Volume 5 - Ch 3.10
When I got back to Zabirs Adventurers Guild, Roxanne and Sherry immediately approached me and welcomed me back, and I added them back into my Party, and then I proceeded to wait until someone who looked like an Adventurer finally came out of one of the portals that opened up on the Guilds wall. It looked like he was alone, which means that there was no one-way comers who came form Palmasque to Zabir with him. I had a question that I wanted to ask him , so I immediately approached him.
Excuse me, sir!
Yes? What is it?
I am sorry to be troubling you, but would you happen to know how much does a Palmasque Mirror cost?
I asked my question while hoping that the answer was not going to literally knock me off my feet.
A Palmasque Mirror? That depends on its size. How big are you looking for?
About this much, I would say.
I then used both my hands to show him the size that I was thinking of: from the top of my head down to my chest.
Is it going to be a costly purchase after all?
Now, as I said, the exact price depends on the size, but when it comes to the Palmasque Mirrors, most of the ones that are being sold are the ones with expensive decorations made from jewels added to them, and these are the thing that can really ramp up the price of the final product. As for the smaller ones, there are hand mirrors that are crafted to function as pendants, but since most of the craftsmen tend to create them from silver or gold, then you should prepare yourself to pay for such a mirror with gold coins.
The Adventurer replied to me, sharing what he knew about the prices of Palmasque Mirrors. When it comes to the decorated mirrors, I have to admit that I do not know how they look like, because back on earth I only ever saw the regular ones.
But if they are supposed to be decorated with gemstones, then they have to be decorated on the outer rim, because if the decorations were to be placed on the surface of the mirror itself, then that would make it extraordinarily difficult to use them for their intended purpose. And if the decorations are to be placed on the mirrors frame, then I guess that frame has to be made out from at least silver or gold, just like the Adventurer mentioned. In Palmasque, the business of creating mirrors has to consist now only of the artisans of glass working creating the actual mirror that is going to reflect the image of whoever looks into it back at them, but it must also consist of the craftsmen knowing full well what to do and where to place the jewels that are going to be used for decoration in order to increase the value of the finished product in order to elevate its price to the highest possible degree.
And in order to pull something like that off, you would definitely need not only mirror makers themselves, but also the help of the metal and jewelry workers, and all of them would have to be highly trained in their respective fields. Has this world never even heard of such a thing as free competition, or is it perhaps too modern of a concept for them to even wrap their heads around?
I took Roxanne and Sherry and moved away into one of the corners of the Guild building so that we could talk in a slightly more private manner.
Sherry, open your Item Box.
Of course, master.
I asked Sherry to open her Item Box for me, and then I handed her some silver coins. One entire column worth ten items was reserved strictly for the Anti Poison Pills, which means that she should still have nine columns worth ten items still free. So I handed both Roxanne and Sherry a silver coin that they would need to pay for their City Entrance Tax.
In addition to that, I filled Sherrys Item Box with a generous amount of silver coins and a number of gold coins. I could have given her ten gold coins because that is the maximum amount that could be fitted into her current Item Box, but to be honest, I hesitated from giving her such a small fortune when she probably is not going to need as much of it for what I was going to ask her to do in a moment.
We are going to go to Palmasque now, and you are going to be buying two mirrors there, the money that I have given you should be enough.
Two mirrors, master?
Sherry asked while tilting her head to the side, unsure of how she should react to what I just told her.
Yeah, two mirrors, one for Gozer and one for us to use at back at home. And since you and Roxanne are going to be the ones who will be primarily using that mirror, make sure to pick up the one that the two of you are definitely going to like. Do not buy anything decorated or ornamental, just plain old regular Palmasque Mirror, and the price should not go beyond what I have just given you. In case that it is going to not be enough for the two of the same kind of mirrors, buy a large one for Gozer and a small, pendant-like one for us. The City Entrance Tax that you are going to have to pay is going to be one silver coin.
Are you not going with us to do this, master?
Yeah, I guess you can kinda say that.
Roxanne asked me doubtfully, to which I have chosen to answer with some vague, unspecified words. But that is simply how it has to be.
Since I am not an Adventurer, then I probably will not be able to enter Palmasque through Palmasques Adventurers Guild, because I would not pass Intelligence Cards inspection, and if the Knights who are supposedly belonging to the Knight Order that answers directly to the city council would have caught wind of an Explorer who is using Adventurers Guilds wall to travel for some bizarre reason, there would be no end to the questioning that I would have been subjected too, or perhaps fate would have even worse things in store for me. Therefore, I am going to be entrusting the mission of buying the mirrors to the two of them.
Are you sure you want me to handle such a large amount of money, master? I mean, you have given me so many of your gold coins.
Everything is going to be fine, Sherry. I fully trust you, so I have no problems with that.
Sherry had a good point though. Under normal circumstances, I would have never given her such a large amount of money, but this time, however, I feel as if the fates had forced my hand and left me with no other choice. However, if I was a type of guy who would have chosen to continue to live according to the rule that I would never want to spent gold coins for the purpose of shopping, then my own stinginess with money would have resulted in me not being able to buy good weapons and pieces of armor.
Y-Yes, master! I understand!
Now, as for how much time this should take you. How about one hour? Yeah, that sounds like more then enough time. Unless of course you will not be able to find any mirror that would suit the criteria that I have given you. If that happens, be sure to go back the Adventurers Guilds Building immediately. I will make sure no to disband our Party for the next hour, I will immediately know when you are going to be back.