Although the aristocratic etiquette of Shurima and Demacia are not exactly the same, this decent man, Mr. Rambaka, obviously understood what Kalya wanted Lux to express.
"This mulberry tea is not good."
The quality of the mulberry tea in the teahouse should have nothing to do with Mr. Rambaka - but the problem is that Rambaka has a kickback agreement with this teahouse.
Respectable people would not talk about money as soon as they meet. This would damage the image of the broker as a powerful broker. Therefore, Ranbaka set a "rule". If he wanted to talk about something, he would buy a drink with the highest price. Normally, no one would order it at all.
of mulberry tea.
At the teahouse, Qisangcha can just make something that looks similar, and the excess profits will be given back to Ran Baka, which will be regarded as the entrance fee for hiring a broker.
Tea such as mulberry tea is unpopular and precious. Not only is the price astonishing, but the taste is unique. When most people come to Rambaka, they don't have the thought to order a cup for themselves.
Even if they order a drink for themselves, they may not have any problem drinking it.
Therefore, the admission fee can be said to be collected elegantly and decently in normal times.
As a result, this time... things got awkward.
After buying Ranbaka a drink, Lux ordered a drink for herself, took a small sip, and pushed it away. From her posture, she obviously found something wrong with the tea.
Seeing this scene, Rambaka quickly realized two things.
First of all, the lady who is looking for me has an extraordinary background and extensive knowledge. She recognized the problem of mulberry tea at a glance. It is not easy to deal with her, but the benefits may be considerable.
Secondly, his own tricks have been completely seen through. In this transaction, he has already fallen into a disadvantageous position as soon as he comes out, and even the trust of the other party will be limited.
For Ranbaka, Lux's performance is both an opportunity and a challenge.
For this kind of challenge, Rambaka will find it difficult, but he will not feel ashamed - after all, being a broker can be regarded as a profession that sells face.
……………………
Although he just smiled politely on his face, Ran Baka thought about many problems in his heart in an instant. After suppressing his smile, he pretended to be proud and drank the tea in one gulp, and then simply walked towards Lacus's table.
Come.
Ran Baka, who has been a broker for many years, knows very well that negotiating with customers is both cooperation and competition. He can do what the customers want to know and gain favor. But for professionals, a better way is to change the way of communication and not fall behind.
Get into the opponent's rhythm.
Being reduced to a subordinate controlled by the other party, such a broker cannot get the price!
Since Lux looks full of aristocracy, then the decent Ranbaka should show his cheerful side and solve the problem in a straightforward way!
In just three or two steps, Ran Baka had already confirmed how he would communicate with Lux next. With just a moment of lowering his head, the expression on his face turned into a warm and cheerful one.
"Dear Miss, it's an honor to meet you, and I'm very grateful for your choice." Bowing slightly, Rambaka did not insist on aristocratic elegance, but greeted Lux in the ordinary way of Uzeris,
"There is no decent tea in a remote shop. If it doesn't suit your taste, I also know a few tea merchants who have just come from the Shurima River. They are sure to have good products!"
"It's not necessary." Lux maintained the restraint of a noble lady, raised her face slightly, and showed a perfect smile, but her eyes did not fall on the other party's eyes at all, "When the war is in chaos, the supply of supplies It’s not a big deal if it doesn’t taste good. Moreover, although wattle is not as silky and smooth as mulberry tea, at least the flavor is close... But I am used to drinking mulberry, so I am not used to the natural flavor of mulberry."
While speaking, under Kalya's instructions, Ino walked around the table from the left, opened a seat for Ran Baka, and then smoothly retreated behind Lacus. The whole process was smooth and silent.
"Yes, the war is in chaos." Ran Baka sat down and although his tone remained calm, there was a slight sweat on his back, "Uzeris is a city that never falls. It's a pity that Noxus always comes. It's worry that makes the situation so tense..."
Ran Baka originally planned to use a straight-forward approach to disrupt the opponent's rhythm, but he didn't expect that as soon as he opened his mouth, the other side even tasted the plants used to pretend to be mulberry tea, which made his words suddenly stop. , I can only continue along the topic of Lux and gain a chance for myself to reorganize the language.
