Chapter 5 The Businesswoman

After circling the commercial district, Li Mingxing did indeed find a shop that dealt in mounts. Of course, without a local like Curved Blade Qiya leading the way, the instant Li Mingxing and his party entered, the eyes of several people inside gleamed with predatory interest—they clearly regarded him as easy prey.

Yet Li Mingxing paid their attitudes no mind. He was here only to see if his three Blood Knights could find suitable mounts. If not, he certainly wouldn’t waste his money. He entered with an air that made it clear he had no intention of spending a single coin, but the shopkeepers were nothing if not enthusiastic. Upon learning he sought mounts for his Blood Knights, they eagerly paraded every creature and beast before them.

Their overzealousness even left the Blood Knights—men accustomed to striking from the shadows without a hint of shame—feeling a twinge of embarrassment. Had Yin Haitao not been holding the purse strings, the knights might already have bought a few barely acceptable mounts.

After a circuit around the shop, Li Mingxing suddenly remarked, “Your staff are quite impressive—they seem to know every detail about this place.”

His unexpected comment left the employees momentarily stunned. Still, as seasoned shopkeepers, they quickly recovered. One, more mature than the rest, replied, “We’re all graduates of the city’s business academy, so we naturally have a solid foundation.”

“Oh, I see,” Li Mingxing said, quietly pleased. If that was true, his plan to recruit market staff might be as good as accomplished. He exchanged a knowing glance with Yin Haitao, who understood at once and casually tossed a gem to one of the employees, striking up a conversation.

Soon, Yin Haitao had learned where most unemployed business academy graduates were likely to gather. With this information, they left the shop.

It didn’t take long to find the hotel, located at the heart of the first level, as directed by the shopkeeper. Yin Haitao pushed open the door, and several people immediately rose to their feet.

“Are you recruiters? I’m the fifth-ranked graduate—I have outstanding business skills.”

“I have six months’ work experience—”

“I can lead trade caravans—”

“I know how to traverse the desert safely—”

Li Mingxing, trailing behind Yin Haitao, suddenly announced, “I have a giant elephant for transport, and I need three business talents. If you’re interested, come speak with me—”

“Is it a death contract?” came a voice from deeper within the hotel, just as the others surged forward at the mention of the giant elephant.

Li Mingxing looked up to find a person still sitting and drinking. In his experience, such people were either exceptionally capable or simply indifferent to everything. Given the sharpness of the question, Li Mingxing suspected the former.

He smiled and said, “You’re in. I still need three more.”

The woman frowned, hesitated, and finally came forward. “Are you sure you want me as your trader? Look closely—I’m a woman.”

Had Curved Blade Qiya been present, he would have warned Li Mingxing: a female merchant was taboo in this world. But Li Mingxing knew nothing of this. He glanced at the veiled, bare-bellied woman and replied lightly, “A woman is fine. If you don’t work out as a merchant, you can always join my harem.”

To his surprise, the woman took his half-joking words quite seriously. “Then it’s settled. I’ll handle your business affairs, and in public, I’ll be one of your four wives—though being wed to a beast is no easy fate.”

With that, she moved to stand beside Yin Haitao. “Call me Midalin. Now, hand over your master’s money. And one merchant is enough; there’s no need to hire anyone else.”

Yin Haitao hesitated, but finally handed her the gold and gems. Still, he reminded her, “Our lord requires three merchants.”

Midalin paused. “Good ones? Bad ones, or...?”

“The best,” Li Mingxing replied from across the room.

Without another word, Midalin picked three of the largest gems from the pouch and tossed them to several of the merchants crowding forward.

“These three are the best traders here. You won’t regret choosing them.”

Yin Haitao looked to Li Mingxing, but his lord seemed lost in thought and paid little attention. In the end, Yin Haitao had no choice but to accept Midalin’s selection.

Afterward, he found a moment to speak to Li Mingxing in private. He confessed his suspicions about Midalin—her background seemed too mysterious to trust.

Li Mingxing had his own doubts. Midalin’s reaction, especially after he’d dismissed her gender and accepted her as a merchant, had been oddly impulsive. The strangeness of it all prompted him to consult Curved Blade Qiya.

Qiya’s answer, however, left Li Mingxing speechless. In this world, a female merchant was virtually synonymous with a female con artist. Most of the land was desert, and merchants transported goods from city to city through these wastes.

Women were never found in caravans—not even among the slaves for sale. The reason lay in local legend: the whirlwind that struck each day would seek out caravans with women among them.

Thus, female merchants could only engage in small-time trades within city limits, and only those with keen eyes and deft hands could survive. To get ahead, many would leverage their innate talents for extra profit.

Before Li Mingxing’s arrival, the most notorious female traders all had a reputation for trickery, making life hard for women in the trade anywhere.

Li Mingxing, however, was unconcerned. He had no intention of putting down roots in this world. He’d taken on Midalin only for her business skills, and if she proved inadequate, he wouldn’t hesitate to replace her.

Seeing that Li Mingxing had no intention of dismissing Midalin, Curved Blade Qiya added, “Be careful, my lord. Midalin is the daughter of a great merchant. She’s far too ambitious to settle for petty city trade—she’s set her sights on desert commerce.”

“So what?” Li Mingxing replied coolly.

Seeing this, Qiya said no more. In his opinion, Li Mingxing was beyond help, and there was no profit in following him any longer. He was already considering leaving the party.

What Qiya didn’t know was that Yin Haitao had been watching him closely, even noticing his intent to quit.

As Qiya left, shaking his head, with Yin Haitao following, Li Mingxing turned to Midalin with a smile. “Tell me, what happens if someone is killed in this city?”

“Those with money pay compensation; those without pay with their lives,” she replied, glancing at him. “You’re not thinking of having your men kill Curved Blade Qiya, are you? He may only live on the second level, but he’s a warrior all the same. If you kill him, you’ll owe three hundred gold in compensation.”

“Don’t worry. My people don’t leave evidence.” Li Mingxing was confident in his dark elves’ skills.

“If you really mean it, I’ll have to leave and find my own way. Surely you know there’s a kind of magic here: one can conjure a mirage that replays any event from the recent past?” Midalin fixed him with a stare.

Li Mingxing remained unfazed. “But haven’t you heard? Besides death, there’s another way—a person can simply disappear.”

As he spoke, Yin Haitao returned, his expression composed until he drew close; then he blurted out, “My lord, bad news! Curved Blade Qiya has vanished, along with the money we lent him!”

“How much did he take?” Li Mingxing feigned alarm.

“One hundred gold.”

“That won’t do. Every coin counts. Midalin, I’m putting you in charge of recovering that hundred gold. Once you’re done, I need you to find out something else for me.” Li Mingxing smiled at her. “I want information on the Elemental Belt.”

“The Elemental Belt? Why do you ask about that?”