After seeing off the Dwarves, Eric returned home.
Cotton cloth…
He had to find something to trade for it. The tribe might provide for basic necessities, but everyone had to fend for themselves for other things.
He rummaged through his small fortune and pulled out a jar of fruit candy. This was originally the portion he had set aside for Leo.
Eric's eyes darted around the room, a slight pang of guilt in his heart.
Fortunately, Leo had run off to play in the mud with the other young ones today; otherwise, appropriating a child's snack was a bit… awkward.
Besides the jar of candy, he also filled a flask with berry wine. He suddenly recalled the human wine he had tasted at Thomas's house; it was both sour and astringent, with only a faint fruity aroma.
Of course, that might have just been a cheap wine, but he was confident that his own was far superior, with a rich fragrance and no impurities.
Hugging the two items, he ran outside to find Max.
Max was directing the warriors in arranging patrol formations.
Ever since the kidnapping of the Dwarves, the areas where the young ones played were guarded more strictly than ever.
Kevin pressed his ear to the ground, listening for a long while before lifting his head and speaking to the others:
"The sound of hooves has stopped. They must have made camp."
Max caught sight of Eric, who had already prepared his goods, and a smile was evident in his eyes.
"Once they've settled in, they'll surely send someone over to negotiate."
It was just as Max had predicted.
Before long, a middle-aged man in armor, with a commanding presence, led several weather-beaten looking mercenaries to the edge of the forest.
He stopped at a polite yet wary distance, using his elemental energy to project his voice:
"We are the Hailun merchant caravan, here to trade! Friends of the Thomas tribe, our goods are in the camp behind us. If you have any needs, please come and choose!"
With that, he immediately led his men in a cautious retreat.
Having dealt with other races for many years, he understood their nature all too well; the slightest offensive action could lead to unnecessary trouble.
Eric's eyes lit up, and he turned to look at Max expectantly. Max glanced at the tribe members behind him.
Thanks to the spoils from annihilating the previous group of mercenaries, no one was in short supply of anything.
Kevin, who was curious, had wanted to go and take a look, but seeing that only two were planning to go, he dismissed the thought.
Finally, Max nodded and led Eric towards the merchant caravan's camp.
The place where they had set up camp was about two or three kilometers from the tribe, right next to a riverbank.
The setting sun painted a brilliant reddish-orange hue, stretching across the shimmering surface of the river, making the entire landscape seem as if it were veiled in a layer of iridescent clouds.
Dozens of tents were erected in an orderly fashion.
Behind the camp, tall horned horses and earth dragons, adorned with exquisite iron armor and saddles, were resting leisurely.
The arrival of the two beastmen couldn't help but surprise the mercenaries who were moving about.
They hadn't expected the beastmen to arrive so quickly.
Tribes typically had a primitive lifestyle, with needs revolving around simple things. Therefore, they had only unloaded coarse salt and linen, the most common commodities.
A bearded man stepped forward, flashing a practiced, professional smile.
"Greetings, Snow Wolves. What would you two like to trade?" As he spoke, he led the two into the center of the camp.
The eyes of the busy mercenaries constantly flickered towards them, their hands always resting lightly on the hilts of the weapons worn at their waists or on their backs.
Eric looked around curiously, but all that was displayed was coarse salt and linen. He frowned slightly, a little disappointed.
Suddenly, a complex aroma of various spices wafted into his sensitive nose. He followed the scent and discovered that among the wagons laden with goods, one was carrying large wooden barrels that emitted that fragrance.
The bearded Duc also followed his gaze, his expression unchanging, but his mind was in turmoil.
A Snow Wolf was interested in spices? Didn't they always complain that this stuff was pungent and unpleasant?
Eric pointed towards the wagon: "I want to trade for some spices. Can you show me what kinds you have?"
"No problem at all," Duc replied with a quick smile.
Whatever the reason, perhaps it was just the curiosity of a young one, but with the way beastmen doted on their young, he was sure this would be a good deal.
Two servants were quickly ordered to open the lids of the wooden barrels. Unlike the fake mercenaries from before, the goods here were much more abundant. Eric's eyes shone brightly as he walked among the barrels of various spices, some of which he didn't even recognize.
It was a pity there was no dill. Suddenly, he cheered inwardly when he saw plump, round, white garlic bulbs.
Excellent! Garlic was not only a fantastic spice but also easy to grow and store.
He also chose star anise, bay leaves, and chili peppers, then turned to the bearded man:
"I want to trade for these barrels. What's the price?"
Duc glanced at the adult Snow Wolf standing behind, who offered no opinion, and knew immediately that he should just go along with what the young beastman said.
He said:
"To trade for whole barrels of these, it will cost one hundred second-tier mana cores, or one third-tier mana core."
Why don't you just go rob people!
Eric mentally rolled his eyes.
In the Aolu Empire, this amount of spices would be worth one second-tier mana core at most. But he also understood that merchant caravans like theirs had to risk their lives to get here. If the profit wasn't high, no one would be foolish enough to compete for this piece of land on the Illusory Dream Continent.
Upon hearing the price, Max was about to take out the mana cores he had prepared. Just as he was about to retrieve them, a hand stopped him.
Eric shook his head and took out the small jar of candy he was holding:
"Can I use something else to trade?"
Besides pelts and mana cores, what other good things could these beastmen possibly have?
Duc was inwardly disdainful, but his expression remained professional:
"Of course, as long as the goods are of equivalent value."
Eric opened the lid of the jar, and a sweet fragrance immediately spread. He took out a piece of fruit candy and handed it to Duc:
"Take a look. How much can this candy be traded for?"
Duc bent down and sniffed the pale yellow candy in his hand. The sweet, pure scent of fruit rushed straight into his nostrils.
His eyes widened in astonishment. He quickly told the two to wait a moment and then hurried towards the largest tent in the center.
Corbin was leisurely enjoying a glass of wine. He was surprised to see Duc rush in so flustered.
Could he not even handle two beastmen?
Duc charged straight up to Corbin, unable to hide his excitement, and placed the candy in the old man's palm:
"President! This is what that young beastman took out! I can't believe a beastman has something like this! This purity and color... it even surpasses our maple sugar!"
The leisurely expression on Corbin's face vanished instantly, replaced by a rare seriousness.
He carefully examined the candy in his hand, then cautiously broke off a tiny piece and put it in his mouth.