Chapter Twenty-Nine

**Stupid Skills**

Vanna dropped Jason off at the wool exchange then went on her way to the horse merchant. Jason led Skippy to the clerk and exchanged his wool. He winced at the extra holding fees, but hoped that it would only be a temporary situation.

Sadly the price surge had only been temporary. Jason hoped to get 37 coppers per sack again, he was going to need all the spare coppers he could get. However, the bids and asks were still higher than Jason’s first trip to the market. The spread was thin with the bests asks and bids 35 and a half and 35 and three quarters respectively. The pit was fuller than normal, more than a dozen satin robed traders lined the exchange’s wooden benches.

Jason spotted Wilhelm and nodded at the finely dressed merchant. Today the man wore a dark purple robe with fine velvet embroidery and fir trim. The man glared at him with a stone face, but nodded back. Wilhelm’s glare frightened Jason, but he turned and paid attention to the other merchants and the quickly changing book.

“Limit 7 at 36 and a half,” Jason shouted getting a bid on the books in case the tide swept in his favor. He and Vanna made it to Laxtar faster than normal and it was only a few hours after noon. He could wait a while in hopes of the market improving. The bookkeeper added Jason’s order to the chalkboard and Jason stood back and watched.

The 35 and a half ask was lifted bringing the new best bid to 35 and a quarter, not good for Jason. Soon that bid was also lifted and Jason paled, the best bid had went all the way down to 35 coppers. The other sellers were swamping down their prices in order to avoid any more losses.

“Bidding 35 and a quarter for two hundred,” Wilhelm shouted, silencing all the other traders. The best ask had only been twenty five units at 35 and a quarter, Wilhelm’s bid had raised the best bid to 35 and a quarter for 175 units, essentially stalling the market there unless the other buyers were willing to raise their bidding prices. Instantly the sellers began canceling their orders and lifting Wilhelm’s bid piecemeal. By the time his order was filled there were no sellers between Jason’s asks and the best bid. Jason quickly canceled his ask and lowered it to 36 coppers and a buyer lifted it.

Quest: Village of Finchead Trade Agreement [Ongoing]

Reward: 4*7 Exp.

Despite the sea wind chill, Jason’s face had begun to perspire from the stress of the market, but he was buzzing with excitement. He hadn’t gotten the best price but he avoided selling early. He got out of the book at the right time as well, after Wilhelm’s order was filled the book began to stabilize at 35 and a half and a lot of the traders began to leave the pit. Jason wiped beads of sweat from his forehead and went to collect his money.

The one gold, two silvers, and twelve coppers fell happily into Jason pouch and he smiled like an addict after receiving his latest hit. Once he paid the three silver and thirteen and a half coppers to Jon and saved the same amount for the next load’s deposit he would still have profited five silvers and five coppers off the trip. With the money he already had his pouch he had six silvers and one and half coppers he could spend. He was hopping to save a lot of it to go towards the larger purchases he needed to make. Jason grimaced realizing he shouldn’t buy more coffee until he upgraded his caravan.

“Jason,” a familiar voice yelled. He turned towards the voice and saw Wilhelm sauntering towards him, all eyes in the exchange were on the two of them.

“Wilhelm, my friend,” Jason called back happily, but saw the man still wore a discontent frown.

“We need to talk,” the merchant said.

“Yes, I have good news. I got the contract with Finchead,” Jason said trying to shield Wilhelm’s unknown anger towards Jason with good news.

The trick work and Wilhelm soften, if just for a moment. “Well good, but there are other things we need to discuss. Come with me,” he ordered.

Jason shied, but tucked his tail and followed Wilhelm out of the exchange. The other traders gave Jason worried glances, but no one bothered to butt in on his behalf. “What about my cart and donkey?” Jason asked.

Wilhelm waved a manicured hand, “don’t worry they’re safe in the exchange. We’re only going to the docks for a few minutes.” Then he quieted and led Jason on. They walked through the muddy avenue towards the river. Sailors and seaman shoveled goods off ships and Jason had to be cautious to avoid colliding with anyone. Wilhelm moved around as deftly as the slightest deckhand.

After another minute of walking they stopped in front of a thin sloop. The boat had a single mast and sail, but by the way it curved even Jason could tell it was a fast ship. Similar small ships were docked nearby and the area appeared less congested.

“This is my personal yacht,” Wilhelm explained. Then he boarded the ship via a plank. Jason hobbled over the board of wood worried he might fall, but he made it across safety. On board, a well-dressed man in all black was inspecting the mast. He greeted Wilhelm and the merchant introduced the blacked clothed man as the captain of the boat. Wilhelm then led Jason into a finely furnished cabin. A whiskey cart clung to the wall, but Wilhelm didn’t offer Jason anything to drink.

“You idiot,” Wilhelm spat, but with less rage then Jason expected based on the man’s prior attitude. Jason still wasn’t sure what he did wrong and stayed quiet. Wilhelm stared at him waiting for Jason to say something and eventually shrugged his shoulders and sighed. He went to the liquor cabinet and poured himself a dram. “Jason, we walk a fine line in Laxtar. When a person known to associate with me is seen at the Night Pit it makes people less confident in the integrity of the Guild.” Jason eyes widened in realization and Wilhelm nodded.

“I…” Jason started, but was instantly interrupted.

Wilhelm lifted a hand and shook his head, “I don’t care how you got there, just don’t ever go back.” He took a long swig of his whiskey. “An associate of mine saw you entering the Pit a few days ago. If the wrong people saw someone associated with the Guild there we could all get into trouble. Let alone with the bloody damn Quartermaster herself.”

