"But that's mermaid silk! It costs at least-" The merchant suddenly stopped talking.
"Yes... It usually costs six to seven crystals since it's so rare." Xavier smirked. "However, no one will want to buy it now when they have to prepare for the cold season. So, you're getting quite the deal here."
I gazed at Xavier, wondering why he was buying such a thing if it was not a good fabric for the cold season. I got that it was rare, but still...
It seemed a bit much.
However, I wasn't going to open my mouth seeing as he knew prices better than I did. It would be better to let him negotiate for us instead of clueless me.
"I'm not sure..." The other beastman mused. "Even if I don't sell it now, I can still sell it in the hot season. Eleven crystals for the whole lot is too low."
"Really? The stall over there sells everything for a lower price. Two crystals per fabric roll." Xavier raised an eyebrow as he pointed over at another nearby fabric stall. He then turned to me and added, "Perhaps we should try there instead?"
Knowing what game Xavier was playing, I played along and nodded my head in agreement, "I think so too... The fabrics were quite soft."
The merchant bit his lip as we watched him silently, weighing out his options. Finally he huffed out, "Alright you can take the lot for eleven crystals."
"I don't know..." Xavier pursed his lips. "Eleven seems too much now-"
"Ten! I'll make it ten crystals. That's my final offer." The sheep beastman blurted out. "I can't sell it any lower."
Xavier nodded his head. "Alright that works."
The sheep beastman smiled weakly and asked, "Shall I have it delivered somewhere?"
"Deliver it to the palace and say it's for Xavier. The guards will know where to take it from there." Xavier replied, placing the crystals on the table.
"Right..." The merchant went pale for a moment before nodding his head eagerly. "I'll do that!"
He then started packing up the fabrics before calling out to a small beastman sitting between stalls with a large woven basket on his back. The merchant gave the young beastman some instructions before placing the fabrics in the basket.
Once the merchant was done what I assumed was the delivery boy was off to the palace. It was kind of surprising that there was some kind of delivery system within the market.
Then again, it would explain why Xavier didn't think we would need any help with carrying things. It would just be delivered to the palace instead. Which was pretty convenient.
Xavier suddenly lifted me up with one arm, my arms instinctively going around his shoulder as he whispered to me, "Market's getting busier."
I nodded my head in understanding before murmuring softly, "So, mermaid silk and delivery? How does that work?"
"The sheep was trying to rip you off with the fabrics. They cost three crystals at most and that's for the rarer dyed ones. As for the mermaid silk, it was to make sure he didn't realize you're so sheltered." Xavier explained as he headed into the busy crowd, weaving through it. "If you don't like it we can always sell it to the king. Mother loves mermaid silk."
I eyed Xavier at that last part. He could easily have thought of giving it as a gift or something, yet here he was trying to make money off the king.
"Let's leave it for now..." I finally said, glancing around us.
The market had gotten much busier in the time that we had spent at the fabric stall. I spotted some more beastwoman around, some being carried like me while others were surrounded by beastmen like some kind of bodyguard detail.
Probably was the idea too.
I turned back to look at Xavier. "So what about the delivery thing?"
"It's something the king put in place for the weaker and younger beastmen to earn a living in this city." Xavier explained as we continued through the market. "Most are kicked out of their homes once they come of age and they need to have crystals to continue living here. But not everyone can hunt for crystals, so jobs like delivering goods is one way they earn money."
"I see..." I mused, pursing my lips for a moment. "What about theft?"
Perhaps I was being a little jaded, but the whole system seemed to be built on trusting someone to deliver everything. And it was likely that most beastmen were honest about it.
But there were others like that merchant beastman who would try their luck with others. Maybe a merchant would even work with a delivery boy to get merchandise back to resell. And with no receipts around, it would be hard to prove that something was bought.
"Anyone that wants to work in the market has to take a vow beforehand promising never to steal goods from buyers." Xavier responded before gesturing to a beastman standing by a nearby food stall. He then added, "See that beastman over there... He's in charge of keeping the peace in the market. Makes sure the merchants and delivery boys have a special stone carving they get once they've said the vow."
I glanced over at the brown-haired beastman curiously as we slowly walked past the stall. His back was turned towards us, so I could only see a brief side profile of him. Which had me guessing that he was probably middle-aged... and some kind of bird beastman from those hawk-like eyes.
Joking aside, he wore robes similar to those within the palace, making me guess they were some kind of official robes. He also held a rough looking scroll in his hands as he spoke to the merchant.
The merchant then pulled something from an animal fur pouch hanging from his waist belt. The stone carving Xavier spoke of.
It was quite the system they had going within the city and I was beginning to understand why many wanted to live here despite having to pay crystals to live within the city walls.
It wasn't just the safety, but the structure and organization of such a big place. Which was important if you wanted to keep the peace among a large group.
"And if they don't have it?" I asked, turning back to Xavier.
Xavier's face darkened for a second before he answered, "He sets the market guards upon them... It rarely happens though. Not many are stupid enough to risk a beating before getting tossed out the city."
A practical death sentence no doubt because if the injuries didn't get you, it was either the elements or another beastman. I almost shivered at the thought.
It was a horrible way to go, but I supposed it was one way of making sure no one tried their luck. Especially if there were merchants like the sheep beastman from earlier trying to get as many crystals as possible out of unsuspecting buyers.
Shaking my head at the thought, I murmured, "I want to see what spices and food are available. Also if there are any clay jars for storage."
There was still much to explore within the market and as much as I was enjoying how things worked, I still had a mission at hand.