CHAPTER 524: CHAPTER 524 - EXPLORING CERYNEIA (PART 6 - COBALT CITY)

After finding the information about the best inns, restaurants and shopping places, I asked one last question from the information office staff which kind of rattled the merfolk that was assisting me. My last question was, "Where can I sell fresh food ingredients from the dry lands quickly in here but for a good price?"

I could have asked Lir this question but I want to make some kind of a ripple in Cobalt City and where else can I find a better place to start a city-wide gossip but the information office itself. My companion stayed quiet, simply observing next to me. He clearly understanding what I was trying to do without me having to spell it out to him.

The surprise on the merfolk staff’s face was evident and even the hand that he was using to hold a pen shook. He also stuttered a bit and asked, "How much fresh food are we talking about here?"

I smiled meaningfully and responded, "I co-manage a huge farm with my third husband’s family back in the dry lands. That farm has a wide variety of edible plants and they also take care of animals for their meat and they also process products back from them. Would that be enough to answer your question?"

Upon hearing the confirmation that I have access to a lot of food and potentially have brought a lot for sale, the staff excused himself in a hurry while leaving with a promise to return as soon as possible. The merfolk ran back towards a door that was quite unnoticeable right behind the wall of the reception desk. It was on the farthest part of the wall, hidden quite conveniently and in plain sight.

It only took the guy less than 5 minutes before he came back to tell me that the head of the information office wanted to meet with me personally. I guess he wanted to see the products with his own eyes first before spreading information to potential buyers and maybe he also wants to buy some of it for himself before selling to other interested parties.

After that, the staff politely led me and Lir to a room on the second floor of the office. As we entered the room, we were welcomed by a lavishly designed office with some cushioned seats on one side. The place screams wealthy so most likely the man that we are about to meet is a noble or a rich merchant at least.

It was only me and Lir in the room at first but my companion called on to me secretly and pulled out the paper with the list of names written by Marius. He then pointed out the 12th person on the list and mouthed, "noble" which confirmed my earlier suspicions. I smiled and nodded to him as a sign of gratitude for the information.

We waited for about 10 minutes before a dashing and elegantly dressed merfolk entered the room. He walked briskly past us and then sat on the main chair of the office. His face was emotionless and as usual still stunning based on merfolk standards with deep purple hair, light lavender eyes and perfect facial features.

As for his age, I didn’t even try to guess it. I have given up guessing the age of mystiques that I meet a long time ago.

The man in front of us did not talk at first and simply observed us with his emotionless face. I think he is trying to gauge and pressure me in particular to see who between the two of us, will get the upper hand in this upcoming negotiation of information and product prices. The meeting started as if we were in a cold war and it continued for what seems to be a quarter of an hour or so.

During that entire time, I simply looked around the office furnishings and then whispered things with Lir once in a while. My companion looked relaxed and shared the same nonchalant attitude that I have for some reason contrary to my expectation that he will be cautious in front of a noble. He simply followed my lead and ignored the man seated on the office chair in front of us.

Realizing that his attempt to exert pressure does not work on me and that I couldn’t even be bothered with his presence, the man eventually caved in. He coughed awkwardly to get my attention. I looked at his face copying the cold face he used to welcome us earlier. I simply stared at him and waited for him to say the first word.

I may have leaked the information on the items that I wanted to sell in this office on purpose but it does not mean I am desperate for their help. I don’t mind hawking my own products and sit on the ground at the market area if I have to. Both options will result in the same way, the spreading of the news about someone selling rare food items from the dry lands in Cobalt City.

Eventually he sighed and introduced himself as Levi, the third son of a baroness with her third husband. When I heard the rank of his family, I understood immediately why he was in Cobalt City instead of the second layer of Coral City where all the nobles lived. His exact circumstances might be as bleak as how Marius told it to be. Now I am curious why Marius told me that this man would be an excellent leader and business manager if the need arises to have one in the new Ceryneia.

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Levi’s POV

After hearing from my staff that there is somebody who came from the dry lands that is planning to sell some rare food, I immediately paused the paperwork I was completing to meet the person. It is not everyday that we get such rare items in great quantities in this territory. Maybe, by being connected to this person that can supply these items, I can hopefully get an even stronger footing here in Cobalt City.

I just want to have something that is truly mine alone and finally break away from my mother’s family. I am not the heir and not a child of the first husband so I can only accept whatever scraps that my older siblings send my way but I don’t to live miserably and timidly like that.

I couldn’t help but think of Marius again, my dear friend. I heard that he has successfully escaped from Ceryneia a few months back but there is no news if he safely reached the dry lands and found a place to settle down for good. I fervently hope that he is in good health and is safe wherever he was. If I was a bit braver that time and had more resources to support myself, I would have accompanied him as long as I can get out of here too.

As for this woman in front of me, she is being accompanied by this merfolk but they don’t look like they are in a familial, much less romantic relationship or maybe this guy was just the submissive type when he is in a relationship, who knows?

She was not surprised at all even upon hearing that I was from a baroness’ household. She must be someone important or of rank back in the dry lands too.

Honestly, the way she is looking at me is a bit scary. It was as if she was calculating the value of every part of my body per gram in Ceryneia pearls. I am feeling very nervous right now but I have to do everything I can to strike this rare deal with her. Maybe with this deal, I can save enough to leave this place once and for all then start over somewhere like Marius. I may even be able to look for that stupidly brave guy as well.

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The first thing he did was sigh heavily as he looked towards Lir who was standing beside me quietly. Lir eventually felt the intense stare from the other man so he looked up to meet those eyes that were staring at him. Surprisingly, he returned it with cold eyes and a smirk then simply looked away like it didn’t matter that the other party was a noble.

The man’s curiosity was piqued at the non-verbal response that he got from Lir as he asked me, "May I know your name, madam? And may I know how you met with this fish- Lir, I mean."

It was my turn to be surprised as I did not know that they knew each other enough to call one another on a first name basis. No wonder Lir immediately warned me that the man we are about to meet was a noble even without seeing him or hearing his name.

I smiled sweetly and responded honestly, "I met him in Coal City this morning and hired him as my guide around this territory. We just entered Cobalt City less than an hour ago. My name is Selene and as you can see, I am not from here but I travelled here to look for a few merfolks and earn some money. Why did you request for a private meeting?"