The Black Iron Glory
Mock stuff

Chapter 12

Mock Goods

The old road is said to be one of the first roads built in Whitestag. The Whitestag settlers originally built the road to connect it to Lake Egret and connect it to the pier built there. Later, people started building their homes on both sides of the street as well as shops. It ended with the road being one of the first streets in the city.

With the passage of time, Whitestag is no longer the small village settlement it once was. As the size of the city grew, the central region shifted further east. Today, the old road has become the most messy slum in the city with the worst security.

Claude the transmigrator had never been to that place before. He recalled from the memories of the former owner's body that old Claude had already been here twice before. The first time was when he went fishing by the lake near the slum general pier. Another time was when he took Old Benz's dark horse, Bauker, to ride, shocking him and causing him to gallop all the way to the slums until he reached the end of the pier and stopped. Eriksson, who was sitting behind the horse, ended up completely terrified. The others who were chasing behind them ended up tired and exhausted.

Even so, the two times he had been there were very short. Nothing had happened during those two occasions, so he did not have a strong impression of the place. However, their parents warned them not to play around in that part of town because it was one of the most dangerous places there.

It doesn't seem dangerous at all. There was nothing but two rows of shabby huts lined up in the street and a few people passing by every once in a while, Claude thought.

"It looks peaceful, doesn't it?" eriksson said, knowing what Claude was thinking.

Claude nodded. "My father told me that the security here is a bit bad and forbade me from coming here for no good reason. However, it doesn't look much different from other parts of the city."

Eriksson said seriously, "Your father is right. This is indeed the most dangerous area in the entire city. Do not be fooled by the peace that appears on the surface. It was because it was currently afternoon and the sun was shining brightly in the sky. If you come here at night, you'll know why. "

"Hahaha," laughed Borkal. "Oh, did you forget that you said that this place was the most merriest in the entire Whitestag? When night falls, the streets will be filled with people, mostly women as well. I heard that this is a favorite place for sailors to have fun . "

Claude finally understood what it was about. He does not want the conversation to continue. "Is Mock's Good around here?"

"No, it's far ahead. It was almost at the end of the old road near the pier. Did you see him? It was a two-story gray building there. That's where Mock's Goods is" Eriksson said as he pointed ahead.

The two-story gray building was actually five lots in a row connected together. However, the lower floor was filled with storefronts.

Claude did not see a sign with a 'Mock' Rock on it, but rather, a new wooden plaque with 'Fishing Equipment and Mock Boating'.

The three shops on the left were already open and started doing business. There were many linen ropes hanging outside the shop, together rolled screens and barrels of different sizes. There is also scaffolding outside the shop. It seems that they are renovating and will be refurbishing the two older shop premises to resemble the more modern design of the three on the left.

"The two old plots were Mock's Goods," Eriksson told Claude as he pointed to the new wooden plaque, "The three on the left also belonged to them, too, but they hired him to someone who opened a restaurant there for sailors, fishermen, and dock workers to eat. After he died last year, his son no longer wanted to run a public store and stopped renting out many stores to restaurant owners and intended to use them to sell their fishing and boating tools."

"Are you sure this place will actually buy both skins?" asked Claude doubtfully.

"of course. I am Eriksson, the young ruler of the Shark of the Red Sea. My father was the famous Captain Altroni and half of the sailors here know me. I could hear about what was happening at the dock faster than anyone."

Eriksson continued his introduction proudly, "I already know about how Wakri will start a shop that specializes in fishing and carrying supplies a long time ago. I also know all about what he buys and sells."

"Well, I bet that anyone who is not blind is aware of it," Borkal said as he pointed to two large wooden plaques.

Large wooden plaques depict items and prices sold in a store while smaller ones show what the store wants to buy. However, there was no price for those items.

"Wakri went to Chirp Leather not long ago and hopes to buy some fur and leather from them as part of a long-term deal. However, his offer was rejected. So, the two companies are currently in a competitive relationship. He will definitely buy Leather Wero at a higher price, "said Borkal confidently.

"Uncle Wakri, Uncle Wakri! Is he not here?" Eriksson exclaimed as he entered the seemingly empty shop.

"Who is that?" someone answered from behind the shop. A tall and skinny man in his forties stepped out in front of them, appearing to be chewing something in his mouth.

We forgot it was noon. Wakri may be having lunch.

"Oh, this is Lil 'Eyke. What did you come here for?" asked the middle-aged man in a chaotic voice.

However, Eriksson did not realize that he had interrupted the man's lunch at all.

"Uncle Wakri, my classmate here is about to bring two skins to Chirp Leathers to sell them. I thought about how you also bought the leather and dragged it. I told him that you would buy more than Leather Tweezers, so you better offer a good price and not embarrass me in front of my colleagues. "

"Oh? What skin is that?" Wakri tried hard to chew his food and swallow it. "Let me see it first. If it's good, then I'll definitely offer you a good price."

Wakri examined his skin closely. From his movements, it seemed clear that he was no stranger to their peculiarities.

