Chapter 29: Do Not Ask. Hold Back.
Sherlock had Bru stop all nearby mining missions and cordon off the restricted area. This was to prevent the gamers from coming near.
Within the Dungeon, Sherlock’s orders to the otherworld’s Goblins were still effective. To the gamers, the restricted area was like a transparent wall that repulsed them.
Nicholas thanked Sherlock for his hospitality and brought his Merchant Band to their resting place.
The gamers were curious about the Winterfell Merchant Band, but their resting area was restricted. Even if the gamers wanted to take a look, they were unable to enter.
Once the Merchant Band was nicely settled in, Sherlock assigned Adamantine Ore mining missions. Then, he made the signboard for the reward exchange activity.
Sherlock finished his signboard and went to look for Nicholas. He requested Nicholas to take out the little goods that he had selected and place them at the room’s entrance like a shop selling goods. He reminded Nicholas to barter with the Goblins at the determined prices.
Sherlock reiterated the contents of their signed agreement and asked Nicholas to discuss the issues of Magic Stones with him. He told Nicholas to ignore his servants’ weird behavior. Sherlock explained that the Goblins had gone through “special training since they were young, so they lacked common knowledge.” Nicholas did not believe his explanation, but he acceded to his request since he wanted to foster a deeper relationship with Sherlock.
The Merchant Band showcased their wares on nicely decorated racks covered with a tablecloth. It looked like a fair out in the wild.
While the Merchant Band was busy, Sherlock put up his prepared signboard at the Merchant Band Rest Area’s entrance.
[Activity Notice: Winterfell Merchant Band Activity
Baron Nicholas from Winterfell and his Merchant Band will be staying in Eternal Kingdom for three days. To express gratitude for Lord Sherlock’s hospitality, Baron Nicholas will trade with the Eternal Kingdom citizens. Please take note that the Baron is not interested in metal coins. He is only interested in materials from wild beasts.]
[Exchange Items]
[Winter’s Sunhat]
Item Description: Winterfell Tailor Shop’s Sunhat. It is able to provide shade and is Winterfell’s favourite item. It is purely for ornamental use.
Barter Requirement: Dungeon: Eternal Kingdom Reputation Level 1 (Basic Level)
Barter Items: 50 units of Spider Leg, Spider Meat, Dire Wolf Skin, Killer Vines Bark; 5 units of Spider Silk
Quantity: 50 (While stocks last)
[Goblin Tuxedo]
Item Description: The Tuxedo was made in the Winterfell Tailor Shop. Only highly educated Goblins wear it as it symbolizes butler status. It is purely for ornamental use.
Barter Requirement: Dungeon: Eternal Kingdom Reputation Level 1 (Basic Level)
Barter Items: 80 units of Spider Leg, Spider Meat, Dire Wolf Skin, Killer Vines Bark; 8 units of Spider Silk
Quantity: 10 (While stocks last)]
[Winterfell Diamond Short Sword (Ordinary White Equipment)]
Damage: 0–15
Weight: 12
Durability: 10
Forger: Winterfell (?) Unknown Blacksmith
Item Description: Winterfell’s most common weapon made from Diamond Seam. It has a wooden hilt and has greater damage than the Eternal Kingdom’s Short Sword.
Barter Requirement: Dungeon: Eternal Kingdom Reputation Level 2 (Reputation Points needed: 10000)
Barter Items: 300 units of Spider Leg, Spider Meat, Dire Wolf Skin, Killer Vines Bark; 30 units of Spider Silk
Quantity: 10 (While stocks last)
[Winterfell Short Bow (Ordinary White Equipment)]
Long Range Damage: 0-10
Close Range Damage: 0-3
Attack Range: 100 Meters
Weight: 8
Durability: 10
Bowyer: Winterfell (?) Unknown Bowyer
Item Description: Winterfell’s commonly seen weapon made of underground pine wood and specially woven Spider Silk.
Barter Requirement: Dungeon: Eternal Kingdom Reputation Level 2 (Reputation Points needed: 10000)
Barter Items: 500 units of Spider Leg, Spider Meat, Dire Wolf Skin, Killer Vines Bark; 50 units of Spider Silk
Quantity: 10 (While stocks last)
[Small Cloth Bag (Ordinary White Equipment)]
Weight: 0.1
Durability: 10
Capacity: 20 Units
Item Description: Made by Winterfell’s Tailor. Suitable for daily use. Its capacity is small but better than nothing.
