Demon Hunter: I have a red gourd

Chapter 46 Profiteers
"Okay." Ivan nodded.

The horse dealer had a warm smile on his face. He led Ivan sideways to a sturdy black horse, raised his hand and gently stroked the horse's back, introducing it:
"What do you think of this one? It's a purebred horse I found on the Kovir Grasslands. Look at its muscles, the lines are smooth and tight, and you can tell at a glance that it has explosive power."

As he spoke, he patted the horse's rump. The black horse trotted forward a few steps, and the sound of its hooves hitting the ground was crisp and rhythmic.

From Kovir? Ivan narrowed his eyes. Did this horse dealer think he was a fool?
Did he know how far Kovir was from Temeria? And that there were no grasslands in Kovir, let alone purebred horses?

The Griffin School's castle, Kyle Siren, is located on the coastline of the Kingdom of Kovir and Povis. He is very familiar with this country.

The horse dealer continued to chatter away, promoting the black horse before him. "Look at its coat, it's shiny and smooth to the touch, which means it's very healthy and strong."

"Furthermore, this horse has a gentle temperament. With a little training, it will be able to cooperate with you perfectly. It is the perfect match for the armor you are wearing!"

Ivan walked around the black horse, observing it carefully. He bent down, lifted its eyelids, and found its conjunctiva was slightly pale. Then he lowered his head and carefully examined its leg joints. When he gently pressed, the black horse gave a slight evasive reaction.

"Are you sure this horse is healthy?" Ivan looked the horse dealer in the eyes coldly, his tone as sharp as a knife. "I just checked the color of its conjunctiva, and it's a little pale. You should know that a healthy horse's conjunctiva should be pink. Also, its leg is inflamed. If it carries heavy loads or runs for a long time, the injury will inevitably be aggravated."

"Are you kidding me, or are you joking with me? By the way, let me tell you a little-known fact: there are no grasslands in Kovir. This joke is not funny at all."

The horse dealer's smile froze, and a hint of panic flashed in his eyes. He felt a chill envelop him as Ivan's golden cat eyes stared at him.

He swallowed hard, forcing a smile. "You're joking, sir. I was wrong just now. This horse does have some minor flaws. Well, if you're not satisfied, I'll help you choose another one right now!"

He led Ivan to another horse, which was completely snow-white without a trace of other colors.

"Sir, please come and look at this white horse," he said respectfully. "I swear to the goddess Meliteli that it is absolutely free of any disease. This is a breed specially bred for the nobility, with an elegant posture and noble temperament. If you ride it on the street, all the young women will cast their admiring glances at you!"

"You don't seem to realize who I am. I'm a demon hunter." Ivan chuckled. "I don't ride a horse to show off. If riding it can help me conquer a female demon, then I'll pay for it right now."

"This horse is also very good for actual combat!" the horse dealer added quickly. "It's in its prime now, strong and healthy. It runs like a gust of wind and has excellent endurance."

Ivan moved closer, turned up the white horse's lips to check the wear of its teeth, and then put his ear close to the white horse's chest to listen to its breathing.

"This white horse's teeth are severely worn, so it's probably quite old. It's definitely not in its prime as you say. Also, its breathing is noisy, so its heart and lung function probably isn't very good. It'll be deprived of oxygen if it runs too long. It's purely for show. It's fine for noble young men to ride, but forget it for me."

Ivan shook his head. "You're not a very honest person. You completely lack the integrity a businessman should have. There are many horse dealers here. I'll just find another one."

Just as he was about to turn around and leave, he saw the horse dealer jogging towards him and blocking his way with his arms outstretched.

"So, since deceiving you doesn't work, you're trying to force a sale?" Ivan's expression remained calm, his voice steady. "Just a reminder, the sword on my back isn't like the Marco you sold me. It's not some kind of decoration."

"How is that possible?" the horse dealer said, his face plastered with an ingratiating smile, his tone particularly flattering. "Sir, I admit I had some ill intentions just now. However, these are the unspoken rules of our trade zone's horse market. You'd surely encounter similar situations if you went to other places." "I'm deeply sorry. I've been a horse dealer for half my life, and I didn't expect to be so wrong today. But it's not entirely my fault. You looked so young and handsome that I mistakenly thought you were some child-raised young man playing witcher with no experience in horse selection. That's why I lost my mind and tried to rip you off."

"Since you're a true witcher, you definitely understand horses. So, to express my apology, you can choose from my selections until you find the horse you like best. I'll give you a 20% discount. How about that?"

He raised his head, pushed his glasses up, and spoke firmly. "I, Pierre, may be a bit ruthless, but I can guarantee that the quality of my horses is absolutely the best in the horse market! No one else can compare to me!"

Ivan was amused by his attitude. Although Pierre looked a bit dishonest, he must be doing well in this industry. Shameless and always willing to bow his head, was this what the old saying meant, "No business is without dishonesty"?

"Okay, since you said there would be a discount, then I'll pick some." Ivan once again cast his gaze on the horses behind Pierre. He had just taken a rough look and found that except for a few, most of them were of really good quality. Maybe what he said just now was not a lie.

Ivan walked slowly in the stable, using the skills taught by his mentors to distinguish the quality of horses.

Suddenly, his eyes lit up and a chestnut mare came into his sight. The horse had a strong body and shiny fur. When it saw Ivan approaching, it raised its head, let out a crisp neigh, and pawed the ground with its four hooves, appearing very energetic.

Ivan reached out and gently touched the chestnut horse's forehead and mane. It lowered its head meekly, seeming to enjoy his touch.

Ivan carefully examined the horse's entire body, including its mouth, hooves, limb joints, etc. He was very satisfied and fully met his expectations.

"What's the price for this bay horse?"

When Pierre saw that Ivan had chosen his target, a hint of subtle cunning flashed in his eyes.

"Sir, I didn't expect you to have such good taste. You picked the best horse in my stable right away! Witchers are truly extraordinary!"

"Since you really like it, and considering how much I offended you just now, I won't ask for more from you, just one thousand orens!"

"You won't find another deal this good in all of Vizima!"

"Mr. Duo? One thousand orens?"

Ivan got hard.

The fist is hard.

This profiteer!

(End of this chapter)