Upon seeing Vitas' lifeless and deadwood-like face, Zhang Lisheng showed a sympathetic expression and asked, "What's wrong with you, Mr. Vitas?"
"I'm worried about my future, Sir Lisheng." The middle-aged merchant seemed to have many faces that would change into different faces when he encountered different people and things. He answered honestly, "The loss of this caravan is too great. I-I …"
"But there's nothing we can do about it. It's already fortunate that the entire fleet isn't destroyed. Besides, even though the loss of the goods is great, don't we still have the Hellfire wood? Even if it's not worth the cost, I believe we won't lose much. It's just the pension for the dead sailors and the ships … Oh, the ships …"
"Yes, the ships." When Vitas saw that the young man had thought of the key point, he smiled wryly. "It's true that we're helpless when we encounter a natural disaster at sea, but someone has to be responsible for such a great loss, right …"
Before the Wizard Li tribe's first cross-sea expedition, Zhang Lisheng had tried every means possible to sneak into Kattaman in order to obtain the nautical chart leading to the other Hellfire islands. He even opened a trading company by chance, so he knew that the value of merchant ships was undeniable in this city-state that was based on commerce.
However, with his current disguised identity, he could not help much in this matter. He could only listen to Vitas quietly.
"I only need a chance to regroup, Sir Lisheng. I only need one chance. I can make up for the loss in three to four years at most, or even two years. However, I'm afraid that the nobles behind me will no longer give me any chance, unless … unless I have to show up during the trade …"
The middle-aged merchant seemed to have not finished his words, but Zhang Lisheng could guess what he meant. He was in a desperate situation and was trying to find a way out.
"I understand now, Mr. Vitas." The young man was not enthusiastic about the role of a 'life-saving straw,' but he did not reject it either. When he saw Vitas's longing gaze, he smiled noncommittally. "I'll say that the Wizard Li tribesmen on Scorpion Island only know your and Luqi's faces so you'll be an important 'token' for the first trade."
"That's enough, Sir Lisheng! That's enough!" The middle-aged merchant relaxed right away and grabbed Zhang Lisheng's fingers, bending down deeply to kiss his fingers. "Thank you for your help! Thank you very much! I'll definitely repay you, Sir! I'll definitely repay you …"
"Don't be so excited, Mr. Vitas. It's just a piece of cake for me." Upon hearing the merchant's choking voice, Zhang Lisheng thought about it and did not retract his hand right away.
"This may be an insignificant matter to you, but it is of great importance to me." After all, Vitas was a seasoned businessman, so he quickly calmed down and let go of the young man's hand. With an extremely sincere tone, he said, "Please come with me. I'll arrange for you to stay in the best hotel in Sea Haines City first. I'll have news for you as soon as tomorrow."
"That's great." Knowing that Vitas would do his best to make him get what he wanted as soon as possible to protect himself, Zhang Lisheng nodded in satisfaction and followed the middle-aged merchant out of the alley to stop a rental carriage with a shiny bronze plate hanging on the carriage.
Although it was called a carriage, the animal pulling the carriage was actually only similar to the horses on Earth. The soles of its feet, which were also staring at the horseshoes, emitted a dense series of crisp 'ta ta …' sounds when it galloped on the flat bluestone paved road.
The seats were wrapped in old black leather. The slightly cramped carriage, the rows of low stone buildings shrouded in fog outside the window, and the fair-skinned pedestrians on the streets made one feel as though they had traveled through time and space to the streets of medieval Europe.
The carriage galloped across half of the city and turned left and right on the stone road before slowly stopping in front of a chic hotel.
The hotel occupied an area of about 30 to 40 meters in length and width, with a height of four stories. The outer wall was covered with devil's ivy, leaving only a wide, heavy mahogany door. There were two statues of bowing attendants standing on both sides of the wooden door, with a golden motto in the middle. 'Customer, you only need to order and you'll get everything you want.'
The instant the carriage stopped, Zhang Lisheng quickly jumped down from the carriage. Vitas, who got down from the carriage right after him, pointed at the motto on the wooden door and said fawningly, "Devil's Hotel. You can enjoy the courtesy of a king if you stay here."
"The most wonderful enjoyment does not come from a luxurious life, but from the bare feet of the soul." Zhang Lisheng pretended to smile deeply and strode forward to walk into the hotel.
He was carrying the barefooted gold nugget with him, so he was not afraid of the expensive accommodation. However, before the young man could even enter the door, a waiter had already come up to greet him and called out Vitas's name. "Good afternoon, Mr. Vitas. Welcome back. Thank you for taking care of Devil's business and bringing another distinguished guest."
