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nTranslator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

nThe trade caravan members behaved rather respectfully toward Kant. Not the slightest hint of rudeness was seen in them.

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nIn their subconscious, Kant was like a greater noble from the Continent of Caradia, even if he was a Swadian. That status demanded respect even from Swadian nobles, so it went without saying with nobles like those of the trade caravan.

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n“Yeah.” Kant only nodded. His expression remained unchanged.

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nHis noble status had been assigned by the system.

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nHe turned his gaze behind the caravan. Their goods were all neatly packaged on the three carriages. One was easily able to tell that they were packed with items to sell.

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nIt’s a pity.

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nKant sighed deep down.

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nHe had no funds to make any purchases.

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n“My Lord, these are all specialties brought all the way from Reyvadin.”

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nThe trade caravan leader smiled and explained, “Our trade caravan sells very affordable wool. We also offer tools, raw iron, and linen cloth, as well as food, such as dried meat, smoked fish, and wheat.”

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nHe paused and said, “Of course, we buy specialties as well.”

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n“You buy specialties?”

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nKant frowned and asked, “How?”

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nThat piqued his interest.

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nBefore this caravan arrived, he had no idea that he was able to sell goods to trade caravans.

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n“Yes, we do purchase certain items.”

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nThe trade caravan leader took a look at the side of the Council Hall. He eyed the grocery store and said with an interesting expression, “I see that you have an empty store, My Lord. If you do not mind, I’m thinking of having my team move the goods over there. We would like to stay here for a week.”

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n“Alright.” Kant nodded. “You have one week to do whatever you need to do.”

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nHe swiftly agreed to it.

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nHe had no funds at the moment, so he was unable to buy anything.

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n“Many thanks, My Lord.”

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nThe leader was grateful. He immediately bowed to express his gratitude.

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nThe mercenary troops behind him led their carriages over to the grocery store, leaving deep tracks in the sand. It was obvious that all three carriages were fully packed.

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nKant knew that fact deep down.

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nTrade caravans throughout the Continent of Caradia followed certain trade routes.

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nPurchases were made in cities along the route at low prices and then sold at high prices, or said goods were accumulated to be ferried back to their cities of origin.

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nThat was the basic conduct of commerce.

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nThere’s nothing I can sell from this place of mine though.

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nKant bitterly chuckled to himself.

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nWhile his place was named Drondheim, it paled in comparison to the real Drondheim on the Continent of Caradia.

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nHis tiny village was not even self-sufficient. Even if he had help from the system, developing commerce at this stage was an absurd notion.

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nHowever, he still let the trade caravan do as they pleased.

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nAfter all, it was a good thing to have more people around the Oasis Lookout.

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nKant shrugged and said in a self-depreciative manner, “At least I now feel less like an outcast in the world.”

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nAfterward, he quickly recomposed himself.

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nHe walked toward Council Hall. He had some plans regarding that special mission.

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nHe soon arrived outside the Council Hall’s door and went inside.

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nThe Swadian Militia member, who stood guard at the door of the Council Hall with his heavy spear in hand, came over to Kant just as he sat down. The militia member respectfully said, “My Lord, the trade caravan leader wishes to see you.”

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nThe Council Hall was not a place that just anyone could enter

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n“Let him in.”

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nKant nodded. It was obvious that he saw the leader waiting right outside the door.

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nThe leader of the trade caravan looked like he was in his 40s. There were some silver hairs by the side of his head, but he still looked rather sprightly. There was no doubt that someone capable of leading a caravan from a city alone was anything but ordinary.

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nIn truth, such positions were usually taken by top-class retired soldiers.

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nWhile the leader was equipped only with a sword and wore scale armor, his proficiency with his weapon and skill on the back of a horse was on par with that of a Swadian Knight.

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nHowever, he behaved unusually meek before Kant.

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nHe bowed and hung his head low. “My Lord, forgive the intrusion.”

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n“It’s alright. I’m not busy right now.”

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nKant looked at the leader and asked, “Is there anything you need to discuss?”

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nThe leader respectfully replied, “My Lord, I see that your village seems to have Date Palm Trees planted. If you have ample stock, we would like to purchase some of the dates.”

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n“You want to buy dates?” Kant was dumbfounded.

