Chapter 307- Publicly buying a house

Publicly buying a house

A day after occupying the forefront of the city gossip, the young master in question made his debut inside the city. A carriage dyed in blue cantered into the noble quarters. The trotting horse then slowed to a stop before the entrance of a stone mansion. A wizened man with a sweeping white beard and wearing an embroidered robe stepped down from beside the driver.

With an air suitable for a noble, rather than a footman, the old man stood next to the carriage window. After a brief conversation with the person behind the curtains, he walked over to the guard at the entrance.

"My young master says to summon the lord of this manor. He has circled part of the noble district and fancies this manor for himself."

The bearded man ordered. His words came across clearly with just the right tone. Although not a shout, the sentence caused the few passersby to pause their feet. The two guards standing on either side of the iron gate glanced at one another. One of then stepped forward and bowed slightly.

"I believe your young master might have mistaken our gate for someone else. This gate belongs to the esteemed Merchant Quin. Our master recently procured this home after successfully advancing to the position of vice-guild master of the Merchant Guild."

Replied the guard. Clad in his oiled leather vest, he retreated one step back while keeping his back straight and puffing out his chest. From his last sentence, one could understand the power behind his pride.

It was no secret that Merchant Quin participated in hoarding grain during the recent crisis. After the decisive move by the City Governor to open the granaries, Merchant Quin like many others fell deep into the throes of poverty. Instead of wallowing in despair and becoming food for the Slave Traders, Merchant Quin displayed the fortitude of a man born and bred in Frost City.

Struggling amidst debt and the looming prospect of becoming a slave, Merchant Quin cast his final coins firmly into an unknown trading venture.

An idiotic cause to gather and ferment the useless Indigo Mellon.

The shrewdness of his choice soon became apparent when the Tower announced it would embark on a venture using the very same useless fruit.

Merchant Quin, along with a few others suddenly progressed from gripping their last copper to showering in gold coins. The guards, as some of the few who stuck with this cunning merchant during his crisis, enjoyed the larger scraps of their wealthy master.

Only last week, their master capitulated to the demands of his wife and purchased this outstanding little but quaint mansion inside the noble district. Of course, what their Master casually rolled out of his mouth and called little, meant in comparison to the larger spreads within the noble quarters.

"Tut, tut, my young master does not have the ears to listen to riff-raff. Call out the master of the mansion. Tell him the esteemed Young Master Will of Seastone City summons him."

The old man scolded while puffing his beard with his hand.

The guards shot another glance at each other. This time, the raised eyebrows indicated their familiarity with the description of the noble within the carriage.

"Beg your pardon, please wait a moment for me to deliver the news."

Since yesterday, very, very, residents of Frost City didn't hear the rumors of the young master from Seastone City. The name resonated with the curious onlookers. Most of them were servants or slaves from the nearby mansions out on various errands. As a comparison, it had taken weeks for the entire population to know that the princess of the Empire had arrived in the city.

Most of the people didn't even know if she still resided in the palace or had departed to the Capital. In one day, however, all the taverns and squares gossiped about the Young Master of Seastone City. Now, the listeners had a name to identify the Young Master of Seastone City. While a few servants shared this breaking gossip to their fellow members, a ragged street urchin scurried towards a wagon to beg for a ride.

As one of the guards untethered a horse from the nearby hut and ride towards the stone mansion showing between the iron gate, a sizable crowd gathered a little distance away.

The driver of the carriage curled a lip in disdain on viewing the sight. As for the well-groomed old man, he stood near the carriage door as if blissfully ignorant of the onlookers. The status of the remaining guard appeared diminished in front of the silent carriage. Luckily for the uncomfortable guard, the Master of the mansion happened to be home.

The returning guard escorted a wagon which halted behind the small stone hut. A plump middle-aged man disembarked and walked to the gate while being escorted by two more guards.

"Greetings young master. May I enquire as to why you have decided to visit this Vice-Guildmaster of the Merchant's Guild?"

Merchant Quin bowed slightly while speaking. His neutral tone and polite actions initiated a few nods from the onlookers. Kitchen gossip among the servants within the noble quarters said that although Mrs. Quin hated to see a resting servant, Merchant Quin treated even up to the little scullery maids with the utmost respect. One could see that with his newfound wealth and position, Merchant Quin yet possessed a shrewd eye on an amicable round face.

"My young master decides he wants this mansion. Name your price."

The old man replied while waving a hand at the property beyond the gate.

"My apologies, to the young master but one must know that houses within the noble quarters rarely exchange hands. Only by a stroke of luck was I able to acquire this one. If the famous Young Master Will of Seastone City however wants a home in the Merchant Quarters, this one will offer assistance."

"My Young Master is aware that apart from those homes belonging to the Ancient Clans, all other properties within the noble quarters can be sold."

The old man tutted.

