WebNovels

Chapter 3 - Chapter 3: Merchants and Deals

"Yo, isn't this Brother Aimo? I heard you were away for a while. How was it? Must have scored a lot of fine merchandise, huh? Heh, a big shot like you personally running errands—impressive indeed."

A luxurious carriage, pulled by eight powerful horses, came to a halt. From the carriage emerged a gleaming, plump figure, waving cheerfully at the equally lavish carriage beside them.

"Oh, who could it be? Brother Fiso, what brings you out here for a leisurely stroll today?" Aimo replied with a polite smile, approaching the bloated man in the carriage. "I was just wandering around. The business is small, mostly just to relax. Unlike you, Brother, with your vast family and empire—sometimes even if you want to do something personally, it's impossible. I'm just a free man; the small affairs in my courtyard go on just the same with or without me."

"Haha! Brother Aimo, you really have a way with words. If your courtyard were small, how would I survive? Hey, is this the new one you picked up? Skinny little thing, but sharp eyes… Heh, Brother Aimo, good eye! Where did you get it?" Fiso's face glistened in the scorching plains sun, looking like a talking pig, smiling broadly.

"Picked it up along the way, just a whim. Nothing special. If it catches your fancy, Brother, I'll give it to you." Aimo's smile was warm yet carried an inscrutable chill.

Sitting at the front of Aimo's carriage, Luo Yi held the silent, watchful Ya in one hand, ready to toss him into the other carriage on a single command from his master.

"Heh, Brother Aimo, you flatter me. If I fancy someone, how could you take them? Anyway, time's running short. You know me—healthy appetite, can't go without food. I'll eat first, then we'll have tea together later!" Fiso chuckled and banged his massive head on the carriage roof. The coachman cracked the reins, and the horses, sleek and black as ink, began trotting rhythmically.

"Safe travels, Brother Fiso. I'll be waiting in the courtyard," Aimo called after the departing carriage, watching it fade around the corner. His expression hardened instantly.

"Damn it… what free spirits could drag that old man out for a stroll? I need to check his whereabouts. I can't let him exploit any gaps after I've been gone for only a few days."

Meanwhile, Fiso's face darkened as the carriage turned the corner.

"How come that guy returned so early? He should've been gone for three days. Damn it, a bunch of idiots, can't even get proper intel. Looks like plans need adjusting. We can't openly provoke Aimo—he's notorious for cruelty. Now's not the time. Well, my little treasure Fifi must be missing me. Time to check on her… hopefully no new boyfriends in her bed, or else… oh, well, I still trust her loyalty. Let's go, Obil, we'll pay Fifi a surprise visit." Fiso rapped the carriage roof and shouted to the driver.

"Alright, Brother Luo Yi, we should be heading out. Been gone a few months—time to return home. But first, let's visit Tenya, see if any surprises await. Suddenly made so much money, I hardly know how to spend it. Heh, everything I want, I take without leaving anything behind." Aimo's lips twitched, revealing a faintly bloodthirsty glint in his eyes.

In this world, lands were divided into several continents. Ya was on the Loia Continent—a vast expanse of forests and plains, sharply defined. Large contiguous forests and plains rarely mixed, like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle.

The plains were more suitable for human habitation, and almost every plain contained at least one settlement. The western Loia Continent, the largest and most desolate plain, was home to the continent's largest desert city: Skygriffon City. Named for the griffons that roamed nearby—beasts with the front of a hawk, back of a lion, wings on their backs, fierce carnivores capable of flight.

The west was also the continent's most chaotic region, and as a major city there, Skygriffon naturally became a center of disorder. Just a single glance at its massive arena on the east and west sides of the city hinted at the scale of its lawlessness.

East of Skygriffon City stood an enormous, oval-shaped structure resembling a grand coliseum. Luxurious seats, high safety barriers—everything radiated prestige. This was the Riftlion Arena, one of Loia's four grand arenas, owned by Fiso.

To the west was the Madblood Arena, octagonal with a circular center. Broad stands had no seating, only strange iron pillars scattered throughout. Low fences encouraged a thrill of either jumping in or being attacked by fighters or beasts—a deliberately unsettling design. Its owner was Aimo.

After several streets, Aimo's group arrived at a massive, square, ochre-bricked building resembling a library, guarded by two grand griffon statues flanking the entrance. Golden characters above read: "The Assembly Hall".

"Come, let's pay an old friend a visit," Aimo said with a sly grin, stepping onto the stone steps first.

