Chapter 55

As the two goblin fleets raced southward like competitors in a sailing race, heading for the Qiongzhou waters to search for the instigator of the rebellion, Luo Zhengdao, the mastermind behind the Qiongzhou Island series of events, was already strolling through the market of Xiangjiang Port, far from Qiongzhou.

Since the day he arrived in the new world, such peaceful and tranquil days had become a luxury for Luo Zhengdao. Every minute of relaxed and carefree time was precious to him. If he were to count, he probably couldn't find many days of peace. No matter how strong-willed or experienced a warrior might be, it was impossible to live with nerves constantly on edge for years. It was only natural for Luo Zhengdao to indulge in brief moments of tranquility and happiness. He used this shameless reason to explain himself to Vina Dubov.

Strolling slowly through the streets of Xiangjiang, he saw shop signs everywhere, with pawnshops being the most numerous. This industry was undoubtedly a foreign import introduced by a previous穿越者 (穿越者 means "穿越者" in Chinese, but in this context, it refers to a "time traveler" or "穿越者" in English) to the new world.

After a thousand years of development and localization, apart from the large "當" (pawn) character abstracted into a gold coin pattern placed at the shop entrance, Luo Zhengdao could hardly see any connection between these opulent stone buildings and the pawnshops of the old world.

Seeing Luo Zhengdao and the half-elf beauty push open the door and enter, a pawnshop clerk was about to step forward to serve the customers. The pawnshop owner, who was puffing on a water pipe, glanced over and noticed that these two customers were dressed in an unusual manner. It wasn't just that Luo Zhengdao was accompanied by Vina Dubov, a half-elf with a high回头率 (回头率 means "回头率" in Chinese, but in this context, it refers to "turning heads" or "回头率" in English). The phrase "a three-year-old child parading with gold" vividly described those who lacked the strength to defend their rights, regardless of whether their possessions were obtained legitimately. Whether it was vast wealth or stunning beauty, both could lead to fatal consequences. If one could hold onto such tempting possessions without attracting envy, it meant they had the strength to protect themselves.

Immediately, the gray-haired owner stood up, waved his hand to signal the clerk to step back, and approached the customers with a beaming smile, saying:

"Hehehe, are you here to pawn something, or just browsing?"

Hearing this, Luo Zhengdao, who was looking around, glanced at the owner and said with narrowed eyes:

"Yes, we have some items we don't need at the moment. Could we discuss this in a more private setting?"

The principle of pawnshops is to buy items at the lowest price, regardless of their actual value, and ensure they can be sold at a higher price. The owner had seen many mainlanders come to Xiangjiang, and in his eyes, Luo Zhengdao, with his slightly southern accent, was just another country bumpkin. He immediately put on a professional, radiant smile and said:

"Of course, please come in, honored guests! Tea will be served."

In times of prosperity, antiques are valued; in times of chaos, gold is king. Exchanging a gold ring for a pancake is a common occurrence during wartime. Although profiting from disaster has always been morally condemned, the temptation of excessive profits is irresistible to merchants. No one would refuse to make money just because it was too hot to handle.

Influenced by the volatile external situation, the pawnshop business in Xiangjiang had been booming in recent years, even described as red-hot. With the goblin army's continuous victories on the mainland, wealthy human families, sensing impending disaster, fled with their valuables, creating a steady stream of refugees. To avoid capture by the goblin army, most people could not carry much cash when fleeing, let alone bulky possessions. They could only take the most valuable jewelry and small items.

Once these refugees settled in Xiangjiang, the expenses for their families' daily needs were substantial. These small items were difficult to sell, so they had no choice but to pawn them at low prices to obtain a small amount of cash to sustain their livelihood. This became a common means of survival for many refugee families.

Sitting calmly on the sofa in the living room, Luo Zhengdao glanced at the refreshing mint tea in his cup, and the aroma of the added spices seemed to waft up his nose.

On the four walls of the room hung tapestries with mythological themes, these exquisitely crafted and luxurious handiworks clearly demonstrating the pawnshop owner's substantial economic power and unique social status.

After a few casual conversations to ease the atmosphere, the pawnshop owner, with a goatee, leaned forward, his eyes fixed on Luo Zhengdao, and said:

"What items do you wish to sell?"

"Please take a look!"

