Chapter 82: Selling
With a heavy jolt, the ship shuddered once, then gradually settled.
The rocking stopped.
Axel lifted his head slightly and said, "Looks like we've arrived."
Issho sat calmly beside him and nodded.
"We should not be too far from La Carella Island. We have only been at sea for about three days."
Even though they had been locked up the whole time, neither of them was truly cut off from the outside world. Through the small vents in the room, they could still track the rise and fall of the sun. Time, direction, distance. Both of them had been paying attention.
Axel added, "I already memorized the route. Once we rescue whoever needs rescuing, we can head back the same way."
Issho rested his chin on one hand and smiled faintly.
"That is truly impressive."
Just then, the door burst open with a violent bang, slamming so hard against the wall that even the planks shook.
The pirate standing outside barked impatiently, "We're here. Get moving!"
Axel stood up without complaint, then reached out to help Issho to his feet.
"Thank you," Issho said.
The pirate snorted. "Quit stalling, blind man. Move."
"Yes, yes," Issho replied in an easy tone.
With Axel guiding him, he did not need to tap the floor with his cane sword, so the two moved quickly enough.
Under the pirates' watch, they were escorted up onto the deck, down the gangplank, and onto the dock.
From there, the pirates marched them straight into town.
The streets were busy, but the moment people saw the grim faces, weapons, and rough manner of the pirate group, they instinctively made way. No one wanted trouble.
Soon, they were taken into a narrow alley beside a bar.
A small side door opened, and the pirates shoved them inside.
It was a hidden room connected to the bar.
Behind a counter sat an old man wearing old fashioned spectacles. Shelves of bottles and casks lined the wall behind him. Judging from the layout, this room was clearly attached to the tavern outside, but it served a very different purpose.
When he saw the pirates enter, the old man did not look surprised at all.
Instead, he greeted them like familiar customers.
"Stoby," he said lazily, "what kind of goods did you bring me this time? Do not tell me it is trash again like last time."
Stoby laughed. "Of course not. This time I've got something good."
He waved a hand, and the rest of the pirates brought Axel and Issho farther inside.
The old man looked up carelessly at first.
Then his eyes landed on Axel.
They lit up at once.
He adjusted his glasses and stared at Axel from head to toe, examining him with open greed, as if he were appraising some rare object.
Stoby did not interrupt. He simply stood there and let the old man inspect the merchandise.
From any angle, Axel was valuable.
After a long silence, Stoby finally asked, "Well? What's your offer for these two?"
The old man raised one hand and held up five fingers with the other pointed directly at Axel.
"That much."
Stoby's eyes widened.
"Five million Berries?"
Even the pirates behind him reacted, their faces filling with greed.
The old man gave him a look of ridicule.
"Five million? What are you dreaming about? Five hundred thousand."
Stoby's expression changed instantly.
"Five hundred thousand?" he shouted. "Are you kidding me? With his face and build alone, this kid should fetch at least a million!"
As he spoke, a small dagger flashed into his hand.
The old man did not even flinch.
The next second, men dressed in black emerged from the shadows around the room, surrounding the pirates from all sides.
Stoby's face immediately stiffened.
Then he laughed awkwardly and lowered the knife.
"Misunderstanding. Just a misunderstanding. My hand got itchy, that's all."
The old man sneered.
Deals like this were never clean. If he could not handle pirates, he would never have survived long enough to build a business here.
Still, he did not want trouble over a single transaction. Not unless it was worth it.
"So?" the old man asked flatly. "Do you still feel itchy? Five hundred thousand. Take it or leave it."
Stoby forced a smile, but inwardly he was cursing.
Half a million Berries was far below what he had expected.
That amount would barely cover a few nights of revelry for the crew, some food, maybe some ammunition if they stretched it. Not enough. Not nearly enough.
He had worked too hard dragging these two all the way back for that kind of number.
Trying another angle, he spread his hands and said, "Old man, that's too low. This whole trip, this is the only real score we got before coming back. Seven hundred thousand, at least."
The old man tapped the counter and said coldly, "Five hundred thousand for the brat. Ten thousand for the blind one. That's already generous."
Stoby's smile almost cracked.
"So five hundred ten thousand?"
The old man gave him a deadpan look. "Five hundred and ten thousand? Do I look insane? Five hundred ten thousand? No. Five hundred and ten? Are you drunk? I said five hundred thousand for the brat and ten thousand for the blind man. That makes five hundred and ten thousand? No, it makes five hundred and ten thousand if I'm an idiot. It makes five hundred and ten? Forget it. Use your pirate brain. I mean five hundred and ten thousand? No. Seven hundred thousand is the final offer if you insist on haggling."
He clicked his tongue in annoyance, then corrected himself with clear impatience.
"Listen carefully. Seven hundred thousand for both. That's my final price."
He was clearly lowering and raising numbers just to control the negotiation, but his meaning was obvious now.
Stoby narrowed his eyes.
The old man continued before he could speak.
"The boy is good quality, yes. But those red eyes of his are unsettling. Some buyers will like them, some will think they're cursed. That lowers the certainty of the sale. Seven hundred thousand. Not one Berry more."
Stoby stared at him for a while.
Then he looked around the room, at the black clothed men, at the smug old merchant, and finally at Axel again.
This was the nearest trading point. He had no guarantee the next buyer would offer more. If he dragged the goods elsewhere, he risked wasting more time and losing everything.
At last, he ground out, "Fine. Seven hundred thousand."
Then he added immediately, "But same as usual. We also need supplies for the ship."
The old man cursed under his breath. "Greedy pirates."
Still, he flicked a hand, signaling his men to prepare the payment and whatever provisions had been agreed upon before.
Up to this point, Axel had simply watched the whole exchange.
Then he suddenly spoke.
"Let me ask you something."
The old man turned, amused.
"Oh? The little product can talk."
Axel met his gaze calmly.
"What kind of business do you do here?"
The old man laughed, turning to Stoby as if he had just heard a joke.
"The brat you brought this time is interesting."
Then he looked back at Axel and said smoothly, "A perfectly legitimate business, of course."
"Legitimate?" Issho repeated.
His voice was still gentle, but it had turned colder.
"I do not recall human trafficking ever becoming legitimate."
.....
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