Chapter 730 — The Merchant
Blade of Dawn · Page 1 of 4
The image projected from the crystal began its third repetition. Without a high-quality magic-net terminal to enlarge and filter it, the raw feed cast directly by the crystal looked blurred and faintly distorted—yet gazing at such a thing, Kode could not calm the stirring in his heart.
Not everyone, upon seeing something entirely new, can swiftly grasp its use. The difficulty of opening a new field is often no less than that of breaking new land; it demands not only intelligence and learning, but oftentimes outstanding talent, a touch of luck, and the courage to shatter convention.
According to the archaeologists, primitive humans hunted with stones and sticks—yet it may have taken them tens of thousands of years to think of binding a stone to a stick.
From the doorway came the voice of his eldest son, Pal, startling Kode out of his brooding: "Father, the representatives of the Malin Trading Company will be here very soon—and they have already been kept waiting over twenty minutes."
"Go receive them," Kode said without lifting his head. "I have matters to attend to here."
"But Father, what they wish to discuss is—"
"Go receive them," Kode repeated. "You know how to handle it. Go."
"Yes, Father."
Pal left. Film glanced somewhat nervously at the great merchant before him. "Mr. Kode, have I been delaying your—"
"Pay it no mind. Business is never finished, but a creative idea must not be missed." Kode smiled, then once more studied the blond young man before him with care, and asked earnestly, "Child, regarding this thing you have created—have you thought about what you intend to do with it?"
Film instinctively pressed down the hem of his coat and adjusted his cravat, as though trying to make himself as presentable as possible. "Sir, I... am honestly not certain. I merely hit upon an idea. The crystal is not my creation, nor are these runes. I only thought of recording a play inside a crystal, and then putting it on a magic-net terminal... but I have no troupe of my own, and I do not know how to buy a magic-net terminal or sell those recorded plays.
"Mr. Kode, I do not know how an idea should be priced, and that is why I wished to come south. The magic-net terminals come from here, after all. I have heard there are many new things in these lands, and people skilled in using them. Perhaps here, someone can advise me."
Kode looked at Film gravely. "...Let me first make certain—have you told anyone else about this 'idea' of yours?"
Film answered honestly, "No... ah, I did mention it to one traveling companion of mine. He is an upright man and a man of broad experience—it was he who advised me not to go groping about blindly, and told me to first inquire at the new-settler consultation office in the Civil Administration Hall."
"...He gave you very good advice. But regardless, child, your 'idea' must be turned into money as quickly as possible."
Hearing Kode's words, Film slowly drew a breath, and at last spoke: "Sir, two thousand gold coins—I mean... Ansu shield gold coins, or oval gold coins."
Kode was struck blank for a moment, as though he could not believe the price he had heard. Film, meanwhile, took it for a price set too high, and at once went on: "Sir, two thousand gold coins, and the idea belongs to you—wholly to you. Of course, if you think it is not worth that, we can go lower still..."
Kode gave Film a look of complicated expression.
Naive child... when you brought out that crystal and let people see the images recorded upon it, your idea was already in grave peril.
Perhaps most men of rare vision are, in the realm of worldly affairs, altogether too naive?