Barter Requirement: Dungeon: Eternal Kingdom Reputation Level 2 (Reputation Points needed: 10000)
Barter Items: 100 units of Spider Leg, Spider Meat, Dire Wolf Skin, Killer Vines Bark; 10 units of Spider Silk
Quantity: 20 (While stocks last)
On the activity signboard, the only available items for bartering were Winter’s Sunhat, Goblin Tuxedo, Winterfell Diamond Seam Short Sword, Winterfell Short Bow, and Small Cloth Bag. These five items were chosen because of their cheap prices and practicality. Though the Merchant Band had other cheap items, they were not suitable. For example, there were decorative candlesticks, plates, knives and forks. These items were not useful to the Goblins.
The five pieces of equipment were also selected based on Bru’s suggestions. Other items were too expensive and impossible to barter within three days, while other items were not practical, like the chicken ribs’ decorative items.
Nicholas could not understand why Sherlock wanted to spend time making such a signboard. And the names and figures on the board, were they referring to Nicholas’ goods? He had a lot of questions, but he could not ask them due to the fifth term in the agreement.
The gamers noticed that Sherlock had placed a signboard at the entrance to the Merchant Band’s camp. They gathered and started chatting.
Nicholas thought that the Goblins would have lots of questions like him. After reading the signboard, the Goblins shouted, “Form new groups! Form new groups! I’m an experienced MT with three incursions into the Spider’s Lair! My best record is fighting two Underground Spiders! I can be a deputy MT! My equipment is complete and my combat skills are seasoned! I am good with ROLL Group or Golden Group! I am ready to go!” (MT: Main Tank responsible for baiting Aggro. ROLL Group: Rolling dice to distribute equipment)
“Buying Spider Silk! Buying Spider Silk at high prices! Buying all materials! Those selling, shout for me! I can pay with Renminbi!”
“Who has already gained 10,000 Reputation Points and has reached Reputation Level 2? Help me exchange for a Small Cloth Bag! I have materials. The commission is 1000 Renminbi or 100 bronze coins! I can pay first!”
“Recruiting four fighters! 100 bronze coins for an hour. Minimum of five hours for the expedition! Calling for fighters! Calling for fighters! I am flexible with the roles!”
“Finally, a bag! I want it a lot!”
“I’m looking to join a group! Highly skilled! I cannot be a tank as I am not brave!”
“WAAAAAAA—!!”
“D*mn! Can you lower your volume! I’m playing this game in secret.”
The Goblins who were reading the signboard quietly broke out into a frenzy in front of Nicholas. Except for a small group of Goblins that ran in the same direction, the other Goblins shouted at the top of their voice and said things that Nicholas did not understand.
What were they saying?
Sherlock was used to the gamers’ self organization and trading behavior. Fortunately, he did not have to explain to Nicholas because of their agreement. Nicholas had to abide by the terms to not to ask questions.
Sherlock wanted to know the gamers’ feedback on the Merchant Band activity in the official forum. Their comments were more interesting than the Baron.
Sherlock gave words of encouragement to Nicholas and left.
Nicholas looked dazedly at the Goblins. A Goblin whose head was showing Raintea appeared in front of him. Nicholas could not understand the green Chinese words as he did not have access to the otherworld’s internet to learn Chinese.
The Goblin Raintea said timidly, “I, I want to exchange a Small Cloth Bag.”
The Goblin was holding ten units of Spider Silk.
Behind Raintea was a Goblin whose head had the words Arthur. Nicholas saw Arthur give many bronze coins to Raintea. Arthur was the Goblin that had been searching for a helper to buy a Small Cloth Bag. Raintea pocketed the bronze coins carefully as though they were treasures.
Nicholas was dumbfounded. He could not understand what was going on. It was as if they were roleplaying. They spouted nonsense and seemed to use the feces-like bronze coins for business transactions. The point was that the Goblins treated the bronze coins like precious Magic Stones.
What was going on in the Dungeon? Nicholas was bursting with questions, but he could not ask them because of the fifth term in the agreement—
Do not ask. Hold back.
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