Chapter 4: Figuring out the cost

Chapter 4: Figuring out the cost

Author's note: This is not the black clover world, I am using the grimoire system for the plot that's it. Also, I realise that I have not actually talked about the main character's appearance. I don't want to add it in some lame 'walked past a mirror' way, so, just take him as Yuji from jujitsu kaizen.

"As of right now, we should figure out what we should pay for the next summon. The easiest way is probably to get a lot of money and buy something good for the next 'cost.' " I said, having a drink I just bought.

Akashi nodded, looking at the 5 silver that I had leftover.

We both then walked towards the nearest information agency, the best one in the city.

"It's bad that we have to rely on others for our information." Akashi said as we entered the agency. We were both talking in English so no one understood us.

One thing we both learnt was that we automatically learn the language of this world through our grimiore.

We then walked up to a normal employee, someone who provided me information about the potion for aura, and now will help us a bit more.

"Hi, welcome back sir, you brought a friend this time I see." He said with a slight smile.

Akashi asked in a polite yet firm tone," We were wondering if there were any villages near the city, and if they have any major problems that need solving."

The man nodded for a bit, after thinking, replied," Well this is information you can find easily so it will only cost you 2 silver."

"If it's information we can find everywhere, don't you think it should be cheaper? We wouldn't mind spending some time to find it for free." I replied.

"Sigh, I'll be honest, the lowest I can do is 1 silver. Any lower is already against company policy as you know Magnus, our lowest cost is 1 silver." He said, remembering the time I got him to reduce the price by 50%.

People in this world have bad haggling skills.

I nodded and passed the silver to him, as he explained that the Red Ring Village was about 20 kilometres from here and they are having a food shortage.

We also paid another silver to figure out that they specialise in clothing, so they do have something they are known for, but they just haven't had the chance to sell it at a larger scale.

Akashi and I looked at each other and thought the same thing.

In this world, there are barely any small-time merchants, most of them go for trades between cities, leaving a lot of opportunities.

With that, we decided to split up. I would go to the village and Akashi would stay in town to figure out the food problem.

I found some directions and it took 3 hours to walk there.

"Halt! State your purpose of visit!" Shouted a guard as he saw me.

"I'm here from Irf city since I heard about your food shortage problems." I said. The guard's eyes lit up, as he ran towards a certain place, as he brought another man with him.

"Hi great sir, my name is Pilaf, I'm the chief here. Please come in." He said as he brought me in.

While walking, I could see plenty of different types of clothes, most of which were as good or better than the ones in the city.

Obviously due to excessive supply here, barely anyone bought it.

After conversing with Pilaf I also found out that they did try to sell in the main city but they barely had sales.

After that he showed me his accounts.

Thank god I studied a year of business in high school since I could realise this is a marketing problem.

They barely had any advertisements and relied on word of mouth, which did not work for a brand such as theirs since it is new.

"Fine, how about this, I will come back tomorrow, with food enough for all of you for about a week, you give me clothes of similar values. Basically being a trade." I asked.

While he looked desperate, he still asked," How will we know what is of similar value sir? Also, is there any way you can provide more food?"

"I don't know, that will depend on the efficiency of my partner. I will come back tomorrow." I said, concluding my talk with him and leaving.

After walking back, Akashi and I met at an earlier agreed place.

It was around time for dinner but we both decided that we barely had money so food should be the last thing on our agenda. We can survive a while without food.

"They do have clothes and will agree to trade with us, so we just need to find a venue to sell and food for them. So, what did you do?" I explained and waited for his response.

To be honest, I knew he could get it done. Akashi is a genius outside of basketball too, his family also owns a business empire so he should be able to take care of this.

"I was able to find a stall with access to inventory for their food, enough to last a week for the village like you said.

I convinced him that he should sell his stalk to us, in return we will give him a cut of our profits from the sales of the clothes.

He should be able to make back the price of his food and 10% more. The remainder goes to us. He will also help in advertisements for us." He explained as I nodded, which made sense.

That's how we spent the next 3 days, earning us 20,000 silver coins.

This was a 1 time thing, since both sides had excessive inventory and this town desperately needed new fashionable clothes.

We didn't have to pay taxes since we weren't registered as citizens, which we found stupid but we were not complaining.

With the 20,000 we were able to buy the core of a rank 1 magical beast.

We did try and get this thing called a Mana Shard, or a Aura Shard, which is basically condensed mana or aura, but while can be bought, were only allowed for approved personnel, which we were not.

We could get it after we became a student of an academy.

I opened up my grimoire, and said," I would like to the pay the cost of a rank 1 magical stone."

{

Understood.

Searching all of fiction…

Checking price paid…

Core of a rank 1 magical beast…

Amount of energy is miniscule…

Picking from a random world…

Picking a random world with some power…

One piece was randomly selected…

Picking a random mob character…

}

"What the hell! ISN'T THIS TOO LUCKY? ONE PIECE STRENGTH IS WAY BEYOND ME RIGHT NOW!

A rank 1 core is worth more than my lifespan? To get one piece… sigh, there are too many mobs though.

I'll be happy if I get a devil fruit, let alone a haki user." I murmured out loud.