Chapter 41

Business Talk

-POV Kara-

We met up with Master's tigress, Mù Lǎohǔ. Who told us she had been attacked while we ate.

This is unacceptable. After telling off the incompetent guard captain again and finishing the alleyway muggers, we go and rescue our young guide's sister from the muggers' friends.

It seems she is his half-sister, as he is fully human while she is a raccoon beastkin. Their names are Po Boi and Po Puri, ages 11 and 8.

Then we abandon the inn that allowed the attack to happen, there isn't anything of ours there anyway.

And instead head straight to the City Lord's Manor.

Guard) "Halt, state your reason for approaching the City Lord's Manor."

I pull out the jade card handed to us at the city gates, holding it for her to see.

Kara) "We wish to meet with Lord Yu and discuss business. As well as other things."

This was one of the benefits of having the city's full-privilege guest pass. Free unbarred entry at various locations including the city gates and several private clubs. A business meeting with the City Lord, provided there is reason. Free appraisals at all auction houses. A few other benefits that may become useful later.

G) "Even with a full-privilege guest pass, you'll need to have a good reason for having a meeting first."

K) "Will this do?"

I pull a good size bag out from my storage ring, then a single vial from the bag. Opening this vial, a significant medicinal aura washes over. Then quickly stoppered it, so it wouldn't be wasted.

K) "My Master was quite busy recently, and produced enough for the 4 auction houses to share."

G) "GOOD REASON! GOOD REASON! (turns) Announce to Lord Yu: Good news. Pills for sale."

A messenger runs off into the mansion from just inside the door. He quickly returns, and beckons us inside. We are all led into a waiting room. I instruct just the tigress to come with, as a witness. And the rest, keep watch on our new charges. Not long after, the door to the City Lord's office opens.

Messenger) You may greet the Master now.

K) "It is good to be back, I hope you are well?"

Lord Yu) "Fine, fine. Just finishing up some business." He waves out the previous petitioner. I recognize him.

K) "It's better if he stays. One of our reasons for meeting you concerns him."

Lord) He frowns a bit at his other guest, drumming his fingers. "Come, sit." Then turns back to ask. "To what do I owe the pleasure of your return?"

K) "For our return to your city, Master has prepared enough pills to even out the sales among the four auction houses. (His eyebrows shoot up in pleasant surprise) With enough left over to share among all four. But that should be discussed with representatives of all 4 houses present."

K) "What brought us here to your manor tonight is less pleasant. On this second visit to your city, our group was attacked a second time. And both times this guard captain was first to respond. (I indicate the other guest in the room, his face changing colors from the turn of conversation) By trying to arrest us. If you want a report on this new attack, our mount Lǎohǔ was the target. (point to the tigress lounging by the door) You can ask her anything you wish."

Lord Yu frowned heavily at this revelation. The 2 had a quick brief debriefing on the matter. After, Lord Yu asked who and why.

Lǎohǔ) 'There's no way to know who at this point, all attackers either died or fled. As for why, given the type of drug used, it's most likely they wanted to capture me without any injury to have me tamed by some well paying master, or young master. Which probably wouldn't work anyway, as the mark master used on me is much stronger than most.'

K) "Master had shared 2 pieces of wisdom on matters like this. First, for the general situation, a saying: once is random, twice is coincidence, three times is enemy action. Second, for the guard's situation: nepotism can get you the job, but only competence can keep you the job. Now as the first saying would suggest, if we are attacked once more, we will no longer be willing to bring anything to sell in your city. Since we haven't even spent the night before getting attacked in an inn, for a second time, we were hoping to rely on your hospitality once more."

Lord) "Of course, and tomorrow we'll discuss the other business?"

K) "With you or your representative, yes. So long as the other auction houses attend the meeting as well."

Our quick meeting over, his servants guide us to the guest rooms. I request to them that the orphans in our care be washed and fed before bed. Otherwise letting their filth into such luxurious rooms may be considered a crime. They seem reluctant to serve "mere street rats," but I suggest it would be easier to clean a bathtub than a set of bedsheets.

. . .