"Then the young master should also know that Frost City is not Seastone City. What might cost one thousand gold coins near the sea, can cost ten thousand in this ancient city."

Merchant Quin's reply sparked whispers within the listening crowd. Even servants residing in Frost City knew of their city's status within the Empire and also the southern kingdoms. This bold young master from a distant city apparently had yet to learn the value of land within this famed city. Not even the six greatest houses could claim more than one property within the noble district.

"Ten thousand gold you say..."

The words came not from the old man but from within the blue carriage.

The old man promptly opened the door on hearing the young master. A girl descended first, bringing with her the freshness of a day from summer. The straight blue hair cascading down her cape matched perfectly with her sky blue eyes. Her soft, milky face, and hands created a flurry of raised eyebrows and stiffened breaths. Before whispers could begin to circulate, another girl stepped out, this time, bringing the coolness of a summer night.

Bloodred hair dropped down from a ponytail to her lower back. The dark pupils mesmerized the stiffened onlookers causing the males to skip a beat. She stood with her equally unblemished face opposite her blue-eyed counterpart as they both extended a hand towards the carriage entrance.

"This lowly servant greets his Young Master."

The old man raised his voice while bowing his head and dropping on one knee.

A pair of seemingly fat and spotted hands exited the carriage to defile the fair upraised fingers of the two beauties. The head of red hair combed in furrows from front to the rear and glistening with oil lay atop a round fatty face. Dark eyes dropped down from the blackened chin, pointing at the sky, to focus on Merchant Quin alone. Holding up the face was an equally fatty body.

"Ten Thousand Gold... Does Merchant Quin think this Young Master originated from the boonies?"

Young Master Will swept a hand towards the gathering onlookers without glancing towards them.

"This Young Master has grown while nurtured with the tales of the bravery and sacrifices of the residents of Frost City. As the sole heir of the Will Clan, I have decided to join and share my riches with the stalwart people of Frost City. Old Russ, take a thousand silvers and share it."

Young Master Wills commanded while staring at Merchant Quin. The old servant promptly received a pouch from the blue-haired enchantress and then strode over to the onlookers. Before they could understand what was happening, the old servant began shoving handfuls of silver coins into their hands.

"As you have commanded, the task is complete."

The old man shouted while shaking out a few silver coins to the ground. The crowd did not gain the opportunity to rush and surround him due to his quick movement and initial shock. Most of the coins found their way into the broad hands of a few burly men and fleet-footed children who disappeared. Young Master Will nodded.

"Old Russ, find me a mercenary."

"As you wish, Young Master. You there, you have the bearing and dress of a mercenary. Is that so?"

The old servant spouted while pointing his bony finger. A brawny man stepped out of the whispering crowd along with a few other mean-looking men.

"Greetings to the Young Master. I am the leader of this band of mercenaries who recently arrived at Frost City. We plan to journey into the Pass to seek our fame while protected our glorious Empire."

The muscled man proudly stated.

"Well said. A band of heroes in the making. Old Russ, hand them a pouch of a thousand gold coins."

Amidst the gasps and bulging eyes, Old Russ received a pouch from the red-haired beauty. Walking towards the onlookers, he paused while sinking his hand into the leather bag. Raising his clutched hands, he displayed the contents for all to see. Gold coins tinkled while raining into the open pouch. Pulling the leather strap close, he handed over the secured contents to the brawny man.

With a bow and remark of countless praises, the man and his companions walked off briskly before hitching a ride from a passing wagon. No matter how new to Frost City, only idiots would remain standing in a crowd who knew they held a thousand gold coins.

"Ten thousand gold coins... I believe Merchant Quin may have spent this coin to acquire this mansion. Old Russ!"

On hearing the Young Master, Old Russ together with the driver reached into the carriage. With a thump, they heaved two large chests before the astonished merchant. The flagrant disregard for wealth and the flaunting of gold coins indicated the frivolous and nearly idiotic spending of this young master. Merchant Quin, his guards, and the spectators had yet to digest the recent events.

"Ten thousand gold coins... Here are two chests containing twenty-five thousand gold coins. I expect the mansion to be ready for my arrival by tomorrow evening. If to my satisfaction, expect a bonus of five thousand coins. Old Russ, let us depart, I have an appointment with a few young masters of the city who promised to show me a good time."

Young Master Will said as his lips curled up into a smirk. Ignoring Merchant Quin, he turned and walked towards the carriage while his hands groped the lower rears of the two beauties. He disappeared with them as the old servant closed the door.

"Don't forget the words of my young master. I suggest you drag those chests inside your gate."

Old Russ advised as the driver clicked the horse into a trot.

The words caused Merchant Quin to recover his senses. He glanced at the crowd and only breathed a sigh of relief when he saw the arrival of a passing patrol.

"Gets these chests into the gate and summon the guards. Hurry man!"

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