Volume 2: Empire Chapter 73: Toll
Qingkong didn't expect that after he improved the sheriff's strength several times, this black cat turned into a super flatterer. Saying such things in public really means that he has no dignity left.
Is there anyone who asks someone to swear allegiance the first time they meet?
Did I say I wanted to recruit orcs as followers?
Clear Sky explained: "Please don't pay attention to what the cat said. The fish can was seasoned with wine, and he was drunk and dizzy."
Just as the sheriff was about to speak out again, Jennifer grabbed him and quickly stuffed him into a large pocket under his overalls, so fast that the sheriff only let out a "meow".
Then it was quiet.
Kelhain knew that he shouldn't fight with a cat, even though this guy could talk, ate better than him, and his fur looked carefully maintained...
Why do I get angrier the more I think about it!
Kalhain quickly stopped thinking about the black cat and assured Qingkong, "Miss Qingkong, please believe in my credibility. Since I have accepted your commission, no matter what happens, I will definitely send you and your followers to the grasslands of the ancestors."
Qingkong placed a gold ticket on the table and said to the orc Ham, "My camels and pack animals are outside. Feed them with the best hay you have. Prepare another camel for my guide..."
It seems that he doesn't have any supplies for the journey. Since you run a tavern here, you should know what he will need, so just purchase them for him.
If the money is not enough, I will make up for it when I leave."
The gold patterns on the surface of the gold ticket on the table were very dazzling, attracting the attention of everyone in the tavern, and they all wanted to pounce on it to grab it.
In the West, especially outside the areas directly controlled by the Empire, the paper money issued by the Empire was not widely recognized. Barter was the common way of transaction, and the status of precious metals such as gold, silver and copper was unshakable.
However, the gold and silver certificates backed by the Golden Man and the World Bank were successfully accepted by the Western Territory. Moreover, because they were easy to carry and use, the exchange rate of gold and silver certificates to gold and silver exceeded the standard exchange rate of the empire.
A gold voucher is a huge sum of money for everyone here. The direct sense of wealth impact is even greater than the bottle of water element essence whose value varies from person to person.
Orc Ham glanced around the tavern and dispelled everyone's greed. He grabbed the gold ticket to identify its authenticity, then said, "What a generous elf lady. Your camels and pack animals will be well taken care of, and your guide will have a complete set of travel supplies.
Enjoy your meal and have a safe journey.”
Orc Ham took the gold ticket and turned back to the kitchen.
Kalhain stared at the gold voucher as he followed Hamm away, then reluctantly withdrew his gaze and complained to Qingkong, "You should have given me the gold voucher, and I could have saved you a lot of money. I guarantee that he will blackmail you in the end."
I am all too familiar with Hamm’s tactics.”
Qingkong said, "If we want to reach the Ancient Grassland as quickly as possible, we have to pay some necessary money to get there. I would rather spend a little more money than be harassed on the road."
Kelhain said confidently in his own strength, "You mean the Sand Bandits? Don't worry, Miss Qingkong, I promise that all the money you spend on me is worth it."
Qingkong just smiled and didn't answer, but asked: "Do you want to eat canned food?"
"Can I have some?" Kalhain had long coveted those fragrant canned foods, but he just didn't have the nerve to ask for them.
"Of course. This stuff is very cheap for us, and we have enough food and water for this trip."
Qingkong knocked on the table, and the water level in the empty wine glass next to Kalhain rose from the bottom of the glass to the rim.
Jennifer pushed a can of meat and a can of fruit in front of Kalhain: "Please enjoy. If you are not full, I have more..."
Kellhain was very happy: "Delicious food and plenty of water, this is definitely a wonderful trip. Thank you Miss Clear Sky, thank you Miss Jennifer."
After saying that, Kelhain stuffed the uneaten horse meat bran cake into his pocket, picked up the fork and started eating from the can.
He kept praising the food while eating, causing the other people in the tavern to drool. Several of them hurriedly paid the bill, looked deeply the clear sky, and quickly left the tavern.
