Chapter 205: Ch 205: Market - Part 1

Noah decided not to bring up the topic of sending Alan and Daniel back after that. He was sure that they would head back when they needed to.

So there was no point in him wasting his breath.

Besides, he had other work to do, like managing the villagers who had finally started to return. And right in time, because he was running low on supplies.

Noah usually kept a stock of food and other items in his fridge, but he was running low. So it was time for him to go and buy some more.

"I need to make a market run. Can you both look after the house?"

Noah asked as he grabbed his bag to bring stuff back in.

He watched as the pair in front of him exchanged a glance before they started playing rock-paper-scissors. Alan won, and Daniel pretended to collapse in shock.

Their suspicious behaviour made Noah cross his arms and frown.

"What are you both planning?"

He asked, causing Alan to smile a little wider as he walked towards Noah before wrapping his arms around the guide.

"Please pardon our little game and allow me to escort you to the market to buy stuff. Daniel can look after the house in our absence."

Alan assured Noah as he tightened his hold and started to drag Noah out of the house.

Noah suddenly became alert to what was happening, and he looked back at Daniel and then at Alan with narrowed eyes.

He also stomped his feet down, not wanting to head out suddenly. At least, not until he had shaken Alan off.

"Who said I am going to bring you with me? You are staying back with Daniel. I will go shopping alone."

Noah stressed these words, causing Alan’s smile to deepen just a little bit more.

"Oh! If that’s what you want, then fine. You can go shopping alone. I will just go shopping. If we happen to go the same way, then it is likely a coincidence, right?"

Alan asked with a smile on his face, and it did not sit well with Daniel.

But knowing Alan, he would just ignore anything Noah said anyway and follow after him. It was much easier and faster for him to give in and allow Noah to do whatever he wanted at this point.

"Sigh."

"Fine! Do what you want to do."

He turned around to walk out of the door, and Alan followed. But not before he flashed Daniel a triumphant smile, causing Daniel to grit his teeth in frustration.

...

The village had suffered a lot of damage because of the dungeon outbreak. Most of the homes had been damaged by the fast-acting monsters, and people had started reconstruction.

Some of the villagers had gathered supplies and set up a shop at the corner of the village to sell important stuff, like food and medicine.

However, resources were scarce, and just like any other time things like these happened, the price of these resources had surged beyond measure.

Noah did have money saved by Erin, but he still hesitated to use it. And that was why he decided to haggle with the seller over the prices.

"This will cost 10 dollars. Take it or leave it. If you don’t want it, then someone else will buy it for sure."

The shopkeeper was adamant about not lowering the price even a single bit for the vegetable bundle, causing Noah to grit his teeth.

On a normal day, the bundle would have cost a little over 3 dollars, and even then it would have been expensive.

But to expect anyone to pay 10 dollars was like robbing them in broad daylight.

"Sir, have you not gotten these bundles from the government for a subsidised price? You cannot be selling them at such a margin."

Noah pointed out, but the seller gave him a smug smile.

"I can sell them for however much I want to. Who is going to check on me? And if I get arrested, then you will lose the only vendor in your village, so think carefully before you make any decisions."

That was blackmail, but there was nothing Noah could do about it.

Unfortunately, the vendor was right. Noah was stuck now, not being able to do anything.

But just when he felt like he was in trouble, Alan decided to walk over. He leaned over Noah’s shoulder and looked at the vendor’s supplies with a smile on his face.

"Oh my! What do we have here? Fresh fruits and vegetables provided for disaster relief? Are you not selling it at the MSRP set for it?"

Alan asked while smiling. He had a nice smile, but when combined with the presence of his aura, it made him look scary.

The vendor seemed to have thought so as well because he flinched at Alan’s actions before presenting him with the same bullshit.

"Sir, I assure you that nothing is wrong. Things are being sold as they are intended to be. My prices are genuine-"

"Then you won’t mind if I ask my superiors about this, right? If you are truly selling it for the right price, then there would be no problem with an inspection. Right?"

Alan asked, and the vendor suddenly looked nervous.

"S-Sir, I assure you there is no need to-"

"Right?"

Alan asked in a firmer voice, causing the vendor to flinch even harder.

Even if the vendor did not want to believe that Alan was an inspector, he still could not win against the threatening aura Alan was letting out.

Usually, this was the time when Noah would interfere and tell Alan to knock it off. But he had no intention of doing it this time.

He watched as the vendor cowered and decided to give up.

"Sir, I will sell it to you at the intended price. Just don’t spread the word! Please! My livelihood depends on this. I need this money for the treatment and surgery that I am going to undergo soon."