There was nothing wrong with the contract itself, and it was indeed the official contract the Church of Silver Sire issued.
Roughly speaking, there were three notable points:
Number 1, abandoning the mission halfway was not allowed.
Number 2, the transaction must be kept confidential.
It seemed pretty abnormal to have these two conditions.
But what had alerted Delicious Wind Goose was the third condition.
The reward was a total of 300 pounds — or rather “ten samples”.
Delicious Wind Goose believed that one could easily make a few thousand pounds simply by selling fake alcohol.
The taste of this mead was indeed quite good and could be regarded as the top grade among the alcohols he had ever drunk.
As a knockoff brand of Swamp’s Black Tower, there was no need to worry about sales. Although the reward of 300 pounds was a bit outrageous, it did seem reasonable.
It was the part that said “ten samples” that Delicious Wind Goose realized something was wrong.
What sample? Is it the fake meads?
Why didn’t they dare put it in the contract?
Moreover, the value of a sample was at least more than 30 pounds with this pricing. Considering that there was not much sales channel for it, the actual value might have doubled.
But isn’t this bottle of mead only priced at 5 pounds?
Before Delicious Wind Goose had the chance to think about it further, he had moved on to the last page and signed his name unhesitantly after quickly glancing through it.
His overly decisive demeanor made Tate a little surprised, “You’re not going to read the contents of the contract?”
I have actually sneaked a peek at it.
Although Delicious Wind Goose said this in his heart, he let out a mysterious smile instead.
“No need, brother. I trust you… I also think it’s safer for me to sign this contract.” He shrugged and pointed to the reward column.
What he hinted at was straightforward.
Now that I know your secret and sign your contract, we’re a team.
No matter what the contract was about, it didn’t become safer after signing it.
Upon seeing this, Tate smiled without saying anything.
He first opened his wallet, took out a thin piece of jade at the thickness of three chips, and stamped it on Delicious Wind Goose’s name, “Old Goose, tell me your full name…”
“Delicious Wind Goose.” Delicious Wind Goose had gone through something like this before, so he managed to answer eloquently.
A green light flashed faintly across the jade piece, indicating that the name was correct and the contract was valid.
Seeing this, Tate finally laughed and filled Delicious Wind Goose’s wine glass.
“You’re smart.” Tate exclaimed, “Looks like I’ve found the right person this time.”
He then said smilingly, “Let me fill you in then… from the beginning.
“On the surface, we sell alcohol. But everyone knows that we can’t make much money just by selling alcohol even if we have our own manor. There isn’t a need for us to come to the capital to sell it.
“Although there are a lot of wealthy people in the capital, there is one other thing— when caravans enter the city, they have to pay a security tax worth 5% of the total value of the goods. That so-called security tax is the labor price paid upon the cargo inspection, where goods are carefully and thoroughly inspected to ensure that there are no flaws. If I were really selling alcohol, I might as well sell it across the capital’s peripheral area instead of just selling them in the capital.
“To convince Stilwell Shelley to give us a pass to the city without inspection, I first have to convince him that my merchandise does make money and can generate profit.”
Tate took a sip of the self-produced “fake alcohol” as he spoke. He then said smilingly, “This alcohol is an excuse.”
“But you didn’t really come to the capital to sell these fake alcohols.” Delicious Wind Goose realized something.
Tate nodded slowly, “Correct. Now is the most chaotic time for Noah’s Kingdom and hence the most profitable time. If I sell fake alcohol at this time, I can indeed make a fortune. I will have unlimited money for the rest of my life… but so what?”
Having said this, Tate smiled self-deprecatingly, “I’m still just a caravan master.
“I can be rich, but what’s the use of simply having money?”
“…and?” Old Goose probed.
“And, look at this.” Tate said, smiling mysteriously at Delicious Wind Goose.
He took out a bronze reagent bottle from his sleeves. It looked a bit like a lighter but resembled a military water bottle.
Delicious Wind Goose vaguely had a sense of the situation.
When he held the reagent bottle handed by Tate, a window popped up in front of his eyes.
