Chapter 32: Chapter 32: The Little Match Girl

"Ethereal Crystal?"

White looked confused for a moment, then understanding dawned on his face.

"Oh, you must mean Magic Crystals. The name probably varies from region to region."

’Magic Crystal?’

Wang Xi was lost in thought.

White’s expression turned a little strange. After a moment’s hesitation, he said in a low voice:

"Lord Gai, actually, the most important cargo we’re transporting back to the Royal Capital this time is Magic Crystals... Ahem, forgive me, I can’t disclose the source, but this is a critical material that Minister Ando specifically requested we acquire."

"Minister Ando?"

"He’s been ordered to oversee the Court Artisans and is responsible for developing new types of weapons."

White craned his neck to glance outside the door, then lowered his voice.

"It’s said to be Prince Calvin’s idea..."

Wang Xi was a newcomer and wanted to learn more about the situation in the Royal Capital, so he pressed for more details.

White knew that Gai came from a remote area like Randall and wouldn’t be familiar with the Royal Capital’s affairs, so he patiently explained:

"Prince Calvin is about to marry our Queen Xianna, which makes him the Crown Prince Consort... Rumor has it he’s the second prince of the ’Clockwork Kingdom’ from across the sea. He brought wondrous technology with him and is highly regarded by the Queen."

"Under his guidance, the Court Artisans have created the Magic Repeating Crossbow and the Magic Cannon, greatly enhancing the royal family’s power."

"It’s said that Prince Calvin also envisions creating a kind of iron carriage that runs on tracks... but it requires a vast amount of Magic Crystals."

"The royal family has now ordered the construction of many giant, pillar-like wonders east of Daphne. Black smoke billows from the tops of these structures like volcanic eruptions. All those amazing weapons are produced there."

After listening, Wang Xi’s expression also turned peculiar.

’Is this some kind of Otherworld industrial revolution?’

’A new wave of technology in a Fairy Tale World?’

’What the hell...’

He committed the name Calvin to memory—the second prince of the "Clockwork Kingdom."

Then, he asked White a seemingly foolish question:

"What powers those wonders? Ethereal... Magic Crystals? It’s not firewood, is it?"

"Of course it’s firewood."

White said it as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

"Coal is scarce in Daphne, so a large number of lumberjacks have been hired to go to the Magic Forest... Magic Crystals aren’t common. They’re said to be used only for forging new weapons and as a power source for them."

Wang Xi was taken aback by this.

’Fine, so they really are just burning wood...’

Given that this was a magical (and bizarre) Fairy Tale World, he told himself there was no need to look too deeply into it.

Otherwise, the moans of "physics is dead" would be heard from the coffins of greats like Newton, Einstein, Watt, and Tesla.

"So, these Magic Crystals aren’t for sale?"

Wang Xi steered the conversation back on topic.

White hesitated for a long while before gritting his teeth and saying:

"If Lord Gai needs them, I can give you a share of 10 pounds."

"Won’t you be punished by the merchant guild?"

Wang Xi asked out of concern.

White shook his head, indicating there was no need to worry.

In reality, he had already sent one of his men to inform the guild master. His earlier hesitation and teeth-gritting was just an act for Lord Gai’s benefit, intended to make this favor seem more valuable.

Wang Xi had actually seen through it for the most part, but he didn’t expose the act. Instead, he smiled, thanked him, and played along.

"Then I’m truly grateful, Mr. White."

pounds of Ethereal Crystal was no small amount. The ore was lighter than he’d imagined, so after White weighed it out, it was enough to fill an entire wooden basket.

At Wang Xi’s strong insistence, there was no special discount. He paid the palace’s acquisition price of 10 Gold Coins per pound, for a total of 100 Gold Coins.

As for the six dried Goblin Mushrooms, their individual price was 5 Gold Coins, but White was firm, only letting Wang Xi pay 20 Gold Coins for the entire lot.

With this back and forth, both host and guest were pleased.

Half of the box of Gold Coins originally given as a thank-you gift had now found its way back. But regardless, both Wang Xi and White were very satisfied.

A win-win!

They were both winning so hard!

As for who was actually losing...

You’d probably have to ask those dozen or so fellows who were scared awake in their dreams by "Thunderbolt Nuts."

...

...

Wang Xi led his horse, walking down the main street.

He was toying with a Silver Ring in his hand. It had a spinning wheel pattern carved in the center, and the edges were engraved with words like "Honored Guest of the Merchant Guild."

This was a token given by White on behalf of the guild when they parted. From now on, whether buying or selling materials, or shipping goods, he could enjoy discounts and preferential treatment.

"My path has certainly broadened, Brother White..."

Wang Xi murmured with a smile and put the ring away.

He turned his head again to look at the two large packages hanging from the saddle, his expression one of deep satisfaction.

Of these two large packages, one was filled with materials, and the other was stuffed with Silver Coins.

In the end, Wang Xi took out another 20 Gold Coins to buy this fine reddish-brown horse, which came with a high-quality saddle and reins. He had White exchange all the leftover money for Silver Coins.

It was a full five or six hundred Silver Coins, bulging and heavy in the bag. White was very puzzled, unable to understand what Lord Gai wanted with so many Silver Coins. They were inconvenient to carry and attracted attention.

But Wang Xi didn’t explain, just smiled.

’I still have 86 Gold Coins on me. That should last a long time.’

Wang Xi thought to himself as he stopped, horse in tow.

"My child is sick, I beg you, spare some money."

