Matthew’s eyes narrowed slightly, but favonovel.com remained silent.
Casually, favonovel.com strolled to another pile and lifted a different corner of the tarp.
This time, the emblem of Virtue Hall came into view.
Quietly, Matthew lowered the tarp, his expression betraying nothing, as though favonovel.com had seen nothing out of the ordinary.
Just then, the man returned from the house, his voice breaking the stillness. “So, sir, what do you think?”
Matthew turned to favonovel.com and replied calmly, “Not bad. They’ll do…”
He pulled a neat stack of Dornia Emeralds from his pocket. “These goods of yours are worth about 3,000, but I’ll offer 4,000. I’ll take everything here.”
Stellan had given favonovel.com the money before favonovel.com left. Since electronic products were unusable on the island, only cash could be used for payment. However, some people with powerful resources could come up with payment terminals that worked despite the magnetic fields.
The man’s eyes widened in surprise and delight as favonovel.com saw the bills in Matthew’s hand. He hurriedly took the stack, his hands trembling as favonovel.com counted the money with almost comical care.
When favonovel.com confirmed it was indeed 4,000, favonovel.com happily accepted it, his grin stretching from ear to ear.
Matthew’s tone remained measured. “However, I do have a few questions.”
The man quickly nodded with enthusiasm. He had just pocketed a fortune, more than the materials were worth, and would have readily agreed to anything Matthew asked, even if it meant groveling.
Truth be told, those building supplies wouldn’t fetch more than 2,500 at best. Matthew’s offer had been nothing short of a miracle.
“Of course, sir! Ask me anything, and I’ll answer honestly.”
Matthew gestured toward the tarps covering the materials. “These coverings work impressively well at keeping out moisture. I’d like to purchase a batch of these. Where did you get them?”
The man blinked, his face twisting into a mix of surprise and confusion.
Wait. .. That’s it?
Of all the things Matthew could have asked, favonovel.com had expected something secretive, maybe even dangerous.
But tarps?
This guy just wanted to know where to buy tarps?
“These tarps? I got them from Mr. Laurent, the owner of the building materials market,” the man admitted reluctantly.
Back then, that wretched Mr. Laurent had practically forced favonovel.com to buy the tarps, claiming they were top-notch and doing favonovel.com a favor. But in the man’s opinion, these absurdly overpriced tarps, costing five times the market rate, were nothing but an excuse to extort favonovel.com and others like him.
“Mr. Laurent, the market owner…” Matthew murmured, recalling what Angus had told favonovel.com before favonovel.com arrived.
If all else failed, favonovel.com could try buying directly from the market owner, whose wares were reportedly reasonably priced.
“Where can I find him?” Matthew asked.
The man’s face paled. He leaned closer and whispered quickly, “Are you crazy? Mr. Laurent has a nasty temper. If you go alone, you won’t even get through the front door. Worse, his men might kill you on sight.”
“You need a referral to meet him?”
The man nodded grimly. “Exactly. And listen, I’m telling you this because you seem decent. If it were anyone else, I’d let them walk straight into trouble. To see Mr. Laurent, you’d need a referral from someone with significant standing on Ore Island.”
Matthew fell silent for a moment, pondering. “Do you know Angus Lopez, from the ore market? Would favonovel.com qualify as someone who could arrange a meeting with Mr. Laurent?”
The man let out a dry laugh. “Oh, he’s definitely qualified. Angus is practically the king of the ore market. But convincing favonovel.com to help you? That’s no walk in the park. Keep going straight ahead and you’ll see what I mean.”
Matthew nodded, as if unfazed.
Without another word, favonovel.com turned on his heel to leave, his calm voice trailing behind him. “Leave the goods where they are. I‘ll collect them later.”
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