"If you bring these two skins to Chirp Leathers, you will only get six riyases. Since Lil' Eyke brought you here, I won't let you down. What about the seven riyases for these two?" wakri said after he stopped checking his skin.

“Nine riyase and these two skins will be yours.” Brokal, who said that he was going to make a bargain, stepped out.

"No, no, no. Nine riyases are far too expensive. No one would pay such a price to buy two skins. Just look, the sides of the skin are already broken and there is also a big part in this part here. Perhaps two new skins will be worth nine riyases, but both have been left for too long and are not well preserved. "

Wakri put the skin down and continued, "If you insist on this price, then I'm afraid you should go try your luck Skin Chirping. Who knows? Maybe they'll want to buy it for nine riyases . "

Wakri put the skin down and continued, "If you insist on this price, then I'm afraid you should go try your luck Skin Chirping. Who knows? Maybe they'll want to buy it for nine riyases . "

"Come on, Uncle Wakri, raise the price a little. I'll make him lower his offer. It's troublesome enough for us to come all the way here, you know," Eriksson said in an attempt to save the negotiations. .

Wakri sighed. "alright. I'm going to add four sunars to my offer, and that's because Lil' Eyke is here."

"Eight riyases and you've agreed," said Borkel, "Uncle Wakri, unlike ordinary leather shops that buy leather to be used as hats, clothes and armor, you use it to make fishing and carry gear. You need the skins of wild animals because they help maintain warmth and are waterproof, so the size of the skin you buy is not a problem.

"That's because even the biggest item you produce for sailors is a leather vest that sailors use or some parts of gloves and shoes. The rest of the skin can be cut into threads and woven into a fishing net. So, you will not waste the skin you buy.

"My old classmate is Kubrik Fezka, and I'm sure you've heard of him before. He's the best hunter in the Whitestag. If you buy two of his skins for eight riyases, then I'm sure his father will no longer sell his skins," gets from his hunt to Chirp Leathers. If this news spread, then all the hunters in the city would know where they should sell the leather and fur they got. "

Wakri thought about it again before finally giving up. "Well, you convinced me. The eight riyases. But you should make sure to prioritize me when you're thinking of selling your skin and fur."

It was something that no one could promise, but they were aware that if the frugal Welikro sisters knew that the two old goat skins were sold for a high price of eight riyases, they would no longer sell the leather their father had obtained to Chirp Leathers anymore. So, they all nodded in agreement.

"Also, Uncle Wakri, we came here to buy something other than to sell you that leather. I wonder if you still have some items that your old shop filled?"

Eriksson was almost stunned. He had seen the wooden plaque outside and found that many of the items he wanted to buy were not available.

"What are you looking for?" Wakri handed Welikro eight riyases, which were then passed on to Borkel.

"Weapons, gunpowder, sulfur and lime powder, as well as some insect repellents."

"Oh, everything is inside. Come and see. The things displayed on the plaque outside are just our main products."

The inside of the store is approximately the same size as the storefront. Only, the wooden window on the back wall was not so large and there were a number of wooden sticks placed on it, so the lighting of the part of the shop was not so good. But given that it was a sunny afternoon, the items placed on the old shelves could still be clearly seen.

"Whoa, Uncle Wakri! You keep your shop gems here?" eriksson said as his gaze fell upon the silver-yellow dagger hanging on the wall.

"Claude, Wero, let's see! It's a precious elephant ivory dagger."

There was a half meter sized box hanging on the wall where the dark blue velvet cloth was stored. In the middle of the cloth was a short, silver-yellow dagger about seventy centimeters long.

Claude recalled that Eriksson called the dagger a valuable weapon. The handle was said to be made entirely of elephant tusks and its body was silver-yellow. The blade is said to be forged by a metallic mixture mixed with some meteorites and can cut through metal easily. It was a fitting weapon to be called a treasure.

The history of the dagger is quite famous. The first owner of the Mock Item had saved a troubled captain at sea who seemed to be a noble from one of the kingdoms located in the north of the continent. After recovering well enough to return to his kingdom, he gives Mock an elephant ivory dagger as a memento.

Once someone offered ten gold coins to buy the precious dagger, but Mock refused. Instead, he treated her like an heirloom and a store gift and handed it to his son, Pijak. Now, it ends up in Wakri's hands.

"How much is this precious dagger worth?" ask Borkal.

"Can it really cut metal?" What made Welikro more curious was the sharpness of the dagger.

Claude shrugged his shoulders. He believed that the dagger was nothing more than a noble ornament used to show off their wealth. The elephant ivory handle was clearly not as strong as the usual one wrapped in hemp rope. Putting aside the latter's sweat-absorbing qualities, the sheer strength of the battle alone was enough to place a gap on the elephant's ivory handle. Of course, it was another story if the dagger could actually cut through metal like mud.

"What gunpowder and powder are you looking for?" asked Wakri without bothering to answer Borkal and Welikro's questions. Whether he did not hear them or could not be bothered to answer them is unknown.