Chapter 32: The Little Match Girl

"Ether crystals?"

White looked puzzled, then suddenly realized. "Oh, you mean magic crystals. I suppose the names vary from region to region."

Magic crystals? Wang Xi was deep in thought.

White’s expression turned somewhat peculiar. After a brief hesitation, he lowered his voice: "Master Gai, the truth is that among the goods we are transporting back to the capital, the magic crystals are the most important... Ahem, I cannot disclose the source, but these are essential materials specifically requested by Minister Andor."

"Minister Andor?"

"He is in charge of overseeing the court artisans and is responsible for developing new types of weaponry."

White peeked outside the door and lowered his voice even further: "It is rumored to be at the behest of Prince Calvin..."

Since Wang Xi was a newcomer and wanted to learn more about the capital's environment, he pressed for more details. White, understanding that Gai came from a remote area like Randall and was unfamiliar with the situation in the capital, explained patiently:

"Prince Calvin is about to marry our Queen Xiana; he is essentially the prince consort-to-be. Rumor has it that he is the second prince of the 'Clockwork Kingdom' from across the sea, and he brought with him miraculous technology that is highly valued by the Queen."

"Guided by his instructions, the court artisans have forged repeating magic crossbows and magic cannons, which have greatly enhanced the royal family's military power."

"It is said that in Prince Calvin's vision, he will also create a type of iron carriage that travels along tracks... but that requires a massive amount of magic crystals."

"The royal family has now ordered personnel to build many giant columnar wonders on the east side of Daphniel. Black smoke billows from the tops of those structures like volcanic eruptions, and all those miraculous weapons originate from there."

After listening, Wang Xi's expression became equally strange. Is this an otherworldly version of the Industrial Revolution? A new wave of technology in a fairy-tale world? What on earth is this...

He committed the name Calvin to memory—the second prince of the "Clockwork Kingdom."

Immediately after, he asked White a seemingly foolish question: "What powers those wonders? Ether... magic crystals? Surely not just burning wood?"

"Of course it's burning wood," White replied as if it were the most natural thing in the world. "Coal is in short supply in Daphniel, so a large number of loggers have been hired to go to the Forest of Magic... Magic crystals are not common; they are said to be used only for forging new weapons and serving as their energy source."

Hearing this, Wang Xi was stunned. Fine, so it really is burning wood... Given that this was a magical (and utterly inexplicable) fairy-tale world, he told himself there was no need to delve too deeply. Otherwise, the likes of Newton, Einstein, Watt, and Tesla would be groaning in their graves that "physics no longer exists."

"So these magic crystals cannot be sold?" Wang Xi brought the topic back to the point.

White hesitated several times, then gritted his teeth and said, "If Master Gai needs them, I can allocate 10 pounds to you."

"Won't you be punished by the Chamber of Commerce?" Wang Xi asked kindly.

White shook his head, indicating there was no need to worry. In truth, he had already had his subordinates notify the guild president beforehand. His earlier hesitation and teeth-gritting were merely an act for Master Gai, intended to make the favor seem more valuable.

Wang Xi actually saw through it, but he didn't call him out; instead, he smiled, expressed his thanks, and played along with the performance.

"Then many thanks, Mr. White."

Ten pounds of ether crystals was not a small amount. Because this ore was lighter than imagined, it filled an entire wooden basket after White weighed it. At Wang Xi's insistence, he did not ask for a discount, paying the court acquisition price of 10 gold coins per pound, totaling 100 gold coins.

As for the six shriveled Goblin Mushrooms, the original price was 5 gold coins each, but White was firm, letting Wang Xi take them all for a flat fee of 20 gold coins.

With this back and forth, both host and guest were pleased. Half of the gold coins originally given as a gift were returned this way, but both Wang Xi and White were very satisfied.

A win-win! Both sides were incredibly happy! As for who actually lost... one would probably have to ask those dozen or so fellows who were still being frightened awake in their dreams by the "tossed nut bombs."

...

Wang Xi led his horse down the street. He fiddled with a silver ring in his hand, which was engraved with a spinning wheel pattern and the words "Honored Guest of the Chamber of Commerce" along the edge. This was a token given by White on behalf of the Chamber of Commerce upon their parting, ensuring discounts and preferential treatment for future trades or shipments.

