Treasure to gold coins
Prince looked at his friends, exchanging a knowing glance. "Well, you see, we met with some bad luck on our journey. Our carriage broke down, and our luggage was damaged beyond repair. But fear not! We intend to buy new supplies tomorrow morning."
Mr. Johnson frowned, obviously in doubt. "If you have nothing to sell, what guarantee do I have that you'll pay for your stay?"
The prince lowered his voice and leaned down. "I understand your concern, sir. We may not have the items at the moment, but rest assured, our word is our bond. If you give us a chance, we'll make sure we're rewarded handsomely for your faith."
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The innkeeper deliberated for a moment before finally nodding. "Very well, I'll make an exception this time. But remember, I'll be keeping an eye on you."
With that, Mr. Johnson assigned the group all the spacious rooms on the inn's second floor. Prince and his friends settled in, grateful for the innkeeper's willingness to accommodate them.
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At night Prince gathered his companions for a strategy meeting. They huddled in a circle, their faces illuminated by the soft glow of candlelight.
"We've managed to secure our lodging for the night," Prince began, his voice filled with enthusiasm. "Now we need a plan for tomorrow. We must find a way to procure goods to convince Mr. Johnson of our merchant status."
James, spoke up. "I've heard rumors of a nearby marketplace. It's said to be bustling with traders from all over. Perhaps we can find someone willing to part with their wares."
"Eh? when did you heard about this?" lucy asked, obviously a little confused.
"When you were fooling around, i was listening to everyword of crowd."
Prince nodded appreciatively. "Excellent suggestion, James. Tomorrow, we'll make our way to the marketplace and seek out potential sellers. But we must be careful not to arouse suspicion. Remember, we're still pretending to be merchants."
The group agreed, understanding the importance of maintaining their disguises. With their plan in place, they retired for the night, their dreams filled with visions of successful negotiations and grand adventures...
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The morning sun painted the sky with vibrant hues as Prince and his companions descended the stairs of Daddy's Inn. They were met by the tantalizing aroma of freshly baked bread and the bustling energy of Oakwood's morning crowd.
"Hyy...Mr. Johnson, Make arrangements for our breakfast, and don't worry, we will pay."
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The Prince went out with some people and his commanders...
As they made their way through the narrow streets, Prince noticed a signpost pointing towards the marketplace. It was adorned with colorful banners, beckoning passersby to explore its treasures.
The markets stretched out before them, with stalls and wagons incredibly laden with strange goods. With the sounds of merchant hawkers, the smell of spices and the colors of silk fabric wafting through the air, Prince and his friends made their way through the bustling crowd, blending seamlessly with the real merchants.
Their first stop was a stall adorned with intricate jewelry. Prince approached the vendor, a middle-aged woman with silver streaks in her hair, a discerning eye, and hands adorned with rings of various gemstones.
"Good morning, madam," Prince greeted her with a bow. "Me and my group are new here, and we don't have gold coins, but we have treasure, may I know if you will take our treasure and give us gold coins in exchange?."
The vendor's eyes narrowed, studying them carefully. "You don't seem like regular merchants.?"
Prince smiled warmly, his eyes sparkling with charisma. "Ah, you have a keen eye, my dear. The truth is, we encountered an unfortunate incident on our journey. Our wagon, filled with our finest merchandise, was waylaid by bandits. Alas, we were left with nothing but our hidden treasures ."
The vendor's expression softened, sympathy seeping into her gaze. "That's truly unfortunate. But I suppose even the best of us face challenges. how much exactly are you looking for?"
The Prince gestured and a man came from behind and put a big box in front. Prince opened the box, inside which was filled with shining treasure.
The vendor's eyes glinted with curiosity. "I may have just the thing for you, but be warned, it comes at a hefty price."
Seeing her, the prince understood that something was wrong,
'It seems that she is going to cheat us thinking us to be common people.'
He goes near her and whispers in her ear in a soft voice which is almost inaudible
"The price is fine, but if I find out that something is wrong with your calculations, then I want to give you a advice, it's just that the lives of rich people are short, who knows when it will end."
These words shook the shopkeeper.
With a nod, the vendor led him to a hidden compartment beneath her stall.
There she gives him a box full of gold coins, and says "Although these coins are of slightly lesser quality, but their weight is twice that of the treasure given by you. please accept "
"What about your price?" prince asked
"Listening to you has opened my eyes, so I want to give it to you for free."
"Hmm...take this"
Saying this, he hands over a handful of gold coins to her.
he comes out and says "Let's buy something to sell"
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With dusk approaching, Prince and his friends returned to Daddy's Inn, their bags filled with goods acquired from the marketplace. The weary travelers' disguises were not just a facade anymore; they had truly immersed themselves in the world of merchants.
As they settled into their room, Prince gathered his companions once again for a meeting. The flickering candlelight cast dancing shadows on the walls...
"I think we should continue our journey tomorrow morning"
Everyone nods in agreement...
"here, jack please take this money and pay the bill"
*****