It's a pity that Lux, who has a plug-in brain, will not give him time to think slowly.
"Noxians value strength. It seems that as long as they can fight, everything will be fine." Lux's tone was calm, as if she was expounding some truth. "Let them manage Uzeris, and if there is any trouble, they will use their rough tactics." The ridiculous tactics, controls, and purchase restrictions are ridiculous."
"Yes, yes, it's extremely ridiculous." Ran Baka could only nod, "But after all, it's for city defense."
As he spoke, Ran Baka spread out his hands, showing a helpless look.
"The city defense cannot mess with the rules." Lux shook her head slightly and frowned slightly, "There is no distinction between high and low, wouldn't it mean that there are no rules? If there are no rules, wouldn't that mean that the order is messed up?"
Ranbaka blinked.
In fact, the logic of Lux's words is not strict - in a state of war, even Uzeris will inevitably be unable to maintain a state of class distinction, or it can be said that the order in wartime is different from that in peacetime.
But even if you can figure it out in the blink of an eye, it is difficult to express it directly in the blink of an eye.
So, before he could speak, Lux shook her head again, showing a kind-hearted person.
"However, this kind of thing always requires scale." She continued, as if giving the city defense troops a big face, "The majority of the soldiers have gone to the city wall, and the order in the city can only be maintained by ourselves. Already."
Ran Baka was a little surprised to find that although the other party's words and sentences were completely aristocratic, he could not keep up with the other party's rhythm.
Faced with what Lux said, all he could do was nod mechanically.
"The city gate is under strict surveillance. It is not easy to transport items worthy of status. The wild rice has been sold at a price of mulberry, so I want it." Lux seemed to return to the previous question of tea, "Mr. Ranbaka is a A decent person can always maintain his dignity, unlike me, who suddenly left home and was caught in a war, and even couldn't get any wild rice."
Ran Baka blinked, and this time he finally understood what Lux meant - after talking for a long time, you were just asking me to inquire about the black market!
What is breaking the rules, what is maintaining dignity... You just dislike the basic supplies rationed after the city is under martial law and want to buy some "things worthy of your status" from the black market. Other than that, they are all excuses!
Under Kalya's guidance, Lux maintained impeccable etiquette while speaking slowly but as if there was no doubt about it. She made her request relatively tactfully but without any ambiguity.
However, even though Lux had gone through such a big circle and was confused at one point, after understanding her purpose, Ran Baka became enthusiastic again.
Is there a black market in Uzeris?
Yes, and the scale is not small.
Because this city originally belonged to Shurima and later joined Noxus. Compared with the relaxed environment of Shurima, Noxus has many more restrictions on business, and the tax rate is also higher. This kind of
Under such circumstances, some of the resources of the Uzeris market were transferred underground, forming a black market.
Recently, due to the military preparations and the city blockade, the residents of Uzeris have an increasing demand for the black market. Seeing that there is going to be a war, who doesn't want to hoard some war preparation supplies?
However, when they saw that the scale could be expanded, the big shots in charge of the black market chose to keep a low profile as much as possible and tightened their qualifications to enter the market.
This seemingly abnormal tightening is, on the one hand, because the organizers of the black market know very well that war is the most nervous nerve for Noxians. At this juncture, if something goes wrong on the black market, then this stall will
It was completely smashed.
On the other hand, it is also because the amount of materials circulating in the black market is actually very limited. The Noxians have completely taken over the port. Even if the locals of Uzeris have great hands and eyes, it is difficult to get supplies beyond their quota. Instead of leaving a group with no sense of confidentiality
, when civilians who don’t have much money to spend and what they want to buy are out of stock come in, they might as well just close the door!
As a senior broker, Ran Baka is qualified to recommend new clients, but there are only a limited number of places.
And now, even though he didn't even know Lux's identity or her background, when Lux asked for special supplies channels, Ran Baka introduced the black market to her without hesitation.
In Rambaka's view, this lady is obviously a valuable customer. Judging from her performance, introducing her to the black market will not cause trouble and will make a fortune.