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nThe leader nodded affirmatively and continued, “Indeed, My Lord. Dates are a specialty of the Sarrand Sultanate, and they are delicious. They sell quite well in other countries.”

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n“Of course, sure.” Kant nodded right away.

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nHe had collected over a dozen baskets of the dates the previous week. While they had eaten some since then, there were enough to fill 10 baskets.

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nKant frowned and asked in return, “Denars?”

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nThe currency of the trade was, of course, Denars.

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nIt was the only currency recognized by the system.

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n“Of course.”

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nThe leader nodded and looked rather curious. He asked, “My Lord, would you like to trade those dates for some of our goods? We could barter as well. Of course, the prices of the goods trade would still need to be equal.”

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nKant was slightly puzzled.

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nHowever, he quickly returned to his senses and said, “No, there is no need for that. Denars will do fine.”

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n“As you wish.” The leader felt rather puzzled himself.

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nThe leader had no idea that Kant wanted Denars so bad that he was almost unable to think of anything else. He was so desperate that he actually thought of charging into the tribe filled with ferocious primitive creatures and fighting his way through those beasts.

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nHe was unable to do anything without Denars.

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n“I need someone around.”

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nKant said to the militia member guarding the door, “Take our friend here to our stores and let them have a look at our freshly dried dates.”

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nThe militia member nodded. “Understood.”

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nThe leader excused himself and headed to the storage room at the side of the Council Hall with the militia member. More than a dozen baskets of dates were stacked there. All of them had just finished being dried under the sun.

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nThe dates people usually talked about were the dried end products.

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nFreshly plucked dates had little shelf life to speak of. Sun-dried dates were more well-suited to be stored and carried around in a desert climate.

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nFurthermore, dried dates tasted even sweeter.

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nThe leader soon emerged. He was chewing on a date that he carried in his hand. His face had a mesmerized expression. He said, “My Lord, these dates are good.”

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n“They are high-grade stuff.” Kant nodded and smiled.

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nHe knew that very well.

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nThese dates were produced by the system, so they were definitely fine products.

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n“Very good indeed.”

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nThat leader gulped down the rest of the date. He looked at Kant and respectfully said, “If you are willing, I would like to offer 50 Denars per basket for the dates.”

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n“50 Denars?” Kant frowned.

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nThat meant 10 baskets of dates only equaled 500 Denars.

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nThose baskets contained most of the fruits plucked from 20 Date Palm Trees, and they totaled thousands of pounds.

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nThe leader shrugged slightly and wore an exasperated expression. “My Lord, while the dates do taste good, they are not necessary items. It is actually due to many eating these things in the desert that they are able to fetch a slightly high price.”

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nHe paused for a bit and continued, “If the dates were to be of bad quality, we wouldn’t be offering 50 Denars per basket in the first place.”

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n“Will do. We’ll sell them according to the price you offered.”

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nKant wore a calm expression. He looked as if nothing was wrong.

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nHe was actually feeling very bitter deep down. He thought that merchants were indeed sly people.

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nIf he had any other choice, he would not have wanted to sell those dates.

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nThey served as food reserves for his people.

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n“You have made a wise decision,” the leader said, sucking up to Kant.

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nKant wore a faint smile and replied, “Maybe I did.”

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nA Denar shortage was his biggest headache at the moment. He had no choice but to sell those dates to maintain his forces. Compared to bread, dates were not that filling despite being very nutritious.

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nKant suddenly seemed to have realized something. He asked the leader, “Do you have wheat among your goods?”

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n“Yes, we do.”

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nThe leader said, “It is 50 Denars for one bag of wheat. You could choose to plant them or grind them down to flour.”

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n“I want a bag.” Kant nodded and said, “I’m thinking of planting them.”

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n“In that case, I shall find you the best bag among the bunch.”

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nThe leader smiled and said, “If you plant them in an oasis, you need to make that the wheat gets enough water. Otherwise, the scorching weather will burn the wheat seedlings.”

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n“Thank you for the reminder,” Kant replied with a smile.

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nThe Swadian Peasants already knew that.

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nAll the mud they dredged up from the pond was to serve as fertilizer for the wheat.

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nIt was an act of killing two birds with one stone.

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