Yarra’s Adventure Notes
Chapter 275 - 41 Correct Method of Inquiring Information_1

Chapter 275: Chapter 41 Correct Method of Inquiring Information_1

"Let’s all split up and have a look around, but don’t get lost. Meet back here in an hour." Ayrland divided the wedding procession members into several groups, each with a few guards to ensure safety, and then let them wander around. No one really worried about the safety of these attendants since this was a roaming market under the mutual protection of the three major cities. Provoking trouble here would be equivalent to challenging the power of all three cities. It was unlikely that anyone would be ignorant enough to conduct such behavior, so there was no need for concern. After sending away the majority of people, Ayrland thoughtfully stayed behind to guard the vehicles, allowing the four members of the adventure team to enjoy this novel experience without worries, roaming around a market they’d never before seen.

"So this place gathers merchant caravans from the countries of Falar and Neville?" With no strangers around, Lina returned to her curious nature. "How come I feel like a lot of people don’t look the part?"

"It’s not just those two countries." Pannis maneuvered around a handcart making its way through a caravan’s lane. "I’ve never been to this marketplace, but I’ve heard legends about it numerous times. They say it attracts not only caravans from Falar and Neville, but also merchants from desert-ridden Batuom in the north and those from a seaport belonging to the Sea Country in the south. If you’re lucky, you might even meet people all the way from the Mage Country of Butt. However, the chances of encountering the last one are slim as Butt’s commerce is not that developed."

"People from Batuom also come here?" Lina asked in surprise, "Isn’t it said that Sand People don’t like to leave the desert?"

"Batuom is not just inhabited by Sand People, there are also many humans living mixed among them." Pannis dodged another cart, grabbing four bags from it and dropping several silver coins. He handed the bags to the girls. "Sometimes, humans living among Sand People would form caravans to transport desert specialties to various places. They also like this golden route, as there are more oases in this direction, making the journey more convenient."

"What’s this?" Catherine took the bag handed over by Pannis and asked, "I thought the caravans here only do wholesale trading?"

"Never underestimate a merchant’s instincts. I privately asked around just now, and these pushcart peddlers are not part of the caravans, but a group of small merchants. They were alerted to the presence of the roaming market, so they brought a bunch of preserved food and household items to retail in advance, always netting a good harvest." Pannis reached into the bag and pulled out a thumb-sized, vibrant red fruit coated with a layer of white sugar. It looked appetizing, "Ha, it’s actually sugared red pearl fruit, something I always wanted to eat during winter when I was a kid."

"These merchants are indeed quick to catch on." Catherine, who loved sweets, followed Pannis’ example, picked up a red pearl fruit, and popped it whole into her mouth. The slight acidity of the fruit and the sweetness of the sugar powder made her feel as if she had recovered from their journey, her eyes gleaming with delight.

"Of course, Miss." The four happened to pass a mid-sized caravan’s stall. The stall had no customers, but the owner seemed unbothered. He was lounging on a chair in front of the cart, catching Catherine’s words, and chimed in, "You must know, merchants are among the most intuitive beings in this world."

"Really?" Upon noticing a stranger, Lina immediately switched back to her wilful and unreasonable attitude she adopted earlier that day. She stared at the stall owner disdainfully and asked, "Well then, what major happenings have occurred here recently?"

"Speaking of major events, there really is one." The owner glanced around very shrewdly, and seeing no one paying attention, he leaned closer to the four of them and lowered his voice, "Either today or tomorrow, a convoy of important figures will pass through here."

"Important figures?" Lina’s curiosity was piqued, "Who are these important figures?"

"I can’t reveal their true identities, but they are people of great wealth and status." The stall owner looked around cautiously as he spoke, fearing someone might hear, "It’s said it’s the daughter or sister of a powerful figure from the City of Knowledge who is marrying into the City of Freedom. The convoy passing through here is her wedding procession."

"You, you even know this?" Lina widened her eyes in surprise, "Who leaked the news?"

"Idiot, you’ve assumed a childish personality, and turned your brain into that of an idiot too?" Vivian reached out and yanked on Lina’s long hair that hung down to her thighs, dragging her backward, "Just get lost, don’t embarrass us further."

"You lowly commoner, how dare you casually tug on my hair. Oww, you’re pulling more." Lina covered her hair in protest, "And you dared to call me an idiot. Of course, I’m aware he deduced it, I was just playing along. Hey, you’re pulling more. Stop, or I’ll fight back."

"Thud, thud", Catherine’s iron fist squelched the imminent brawl between the two girls. They both clutched their heads and dutifully stood behind Catherine, eyes downcast, looking every part the genteel ladies.

"Good observation, mister. Since you’re free, let’s have a chat." Pannis casually offered a red pearl fruit to the merchant, "How long has this roaming market been open?"