Look at this aristocratic look, look at this accent that seems to be engraved into the bones!
This is my favorite customer!
……………………
Lux and Ranbaka "talked happily".
From Ran Baka's hand, Lux got the certificate to enter the black market.
The certificate is an iron ring inlaid with dragon's eye stone - dragon's eye stone sounds cool, but it is actually a relatively cheap gemstone in Shurima. The dragon's eye stone on the ring is of average quality and price.
If so, it would barely be worth the money for the two cups of tea that Lux just spent.
Remaining reserved with an alias, Lux and Ino returned to the hotel smoothly. After returning to their rooms, the two little girls, who were stiff from role-playing, finally breathed a long sigh of relief.
"I would rather walk fifty miles in the desert than talk nonsense with people like this with a fake smile!" Lux said with a helpless expression, "Karya, besides the black market, there are obviously
Community markets and flea markets, why do we have to go to all the trouble to find some black market?”
"You can't buy high-energy food in community markets and flea markets that can support you across the desert." Kalya replied calmly, "Although the dry climate of the desert will make food more difficult to spoil, from here to Naerima
Jie, this kind of physical exertion cannot be supported by the rations in the community market."
"Can't we use salt algae, sand potatoes and the like?" Lux was still a little confused, "Obviously these things are in the daily ration list, and you can always buy them as long as you pay a high price."
"It seems that even after such a long journey in the desert, you still don't realize what kind of journey you are going to face next." Kalya said helplessly, "After leaving Uzeris, you and Ino need to spend every day
Walking with a camel for more than eighteen hours, and also requiring frequent use of magic, puts yourself on the verge of lack of magic and will collapse - and, before arriving at Nerimajie, you also need to gain a little weight and store enough energy.
Energy to cope with the climb to Mount Targon..."
Every time Kalya said a condition, Lux and Ino's mouths grew a little bigger. When Kalya finally finished talking about their arrangements from here to Nerimajie, even though they had experienced hundreds of battles, they
It's still hard to believe my ears.
According to Kalya's request, the next section of the road can only be described as "fatal"!
Devil training?
This is clearly training for "the devil will show a sympathetic expression when he sees it"!
However, after thinking about it carefully, Lux and Ino were surprised to find that they might actually be able to withstand this level of training!
Since entering the desert, Kalya has been constantly tightening the conditions for the two of them. From first avoiding the noon time and traveling like ordinary desert travelers, to moving day and night reversely; from being able to relax and rest at night, to having to work overtime at night.
Make up some extra lessons; from riding a Skalash to walking on foot with a Chalikal on your back...
Compared with when they first entered the desert, Lux and Ino have completely adapted to the rhythm and method of traveling in the desert!
As soon as they leave Uzeris, their rest time will be further shortened, they will say goodbye to riding completely and start traveling at night.
After the halfway point, they need to actively consume magic power to maintain their posture of insufficient magic power, use magic power to resist the storm on the cliff of Mount Targon while simulating climbing the peak, and further shorten their rest time. They can only take a light sleep for two hours at noon every day.
And if you want to maintain your weight without losing weight in this state...
Thinking about this, Lux couldn't help but shook her head: "Are we going to eat dragon meat?"
"The answer is correct." Beyond her expectation, faced with this complaint, Kalya gave an agreeable answer, "The elemental dragon contains high magic power, and high-energy meat is a good choice. Of course, including Zhuo
The meat of otherworldly animals, including bait fish, soul-eating sea worms, and Zamora scorpions, can also be used - these kinds of things are really hard to buy without going to the black market."
Hearing this, both Lux and Ino widened their eyes in shock.
"Of course, these things may not be easy to buy, but if you take a step back, you can also consider it." Kalya continued to talk to himself, "Earth dragon lizards, dragons, birds, dragons, dogs and the like can be used, as well as certain magical plants.
Okay...trust me, these things may not taste good, but they are really filling."
I don't know if they were hallucinating, but when Lux and Ino heard Kalya say "very happy", their tone was a little... subtle?