William took a dramatic pause as if considering the pros and cons of the woman's offer, when in reality there was nothing to consider. Even long-term, a ten percent discount would only lead to a net loss of roughly eighteen Spirit Jades.
Judging by how the previous few shopkeepers reacted, this was probably his best chance of earning easy Spirit Jades. If he wanted to reach his goal of one thousand, William would need to acquire something more marketable.
He and the shopkeeper spoke a bit longer and decided on more specific terms, signing a contract that obligated William to regularly supply her at a rate of 9 Spirit Jades per ten thousand Greater Fire Shards. She traded for twenty thousand Shards on the spot, then took William's contact information for the future.