The First Legendary Beast Master

Chapter 1958 Unstable Coast

That was not good news. Port city instability was bad for business. But Karl also didnʼt want to get involved in a major Clan war either.

They had seen enough trouble of their own, and they didnʼt need to get drawn into a regional war.

The fact that it hadnʼt made it this far didnʼt mean that it wouldnʼt, especially when there were alliances that spread much further than just the peninsula.

”Can you let the others know that I will pay well for information on the regional situation? I want to know what the chances are that it will affect our sales, both positively and negatively. If there is going to be a huge regional war, weʼre going to have a booming weapon sales business, but it would be best if we could hide our names on the weapons.

There is a technique to have the System not tag us, and have the weapon creation tag simply not show up.

If that is necessary to avoid our weapons showing up on every side of a regional war, we will do it. There is nothing worse for business than being known as the arms dealer who is supplying both sides of a war.

It seems like impartial business to start with, but in the end, it always looks like opportunism. Playing both sides against the middle.”

The Captain nodded. ”Indeed. I see that this shipment is heavy on the standard warrior weapons, as well as assorted accessories, so there will be some of that going around. But as everything goes through the auctions, I donʼt think that itʼs going to be a problem in the immediate future.

There are four hundred million people combined between the port cities of the south.

Even if you shipped nothing but swords, it would take a hundred ships just to arm the city guards of every town. Itʼs the Peerless Grade items that are going to make the biggest splash, and that will be in battles between the Clan Leaders.

The ones with the funds to get their hands on that level of weapons and accessories are going to have a huge advantage over their peers, who were previously well balanced with them.

If they were not well balanced, one would have already swallowed the others.

It will bring business to the docks, as they have no idea where the Darklight Host is even stationed at. For all they know, youʼre not even on the same continent that they are. Or, you could be one of our off world suppliers.

Those are less common, but we do source items from them occasionally.

When the fleets get more news, we will let you know, so that you can be prepared, and so we can profit.”

Karl laughed at her earnest and eager expression.

”I canʼt argue with that. Even if we shipped nothing but a hundred thousand Rare Grade weapons, we would make a killing. Possibly by exhausting some of our workers to death, but the profit would be incredible.

Would you like to add a few more Peerless Grade specialty items to your order? I have some extras.”

The Captain shook her head. ”No, Iʼve budgeted around the order that was placed. Iʼm still a young Elf, with a newly built ship. I donʼt have a thousand years of savings to fall back on.”

Karl patted her on the shoulder and gave her a sympathetic smile.

”Then come back again soon, and we will see to it that you develop some. Alright, I will call for our Supreme Grade Runesmith to come work on your ship, and then we can finish the transaction.”

Rue appeared beside him with her hood up and a veil over her face, using a skill to hide her System Tag, so that others couldnʼt see her name.

That was her usual method of travelling, and enough wandering Immortals did it that it didnʼt attract much attention. The subterfuge did make the Elves concerned that there might not always be someone here at the Darklight Host who could make the pocket dimension, but that was a concern for later.

There were other Supremes in the Guild, and one of them might know the skill as well.

But people had all sorts of reasons to disguise themselves. Even she, as a Captain of a merchant ship, often hid her identity when there was business to do that required privacy.

Given the nature of the spells that she was placing, and the fact that they were quite openly designed to be used by smugglers to defeat customs controls and Clan investigations, it did make sense that not everyone would get to know who she was.

Then the annoying thought that the previous Captain, who had hundreds of years at sea, likely already knew who she was.

The senior Captains got all the advantages, just because of their long history.

Karl could see the irritation spread across the Elfʼs face, but couldnʼt tell if it was because of the financial loss from the purchase, or because of something else. He wasnʼt going to say anything either way.

He was doing very well with a twenty percent discount on this purchase, as the materials on this shipment were especially valuable.

The pearls alone were going to make them a fortune,

Deep Sea Pearls were incredible water element resources, and they had just purchased an entire chest of them. Enough that Karl actually did have to put in a few extra Peerless Grade weapons just to make up for the extra value of the trade goods.

Even after the discount.

In his mind, Caraʼs laughter promised trouble.

[Hey, why donʼt we make a pearl necklace? You know, like they wore in Drodh?]

Karl chuckled quietly. The pearls in Drodh were Commander Grade magical resources, cheap and plentiful from the clams that they harvested for the restaurants.

These ones were near Peak Immortal water element resources. A whole necklace made of them would be so insanely luxurious that it would make entire Clans weep at the extravagance.

He would have to make one for Dana.