After Kelhain finished four barrels of canned food, the orc Ham came out from the kitchen again. This time he sat down directly, sniffing the aroma of the canned food unconsciously, and then said to Qingkong: "Miss Elf, everything you want is ready. There are two gold coupons in total, and you still owe one..."
Kellhain, who was not grateful for what he had done, immediately shouted in dissatisfaction: "Ham, did you buy a camel cavalry? You have already made a lot of money, please stop!"
Ham ignored Kalhain and kept staring at the clear sky.
Qingkong smiled and said, "Only two gold coupons, isn't that a bit too little?"
What?
Kellhain was shocked. I was trying my best to save money for you, but you still thought I was being ripped off too little. Are you so willful just because you have money?
Ham smiled helplessly: "It seems that Miss Elf is very familiar with the shady things going on in the Jiaomu Camp. I have tried my best to mediate for you, but the wealth and beauty you showed made many people unwilling to give up."
"Then I'll show off my strength a little bit, and you can help me talk to them?"
After Qingkong finished speaking, the originally hot room was replaced by a cool breeze, and then the roof began to rustle.
It's raining!
The people in the tavern immediately noticed the change in weather. Someone opened the door of the tavern and saw rain pouring down along the eaves. The ground in front of the door quickly became muddy.
Ten meters away, the sky was still filled with yellow sand, and the refraction caused by the high temperature made the distant scenery shake. People around the camp saw that it was raining here and ran over with containers to collect water.
But in an instant, the raindrops turned into icicles, and heavy snow fluttered around the tavern, forming a wonderful sight in this hot desert.
Inside the pub, the temperature dropped rapidly, everyone's breath turned into white mist, and frost condensed on their eyelashes and eyebrows.
The water in the cup was frozen into a layer of ice.
At this time, Qingkong asked the orc Ham: "This snow should help you mediate for me better."
Ham said respectfully, "Respected and powerful magician, please forgive me for my offense just now. I guarantee that everyone in the Jiaomu camp has felt your kindness, and those who covet your wealth and beauty will thank you for not killing them.
Please wait, I will bring them to you shortly."
The wind and snow suddenly stopped, and the scorching heat and dust rushed in from outside the door, forcing the goblin to close the door again as quickly as possible and enjoy the coolness trapped in the room.
Qingkong said to Ham, "I can understand their difficulties. If we are allowed to pass through like this, some people will be uncomfortable. After all, people need to eat and horses need to eat grass. It is hard to guarantee that some hungry people will take risks.
I don't want any delays on this journey, let them name the price, as long as it's suitable, I can accept it. "
Ham stood up and saluted to Qingkong: "Thank you for your generosity, Miss Elf. I guarantee that no one in the Scorched Wood Camp will dare to upset you on the road."
Ham strode out of the door, and even stopped under the eaves to let the flowing water wet his body, and then walked away feeling relaxed.
Not knowing what was going on, Kalhain asked Qingkong, "Ms. Qingkong, what did you talk about with Ham? Why don't I understand?"
Qingkong looked at Kelhain and asked, "If you don't even understand this, I don't know how you can survive in the Scorched Wood Camp."
Kelhain said embarrassedly, "I heard from others that during the Harvest Festival, you can receive high-paying commissions at the Jiaomu Camp, so I just came here not long ago.
But please rest assured, Miss Qingkong, I am very familiar with the Halmutu Basin and I know how to quickly reach the Aldmeri Grassland."
Qingkong did not doubt Kalhain. This guy looked like an adult, but as a half-orc, his real age was definitely much younger than he looked.
Moreover, if no one teaches some of the rules in the desert, even the locals probably won’t know them.
The negotiations with Ham would probably take some time, so Qingkong explained to Kalhain what he had talked about with Ham.
The Jiaomu Camp is located on a road in and out of the Harmutu Basin. Travelers and caravans passing by will definitely make some rest when they arrive here, which gives the sand bandits the opportunity to investigate the goods they carry with them.
When encountering valuable goods and a caravan with sparse guards, the sand bandits can set up an ambush in advance according to the situation.
Therefore, there are many spies of the Sand Bandits in the Jiaomu Camp.
The two female elves and female human who were traveling alone, carrying a large amount of property, were naturally fat sheep in the eyes of the sand bandits.
