Chapter 24 Small Conflic (1/2)

Matt swore to the heavens that he had never tasted such a delicious breakfast since he was born.

Although it was just ordinary white bread, beef, and vegetable soup placed on an old wooden table. But compared to dried meat and cold water from a few days ago, the meal they had right now was almost comparable to the sumptuous dishes from the palace.

”Praise the great Holy Spirit, thank the Holy Spirit for giving us food...”

This was maybe one of the most earnest prayers before meals from Matt. But before he finished expressing his gratitude, suddenly a voice called out to him.

”I did not expect that you were a believer.”

Matt quickly opened his eyes. He saw Rhode and Lize walking down the stairs and sat in front of him. His face was still as indifferent as before. He not could tell if Rhode was being sarcastic or not. Thus, the fat merchant could only show an embarrassed smile.

”This... I always have a certain gratitude towards food. There is no relation between being a believer or not...”

His voice slowly drifted off. It was obvious that the fat merchant did not intend to prolong this boring topic, so he quickly changed the topic.

”What are you guys planning to do after this?”

However, Rhode did not answer immediately. He ordered two breakfast and asked a question out of nowhere, ”How about you, Mr. Matt?”

”Me?”

Matt was caught slightly off guard, and he gloomily shrugged his shoulders.

”For me, I will go to the Deep Stone City to apologize to the recipient. Then I must compensate for their loss. Sigh, what lousy luck! Not only did I lose all the goods, but I also need to pay a large sum of money. My luck is really not so good...”

”So sorry...”

Lize revealed an apologetic face. After all, her mercenary group was responsible for protecting the merchant and his goods. But now the products had been lost. It could be said that they did not do a good job. Although to many people, these matters would be labeled as 'just an accident'. But as a responsible person, Lize did not want to accept it like that.

”No no no! It's not your fault, Ms. Lize. I am also at fault.”

Perhaps it was because he had returned to the safety of civilization, Matt subconsciously revealed his merchant side.

”If I knew that such thing would happen, I would never have done it. Sigh, but now it's already too late. It was thanks to both of you that I can sit here and not become the dinner of those terrible beasts in the forest.”

He stopped talking and showed a rare sincere smile. He reached out his hand and took out two purses.

”This is the reward for both of you. Ms. Lize, thank you for saving my life for several times. If it was not because of you, I am afraid that I wouldn't be sitting in front of you now.”

”No no no. This is what I am supposed to do. After all, we have taken your money...”

Looking at the purse, Lize hurriedly stood up and shook her head vigorously. But Matt was an old slippery fellow. He did not wait for Lize to finish her sentence. Then, he turned around and look at Rhode.

”Mr. Rhode, especially you... Frankly, if not because of you, the both of us would not be able to escape from Twilight Forest. I know that for high noble like you, this amount of money might not mean much, But please take it as a token of our gratitude.”

”You don't have to be so polite, Mr. Matt.”

Rhode looked at the purse but did not reach out and take it.

”You have also saved my life. If you did not order to stop the boat, I am afraid I'd long be residing inside a beast stomach. So about the money... I think you can take it back..”

”This…”

Matt felt a bit awkward. It was alright if it was just Lize. But against Rhode, he could not merely wave it away. In fact, this money was not only for repayment for service and gratitude. Instead, he wanted to increase their relationship with each other. Even though Matt wanted Rhode to accept, but he did not dare to force him since it might cause Rhode to be dissatisfied with him. As a merchant, he had dealt with a lot of nobles before, so he knew that nobles truly regarded their reputation, dignity, and position - especially the very talented young ones. Their self-esteem was high and some of them were even eccentric. Thus, he did not dare to force him like what he did to Lize. He revealed an embarrassed smile before taking out a small silver badge.

”Since Mr. Rhode said so, then I will no longer force you. But I hope you accept this badge. This is a keepsake from the Silver Libra Merchant Guild. Although our guild is not powerful in the Dragon Soul Continent. But it can be considered quite prominent. If you need my help in the future, please do tell me and I will do my best.”

This time, Rhode did not refuse Matt good intention. In fact, he had been waiting for it.

Rhode understood how these merchants usually think. In their opinion, money was above all else. Including their own life. The reason he took out the money was only to repay his life-saving grace. But he knew that after he took the money, they would be on even grounds.

This was not what Rhode wanted to achieve. He had his own goal, and to accomplish this goal, he would need some help. Matt's Merchant Guild was of course not some large organization. But since it was a merchant guild, it had important information between the trade network that Rhode could not acquire by himself. After considering for a moment, it was more beneficial to his future to let them owe something to him right now.

Matt, of course, did not think that Rhode would think like this. His mind was filled with the preconceived notion that Rhode was a high noble with a strong family backing. For people like Rhode, why would he even try to curry favor with a small fry like him? It was Matt that should try to curry favor with Rhode instead.

This was a beautiful misunderstanding.