Rise of empire: From gamer to emperor

The Kobold flicked his silver coin into the air, catching it without looking and smirked up at Ethan.

"Ah, Chief Ethan! A pleasure. I've heard so much about you," he purred. "Lovely little village you have here. It would be a shame if the villagers were to die of hunger don't you think?"

Ethan's eye twitched. Damn gremlins. Straightening his face. "Tell me more."

The smile on the Kobold's face widened, turning towards his cart he pulled out a strain of wheat."The finest grain, grown on the rich fertile lands of Lumeria." Handing Ethan the wheat. "Go on feel the texture."

Holding the wheat he nodded. "How much per kilo?"

Flipping the coin, "For you my friend, 10 bronze coin, I'll even throw an extra kilo of potatoes for 5 bronze coins."

Staring at the Kobolds smile he used the appraisal feature. The screen flickered displaying the result.

[Whole grain wheat grown in Moraine city.]

Ethan twirled the wheat in his fingers, pretending to admire it. "You know, I heard Lumerian wheat has a very distinct aroma. Let me just…" He lifted it to his nose.

The Kobold's smile stiffened.

"Hmmm…" Ethan sighed. "Doesn't smell like it." He smirked gazing at the Kobold, "Since when did Moraine city move to Lumeria? Or are my missing something here?"

A few villagers whispered among themselves, exchanging glances. One of them, an older man, clenched his fists. "I was just about to trade my last coins for that wheat…"

Anna smirked, arms crossed. "Glad we've got a Chief who knows how to handle tricky little gremlins."

The Kobold smiled awkwardly picking his coin off the ground, then cleared his throat. "Ah, silly me! Long journeys, you know how it is—must have mixed them up."

He rummaged through his cart with exaggerated enthusiasm, muttering in Kobold tongue. After a moment, he pulled out a slightly lighter wheat.

"There, now this one's from Lumeria. Notice the colour and texture?" he declared, grinning a little too wide.

Snatching the wheat from the Kobold's hands Ethan used the appraisal feature again.

[Still from Moraine city, just that it was grown using wood elemental magic.]

The Kobold smiled cutting in, "Looks nice right? To apologise for the earlier mistake I'll chip in another catty of beets for 4 bronze coin."

Rolling the coin in his hands. "What say you Chief."

Staring at the Kobold's smile, Ethan's lips twitched.You get caught lying once, and you just… lie harder? This guy's got no shame.

This little lizard really thinks I'm stupid.

"Still not Lumerian wheat."

Feigning an exaggerated expression, he sighed. "I could've sworn that was Lumerian wheat."Peering back into his cart muttering.

After a while be looked back up a forced smile on his face, rubbing his scaly hands together. "It seems I might've run out of Lumerian wheat. The Moraine city strain is a high quality wheat, why not give it a try."

Ethan stroked his chin contemplating before pausing. What a minute, why am I even considering this.

Seeing Ethan's face the Kobold stepped closer, lowering his voice. "Perhaps… a special discount, just for you? Say, exclusive merchandise from the Eastern Isles? Information on… certain trade routes and rare items?"

Ethan smirked. "Still trying, huh?"

The Kobold chuckled, bowing slightly. "Ah, my dear Chief, business is business. We Kobolds take pride in our… adaptability."

Ethan hummed, pretending to consider. "Adaptability is one word for it."

He leaned in, voice dropping just enough to make the Kobold uneasy. "Tell me, how much does this wheat cost in Moraine?"

The Kobold hesitated. "Ah, well, you see, transportation fees, tariffs, market fluctuations—"

Ethan waved him off. "Save it. I'll buy it for five bronze per kilo, and I want a fair deal on the potatoes and beets too."

The Kobold scoffed, feigning offense. "Five? Chief, Chief, you wound me! Do you know how difficult it is to transport such fine goods through treacherous roads?"

Ethan smirked. "Oh? You mean the ones that are patrolled by the Holy Light Kingdom? The safest routes on this side of Vaeloria? Or did you pass through The Vale?"

The Kobold's tail flicked. "Well—"

[And I thought you were shameless, he's even more of a scoundrel than you.]

Ethan's eyes twitched at the system's prompt. When have I ever acted shameless?

"So do we have a deal or not."

The kobold gazed at Ethan before smirking. "No we don't." Snatching the wheats he put it back inside the sack, slowly wheeling off his cart.

Ethan followed closely behind him, the Kobold glanced at him warily, readying himself for an escape.

Reaching the horse drawn carriage Ethan pulled out the leopard's corpse slamming it on the ground.

The villagers gasped. Sensing the commotion the Kobold turned around. He stood frozen, staring at the corpse, his tail flailing excitedly behind him.

Then, in a blur of movement, he sprinted forward, practically throwing himself onto the leopard's fur.

"Is… is that—"

"Yep," Ethan said casually. "A wildling leopard. Wind affinity."

The Kobold's breath quickened. His claws twitched like he was fighting the urge to snatch it and run away.

After a few minutes he recollected himself. His flushing when he realized he lost his composure.

"I… I want it. Name your price."

Raising a brow, Ethan asked. "Any price?"

The Kobold scoffed, "Do I look like a Samaritan? Name a good price and I'll buy it.

Smiling Ethan stated his demands, "I want the best price on wheat, potatoes, rice and tomato seedlings plus fifty silver coins and it's all yours."

The Kobold shrugged. "I don't have tomatoes, and I'll buy it for twenty silver coin."

Anna cut in from the side. "Let me at em" Sigrid stepped forward dragging her off while she flailed her arms.

"Forty. And you'll add the beets."

"Thriry-five, beets, wheats, potatoes, rice and a mysterious seed."

Ethan stared at him with a deadpan expression on his face. "No deal." Bending down to lift the leopard's corpse.

"You're not even slightly interested about the seed?"

Swinging the leopard over his shoulders, knees buckling in, gritting his teeth he muttered. "Nope."

"You're no fun. Fine forty it is, I assume it hasn't been tampered ."

He's thinking about the beast core, sly bastard knows it's worth at least a gold coin.

Smiling as he dropped the leopard's corpse back on the ground."Does it look tampered with?"

"Nope just making sure."

Few minutes later they finalised the deal, the Kobold handed Ethan a pouch containing the silver coins and four sacks containing four kilograms each of wheat, rice, beets and potatoes.

"How do you plan on taking that with you?" Ethan pointed to the corpse.

"Just place it on my cart." The Kobold smiled mischievously.

Nodding Ethan placed it on the cart, "And now?"

Gripping the handle the ground beneath the Kobold caved in as he disappeared underground.

Ethan stared at the hole, then back at the villagers. "Did… did anyone else just see that?"

One of the villagers whispered, "Damn gremlins."

Anna scoffed. "And you all think I'm weird."

Morris stared at the villagers and scoffed, "It's just magic." Before walking away.

Glancing once more at the hole Ethan shook his head. Wait till he finds out.

[Congratulations! You just scammed a scammer. Truly, an inspiration to capitalism.]

Ethan stumbled, regaining his footing he walked back hastily to his house.