The shopkeeper wasn't shocked because White Leaf Orchids were inherently priceless.
I mean, if you run a shop in the Mage Trade Market, you've seen some sh*t. You don't lose your cool over a Tier-3 herb.
No, he was freaking out because this orchid was fresh AF.
Like, "just pulled out of the ground 5 minutes ago" fresh. If you planted it in mana-rich soil right now, it would still live.
You have to understand, fresh White Leaf Orchids are a Unicorn.
They grow deep in the Demon Mist Forest. Picking them is already a death wish.
Getting them out takes days, maybe weeks.
By the time you trek back to civilization, the orchid is usually wilted, dried up, or dead.
And getting it all the way to the capital? Forget about it.
Only a high-level Archmage with [Life Magic] or insane speed could deliver fresh ones.
But why would an Archmage waste their time playing delivery boy for some mid-tier herbs? They have dragons to slay.
So yeah, fresh ones are rarer than a shiny Pokémon. Unless some crazy high-level alchemist is growing them in a lab at a loss.
"Are you sure you want to sell this?" The shopkeeper's tone did a complete 180. Respect +100.
In his eyes, this customer with zero mana aura suddenly became sus.
Is he a hidden boss? A smurf account? An Archmage suppressing his power level?
"Of course. Why else would I be here? To look at your beautiful face?"
Karion replied coolly.
The shopkeeper bowed and tried to usher Karion into the VIP room.
"No need."
Karion waved his hand dismissively. "Just cut to the chase. What's your offer?"
The shopkeeper didn't answer immediately. He picked up the wooden box and inspected the goods like he was on Pawn Stars.
"This White Leaf Orchid is incredibly fresh. But the harvesting technique was a bit... violent. The roots are damaged. It can survive, but it won't grow much more... Hmmm... I'll offer 14 Gold Coins."
14 Gold Coins. About what Karion expected.
Market price for dried ones is 10. Fresh ones usually double, maybe triple in some places.
But this is a wholesale purchase, so the price is lower.
Still... cutting it by half? Lowball much?
Karion didn't say a word. He just stared at the shopkeeper.
Silence is a weapon.
The shopkeeper started sweating under the gaze. The silence was loud.
"15. That's my best offer. We take a risk replanting it, after all."
Ahem.
Karion cleared his throat.
"If you're only buying one, then sure. 15 it is."
The shopkeeper's ears perked up. Real sh*t?
He has more?
It made sense. Who risks their life in the Demon Forest for one single flower?
"How many do you have? If the quality is the same, I'll buy the whole lot! Name your price!" The shopkeeper was practically drooling.
Karion dropped the act of mystery (slightly). He slowly pulled out several large wooden boxes from his backpack and tossed them onto the counter like they were full of cabbage, not treasure.
Flex.
"Woah, easy! Careful!"
The shopkeeper flinched, terrified the goods would get damaged.
He opened a box. Inside were over twenty stalks, packed tight.
Some leaves were squished, but they were all alive and kicking.
He carefully took them out, counting and appraising.
"Total 146 stalks. 8 are damaged, but the rest are solid."
He looked up, beaming.
"Honored guest, I will take them all at 17 Gold Coins per stalk. How does that sound?"
Karion paused for a dramatic effect.
"If this is a one-time deal, then sure. We can settle at that price."
Shopkeeper: "!!!"
Wait. Is he implying... a long-term supply chain?!
The shopkeeper started breathing heavy.
If he could secure a steady supply of fresh White Leaf Orchids, he would dominate the market.
Smart businessmen know: One-time deals buy lunch. Long-term contracts buy yachts.
"You... you can provide a stable supply?" He stuttered.
Karion nodded nonchalantly.
"Barring any accidents, yes. But that depends on you."
Translation: Show me the money.
The shopkeeper tapped his nose, thinking hard. Calculations intensifies.
"Tell you what. For today's batch, I'll pay 18 Gold Coins each. If you come back with more goods of similar quality next time... we can talk 20 Gold Coins!"
He was a businessman, not a charity. He wasn't going to trust Karion blindly. But he needed to bait the hook to keep this supplier.
18 Gold was a safe bet. He'd still make a profit.
"Deal."
Karion tried to sound bored, even though his internal calculator was screaming: 2,628 GOLD COINS! JACKPOT!
The shopkeeper sighed in relief.
"Honored guest, may I ask for your name?"
Karion paused for a few seconds.
"Call me Mr. Sixteen."
"Understood, Mr. Sixteen. How would you like to be paid? If it's gold coins... well, it's doable, just a bit heavy."
Karion froze for a second.
Right. No paper money.
2,600+ gold coins would weigh like 40kg (assuming 15g per coin).
Walking around with a sack of gold that heavy? Loot Drop waiting to happen.
Why hasn't this world invented crypto or bank notes yet?
"Such a hassle..." Karion muttered internally.
"Pay me in Elemental Coins."
Elemental Coins. The real currency for mages.
While normies used gold, silver, and copper, high-level mages preferred these bad boys.
They were special coins crafted by the Church or the State, inscribed with magic circles to store mana.
Standardized capacity.
You inject Spirit, you get mana. Like a portable battery bank.
Basically the same as magic crystals, but rechargeable and standardized.
Crystals are single-use and RNG (Random Number Generation) quality. Elemental Coins are eco-friendly and reliable.
"Certainly! We accept Elemental Coins here," the shopkeeper replied.
"We have the standard Dark and Light coins. We also have Earth, Fire, Water, Wind, and Thunder, but stock is limited."
Karion thought for a moment.
"What's the current exchange rate for Wind Elemental Coins?"