Chapter 31
Bar soap for sale! Just one copper, and you can feel like royalty!
Standing in front of a small stand along the edge of one of the markets near the Dreamers inn, a young woman dressed in rough clothing called out, causing some of the nearby passersby to look over. Wandering over, a ruddy faced house wife squinted at the small bars before shaking her head.
Thats all you get for a copper? What, are you trying to rip us off? We can get four times as much liquid soap from Henry on the corner.
But his soap wont improve your skin, the young woman said, her smile never slipping.
What do you mean, improve my skin?
This soap is made in the same factory as the royal soap. Its mixed with herbs that are guaranteed to make your skin silky smooth as you use it.
A hint of interest appeared in the house wifes eyes, but before she could say anything, another woman arrived and scoffed at the size of the bars.
Just that tiny little thing? Youre mad if you think anyone will buy that.
Across the street, in between two stalls that had been set up to sell pottery and fruit, Garrett and Ryn watched the crowd gathering. As more and more people stopped, attracted by the spectacle, Garretts expression cooled slightly. Almost everyone who stopped had a complaint, both about the size of the bars and the cost. To her credit, the young woman who was selling the soap never lost her cool as she was bombarded by the crowd. Still, it was clear that the general feeling was dismissive of the new product.
Do we need to have the crowd cleared? Garrett asked quietly.
No, this is exactly what I was hoping for, Ryn replied, her voice full of confidence.
What do you mean?
Carraway was saying about creating demand and, umm, the perception of exclusivity. That means how hard it is to get something.
Im familiar with what the word means.
Ah, yeah, of course. Right, so he said we needed to create this perception of exclusivity to make the soap count as a luxury product, right? Ryn said, brushing her hair behind her ear and shooting a glance up the street. But I figure, to do that, we have to make a big scene first. We get all the people riled up, and then well, just watch.
Realizing that this was a scenario Ryn had come up with, Garrett shot a quick look at her and then returned his attention to the crowd, curious to see how this would play out. Ryns perspective on the world was tremendously different from his, and she was constantly revealing new sides to herself, so what would follow was of great interest to him. He didnt need to wait long as a heavy built man carrying a box on his back strode down the street and began pushing his way through the crowd.
Recognizing one of the gang members, Garretts eyebrows rose, and he couldnt help but shoot another glance at Ryn. It was only a month ago that the gang members wouldnt have spared Ryn a single look, so to see one of them acting out her wishes was a surprise and spoke to the young womans deftness with relationships. Pushing the last few people out of the way, the gang member dropped the box to the ground, causing the crowd to go quiet. Sweeping the crowd with a quick gaze, the gang member ignored them and turned to the smiling young woman.
Do you still have any bars? Were sold out over in the north market and there are still people clamoring for more.
I might have a few I can spare.
Good. Theyre buying these things like hotcakes.
As she started to take a stack of bars from behind her small table, the young woman was interrupted by another muscular man who pushed his way through the crowd from the other side.
Hey, do you have any extra stock? We need more down by the docks. Ill take as much as you have.
Seeing both of the men coming to take the soap away, the young womans expression finally changed and she looked between them helplessly.
I can share a little bit with one of you, but I wont have any stock for this area if I give it to you.
Forget them, one of the gang members sneered, staring at the crowd. They arent going to buy any bars anyway. Everyone knows this is the cheapest neighborhood in the city. Im telling you, if I took your entire stock back up to the north market, they would all be gone within the hour.
Hey, hold on. Dont forget about me. Just split your stock in half and give it to us. The boss wont care as long as its all sold.
What do you mean were the cheapest?
Looking at the man in the crowd who spoke, the gang members sneer deepened and he gestured to the bars of soap still sitting on the table.
Well, clearly youre not only cheap but also blind. This is the same stuff thats used in all the nobles houses, and yet youre probably complaining about how expensive it is. Hah! You cant buy this type of soap for less than a full silver anywhere else in the city, but youre calling it too expensive. What a bunch of idiots.