“What…” Jason said, his head was exploding with questions.

“No,” Wilhelm roared, “I don’t need anything else out of you.” He stuck a finger at Jason’s chest, “anything else like that stupid business and you can forget about joining the Guild.”

Jason puffed his chest, “look Wilhelm,” he said loudly and pushed the man back, now was not the time to back down. “I only went there to look for one of my employees, I didn’t even know what the place was. As for talking to the Quartermaster, that’s actually your fault. She approached me because she knew I was talking with you.”

Wilhelm’s face scrunched, then calmed, and finally settled into a confused and interested look, “she approached you because she saw you with me?”

“Yeah,” Jason cried emphatically, he lowered his voice to a normal level, “what is this all about.”

Wilhelm shook his head, “what did she want to know… no, actually don’t worry about it.” He sighed, “look Jason, business can get a grey around here fast and its best if you stick to doing things the right way. I’m serious if I ever find you back there or talking to another member of the Night Crew you can considered the Guild as good as gone.”

“Alright,” Jason said, there was no point of pushing Wilhelm obviously their relationship was thinner than Jason imagined. I just need to stay on this prick’s good side until I’m in the Guild, he reassured himself. “It was just a mistake.” He suspected there was more to Wilhelm’s own relationship with the Night Pit and Night Crew but didn’t dare ask.

Wilhelm grunted, but didn’t say anything. The merchant downed the remainder of his glass then went over to his liquor cart. This time he returned with two full glasses. “Tell me about this contract,” he said softly as he handed Jason a glass, its contents bobbed with the swaying of the boat. Jason blinked, like that the man had transformed from an angry bull to a docile crane.

Jason recanted the meeting from the night before, Wilhelm was silent as Jason went over every detail of the contract. Wilhelm’s eyebrows rose when Jason told him about the probationary terms he needed to complete, but still he remained silent. What surprised Jason was Wilhelm’s interest in the Fiery Calling.

“My contact’s in the King’s Court tell me the King’s attention is focused elsewhere. It seems like he won’t intervene in this unless things get bad enough they affect him personally. I would recommend you do everything you can to help Finchead resolve this conflict, ideally peacefully. You need to make sure Finchead can keep up wool production and that no more sheep end up dead,” Wilhelm commented. Jason had already come to these thoughts on his own and agreed. Wilhelm smiled, “your contract is good, many seasoned traders wouldn’t even have put in some of the terms you did. But you’re not a Trader yet I assume?”

“Correct,” Jason answered, “My bartering skill is only at Beginner VI.”

“A stupid skill,” Wilhelm muttered.

“What?”

“It’s a stupid skill, I don’t know why the gods created it,” Wilhelm said. “You’ve probably noticed it doesn’t do much.” Jason nodded in agreement. “In most markets, like the wool exchange, its disabled. Where you can used it, in shops or bazaars, the skill description does not tell you it’s not an instant discount. Rather it sets the amount that you can haggle a good up or down based on the item’s true value.” Jason stared at Wilhelm blankly. The older merchant laughed, the edges of his mouth crinkled under his mustache. “Confused? Don’t worry, most people have a hard time understanding it too, more ignore it right out.” He touched his chest and continued, “I have no use for it myself, but it’s become an useless rite of passage for trading classes so we all have to indulge in it in the beginning. Let me give you an example. Say my bartering skill is Novice III, novice is the third skill tier, so I have an 11.5% percent ‘boost’,” he said the latter mockingly, “meanwhile you are only at Beginner VI so your ‘boost’ is 3%. Now let’s say I am trying to sell you something with a true value of one silver. A true value is the intrinsic value the gods in their infinite wisdom deem the real value of the item. This value can change, which is another reason why bartering is stupid. Continuing my example, the most I can convince you to pay for the item is 8.5% more than its true value. In this case about 21 and three quarters coppers.”

“This seems very confusing,” Jason commented, “so for this skill to be effective, I would need to essentially know the true value of item.”

“Yes,” Wilhelm nodded, “otherwise it’s just two people arguing over how much they personally value the item. And of course there are hundreds of exemptions to items that barter can’t be used on, most notably commodities and precious metals.”

“So it essentially pointless for my profession except in regards to leveling?” Jason guessed.

“Now you’re getting it son,” Wilhelm said with a grin, “what’s most important is your natural ability to talk to people, charisma and relationships. I’d suggest you become well acquaintained with the owners of any shops you frequent, that’s the surest way of getting a good deal.”

“I have two skill boosts, but I don’t want to waste them on a stupid skill,” Jason remarked.

“Let me recommend you visit the Bazaar then,” Wilhelm said, “a king’s horde of junk you can bet low on until you get lucky and find a hidden gem. And the merchants there are scum so you can haggle with them until the sun dies out without hurting their feelings.”

“That sounds faster than wandering around shoppes all afternoon,” Jason said, “thanks Wilhelm.”

“It’s no problem, my friend,” he said the last part awkwardly compared to his normal speech but Jason ignored it. They looked at each other uncomfortably then sipped their whiskey. Wilhelm explained to Jason how to get to the Bazaar, which was also in the port outside of Laxtar proper.

Wilhelm led him out of the cabin and bid Jason farewell. Wilhelm seemed confident that Jason would be able to gain the skill levels in the Bazaar which reassured Jason. He still didn’t trust the rich merchant, but he was by far the most interesting person he met in the game thus far and a trove of information. Jason crossed the wobbly plank onto the dock and headed towards the Wool Exchange to retrieve Skippy.