Demon Hunter: I have a red gourd

Chapter 48: The Bargain King of Temeria

"Is it really seven hundred? Why did I just hear from a distance that it seemed to be eight hundred orens?" Roche bent down slightly and looked directly into Pierre's eyes.

"I also heard something about the legendary bloodline of the Two Empires, and vaguely heard the name of King Foltest. The Two Empires, do you mean Nilfgaard and Temeria?"

He craned his neck and thrust his head in front of Pierre. "How come I didn't know when Temeria became an empire? Are you implying that our King Foltest is a dictatorial monarch like Emhyr of Nilfgaard?"

Pierre's knees went weak and he almost fell to his knees.

Beads of sweat the size of beans flowed down his forehead, his body was shaking like a sieve, his voice was stuttering, and he could no longer organize a complete sentence.

"Sir, I absolutely didn't mean that. I, I..."

Suddenly, he thought of something and looked at Ivan as if he had grabbed a life-saving straw.

"My distinguished guest, look at my memory!" Pierre's suddenly raised voice echoed in the empty stable, and his sweat-covered nose almost touched Ivan's collar.

"Today happens to be our shop's fifth anniversary, so we are launching a special promotion to express our gratitude and give back." Pierre's Adam's apple slid rapidly across his thin neck. He took a step forward and held Ivan's hand.

"Yes, yes, yes! Double discount! It's double discount! Now this steed is only six hundred orens! Six hundred!"

Six hundred? Ivan raised his eyebrows in surprise. He could understand why this profiteer was afraid of Roche. From their reactions, Ivan could roughly guess what had happened between them:
For example, Roche or his men once bought horses or fodder from Pierre, and after returning to the barracks they found out that they had been cheated, so they came back angrily to argue with him.

Pierre thought they were just ordinary soldiers and wanted to send them away casually, but he didn't expect that Roche had unexpectedly great power. He punished him severely and was afraid of Roche from then on.

But, if you're afraid of Roche, why are you giving me a discount? Could it be that Roche, besides being the commander of the Blue Guards, also serves as the head of the Market Supervision and Administration Bureau?
Or was it that Pierre's observation skills were so sharp that he could tell that Roche was here to find him, so he wanted to please him and beg Roche to let him go?

Whatever, who cares? Another hundred orens have been dropped. Considering the quality of this bay horse, it's already a steal. While this profiteer doesn't back out, I'll buy it first!

Ivan took out the wallet he had just withdrawn from the bank and was about to count the money when he heard Roche's voice beside him.

"three hundred."

Hearing this, Ivan and Pierre were both stunned. Their movements were almost synchronized, and they slowly turned their heads to look at Roche as if they were wound up.

Roche crossed his arms, his expression as cold as a ruthless killer.

"Sir, are you kidding me?" Pierre was the first to react, a flattering smile appeared on his face.
"I'm already losing money selling this horse for six hundred orens. If it's three hundred, I'll have to dig out my wife's dentures and melt them down to make coins to supplement the family income. You have to be joking, right?"

"three hundred."

Not a single extra word was said, and there was not a single fluctuation in the calm voice, which made Pierre realize that Roche was most likely serious. He covered his chest and staggered back two steps, as if he had been hit by a battering ram.

"Five hundred! Five hundred is okay? My Lord, I'm really losing money! Three hundred orens isn't even enough to buy alfalfa for it! Look at its sleek mane and strong hindquarters." "Three hundred."

The stable was filled with the pungent smell of hay and horse manure. The brass buckles on Roche's military boots gleamed coldly in the sunlight. Pierre's scraggly mustache quivered comically as he swallowed. The bay horse tethered to the stake snorted softly, startling him and making him jump.

"Four hundred! Four hundred, okay? It's the lowest price!" Pierre's knees buckled, and this time he actually knelt. He reached out and hugged Roche's thigh, tears streaming down his face. "You're trying to kill me! If all else fails, three hundred and fifty will do. I'll give you a silver-inlaid saddle as a gift. Three hundred and fifty! The lowest price!"

"three hundred."

A smile finally appeared on Roche's lips. "Don't forget, the feed we sold to the Blue Guards last time was mixed with one-third of wheat bran."

He touched the hilt of the sword at his waist and suddenly leaned forward, his shadow in the sunlight completely enveloping the thin merchant. "Do you need me to help you recall the scene when the war horses collectively suffered from diarrhea?"

"Okay, three hundred is three hundred!" The tears, fear, pity and sadness on Pierre's face suddenly disappeared at this moment. He stood up, patted the straw and dust on his body, and his face was replaced by a dead pig's fearless expression.

He curled his lips, his tone filled with reluctance, "But Commander Roche, you have to promise me that this is truly the last time. You can't always catch me being the only one to fleece you!"

"Of course I can promise that, but the prerequisite is that you don't cheat others again." Roche smiled playfully, "Pierre, you are a born profiteer. Your performance can't fool me."

"Three hundred orens, deal done. Oh, and don't forget the silver-inlaid saddle you gave me."

Three hundred orens, and you got this absolutely gorgeous horse? And a silver-inlaid saddle as a gift?

Ivan leaned back and gave Roche a thumbs up in his heart. What is the bargaining king of Temeria?

After this contact, Ivan discovered that Roche's character was not as bitter and vengeful as he saw in the game. Instead, he had a funny feeling.

But think about it, in the timeline of the game, King Foltest, who was kind to Roche, was assassinated by assassins sent by Nilfgaard, and the country he swore allegiance to was also destroyed by this southern empire.

At that time, his mind was full of thoughts of revenge and restoration of the country. How could he be happy?
And now, his previous identity was a gangster who hung out in bars every day, so it was understandable that he behaved like this.

With a bitter face, Pierre led the saddled bay horse out of the stable. Amidst his silent curses, Ivan and Roche extended their hands to each other and introduced themselves.

"Roche, commander of the Blue Guards."

"Ivan, a witcher from the Griffin School."

"I heard from Philip that you have something you want to talk to me about. It's not convenient to talk here. How about we go to the Blue Guards' camp and have a good chat?"

"my pleasure."

(End of this chapter)