Chapter 4008 — Something Anomalous
The Blossom Guardian · Page 1 of 2
Hong Zhong had sat in the position of Hong Clan Merchant Guild's North Island manager for several decades, and never before had he seen a transaction of such scale.
"Heh, I'm simply making preparations for the auction. Without enough spirit jade on hand, it'd be pointless for me to attend today," Wei Zhao said with a faint smile.
"True enough. Auctions are places where fine things abound, but the prices run high as well. If one doesn't prepare sufficient capital and ends up losing out on a treasure, that would be a great pity." Hong Zhong nodded in agreement, then mused for a moment before speaking: "Young Master Lin, these thirteen top-grade Foundation Establishment Barrier-Breaking Pills—I'll take them at fifteen thousand spirit jade. What say you?"
Fifteen thousand spirit jade! Wei Zhao was taken aback, drawing a sharp breath. "Manager Hong, that price is far too high. I've been looked after by you time and again—I couldn't bear to accept such a favor."
The last time he had come to the Hong Clan Merchant Guild to sell top-grade Foundation Establishment Barrier-Breaking Pills, it had been to compete with Yu Jiang for the Star Ink Stone. Back then, a single top-grade Barrier-Breaking Pill had been valued at only eight hundred spirit jade.
Eight hundred spirit jade apiece—calculated at that rate, thirteen top-grade Barrier-Breaking Pills would come to just over ten thousand spirit jade, nearly five thousand short of the price Hong Zhong was offering!
To give five thousand extra spirit jade all at once was no small discount, even for someone of Hong Zhong's stature. He was being nothing short of generous to Wei Zhao.
Hong Zhong laughed at once, waving a hand. "Young Master Lin, you're overthinking it. The normal purchase price for top-grade Barrier-Breaking Pills generally runs around a thousand spirit jade, sometimes even higher. The reason I only gave you eight hundred last time was simply because you were a newcomer trading with us for the first time—the usual merchant tactic of cutting a new customer down. We always press the price a bit."
"But even at a thousand spirit jade apiece, that would only come to thirteen thousand spirit jade," Wei Zhao said, shaking his head.
"True, but in any transaction, the customary price is only a reference point. The final price still depends on the market. And right now the market is favorable—fifteen thousand really isn't excessive at all," Hong Zhong said with a smile.
Since the other man insisted, Wei Zhao could no longer refuse. He could only shake his head with a wry smile. "Manager Hong, this is the first time I've met a merchant who goes out of his way to offer customers discounts while also finding excuses to justify them. If every merchant in the world were like you, they'd all go bankrupt."
Hong Zhong roared with laughter. As he personally transferred the spirit jade to Wei Zhao's card to settle the account, he explained, "Young Master Lin, not a single word I just said was false. The auction we're attending today—the lots are generally provided jointly by the various merchant guilds, and my North Island branch has lately been short on items of sufficient caliber. So those thirteen top-grade Barrier-Breaking Pills of yours are a timely gift. This price is absolutely fair and reasonable."
"If I can be of help to Manager Hong, so much the better," Wei Zhao nodded, then asked, "By the way, where is this auction being held?"
Last time, Hong Zhong had mentioned that the auction was not in the inner streets of the market district, and he had specifically urged Wei Zhao to come early—which suggested the place was not close by. Wei Zhao was rather curious about it.
"The Far North Island. North of Cloud Terrace Island, the northernmost isle that can be explored. On the map it's no bigger than a palm, but it's the most exclusive locale in the northern territories—a money pit that ranks among the top five islands of the entire Heaven Tier," Hong Zhong explained.