Chapter 37

"Everyone, be on guard!" Seeing the three figures, Lan immediately shouted, and all the weapons were aimed at them. The agreed trade was only for food, so why were there three extra people?

The shortest of the three figures quickly raised both hands: "Don't be hasty, don't be hasty, it's me, it's me."

The light faded, revealing the three figures in the pile of grain. The two on the sides were dressed as maids, beautiful and fair-skinned, with petite figures. The one in the middle was a goblin, who raised his hands with a warm smile: "It's me, it's me, Silver Coin from the Silverlight Guild."

"President Silver Coin? Why are you here? Our deal didn't include your visit," Lan clenched her fist and made a 'don't attack' gesture. The situation was clear: just a goblin and two petite maids, no threat at all.

"Where there's the scent of gold, how can I, Silver Coin, be absent? Also, I'm the seventh vice president," Silver Coin raised his hands, maintaining a completely non-threatening posture as he walked out from the grain pile: "I came unannounced, 120 tons of grain, the extra 20 tons are a token of my goodwill. I hope Lord Lan will forgive me and allow us to set up a small shop here to sell the specialties of the Silverlight Guild."

When Lan heard "seventh vice president," she confirmed his identity. It was indeed the goblin Silver Coin who had been trading with her.

The Ice City had only a small teleportation array that could communicate with the outside world. This small array couldn't even transport objects as large as a person, only letters and text. Without seeing faces or hearing voices, how could one confirm that the person on the other side of the array was the one they had agreed to meet?

Therefore, some secret marks or codes were necessary to confirm each other's identities. Lan needed to ensure safety, and Silver Coin needed to ensure that his clients wouldn't be poached by other vice presidents. After all, he was just the seventh vice president, the seventh partner in the Silverlight Guild's organizational structure.

After confirming his identity and hearing about the "extra 20 tons," which, at the trading price, was a gift worth over 200 magic crystals, Lan glanced at Anna, who nodded without hesitation.

The 20 tons of grain were insignificant; what was more valuable was the exchange. This was the first intelligent being to come to this world in who knows how many years. Any information he revealed was precious for understanding other worlds, not to mention the specialties he brought from the Silverlight Guild.

As for the potential problems, two petite maids and a goblin could hardly cause any trouble. The biggest issue would probably be assigning guards to protect them, to prevent the two delicate maids from being kidnapped.

"Welcome, welcome. If you had informed us in advance, we would have organized a grand welcome banquet. We are very welcome to the Silverlight Guild setting up a base here. In the future, you must give us a discount when we buy things."

"Too kind, where there's the scent of gold, there's the Silverlight Guild. We can discuss the discount later. Besides the 20 tons of grain as a gift, we brought an additional 30 tons as initial capital. I hope Lord Lan can find a place to temporarily store them."

Lan inwardly cursed: "Miserly goblin, discuss it later? Every time it comes to prices, it's 'discuss it later.' You're even more stingy than a dragon." But she kept a smile on her face: "No problem, no problem. The rent can be whatever you like, not too much, one-third, 10 tons of grain, and I'll find you a large and spacious place right away."

Silver Coin's face immediately lost its smile: "Lord Lan, that's too much, too much. I wonder how much space 1 ton of grain can rent? Can it hold a few hundred tons of grain? If not, future transactions won't be convenient, will they? Lord Lan won't just buy grain once, will you?"

This was a threat, using the next transaction as leverage. It really hit Lan's sore spot. She quickly smiled: "Of course not, not just a few hundred tons, even a few thousand tons can fit. We just need to choose a dry place to avoid moisture."

A glint of competitive spirit flashed in Silver Coin's eyes. Good, soft but firm. This was like saying cheap things aren't good, and grain fears moisture the most.

"2 tons, 2 tons of grain, find me a dry and spacious place."

"Alright, no problem. Do you need laborers? My laborers are very cheap, 200 pounds of grain a day."

"Ha, no, no, I'll hire my own. In the human world, 10 pounds of grain a day can hire a worker. I believe 20 pounds of grain a day will find many enthusiastic people here. If not, I still have a spatial ring, which can hold 500 kilograms at a time. I'll make 60 trips."

Watching Lan and Silver Coin haggle, Anna was amazed. Friendly words hid so many sharp edges. At first, it seemed like both sides were very enthusiastic.