"Pushila, my return this time wasn't too smooth." The middle-aged merchant looked at the familiar waiter and shook his head in a low voice. Then, his spirits lifted as he pointed at Zhang Lisheng and said, "But you're right about one thing. The guest I brought this time is really worthy of respect and is very knowledgeable.
Give him the best room and the best service. Put all the expenses on the Golden Velvet Flower Trading's account. "
"Yes, Mr. Vitas." The waiter cleverly saw through the hidden unhappiness under Vitas's smile. Without saying much, he turned his gaze to Zhang Lisheng and said politely, "Please come with me, sir."
"Alright." The young man nodded and glanced at Vitas. "The tsunami last night has actually exhausted me, so I'll go rest first. See you, Mr. Vitas. I'll wait for your good news."
"See you, Sir Lisheng. Don't worry, I'll do my best to fulfill your wish." The middle-aged merchant said in a firm tone and turned to stride out of the hotel. Zhang Lisheng, on the other hand, followed behind the waiter and walked on the soft cork floor to the second floor.
In the days to come, the young man stayed in a gorgeous room on the second floor of Raphanus Hotel. He even chose to let the waiter deliver his meals to him, for fear that he would be delayed if there was any news. However, after waiting for four to five days, Vitas had already disappeared.
Feeling that Vitas's situation might not be good, it was not a good idea to keep waiting like this. This morning, the young man left his room for the first time in a few days.
Walking along the corridor that was covered with densely patterned beige wallpaper and small oil paintings depicting coastal scenery, he came to the first floor. To his surprise, Pushila, who had been serving him since the first day he stayed in the hotel, immediately appeared in front of him and asked with a smile, "Good morning, Sir Lisheng. What can I do for you?"
"What a thoughtful service! Looks like Mr. Vitas's gold coins were not spent in vain," the young man replied according to his expectation. "I do need your help, Pushila.
I plan to take a walk in the city later to familiarize myself with this beautiful city. I'm afraid I'll only be back in the afternoon. Vitas, no, if someone comes to see me, please ask him to wait for a while or leave his address for me to pay a return visit. "
"Yes, sir." Pushila bowed. Just as they were talking … The wooden door of the inn was pushed open forcefully. Two tall and burly warriors wearing leather armor with sabers hanging on their waists strode in. Behind them was a woman wearing a light blue hunting suit and a round hat with a black muslin hanging in front of her head. She was fanning herself with a small fragrant fan in her hand.
Accompanied by her personal maid, the woman strolled to the hotel counter and closed the fan before ordering the hostess, "I'm looking for a guest named Zhang Lisheng. Bring me to see him." Judging from the voice, she should be young.
"May I know why you're looking for me?" Looking at the bossy young woman not far away, Zhang Lisheng had already vaguely guessed the identity of the visitor, but he still asked anyway.
"You must be Mr. Zhang Lisheng," The woman looked in the direction of the voice and saw a black-haired young man with a rosy and lustrous face looking at her in high spirits. Walking forward with elegant steps, he nodded and greeted, "I'm Yaj Mishen. You can call me Yaj from the Golden Velvet Flower Trading."
"Sure enough," Zhang Lisheng seemed to have no intention of hiding his emotions as he sighed in a low voice. "How's Vitas?"
"I'm afraid he has already sunk into the Gansus Bay and has become the food of the treasure trout." Yaj opened the fan with a 'pak' and suddenly stuck her head close to the young man's ear. Covering her mouth with the fan, she whispered with a smile.
"Just because of a few cargo ships?" When Zhang Lisheng heard that the poor Vitas's encounter these few days was even more miserable than he had expected, he asked in bewilderment.
"No, it's because of deception," the woman said with a smile. "As long as the loss of property is not intentional, dismissal is the biggest punishment, but deception is unforgivable."
"If you're really so honest, then you shouldn't be a businessman," Zhang Lisheng said sarcastically and turned to walk upstairs. Zhang Lisheng said sarcastically and turned to walk upstairs. "Let's go to the guest room to talk, Madam Yaj. I think we need to fully communicate."
"Alright, Mr. Lisheng. Even though I'm a lady, I like to talk to weird people."
"Madam Yaj, the trading company that you belong to has made me wait for five more days. What about you? You threatened me the moment you saw me, but you're still a lady. I've only made a sarcastic remark and you've already become a weird person. Don't you think it's too much?"
"Mr. Lisheng, you're a very smart, proud, and conceited man." Yaj was stunned for a moment before bursting into a chuckle and shaking her head. "Such a character can easily make you succeed, but it can also easily make you fall into the abyss."
While they were chatting, the two of them had already reached the door of the guest room. Zhang Lisheng took out a copper key and opened the door. Pushing the door open, he smiled faintly. "I think my character is exactly the opposite of what you said. I'm cautious and cautious.
Alright, Madam, let's go into the room to talk business. Let's not waste each other's time, okay? "
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