"Who goes there?" A man in simple leather armor blocked Aimo's path, only to be punched away by Luo Yi.

"What's going on?" another man rushed out, but seeing Aimo, his face turned pale. "Oh my… Lord Aimo, what wind blew you here?"

"Cut the chatter. Where's your master? I want to see him!" Aimo, disgusted by the man's sycophantic smile, pushed him into a corner and strode inside.

"What all the noise? Useless fools, can't give me a moment of quiet!" Tenya shouted from within, frowning. He rose and walked out with a few trusted men.

"Oh, Brother Tenya! How have you been?" Aimo greeted, spreading his arms in a warm, smiling embrace.

"Aimo?" Tenya's face betrayed slight unease. He had been told Aimo wouldn't return for three days.

"Oh? Brother Aimo, what wind blew you here?" Tenya composed himself and offered a sincere smile.

"Wind? More like the southern ocean's swirling pressure gusts brought me along," Aimo muttered, hugging Tenya tightly without further explanation.

"Come inside. Can't have Brother Aimo standing out here." Tenya led him in, asking casually, "Heard you did a big deal in the Middle East. Back so soon? I would've laid out the finest feast to welcome you."

"Oh? You're well-informed!" Aimo laughed. "Actually, I made no trades this time. Just met friends, saw the world, relaxed a bit. But you, Brother, your business is booming—heard a new batch of fine merchandise arrived. Skygriffon's top slave merchant soon to become the richest in Bamu, eh?"

"You flatter me, Brother. Small skills, just enough to survive. But yes, a new batch arrived, some promising girls—innocents. Later, Brother can take a few home." Tenya chuckled as they entered the main hall.

The hall's structure was dominated by luxurious white marble pillars. A massive rectangular table displayed an opulent feast.

"This is…" Aimo inquired.

"Heh, Brother, forgive me. Greedy, I always lay out a feast. Since you traveled far, why not eat a bit here? Consider it a welcome-back gesture," Tenya smiled.

"No need. Been away long; the little ones may have caused trouble. I need to check. Where's the merchandise? Let's see it first." Aimo habitually lit a cigar from his pocket.

"Very well." Tenya led him to the backyard.

The backyard was a vast garden. A fake mountain rose at the center—an unusual sight in a desert city like Skygriffon. Behind it, a discreet stone revealed a one-person-high hidden door. Tenya's trusted men emerged to escort their master.

"Still so damp…" Aimo frowned. Though a returning visitor, he was dissatisfied. "Brother, you're not short on money. Can't you maintain cleanliness? Not only will the goods suffer, but your men as well."

"Heh, Brother Aimo, you're a big shot. Doesn't matter. But I can't afford waste; if I don't save, this small business will fail." Tenya forced a smile.

"Forget it, I won't go inside." Aimo waved away the musty smell. "Thought things would change after five months. Maybe send someone to tidy it up in a few days."

"Oh? Haha, sorry to trouble you, Brother Aimo." Tenya squinted in a smile.

"No matter. How many goods? Old prices—I want all of them. No issues?" Aimo grinned slyly.

"What? You're serious?" Tenya froze. Managing human trade for years, no boss had ever taken everything. Even as Skygriffon's top merchant, supplying several arenas, black markets, and nobles, one arena like Madblood couldn't consume all the goods. Giving everything to Aimo would leave him unable to account for the rest.

"Done. Tomorrow, bring the money to my courtyard. I'll send men to collect the merchandise later," Aimo said decisively, patting Tenya's shoulder. "Recent noble demands are outrageous—even children's first words are 'Kill him.' I have other matters; Luo Yi, let's go."

Surprisingly, Tenya didn't see them off. He frowned deeply, unsure of Aimo's audacious intentions. Ambitious but cautious, he didn't want trouble he couldn't handle.

"Hey, this little thing's surprisingly obedient." Back in the carriage, Aimo observed the still Ya. He had worried about him escaping and tied him up, but Ya struggled not at all.

"Boss?" Luo Yi asked softly, loosening Ya and letting him take the front seat.

"Hmm, time to head home. I'm tired… and need to check if my place survived five months unattended." Aimo lit a cigar.

Ya lifted his head, watching the sun set slowly. He wouldn't run—there was nowhere to go. Unfamiliar, gray, with dry, harsh plants, scalding wind, cracked earth—he had lived in forests all his life.

Half a month had passed since leaving, but in the carriage he wasn't hungry. For now, survival alone was enough.

Life, first and foremost, is about surviving. Only then can one consider how to live.

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