In the end, they rented a dry cave that could hold thousands of tons of grain for 2 tons of grain. Lan sent people to transfer the 30 tons of grain belonging to Silver Coin and paid the workers 20 pounds of grain each.

To be honest, this price was a great deal for Ice City. Even 5 pounds of grain would have a large group of people fighting to work. A dry cave for storing things was worth very little, but it could bring in 2 tons of grain every month and a new Silverlight Guild base.

After settling Silver Coin and his maids, Lan returned to Anna, wiped her cold sweat, and sighed: "It's indeed that goblin Silver Coin, as miserly as described in the letters."

"Ah? You argued with him for so long just to verify his identity?" Anna was surprised.

"Of course. What's the point of getting an extra ton or two of grain? I also wanted to probe his intentions. If his intentions were impure, he wouldn't be so meticulous. Only someone truly interested in business would be so precise," Lan explained.

Anna nodded in understanding: "That makes sense. The one who points out flaws is the real buyer. Someone who agrees with everything might have ulterior motives. But do you think he's only here to set up a base?"

Lan pursed her lips: "What else? The Sacred Essence Liquid, but do you think he can find Lord Ang?"

Anna nodded: "A goblin can't do much. We just need to keep a close eye on him."

"Right, but those two maids, I don't like them. They make me feel very uncomfortable," Lan said thoughtfully.

After moving the grain into the cave, Silver Coin spent some grain to have a door made. He closed the door and hung a scroll behind it. If someone tried to force the door open, the scroll would tear, triggering the magic inside. This was a simple but practical defense.

After making the preparations, Silver Coin had the two maids kneel side by side, hands clasped, like stone statues. The submissive expressions on their faces vanished, and they looked like emotionless statues.

Their clasped hands glowed with a holy light, and Silver Coin hurriedly reported to the light.

"The plan has changed. The informant, Lan, has the mark of a shroud but isn't a lich. She's a living person, but definitely has ties to heresy. Proselytizing is too difficult. I've settled in temporarily to investigate the source of the Sacred Essence Liquid. Once I confirm the location, I'll launch the Holy Blade."

Not long after, Leonard's voice came from the light: "Troublesome, alright, call me once you confirm the target."

"Sir, sir," knowing Leonard's habits, Silver Coin quickly added: "Gathering information will take some time. Please grant me another bottle of holy medicine as a precaution."

Leonard was straightforward. A small bottle, about the size of a palm, emerged from the light, and then the light faded.

Picking up the small bottle, Silver Coin sighed in relief, feeling very secure.

Ever since he was poisoned decades ago and cured by a priest, he had a lingering condition that required long-term medication. Otherwise, his body would rot and itch unbearably, making him want to scratch his skin off.

Only the Church of Light could produce this medicine, and it was very expensive. After spending all his wealth, Silver Coin joined the Church of Light to receive free medication.

One pill lasted ten days, and this small bottle contained three pills, enough to last him a month without worrying about the condition. When it flared up, it was extremely uncomfortable, not painful but unbearably itchy, making him want to peel his skin off.

To get the medicine for free, Silver Coin followed Leonard's orders without question, absolutely loyal. Sometimes, he couldn't help but suspect that the Church of Light had deliberately caused his condition to make him serve them for free and loyally.

Of course, this was just a fleeting thought. The medicine was very effective, not only treating his condition but also repairing various negative states, such as external injuries, hair loss, and erectile dysfunction.

At 90 years old, Silver Coin was an elderly goblin, but he looked much younger. Thanks to the pills, he could have three nights of vigor each month with the maids at the tavern, which had its pros and cons.

Lifting his arm, he saw the wound still bleeding. It was a minor injury from a previous delivery, but for an elderly goblin like him, it was slow to heal.

A single pill could heal such a wound, but Silver Coin wouldn't waste it on a minor injury. He bandaged it loosely and started working.

Both wary and calculating, Silver Coin and the two maids settled temporarily outside Ice City. However, before he could make further progress, a plump and tender young woman appeared before him, grabbing his injured hand. Her palm glowed with holy light.

As Silver Coin stared in shock at the holy light, the woman tore off the bandage, revealing the fully healed wound. She smiled and said, "President Silver Coin, do you believe in miracles? My Lord Ang can bring you miracles."

Why did this woman have holy light? His condition was about to flare up, and his skin was already starting to itch. Why did the places touched by her holy light not itch at all, while the rest of his body still itched? Could her holy light have cured his condition?

This could indeed be considered a miracle.