"Ham runs a tavern here, so he must know who the bandits' spies are. I want to spend some money to prevent the bandits from delaying my journey, so I asked Ham to negotiate on my behalf.
The first negotiation was not smooth. I showed some strength and was willing to pay. The sand bandits should know how to make a choice. "
"Wow..." Kelhain said in surprise, "This is your first time in the West, and you know more than I do."
Qingkong said, "I didn't say it was my first time in the West. It's just that the way I came here was different. Do you still eat canned food?"
Kelhain licked his lips, but finally held back: "I can't eat anymore. If I eat more, I will be too full to protect you.
Although I am not as strong as you, I will definitely be worthy of the reward you pay me and all the delicious canned food."
"Okay, let's take a rest. When Ham brings back the news, we'll leave."
Qingkong took out a book and summoned a spirit orb to illuminate himself.
Seeing this, Kelhain didn't dare to make any sound, and even the others in the tavern moved cautiously. In this backward and barbaric world, people have an instinctive respect for knowledge and scholars.
In a shabby tent in the corner of the Scorched Wood Camp, a group of people of different sizes and races surrounded the orc Ham, listening to his persuasion.
"You must have all seen the strange scene that just happened outside the tavern. That elf is a very powerful magician. Attacking her will cause you serious casualties. What's the point of having more money if someone dies?
The elf had important business to attend to on her way to the Prairie of the Ancients, and she didn't want to be harassed and waste time on the way, so she was willing to pay a fee for a quiet journey.
Please make an offer."
One of the diners who had just arrived at the tavern said, “I saw the elves give the orcs a bottle of water essence. One drop of water essence can produce two large cups of water.
I'm sure she has more water essence, you should know the value of water in the desert."
Another person who also came out of the tavern said greedily: "She still has meat and fruit stored in tins. She just took out a gold ticket at random."
The descriptions of the two men made the sand bandits attracted by the wealth.
Hamm said loudly: "She can also create rainfall in dry desert environments and create ice and snow in high temperatures. I have personally felt the cold. If she wants, she can turn me into an ice sculpture in an instant.
Don't let the greedy sand blind your eyes. Since the elves have shown kindness, you'd better accept it.
This is a piece of advice from an old sand bandit: if you rob someone you shouldn’t rob, you will end up buried under the sand dunes.”
At this time, a prestigious sand bandit stood up and said: "Ham is right. The sand bandits who rob for survival are the masters of the desert, and the sand bandits who rob for wealth are the dry bones of the desert.
Since the elf has expressed her kindness with her strength, we should also recognize our own strength, restrain our greed, and be grateful to the elf for saving some of us from death under her magic.
Drowning in the desert is an extremely shameful thing.”
The sand bandit's words caused a burst of laughter.
Ham was relieved when he saw this. "It seems that everyone is willing to give the elves a peaceful journey. Then tell us what you want to get from the elves?"
The sand bandit just now said without hesitation: "I want a bottle of water element essence."
The sand bandits who were thinking about how many gold tickets they wanted immediately realized: "I want a bottle of water element essence."
"I want a bottle of water element essence."
"I want a bottle of water element essence."
…
Ham didn't expect that these sand bandits would want this thing.
He returned to his tavern and told Qingkong what the sand bandits wanted, and said apologetically: "I know that any alchemy-related props are very valuable, and you won't carry so much water element essence with you.
But please give them some amount, let them divide it themselves, and then pay them some gold coupons.
This kind of portable water source is very tempting for people like them who walk in the desert all year round!"
Qingkong was greatly surprised: "Those sand bandits only want water element essence? They don't even consider gold vouchers?"
Qingkong originally wanted to spend money for this safe journey, but he didn't expect that what the sand bandits wanted would be so different from what he imagined.
Ham said embarrassedly: “If you are really embarrassed…”
"No, it's not difficult at all!" Qingkong was afraid that Ham would go back on his word, so he quickly took out the water essence from the bottles one by one, not caring about the people's eyes that were about to pop out. Finally, he asked, "Is it enough?"
Hamm's mind went blank, and he nodded woodenly: "Enough!"
