As it turns out, the "discreet" place that they were going to go to is nothing more than a table at the edge of the party. And Jacob wouldn't really have minded (because that's what typically happens in these sorts of things, just go out of earshot and talk.) if it weren't for the fact that before they went here, he basically saw a real-life cliche. Even now, as he silently ate the... fried flat nose dipped in sauce made using from the neutralized acid of a variant of the Giant's Tears- the two merchants in front of him kept going.
It had gotten to the point that Jacob is thinking that maybe they were just acting. And personally, he thinks that's exactly what's happening.
"Listen- see Cego here is my friend," claims the larger merchant but the painful wince from the thinner merchant as he tightly wound an arm around his neck told otherwise, in both cases. "And of course, the two of us have been what? Friends ever since we met back in the classrooms of the merchant's guild?"
A glare was shot and Cego nodded, "Yes." His smile was stiff, "my friend here, Vequin- which is his last name," he said, clearly expecting some sort of reaction from both Jacob and Asya but... turning to my companion, she didn't even bat an eye and just kept eating. Same as him really, Jacob didn't even drop his fork and knife.
An awkward laugh and one cleared throat later and the named Vequin rubbed his forehead and started speaking, "We- well I'm-" Jacob rolled his eyes and shoved more food into his mouth. Leaving was so tempting that he was honestly surprised that he hasn't done it yet. Seriously, what the hell will he lose from leaving these two clowns on their own?
"What my friend here is trying to say-" Jacob met Asya's eyes and she gave him the subtlest nod hidden underneath the guise of her dipping her head to slurp the pasta-esque food she was eating. Yep, guess she noticed that the part where Cego is getting bullied is just an act too then. If the man in question noticed it, he didn't show because he rubbed his fatless hands on his forehead and continued talking,
"See- the two of us have a business venture in mind and I think that the two of you have respective talents and-" he faced both Jacob and Asya, " resources to help us get turn it from just an idea, into a sprawling tower that's far above the ground and-"
"Asya," Jacob decided to cut him off once he finished his meal- his father had said something about that, that when someone trying to pitch to you hasn't finished even you emptied your plate, then they're not really worth it. Of course, Jacob was eating fast so he should give them the benefit of the doubt but they're the reason why he was eating quickly to begin with, making the point moot.
"Who are the Vequins?" He asked casually, making the chubbier of the merchant duo grin.
That grin faltered when Asya shrugged, "no idea," she answered, causing the man's expression to fall, "and I don't plan on knowing about them," and with that, she finished the last of her food and stood up, "let's go."
Jacob followed after her but stopped when the skinny one grabbed his hand, "wait?" Jacob raised an eyebrow and met Asya's eyes, these two deserved to get treated with something worse than just a cold shoulder didn't they? Because out of all the things that he hated when it comes to business deals, it's always the desperate. "We swear our idea is good-"
"Look-" Jacob growled out but Asya cut him off, her tone neutral though that didn't hide the displeasure in her voice. Jacob, more than once asked how did things come to this, they were only supposed to fill their stomach and prepare for the journey!
"Let's hear it," Asya said, cutting Jacob's thoughts.
The skinnier of the two nodded and turned to his friend, "Well- see, we want to make a product-" don't we all? Jacob thought sarcastically, "- and well- we uh-" Jacob held back a scowl, investing in people like the one in front of him will only lead to disaster and worse, if you give them a large amount of money, they'd probably just spend it all in one go.
Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
Oblivious to his thoughts, the skinny merchant continued, "And it'll be great! See, we want to make a potion-"
Asya raised a hand to cut him off, "A potion." Her doubts were obvious from her tone, "Are you two alchemists?"
"Well- see, we- uh-" Vequin started explaining, "-not really." He admitted with a defeated tone but then quickly picked up, "BUT!" He said, his voice gaining energy, "Our idea is good enough to be made by regular alchemists and we assure you-"
"If you're not alchemists, how did you even come to this idea?" Asked Asya and to which Jacob nodded in agreement. He does believe them, but only by a little bit because he doubts that they knew how to make alchemical things, not without the special combination of Skill and Spell that Horos handed to Jacob at least.
"Well my friend here has a skill called [Herbalist]." His words got Asya's interest.
"At what level?" She asked.
"Well- two but-" And Asya snorted.
"Jacob, let's go." Was all she said before walking off.
Jacob followed after her, not at all feeling pity for the two merchants they left behind. In his opinion, he'd done all he could, he followed after them to listen to their ideas and even after he realized that they were unconfident and inexperienced, and even then their idea- which would've been their only saving grace really, - sounded like it wouldn't be far off from a scam because really, if someone out there decides to pitch in "alchemical products" without being professional alchemists themselves, then it's better to expect that the product is a sham. [Herbalist] or not.
As short as it was, Jacob already noticed that there were a lot of problems with their pitch, and at the top of his head, he can count off a few things: Such as the payment for the alchemists (or if they were relying on Jacob's "expertise" to make stuff for them, or worse, round the idea out.) that they'll need to hire to make, test, and finish the product, all of which require months of time- then there's also the part where they need to buy materials, storage, and pay people to spread the existence of the item through word of mouth just so they can get in the market.
And not to mention, the actual part about whether or not people will buy the product when the merchant guild exists, because those guys definitely have a better version of whatever the two are planning on making.
Jacob met Asya's eyes, she snorted, "Thinking of all the problems that investing in that idea will have?" She asked, smiling.
"Just... a few." He answered.
He really couldn't wait to start the journey to the Duke's city.
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Cego... wasn't in a good mood- actually, scratch that, "not in a good mood" is an understatement of how he feels, no, he feels like he wants to murder the person in front of him, two people actually- he'd never get that right- no, the point is, Cego didn't like the people in front of him: An upstart young [Mage] talented enough to shoot [Bolt] after [Bolt] back in the Dungeon, he'd heard rumors too, coming from the mayor about how he actually has [Sharp-Bolt] instead of the regular one but who would believe that?
Still, if rumors are to be believed, then he's also sure that going after him right now wouldn't be a good idea because his [Shield] is good enough to be compared to the one that the leader of the knights, Kaxa, uses. His dagger wouldn't be able to pierce through it, let alone destroy it- and worse, that mage probably wouldn't feel threatened by him, he's too skinny, too... weak.
"So what now?" His friend and companion, Ferwe Vequin, a bastard son of a... middle grade merchant family asked as he leaned against the table, his lecherous eyes were kept on the figure of the young Baroness, Asya Daer Banalova, pushing Cego to slap him in the back of the head. He glared at him and Cego glared back,
"You've been spending our money on whores ever since we left the roof of the merchant's guild, and I've been telling you, you're wasting money." He snapped.
Ferwe glared, Cego glared back. His companion huffed, "whatever," was all he said before shoving food in his mouth.
"Our teachers don't like our idea, and now, those two don't as well." Cego's face twisted into a scowl, what the hell do they know about business anyway? One was a spoiled brat with a golden spoon shoved so high up his ass it made him a talented [Mage] and the other is a newly minted Baroness because her parents died before they can make a male heir.
"Come on, man- do you really think that your muscle growth potion will work? We tested it on a few birds and they spazzed out before dying."
"It will- Work." He replied aggressively, "It will."
They just need the funds for it, they- it's simple! They just need to conduct research and they'd be able to make money! Cego turned away from the couple and sat back on the table, "We just need funds."