow feeling a bit displeased.

Lucis nod and shift his gaze at the wagon inspecting with his devine sense refusing to join the trade or conversation.

Everyone began to shift their gaze at Luna while Buny stare at Lucis suspiciously. it's the first time she saw him in this village. she recognized all the young men in this village and even some that already leave the village but she can't remember someone with a good look like Lucis in this village.

Luna take a deep breath and calm herself. She look at Lucis then look at Buda with a sweet smile begin discussing the trade.

They keep talking almost shouting for half an hour before shaking each other hand with bitter smile.

"alright, all the stuff including 5 gold. No more. I need to gain something too." Buda smile bitterly as he wave his hand gesturing the staff to take out the supplies they agreed earlier.

"you did me a favor mister Buda." Luna smile mischievously. All the villagers nod with satisfied. Even Boris surprise with how good Luna is compare to him. Elder Dun look at Luna feeling like he just lost against her even though he himself is trading merchant for a couple of years before.

"this Luna is good." grandma Nan smile with satisfying expression. She look at Elder moon with respect, he's good at taking care his granddaughter. in fact, better than her.

The stuff they trade almost empty the whole caravan wagon but surprisingly, Buda look very satisfied with the trade. After a bit more quick chat, he look like he's leaving in a hurry.

'no cultivator. It seems the guard is quite capable.' Lucis scan the whole group and noticed the beast blood on their weapons. They didn't manage to kill any but they managed to drive the beast away. No one noticed about it and they thought the group travel safety but Lucis have very strong sense compare to them and noticed right away. There's some new scratched among the wagon and the guard armor.