Chapter 249: Maester Rad (2/2)

Him being here to help detect something was already giving face to the aristocrats connected to the Mayor. Mutual flattery? No way!

Meanwhile, Gerald quickly moved after a gesture from the woman, and promptly led the old man to a small rack he was using to display his wares. He even slid a high-and-mighty look, who appeared unmoved.

Maester Rad paid the young knight’s behavior no heed, and merely glanced at the first of the three items.

“This one’s a red halberd coral.” The old man said just after a moment.

So, it really wasn’t a Gray Fjord Coral!

Gerald was beside himself in excitement, but the old man interrupted just as he was about to turn to Marni.

“Red halberd corals have the highest quality amongst all scarlet corals, and this specimen’s refinement and its quality is quite rare! It only grows in the complicated yet mysterious region of the Gray Fjord… but this one has a richer color, its texture denser and more evenly spread, making it quite different from normal red halberds. In fact, it wouldn’t be an issue to classify this one as a new subspecies named the Gray Fjord Coral!”

The old man murmured in wonder. “Its value definitely surpasses any scarlet coral of the finest quality! I don’t know about other places, but this would sell for around eleven or twelve Abbys when I was still staying at the capital of the Valla Empire.”

Gerald’s words faded just as it was about to leave his mouth.

What? Wasn’t it just a plain red coral? How could it be that valuable?

But before Gerald could react, the old man had already turned to Marni’s second ware.

“This one…” Even without detection, the old man’s eyes were showing sparkles that did not match his age. “To think that I would see such immaculate elven art as I live and breathe! It’s so different from the sculpting of the enslaved elves of old… it is overflowing with freedom and joy, just like the wind… unbelievable…”

“What about the material?” Gerald couldn’t help asking, realizing that it wasn’t a counterfeit.

“Material? Well… it resembles wood, but it feels completely different from and common wood to the touch… This…”

The old man cast detection again at Gerald’s words, and was left stunned. “Lunawood… to think that there is still such wonderful material in this world. This item might well be worth its weight in gold!”

Gerald felt a chill inside.

‘Really?! There actually is something that improves your health while you sleep?’

And once again before he could say another word, the old man impatiently turned toward the last ware in the display rack—the large purple pearl.

However, the old man did not say a word after using detection, and merely kept silent.

Gerald felt that he might have a chance just then, and couldn’t help moving closer and ask, “Maester? What about it? Is it really a Violet Pearl plucked from a giant clam?”

The old man, however, completely ignored him and instead promptly turned toward the noblewoman. “Which great merchant is selling these wares? Where is he? If he’s unavailable, could you please pass my message that if he may dignify my old face, I shall have this pearl—a hundred Abbys!”