"Seven days." The merchant didn’t stand on ceremony, and he directly put the fruit Pannis gave him into his mouth, "It’s expected to last for a month, and if needed, it will be extended for another half a month."

"It’s gonna be open for so long?" Catherine also joined in and asked, "Since you’re a good observer, can you share any recent news about this place?"

"Miss, we are merchants." The merchant replied to Catherine with a half-smile, "We are not thieves, we don’t deal in information."

"But from what I know, it’s not quite like that." Catherine took out twenty silver coins, arranged them one by one in front of the merchant, "As far as I know, for money, thieves only sell their skills, but merchants can even sell their souls, let alone some piece of information."

"That’s others, not me." The merchant glanced disdainfully at the silver coins on the table, "Do you think all merchants would sell their souls for money?"

"Of course not, there are always exceptions." Catherine smiled, replacing a silver coin with a gold one: "But that just shows that there isn’t enough money, right?"

"Sometimes, dignity and perseverance can’t be bought with gold coins." The merchant shook his head in dissatisfaction.

"Really?" Catherine replaced another silver coin: "If gold coins can’t buy them, what about double the amount of gold coins?"

"Miss, you underestimate me." The merchant curled his lips: "Still can’t buy them."

"What about three times the amount?" Catherine replaced the third gold coin: "To a merchant, everything can be traded for the right price. A lesson taught by my elder, I think it’s very true."

"Quite true indeed." The merchant reached out and swept his hand across the table, not only taking the gold coins but also the remaining seventeen silver ones: "Deal. Feel free to ask any questions."

"First, talk about any strange occurrences recently," Catherine said, politely sitting at the table like a noble lady and smiling: "I believe with your keen observations, Mr. Merchant, you would surely have noticed some interesting incidents."

"Four days ago, a gang of robbers came here," The merchant said after a moment of thoughtful consideration: "Several robber gangs came all at once."

"Are robber gangs a common problem here?" Catherine misunderstood: "With such a strong mercenary force, robber gangs wouldn’t dare come here seeking death, would they?"

"Of course, they’re not here to cause trouble." The merchant laughed at Catherine’s misunderstanding: "Not only do other merchant groups come here, but robber gangs come here too, for trades. These robbers often operate in the wilderness. They find big cities too far away and too risky to trade in, so this mobile market is their best choice. As for us, anyone who pays is a customer, regardless of their identity. So no one would refuse them."

"If it’s common for robber gangs to come here, why is it considered strange?" Catherine asked softly: "Are they special?"

"Because they didn’t spend any money," The merchant replied: "They weren’t here to buy, but to meet a few people. It’s normal for robbers to come to the mobile market for trade, but robbers coming to the market just to meet people, that’s certainly strange, don’t you think?"

"Indeed strange." Catherine nodded her head in agreement, subtly exchanging a glance with Pannis.

"There’s something even stranger." The merchant continued: "Three days ago they left with a few people wearing masks. But they returned yesterday and seem to have lost quite a few men."

"People with masks? Frogs? Earth Wolves? Rabbits?" Catherine asked each question one at a time, waiting for the merchant to confirm each one before asking: "So you’re saying they’ve left again, are they still here?"

"No, they left in the middle of the night." The merchant said regretfully: "I guess they wanted to pull off some mischief, but probably failed and feared the victims would come for them today. They’re really quite dumb though, why would they be scared here? It’s clear in the rules of the mobile market, if anyone causes trouble in the market for any reason, they’ll be enemy number one of the three major cities, even hunted down. I don’t think the victims would be so foolish as to risk that kind of danger for revenge."

"Well, that may not be the case. Mr. Merchant, didn’t you mention earlier that a group of VIPs would be passing through in a few days? Perhaps those people might be so enraged as to ignore this rule." Catherine said, shaking her head with a smile: "And they can’t quite stay here forever, they’ll have to leave at some point. So running away now is probably smart."

"Maybe so, but that’s not something we little guys can speculate on." The merchant said noncommittally: "Besides, these past few days, there’ve been a lot more people with masks here. Tigers, rabbits, lions, wolves, all kinds of animals. However, since this marketplace is full of strange people, no one pays attention to them."

"Oh? This bunch must have had a lack of entertainment during their childhood." Catherine supported her chin, responding with interest: "Are these masked people still here?"

"I’m not sure, sometimes they leave for a day or two and then quickly return." The merchant responded: "After all, I don’t stare at the entrance all day, so I definitely can’t confirm whether they’re all here right now. But I don’t think they’ve all left. After all, a group of animal masks is quite eye-catching, and it’d be hard to leave without being noticed."

"But what if they took off their masks before leaving?" Catherine pursued.

"We can only pray that they haven’t thought of this." The merchant made a circle on his chest, saying reverently: "May the Goddess of Wealth bless them." (To be continued. If you like this work, welcome to qidian.com to recommend and vote. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.)