A gaunt woman in a tattered and filthy tunic was kneeling by the street, her hands clasped together with a sorrowful expression.

Wang Xi silently walked over and placed a few Silver Coins in the woman’s hand.

He noticed that in that instant, a light shone in the woman’s cloudy eyes. It was the light of surprise and hope.

"Thank you! Thank you, merciful master!"

The woman clutched the Silver Coins tightly and kowtowed repeatedly.

"Your kindness will be repaid a hundredfold!"

Wang Xi didn’t reply, just walked away in silence.

He didn’t need a hundredfold return, nor did he need gratitude.

He simply felt like doing it, so he did.

He recalled that in his previous life, he didn’t go out of his way to do charity, but if he happened to meet someone in need, he usually wouldn’t refuse to help.

Lending a hand when convenient, that was all.

He felt that everyone falls on hard times. What he could do was limited, but a small, insignificant bit of help could be someone else’s lifeline.

He led the horse toward the inn White had told him about. Along the way, whenever he saw a beggar, man or woman, young or old, he would casually give them a few Silver Coins.

"Thank you, my family and I will pray for you."

"I haven’t eaten in three days. You’ve given me the courage to live on, sir."

"This... this is too much, sir..."

"May God bless you and your family."

Wang Xi walked on, giving alms as he went.

He paused a little longer in front of a young boy, and in response to the boy’s words of gratitude, Wang Xi smiled and said:

"I don’t have a family."

"Ah?!" The boy froze, then realized he had misspoken and frantically tried to kowtow and apologize. "I’m sorry, master! I’m sorry!"

He seemed terrified, hastily trying to return the Silver Coins. But Wang Xi shook his head, patted the boy’s head, and smiled.

"It’s alright. And may God bless you and your family, child."

The boy stared blankly as the master walked away.

After walking a bit further, Wang Xi finally saw the inn. A square wooden sign hung from a long iron spit driven into the wall—

"The snoring of the wild boar in the rye forest."

’What kind of weird name is that?’

’Is that an insult to the guests...?’

Wang Xi thought, ’Impressive,’ and was about to go inside.

Suddenly, he saw a girl in a white dress curled up in a corner by the side of the inn.

She looked to be about fifteen or sixteen, with messy blonde hair. Her head was lowered, and she was holding a wooden basket in her lap.

As had become his habit, Wang Xi walked up to her and held out a few Silver Coins.

"I’m not a beggar, sir."

The girl noticed the Silver Coins in front of her and spoke in a small voice.

Her voice was very cold, as if numb and devoid of any emotion.

Wang Xi froze, realizing his mistake.

"Are you selling something, then?"

"Matches," the girl said softly. "Ten Copper Coins a box. Do you want some?"

’Matches?’

’They have matches in this era?’

’And...’

Wang Xi studied the girl carefully, trying to connect her with the fairy tale character from his memories, but he couldn’t find a definitive link.

After all, it wasn’t a snowy winter day.

He silently used Kaos’s inspection ability again.

[Lillian (Yellow)]

Just an ordinary girl.

"Can I see your product?"

Wang Xi asked tentatively.

The girl didn’t answer, simply opening the lid of her wooden basket and taking out a palm-sized wooden box.

Wang Xi took it and examined it for a moment.

The matchbox had no label, and inside were the same kind of black-tipped little wooden sticks. He took one out and sniffed it. It wasn’t some industrial accelerant, but rather a fragrant herbal powder.

"I’ll take all your matches. How much?"

Wang Xi said with a smile.

The girl, however, looked up in confusion and asked coolly:

"Why are you buying so many matches?"

Wang Xi finally got a clear look at her face.

It was dirty, but delicate. What was rather unique was that her eyebrows and eyelashes were both bluish-white, and her eyes were as beautiful as Sapphires.

"I’m afraid of the dark," Wang Xi lied casually.

’He couldn’t very well say, ’After I buy all your matches, you can go home in peace.’’

Hearing this, the girl seemed to space out for a moment.

"I’m afraid of the dark, too," she murmured. "But I’m not stupid enough to use matches for light."

"..."

Wang Xi’s smile froze.

"There are 60 boxes of matches in total. That will be 60,000 Copper Coins."

The girl offered him the basket with both hands and said softly.

But Wang Xi didn’t take it.

He didn’t dare take it.

’This isn’t selling matches, this is a daylight robbery!’

Lillian tilted her head, her eyes filled with confusion.

"One box of matches is 10 Copper Coins, so 60 boxes should be 600 Copper Coins. How did it become 60,000..."

Wang Xi had thought the girl was doing it on purpose, but seeing that her confused expression didn’t seem fake, he explained helplessly.

The girl’s expression suddenly turned to one of shock.

She silently lowered her head and started counting on her fingers.

Soon, she gave up.

Her ten slender fingers curled into fists.

"Oh. It is 600 Copper Coins."

Lillian nodded.

’Looks like she’s terrible at math...’

Wang Xi sighed inwardly and took out 20 Silver Coins, handing them over. According to the market rate of 1 Silver Coin to 40 or 50 Copper Coins, this was actually a significant overpayment.

But the girl didn’t seem to understand this. She just took the coins silently and said in a small voice:

"Thank you."

"Hurry on home now."

Wang Xi gave the girl a kind smile, then picked up the wooden basket and turned to leave.

After he led his horse towards the inn,

The blonde girl’s gaze remained fixed on the young man’s back, her sapphire-like eyes twinkling.

It was unclear what she was thinking.

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