The next morning, right after breakfast, a messenger says the meeting will soon be ready. I request my 3 sisters join us, to learn how to handle such meetings in the future. As I am to be in seclusion for a year or more after returning to Master. A brief frown, but he says it will be taken care of.

A short wait after, we four are brought to one of the side offices in the manor. I am seated on one end of a long, rectangular table, with my sisters taking up the side to my left. As we sit, a pair of servants pour us each a cup of tea. It smells wonderful. Better than anything I've had before. That's when the door reopens and 3 men are brought to sit on the right side of the table, and their escort sits opposite me. They also recieve a cup each, then the servants leave. Closing the door behind them.

Manor Rep) "Apologies, but my Master is too busy to sit at this meeting with you all here today."

K) "As the leader of a City, I would be surprised if he had the time. But it's quite alright with me, especially if it's about what we discussed yesterday."

A couple of raised eyebrows, and one mutters a question. With a shake of the head his response.

K) "I'm sure you're busy too, so let's start the meeting. First, these are my sisters. When I am indisposed to visit, they will do so in my stead. As for the reason, you must have guessed that I have brought plenty of pills for your auction houses to handle. To balance out any previous favoritism, some of them will be handled exclusively by your 3 auction houses."

Auction Rep 2) "I find it hard to believe a single pill refiner could supply such a vast amount of pills in only two months."

K) "I saw it, and I still find it hard to believe it. So here's how we'll split the distribution: each of you 3 will choose one type of pill, and those 3 will be split evenly among your auction houses. The remaining 2 types, as well as all future deliveries, will be split equally among all four houses."

AR3) "How much are we talking about?"

K) "Eight pills each vial, each pill about the same quality as last time. (two of them abruptly stand up) Twenty-four vials of each type. (the other two stand up as well) This much for the auction. With 4 more vials of bone strengthening pills, twelve pills each. To be sold at the lowest price they achieve in auction, one to each auction house owner. That's twelve for the price of eight."

I take another sip of my tea, while waiting for them to regain composure.
WONDERFUL!

K) "Sorry to change the subject, but what is the name of this tea?"

MR) "this is Jade Star Mountain tea."

K) "Isn't that priced at about a Qi Stone per pot?" (about 4 cups)

MR) "Indeed. Please continue."

K) "Yes. To once again prevent competing with myself, you'll all auction on separate, but consecutive days. Starting with you. (I wave my furry, clawed hand toward the manor's rep) And to allow more wealthy buyers to come and bid, the first one will delay by up to a week, after immediately sending out word of what is offered. Now different pills can command different prices. To balance the previous favoritism, you three can choose one of the types to sell all 24 vials between you. As well as how long after the first."

MR) "We'll wait the full week."

K) "There are bone strengthening, muscle enhancement, Qi gathering, minor healing, and skin beautifying pills. A reminder, all pills are about the same quality as last time. (I indicate AR3) You had the lowest value last time, so you pick first."

AR3) "Definately the skin beautifying pills.¹"Everything is worth what its purchaser will pay for it" I think that's from 'The Wealth of Nations'? correct me in comments if I'm wrong. Beauty products are definately in high demand. regardless of society. Making these pills the costliest of the set. The cheapest are the healing pills, mostly an insurance against injuries, as well as having competing products and methods. The rest are very useful to all cultivators, but not as fanatically "needed" as the beauty pills. And we'll go with the third day after."

(Grumble, mutter) then I motion to the still-silent first rep. And sip more WONDERFUL tea.

AR1) "Qi gathering pills, and we'll go third."

AR2) "Why do they get first choice? We didn't get anything from you the first time."

K) "Technically, you did. We brought your missing Tier 6 flying sword back. And returned it without any reward or even request. You could consider that as a gift or a favor. Then you even got a better price than you were expecting, because of all the cultivators who came to buy Master's slaves."

AR2) "Fine, fine. We'll choose the bone strengthening pills."

K) "Now that everything's decided. That's 24 vials of each type. 8 each for you three with your choices, then 6 vials for all four of you with the other 2 types. Minor healing and muscle enhancement. If we could sign the contracts, you'll have them before we adjourn. And we'll meet once more with your houses' backers or their representatives for the final vial each, right after the final auction. It would probably be best to do that here as well."