Spirit Taming

Chapter 483: A Young Merchant

A young merchant was many things. Easily swayed by some emotion since they had not perfected the best possible cover for when they found something good. But that also did not mean they were less of a merchant. The younger merchant perfectly understood the information he had just been given.

Furthermore, he understood that Clark was playing up the feelings of a beast in pain. While it may be the case that Clark didn't want to see a beast be born and grow in pain, eventually to be abandoned, it was also clear that Clark had a target.

That target was a much bigger merchant that had more power than they needed. In terra, there was rarely anyone that would be able to ignore the physical focus of power in the city. The people cared very much for physical growth over wealth or in depth knowledge studies. It was just the way that city had flourished, planning and growth from a young age.

With this in place, the merchants that did come from other cities were able to make their money but were unable to weasel their way in. Having a merchant group like the horned toad merchants who had been around too long for their own good without repercussion had lead to some issues.

They would monopolize certain potions and materials that the people needed for growth. The nutrient supplement potions that helped recover from harsh training were nearly all from one group because of the twenty years that was taken to grow. While this would be fine elsewhere, Terra city saw it as a problem. Specifically, the other merchants saw it as a problem.

If Terra remained like this, the smaller merchants would have no choice but to just fall in line beneath one person. They would eventually become the very same as what they did not want to be. Corrupted by the fact that only those who kneeled to the horned toad merchant group could grow. Therefore, this young merchant saw that he would be able to deal a heavy blow to the enemy in his own career.

When Clark noticed that the young merchant had fully gained a plan, he gave him a slight wave and let the merchant leave with the beast plan that would alter the gnarled willow eggs in to a twisted willow beast. Yet, the best part that Clark had been able to add was the immediate hatching of one egg that had gathered enough energy.

An egg that could still hatch as a gnarled willow and be immediately given a chance to reform in to a twisting willow.

"To think that you would already pick up on some issues I mentioned earlier." Vice headmaster Gold was smiling with a sly expression. From what he could see, this was perfect. He would be able to push away those that had gotten comfortable and forgotten the process of growth. Then he could use them as an example of what was needed to strive higher.

Furthermore solidifying the core values of the academy and city.

"Oh, he is already making a move." Isa saw the young merchant return and walk right up to the man responsible for the horned toad merchants. The man looked at the young merchant with a smile that any trained merchant had. One that was there just to save face and nothing else.

"This egg is a forced breeding! These aren't what they should be. They are gnarled willows. I just had them examined by the genius beast planners present and I want my gold coins back!" The shout immediately stopped the auction of a green crystals and metal alloy that Ralph was going to push Isa to bid on since he had no idea what it was.

Ralph's annoyance aside, many of the merchants immediately focused on the shouting younger merchant. "I can prove it by hatching one right now! These hacks are forcing their beasts to breed and selling things without appraisal by any expert other than the fake ones they pay. The horned toad merchants have gone senile!"

Some guards made a move but the auctioneer waved a hand for them to make room instead. The young merchant's actions were not unheard of. Many challenged wrong appraisals and poor products. Terra was fair in this regard. Unlike other cities like Nova city, Terra was open to those that questioned the goods they bought. No one had any issues with this.

But if someone was wrong, it was a massive blow to them and their business. It was better never to cry wolf.

As the horned toad merchants gathered, their group proved to be an impressive ten merchants that had all purchased tickets to monopolize the best items here at this auction. It was another thing that Terra could do nothing about. If they had fairly purchased tickets, then they would not be restricted. It was harder for the younger merchants to start.

The only reason the younger merchants got there were rewards given by Terra academy or other learning groups for specified fields.

With the auction house guards making room for the young merchant, he followed the details taking out energy crystals that most merchants would hold just to sweeten deals. A perk of being a merchant was having materials at the tips of their fingers. A reason why Isa was always showing off the energy crystals to the group when they needed them. She followed the same, always be stocked, mentality.

When the eggshell crumbled away in front of everyone, the small seedling was nothing like the willow beast they imagined. It didn't even attempt to put down roots while using the remains of the shell as nourishment. The black little branches and attempts at roots twisted in knots causing the weak bark to splinter.

Gasps from other merchants, families, and even the guards mixed with those also claiming the horned toad merchants had sold them poor goods. The show had become a perfect way for them to take down a major competitor and free the attachments from the group. However, it wasn't over.

"The beast plan I was given was made with kindness. Free of charge. Those up there care more for the beasts than their own wallets. Saints should be praised and that is why, I will show why they are able to earn such words from me." The young merchant seemed to flow right in to the act. It was as if he had been enlightened by the energy in the room.

The adrenaline rushing through his body made him want to throw aside his merchant life and fight a battle.

When the multitude of light energy crystals were brought out along with a few other smaller crystals, the gnarled willow slowly started to straighten some of the roots. Once it was able to do so, one small branch unknotted itself enough to wrap around another and do the same.

The actions seemed odd as the ambient energies in the room were becoming denser. The energy crystals were forcefully bleeding out as the young merchant used the rushed new connection with a beast to tough out the pain. Then to grow and relieve itself from the potential suffering it could have if it stayed the same.

As the scene was watched by every merchant, the horned toad merchants had begun tio push away from the show. They felt that they had just walked in to a trap. One that had snapped shut on their leg and would cut it off if they didn't make a move to erase their treatment of their beasts. The conditions they had been accused of.

Yet, when the horned toad merchants attempted to move, they found many others from the auction house blocking them. A wall of those that seemed to have the very same false smiles they used. It was almost comical watching the false faces crack to show fear for the first time.

Such a grand merchant group being torn apart by a clear example of what they were not compared to what they showed for many years.

When the gnarled willow began to twist its branches together, the stress was relieved from the innate sickness that forced its roots and branches to knot up. The bark on its moving body stopped cracking. The bark even began to show the usual facial figures of a treant type beast like this. However, it did not stop.

Instead of putting down roots right there in the auction house, the beast shattered the crystals following its instincts.

In doing so, the beast showed itself as it should be. A twisting willow that could move around without being totally limited to one place. A young twisting willow that had greedily taken the energy to change itself. One that now wrapped itself affectionately around the young merchant that had stayed strong and held the burden of its pain to fight for a better show.

"Now tell me, are the horned toad merchants allowed to torture their beasts and lie to everyone? Or will they face their crimes?" The young merchant finally released a smile and raised his head higher than ever before. He had been handed an opportunity. Naturally, he would use it and pay things back fairly.