Rody's stall displayed goods primarily consisting of processed items like magic crystals, magical beast furs, accessories, and armor. There were also a few potions and minerals, and even bottles of clear water.
The chubby boy was shocked to see that the travel boots made from marsh crocodile skin were priced at two gold coins, and deer leather gloves inlaid with low-grade magic crystals were three gold coins.
A red fox fur scarf with two small emeralds for eyes was priced at ten gold coins. This was simply crazier than robbery.
"These boots are worth at most eight, no, ten silver coins," the chubby boy gasped in disbelief and exclaimed at Rody, "Although you are a great beauty, little sister, your goods are too expensive. Do you know? A gold coin can support an ordinary family for a month! Even in the capital, a gold coin can be exchanged for at least twenty silver coins, pure and heavy. In the countryside, it could be twenty-five to thirty silver coins. Two gold coins are too expensive. How about I offer you twelve, no, fifteen silver coins for a pair of these marsh crocodile skin boots, to help you make your first sale?"
"I'm a guy, you pighead," Rody retorted without even glancing at him, pointing with a green sandalwood carved staff at the sign on his right that read "Goods sold only to women, men please refrain."
"What? You're really a guy?" The chubby boy was dumbfounded for a while, then asked his dumbfounded follower, "Did I have blurry vision today? Can a man have such tender and beautiful skin? Can a man be so pretty?"
"No, young master," the follower slowly shook his head.
"So you also see her as a woman? If even this fool can tell she's a woman, then there's no need to guess!" the chubby boy said happily.
"Young master, he's a man," the follower repeated slowly.
"Why?" The chubby boy was stunned, confused by his servant.
"Because he said he's a man…" Before the follower could finish, the chubby boy kicked him aside. The chubby boy smiled at Rody, "Actually, I understand. You're a lady in disguise, perhaps a noble lady or a princess from some country, here to study incognito. I will keep your secret. Ah, your goods are nice, though a bit expensive. I don't mind..."
"My goods are not for sale to men. Disappear as far as you can!" Rody couldn't stand being mistaken for a woman. His fair and tender skin was a result of the hellish black dragon's blood burning him. Probably even the cunning Black Dragon Lord Alfred hadn't anticipated this effect.
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"Don't be angry, I meant no harm, really. I just want to buy these boots, little sister. How about one gold coin as a bargain?" the chubby boy said, trying to appease.
"pervert!" A stern shout came from not far away. A spirited female swordsman with a huge sword approached, glaring at the chubby boy and reassuring Rody, "Little sister, don't be afraid. With your sister here, no one can bully you! This guy must be itching for a beating. I'll deal with him right away."
"Hey, let's talk nicely. I just want to buy something. I'm a customer, understand?" the chubby boy said, sweating with fear.
"You two, one a pighead and the other blind, get lost," Rody snapped, closing his book and standing up to pat his chest angrily. "I am a man!"
"What?" Seeing Rody stand up taller than himself, with a flat chest, the chubby boy finally realized he was indeed a man, feeling utterly disappointed and dejectedly said, "Why are you so pretty as a man? With such tender skin, how can others live?"
"A man..." The spirited female swordsman was stunned for a moment, then angrily said, "As a man, why do you have long hair?"
"Everyone in this street does, like this chubby boy with disheveled hair. Which man doesn't? Mind your own business!" Rody was even more annoyed, waving them away, "Don't stand there foolishly in front of me if it's nothing. You don't feel embarrassed, but I find it annoying!"
"Hmph!" The spirited female swordsman was so angry she wanted to draw her giant sword and chop Rody, but she restrained herself and stormed off.
"Are you really a guy? Now that the silly girl is gone, you can tell me quietly..." the chubby boy persisted.
"I'll quietly bury you!" Rody grabbed a small dagger from his stall, scaring the chubby boy into running away. The onlookers at a distance, though not understanding
the whole drama, heard the conversation about men and women and were curious to come over but couldn't find a reasonable excuse.
Rody quickly carved a wooden mask and wore it to hide his face.
The distant crowd grew more curious. Many people pretended to pass by, glancing at Rody and his stall. If it weren't for the frightening prices and the female-only sale policy, many would have bought something, if only to chat with the mysterious white-robed magic apprentice.
"Hey, there's actually good stuff here." A happy-faced woman, arm in arm with a tall man, walked by casually, glanced over, and suddenly spotted several shiny objects. Upon closer inspection, she excitedly broke free from the man's arm, exclaiming, "A pearl necklace with added ice crystals! I've wanted one for so long, and I can't believe it's here!"
"This pearl necklace is three gold coins? My goodness!" The man, about to pay, was shocked at the price, his legs trembling and hands shaking.
"Love is priceless; are you going to discount your love?" Rody didn't speak but wrote this phrase on a small blackboard with a chalk pen.
"If you're unwilling to buy, then forget it. I always knew you liked Linda and only sought me out when bored," the woman sighed sadly, tears welling up.
"Rose, don't overthink. I love only you, my dear. Why would you be jealous of her? I have nothing to do with her. Don't you want this pearl necklace? I'll buy it for you. Your birthday is coming, and I want to gift you a piece of jewelry you like. This is perfect, and I'm happy to know what you need. Rose, my love for you is unchanging. Not just a simple pearl necklace, even the legendary 'Tears of an Angel,' I would buy for you!" The man, though pained to spend three gold coins, wouldn't risk losing his girlfriend over such a trivial expense.
"Beautiful miss, this ice crystal pearl necklace and the snow deer pearl gloves are a matching set," Rody wrote another sentence on the blackboard. The woman immediately turned to look at the beautifully crafted gloves, nodding with delight, while the man nearly banged his head against a nearby wall.
Though the items were indeed a set, the combined price of five gold coins felt like a noose tightening around one's neck.
The man grimaced, too afraid to speak out and worried that his limited patience would turn into a tirade, losing his gentlemanly demeanor.
"Wishing you eternal love, this is a love knot gifted to you!" Rody wrote a blessing on the blackboard and handed over a knot made of lantern grass. Woven by Rody's mother, it was exquisitely beautiful and likely as potent to a woman as a bright angel's exorcism magic to ghosts.
Indeed, the woman, holding the love knot, was overjoyed, tears brimming in her eyes, as if holding her lover's heart.
The man nearly choked, realizing that accepting the gift meant he had to spend. If he dared to refuse now, the consequences would be severe, and the outcome tragic...