Due to his limited resources, Luo Zhengdao did not obtain the treasure the goblins had plundered from the entire Qiongzhou Island, but he was not entirely empty-handed.

Blandor Fiamme was a smart man. Despite his greed, he was not as reckless as rumored. The treasure in Haikou City was intended for the empire, while the treasury in Hainan City was the private fund of the Redstone Regiment.

The second goblin empire had not been rebuilt for long, and the aftereffects of the goblin factions' division on the mainland over the past few thousand years could not be easily resolved. The goblins were divided into various factions, a fact that could not be denied. The Redstone Regiment, composed of troops from the Redstone Tribe, valued collective action and consistency, but even they were not immune to personal greed. Those who climbed to high positions by stepping on their peers were unlikely to be content with a simple life. It was normal for them to siphon off some benefits for their unit.

Recently, the goblin army launched a large-scale economic plunder of newly conquered regions, a well-organized and planned robbery. It was only natural for the Redstone Regiment to take a share for their private fund.

In Hainan City, Luo Zhengdao managed to pull off a double-cross, obtaining a significant amount of loot. These war spoils included a considerable amount of gold and silver, as well as some personal collections that were difficult for non-experts to appraise. Luo Zhengdao urgently needed to convert these items into cash. With sufficient human resources, he could implement his plan to expand his pirate fleet. However, whether it was paying the pirates, replenishing supplies, or building warships in Yaling and Elven territories, he needed gold. Since valuation was a tricky issue, even valuable items could not be used as cash.

As Luo Zhengdao took out the items from his spatial bag, the pawnshop owner carefully inspected them and said with a broad smile:

"Six thousand gold coins!"

Hearing this, Luo Zhengdao immediately frowned. This number was far from his expectations, and he immediately countered:

"Are you joking? That's too little."

It was normal for goblins from remote mountainous areas to be unfamiliar with valuable items, but would the families who originally owned these treasures also be ignorant? That would be a bad joke.

No matter who made the choice, the most precious items would certainly be stored in the family's treasure vault. The loot the goblins obtained from the Qiongzhou aristocracy was the result of centuries of accumulation. If not for urgent need, Luo Zhengdao would not have been willing to sell them so soon. Who knew how many priceless treasures were among them? Six thousand gold coins was a substantial sum for ordinary people, enough to last a lifetime of luxury, but for Luo Zhengdao, who needed to support a fleet, it was barely enough to cover expenses. He had already spent over six thousand gold coins on the Yangwei, a second-hand Yaling warship, and additional funds on technical upgrades. The pawnshop owner's offer was too low.

Hearing Luo Zhengdao's objection, the pawnshop owner maintained his professional, warm smile and explained calmly:

"My dear friend, I cannot display these items on the counter, and there is a significant risk involved."

The emotional appeal did not move Luo Zhengdao, who shook his head firmly and countered:

"That's still too little."

Bargaining was a fundamental skill in the business world. Despite his dissatisfaction with the pawnshop owner's ruthless pricing, Luo Zhengdao did not lose his temper but continued to negotiate.

After a long and fruitless debate, the pawnshop owner finally lowered his stance and said more softly:

"Then please name your price."

"Ten thousand gold coins, no negotiation."

This exorbitant price made the pawnshop owner look as if he had lost a loved one, and he waved his hands, saying:

"No, no, I can offer a maximum of seven thousand."

"Eighteen thousand!"

"Would seven thousand five hundred be acceptable?"

Hearing this, Luo Zhengdao was completely unwilling. An increase of five hundred each time was a deliberate tease. He stood up with a stern face and said:

"Your offer is not sincere!"

Seeing the negotiation about to break down, the pawnshop owner was unwilling to lose this business. The items Luo Zhengdao brought were valuable, and making a profit was certain; it was just a matter of how much. He thought for a moment, smiled, and said:

"Alright, my friend, I'll make an offer. If you accept it, the deal is done."

Realizing that his loot was difficult to sell at a reasonable price in Xiangjiang, Luo Zhengdao gradually lowered his expectations and nodded. The pawnshop owner extended one finger and said:

"Ten thousand gold coins!"

Although Luo Zhengdao was somewhat dissatisfied with this offer, he knew he had few options and said:

"Fine, ten thousand it is."

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