[Demon’s Blood]
[Type: Consumables/poison/ritual material/sacrifice (Gold)]
[Description: A specialty product of Natta County, an elixir that was condensed and refined using a living demon as its material. The roar of the soul can be heard upon opening the bottle cap. After consumption, the concentration level of the curse in the user’s body will be raised to its maximum.]
[Effect: After drinking, Erosion rate +89%, LV+6 (depending on the current level)]
[Unique feature: The level increment effect only affects those in Bronze Rank and below.]
…Erosion rate +89%, LV+6? Delicious Wind Goose was slightly startled. He quickly opened up his own status panel.
His current Erosion rate was 11%, and his [Swordmaster] profession was at LV 14.
In other words, he could rise directly to the peak of Bronze Rank after drinking this drug.
Looking at this description, it should be able to upgrade ordinary people directly to this level upon drinking it — from Level 1 to Level 20 instantly.
But the side effect was the erosion rate would also instantly be filled.
Annan, who had been silently watching the screen, was slightly taken aback after watching this scene unfold.
The peak of Bronze Rank and 100% erosion rate… What is this thing used for?
If the erosion rate is filled, wouldn’t you become an irrational demon immediately?
Or, is this thing used for poisoning your target?
Annan quickly posted a bullet text and asked anonymously,
“—Ask him where this drug comes from?”
“Be careful not to drink it.” Tate warned, “This is the [Demon’s Blood]… Have you heard of this?”
“Those living in Natta County?” Delicious Wind Goose was silent for a moment and asked tentatively.
Tate looked at him in surprise, “Not bad… What else do you know?”
“Just that.” Delicious Wind Goose answered honestly, “This is all I know.”
“Simply put, you will turn into a demon’s poison once it is consumed. For Transcended, it is an irresistible poison. The best outcome of drinking it is going insane.”
Tate smiled, “What we’re selling… is actually this.
“This thing now costs 80 pounds a bottle in the capital.”
“…80 pounds?” Delicious Wind Goose was a little surprised.
“But the purchase price is less than 10 pounds.”
Tate smiled and said maliciously, “If you want, you can try to visit Natta County yourself.”
Annan naturally knew what the caravan master meant.
But for Delicious Wind Goose, who was not familiar with the geography, he could only remain silent.
It was fair to say it was a wise choice. You make fewer mistakes by saying less.
However, even if Delicious Wind Goose didn’t know anything, he realized from the item introduction that he might have bumped into a storyline quest that had not been activated.
Who the hell is buying these drugs?
“What should I do?” The words instead turned out this way as they reached his mouth.
Tate chuckled and said, “It’s very simple. Our mead is sold in different boxes to different people.
“Even if we get the tax exemption, it’s just a guarantee that we’ll be able to enter the city. Of course, we still have to let the security go through the things… But at this time, our goods are recorded as [Honeylip] in Sir Stilwell’s report. You’ll sit in carriage No. 5 then, and I will give you 24 bottles of [Demon’s Blood].
“Don’t get out of the carriage after the inspector leaves… Just take out the only black box, which is the third box, pour out a glass of the [Honeylip], and pour a bottle of [Demon’s Blood] into it. Remember, you can freely pour any amount of the alcohol, but only one bottle of [Demon’s Blood] can be poured into a bottle of alcohol.”
Tate smiled and said, “You have signed a contract certified by Silver Sire, and you are our accomplice in any law. It’s best not to do anything weird. After this is done, I will give you 300 pounds or 10 bottles of [Demon’s Blood]. You can make your pick. I’m just warning you — if you get caught, it’s a death sentence at the very least.”
“Death sentence?” Delicious Wind Goose’s heart skipped a beat. He then asked, “Why? Just for selling poison?”
“No.” Tate replied, “It’s for selling poison to the royal family. Or, you might add the charge of attempted murder of the royal family. But this doesn’t matter.
“You’ll know when you deliver it anyway — the two dozen poisoned alcohol in the third box of the fifth carriage is the Third Prince’s order. I’ve always been his most loyal supplier.”
The bald businessman smiled and said, “That’s why I said, now that it’s the most chaotic time for Noah’s Kingdom…
“It’s also the time for us ordinary people who have nothing but money in their pockets to rise in power.”