Dodging responsibility again. Hmph. It should be Henricks job to handle this, but he just dumps it and leaves.
Is there anything I need to be aware of before I begin interviewing the teams? Garrett asked, watching Gorn carefully.
Ever since hed been separated from the Dream Flower, Gorns personality had begun to shift, growing more irritable and aggressive. Clicking his tongue, Gorn shook his head and pointed to a small square table that had been set up.
Not really. I set up a table for you. You can call people over there.
Thank you for your help, Gorn. You really do a good job of taking care of the details. Thats a large part of why this gang runs so smoothly. Would you be able to do me one more favor? Could you let everyone know to line up there once Im set up?
Trying to hide the smile that tugged at the corner of his lips, Gorn nodded.
Sure.
With Ryns help, Garrett quickly got set up at the table so he could start evaluating the adventuring groups that had come to apply for the job, and Gorn told everyone to line up. The scraping of chairs on the wooden floor filled the great room as the representatives for each group stood up to form a line. Most adventurers operated in small teams that served to increase their survivability by covering different specialties, but there were a few who didnt yet have a team or had lost their team for various reasons.
The first person to step up to talk to Garrett was an older man whose single eye glared with a fierce light. A wicked scar running across his empty socket and continuing down the side of his face spoke to the danger of the work he engaged in. Fixing his intense stare on Garrett, his lips twisted.
Oi, where is your boss, boy?
Pardon me, sir, but I will be the one doing the evaluation, Garrett said calmly. What group do you represent?
You think that a wet-behind-the-ears whelp like you can evaluate us?
Sir, if youre here to apply for the job advertised, please state your name and group, otherwise Ill have to ask you to stop blocking the line.
Shocked by the resigned tone Garrett used, the crowd of adventurers went silent for a moment before erupting in laughter.
Whoa, listen to him, telling old One-Eyed Erik off like that.
Hes got some guts, thats for sure.
Look, he didnt even blink.
Listening to the comments from the line behind him, Eriks one eye narrowed and a deadly air started to gather around him. Realizing that things were about to get out of hand, Gorn stepped forward to stand next to Garrett, his arms crossed menacingly across his chest.
Sir, I dont want to make a report to the guild, but if you persist in this behavior, I will.
Adventurers were a rough lot who lived lives filled with brutal violence, and physical threats were next to completely ineffective on them. The one thing they feared, however, was the guild they worked for. While it wasnt impossible to work outside the guild, adventurers who lost their guild membership were considered to have fallen to the very bottom of society. Taking a deep breath to reign in his anger, Erik gave Garrett a hard look and spoke gruffly.
One-Eyed Erik. Representing the Farsight team. We have five members and focus on hunting, tracking, and trapping.
Making a note on his paper, Garrett nodded as the old adventurer gave him a rundown of his team. When Erik was done, Garrett asked a question without looking up.
Are the terms of the agreement acceptable to you?
A sense of hesitation came over the one-eyed adventurer, as if he didnt know how to answer Garretts question. After a moment, he shook his head.
No. We want the nest stone, Erik said, the pressure he was putting on Garrett swelling.
To his shock, Garrett remained completely placid, simply nodding as he continued to write.
Ill note that. Thank you, you may return to your seat. Well be posting our decision tonight around five pm. Next.
Heading to his seat, Erik couldnt help but glance back at Garrett, his curiosity evident. Most mortals would have come close to fainting under the pressure an Awakened could generate, but Garrett hadnt even twitched. Still writing, Garrett missed the look the adventurer sent his way, but even if he hadnt, he wouldnt have cared. Hearing Ryn hiss quietly as the next person stepped up to the table, he looked up and saw a familiar face.
Hey, look, its the cripple.
Standing in front of his table was Kolz, the adventurer whod broken his wheelchair in the market, and the female adventurer whod instigated him.
