Chapter 15: The Merchant Louis

The Alexander District, known for its bustling commerce, could be likened to a central business district (CBD) on Earth. It was undeniably the heart of the city. However, in the Fars Empire, the Val-de-Vas District served as the cultural and administrative core.

As the carriage came to a stop, Charlot and Annie stepped down. Annie handed over an invitation card, and the elderly butler at the gate courteously welcomed them inside.

Charlot had no doubt that without Annie accompanying him, he would never have been allowed to enter.

The sprawling old mansion covered roughly five acres. Inside, the place was lively, with guests of all kinds coming and going.

Charlot, mildly curious, asked, “How does one sell magical items at a magic auction?”

Before Annie could respond, a hearty voice interrupted, “I wonder what kind of magical item this gentleman wishes to sell?”

Charlot raised his head slightly and saw a well-dressed elderly gentleman smiling warmly at him. He returned the smile politely and replied, “It’s a multi-headed flail.” He unwrapped the package in his hand, revealing the handle of the weapon.

The elderly gentleman asked, “May I examine it closely?”

Charlot handed the package over.

The gentleman took the package steadily, examined it for a moment, then smiled and introduced himself. “Allow me to introduce myself. I own a magical goods store called Louis’s Shop. My name is Louis Simy.”

Charlot responded with a slight smile. “Mr. Simy, I hope I’ll have the chance to frequent your shop.”

Louis handed over a card with his name, the store’s name, and its address.

Intrigued, Charlot accepted the card. Business cards like this had fallen out of use in his previous life, replaced by phone numbers and messaging apps.

Louis remarked, “I’m not interested in purchasing this multi-headed flail, but I can recommend a good buyer for you.”

Charlot was delighted. “Thank you, Mr. Simy.”

Louis smiled. “You can call me Louis. May I know your name?”

“Charlot Mecklenburg,” Charlot replied. “You can call me Charlot; that’s how my friends address me.”

He cast a questioning glance at Annie, who gracefully followed them.

Charlot initially planned to settle his own small trade before accompanying Annie to handle her business with Mr. Yanmills. Since Annie was willing to accompany him, he had no reason to refuse.

Louis discreetly complimented Annie’s beauty, and Annie accepted the praise with polite composure. Their interactions were tinged with the polished pretense characteristic of high society.

Charlot, though familiar with such social niceties, chose not to participate, silently following Louis Simy to a room.

Louis called out loudly, “Mr. Lucas, I’ve found the multi-headed flail you were looking for.”

A burly man, engaged in conversation with his companions, turned to look.

The man was dressed in military uniform, with a high-ranking insignia displayed prominently. Charlot, not well-versed in military symbols, could only make a rough judgment based on their complexity.

Lucas’s eyes lit up when he saw Louis produce the multi-headed flail. He strode over, picked it up lightly, gave it a shake, and said, “The enchantment is completely broken. Can it be repaired?”

Louis replied with a smile, “Master Leo is here, and restoring the enchantment won’t be an issue.”

Lucas nodded. “I’ll take it. How much?”

Louis responded, “We’re old friends. I’ll charge you only 140 écu.”

Lucas nodded again. “Fix the enchantment and deliver it to my residence.”

Louis agreed with a smile, and Lucas, without further words, returned to his conversation.

Louis led Charlot to a secluded corner and said in a low voice, “This multi-headed flail requires re-enchantment, which will cost about 50 écu. I’m willing to purchase it for 75 écu. What do you think?”

Charlot smiled faintly. “Agreed.”

The price was already higher than he had anticipated.

Louis pulled out his wallet, counted fifteen 50-flor banknotes, and handed them to Charlot. “A pleasure doing business with you.”

Honestly, Charlot had never handled such high-denomination banknotes before. Not just 50-flor notes—he hadn’t even seen 20-flor notes. The largest denomination he’d ever used was 10 flor.

He carefully inspected the notes using techniques he’d learned at school, confirmed their authenticity, and placed them into his wallet. Smiling, he said, “Louis, I’m lucky to have met you. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have known what to do.”

“This is my first time doing business.”

Louis laughed heartily. “For future transactions like this, don’t hesitate to visit my shop.”

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Louis said, “With Miss Annie accompanying you, it would be improper for me to linger. I’ll leave you two to your affairs. Next time, I’ll personally share some secrets about the business world and auctions.”

He handed the package to the servant who had been following him and departed with a smile.

Annie whispered, “Louis is a shrewd merchant. Be cautious when dealing with him.”

Charlot nodded. He didn’t think he’d have many opportunities to trade with Louis Simy in the future.

Where would he find a supply of magical goods?

The man specialized in high-end merchandise.

Charlot discreetly tucked his wallet into his inner coat pocket, pressing it down for extra security. The weight of the thick stack of banknotes gave him a sense of safety.

Even in his previous life, he had never held such a large sum.

Seventy-five écu, roughly equivalent to 2 to 2.2 million yuan, was enough to buy a house—or at least make a down payment.

Charlot and Annie wandered through the old mansion, gradually getting a sense of how auctions worked in this era.

Before the official auction began, guests were allowed to trade privately. Those unable to reach a satisfactory deal or unhappy with the offers would then submit their magical items to the auction.

The Fars Empire had no formal auction institutions, and commerce was still underdeveloped. As such, these auctions heavily relied on the reputation of their organizers.

After strolling for a short while, Annie whispered, “I see him. Let’s avoid contact for now and pretend we don’t know each other.”

Charlot smiled faintly. Following Annie’s guidance, he spotted the figure of Mr. Yanmills, a man with whom he shared a complex history.

Mr. Yanmills was a tall, brooding man in his forties or fifties. His impeccable attire displayed attention to every detail. Holding a cane adorned with gold filigree and a gemstone, he exuded an air of extravagance that starkly contrasted with military austerity. His other hand clenched into a fist, betraying a flicker of turbulent emotion.

Charlot watched as Mr. Yanmills strode past, his expression unreadable.

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