Imperial capital city, trading post.
To be honest, business here is so-so, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to describe it as dismal... The location isn't exactly remote, but there are just hardly any customers.
It's not that the products sold here are bad; on the contrary, the goods are quite novel, and the prices aren't too expensive. The sales staff are also very friendly and patient, explaining things to you in detail if you don't know something. It's just that they speak and act very mechanically, like puppets, but overall it's not a big deal.
Now the general public knows that this was a warehouse opened by "overseas visitors", and it was quite popular for a few days when it first opened.
But gradually people lost interest. The reason was simple: the goods in the trading post had affordable alternatives in the Hualan Empire. For example, the desk lamp was available in the Empire. The only difference was that one required "divine breath" fuel and the other required a battery. The difference was minimal, and with similar prices, most people were too lazy to exchange it. Why spend twice the money for the same thing?
The truly good stuff isn't sold, like guns and ammunition... Even if someone were willing to sell, the royal family couldn't really let you do that kind of business, otherwise it would be chaos. Everything is agreed upon in advance.
As time went on, the trading post naturally attracted fewer and fewer followers.
Even today.
The garbage collection cart had barely left when the newly opened trading post put up a large sign with only seven bright characters on it.
They acquired Poseidon Stone at a high price.
What is this?
Soon, someone stopped and stared at the sign for a long time with a puzzled look. "I can't read, can you read it to me?"
"Can."
The head of the trading post nodded, his tone calm but his voice loud, "We will buy Poseidon Stone at a high price."
"What exactly is the Poseidon Stone?"
The unassuming middle-aged man tilted his head.
"This is it."
The person in charge took out the samples. "I heard they are crystals formed when the sea god fell... Here, here are the specific prices. According to the standard of 100 grams per piece, this white one is worth 50 silver coins, the blue one is worth 5 gold coins, and this dark blue one is worth 50 gold coins."
"This little stone is worth that much money?!"
The middle-aged man's eyes widened when he heard this. Good heavens, this is no small sum!
The Hualan Empire uses gold, silver, and copper coins, with a standard simple conversion of 1 gold coin to 100 silver coins and 1000 copper coins. However, for ordinary people, a month's income is only around 10 silver coins, and gold coins are rarely seen in the middle and lower classes. They are usually only used more by the upper class.
So this price is really scary. Even the lowest grade of Poseidon Stone is worth almost half a year's income for them. If they really had a deep blue Poseidon Stone, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that they could become rich overnight!
"Yes, that's the price."
The person in charge confirmed, and replied very seriously, "Of course we will weigh it, and we will also use some professional testing methods..."
The middle-aged man didn't hear a word he said after that; his mind was completely occupied with gold coins... Goodness, this kind of opportunity is a once-in-a-lifetime chance, isn't it?
The only problem is that he doesn't have the Poseidon Stone, ugh...
"What can this thing do? What do you plan to use it for?"
More and more people gathered around, and some of them, who were a little more clear-headed, asked the question out of curiosity.
"I'm not entirely sure about that either. We're just following orders from above."
The person in charge explained, "But I think it might be used to make handicrafts? I heard that many nobles in the empire like this kind of stone... Look."
As he spoke, he pointed to the shelf, where several ornaments made of sea god stone were displayed. They fit together perfectly and had a beautiful pale blue glow.
No one would find this explanation problematic; noblemen do indeed enjoy luxury, even adorning their carriage wheels with gold trim… They would actually pay for such ostentatious things.
With the logic remaining consistent, onlookers began to discuss it in small groups.
The most talked-about topic is, of course, where to get this Poseidon Stone... It sounds plausible, but nobody actually has it, so they can only watch and worry.
Just then.
"Make way! Make way!"
Someone squeezed through the crowd and pulled a stone from his pocket. "Hey buddy, is this it?"
The person in charge took the stone, turned around and went inside to examine it carefully before giving the answer, "Yes, this is the kind of sea god stone."
"However, yours isn't very big, and its condition isn't great either, so it's only worth 340 silver coins. Would you like to sell it to us?"
"No way, mine is clearly the same size as the one you showed!"
The man's face lit up with joy, but he was still somewhat persistent. "The color needs to be even darker... could you add some more to make it a round number, three hundred and fifty?"
"No, sir, we have clear regulations here... Oh well, never mind."
The person in charge looked embarrassed, but after seeing the crowd around him, he relented, "You're the first seller, so I'll take the initiative. I'll pay for it myself and give you an extra ten silver coins. But you can't do that next time."
"Okay, okay, thank you, thank you!"
Seeing that his goal had been achieved, the man stopped there, nodding repeatedly, and the deal was done.
Soon, a heavy cloth bag was handed to him, its opening slightly open, faintly emitting a silvery-white light.
This has made the onlookers even more excited. If they had any concerns before, they are all gone now.
Other things might be fake, but can money be fake?
My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!
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