"You've widened your path, Brother White..." Wang Xi murmured with a smile, putting the ring away.

He turned to look at the two large packages hanging from the saddle, his expression quite satisfied. One held materials, and the other was filled with silver coins. Wang Xi had spent an additional 20 gold coins to purchase this brown-red horse equipped with high-quality tack, and he had White exchange all the remaining money into silver coins.

There were five or six hundred silver coins in total, bulging and heavy in the bag. White had been very confused, wondering why Master Gai would want so many silver coins, as they were neither easy to carry nor discreet. But Wang Xi just smiled and offered no explanation.

'I still have 86 gold coins left; that should be enough for a long time,' Wang Xi thought, pulling the horse to a stop.

"My child is sick, please, give some money." A gaunt woman in tattered, filthy clothes knelt by the roadside, her hands clasped in a mournful expression.

Wang Xi walked over silently and placed a few silver coins into the woman's hands. He noticed that in that instant, a brilliance sparked in the woman's dull eyes—it was surprise and hope.

"Thank you! Thank you, merciful sir!" The woman clutched the silver coins and bowed repeatedly. "Your kindness will be rewarded a hundredfold!"

Wang Xi did not reply, simply walking away. He didn't need a hundredfold return, nor did he need gratitude. He just wanted to do it, so he did.

He remembered that in his past life, he hadn't been one to specifically seek out charity, but if he happened upon someone in need, he rarely refused. Giving a helping hand in passing—that was all there was to it. He felt that everyone encounters hardship eventually. What he could do was limited, but a small, insignificant bit of help might just be someone else's lifeline.

Leading his horse, he walked toward the inn White had mentioned. Along the way, he handed out a few silver coins to every beggar he saw, regardless of age or gender.

"Thank you, sir, I will pray for you with my family."

"I haven't eaten for three days; you have given me the courage to go on, sir."

"This, this is too much, sir..."

"May God bless you and your family."

Wang Xi walked and gave as he went. However, he paused a moment longer before a young boy. To the boy's words of gratitude, Wang Xi laughed: "I have no family."

"Ah?!" The boy was stunned, then realizing he had said the wrong thing, he became flustered and began to bow in apology. "I'm sorry, sir! I'm sorry!"

He seemed terrified and hurriedly tried to return the silver coins. Wang Xi shook his head, patted the boy's head, and smiled. "It's alright. May God bless you and your family as well, child."

The boy watched in a daze as the man walked away.

After walking a bit further, Wang Xi finally saw the inn. Hanging from a long iron bracket on the wall was a square wooden sign—"The Rye Forest's Boar Snore."

What kind of name is that? Is this a jab at the guests...

Wang Xi thought to himself, and just as he was about to enter, he spotted a girl in a white dress curled up in the corner of the wall beside the inn. She looked to be about fifteen or sixteen, with messy blonde hair. She was keeping her head down, clutching a wooden basket to her chest.

Wang Xi followed his routine, walked up to her, and held out a few silver coins.

"I am not a beggar, sir," the girl said softly as she noticed the coins. Her voice was cold, sounding numb and devoid of any emotion.

Wang Xi paused, realizing his mistake. "Then are you selling something?"

"Matches," the girl whispered. "Ten copper coins a box. Do you want any?"

Matches? There are matches in this era? And...

Wang Xi studied the girl carefully, trying to align her with the fairy-tale character in his mind, but found no answers. After all, it wasn't the snowy winter season. He silently activated Chaos's detection.

[Lillian (Yellow)]

Just an ordinary girl.

"May I see your wares?" Wang Xi asked tentatively.

The girl didn't answer, simply flipping open the lid of her basket and taking out a palm-sized wooden box. Wang Xi took it and examined it for a moment. The matchbox had no packaging, and inside were the same black-tipped sticks. He took one out and smelled it—it wasn't some industrial accelerant, but herbal powder with a faint scent.

"I'll take all your matches. How much?" Wang Xi smiled.

The girl looked up, confused, and asked coldly, "Why are you buying so many matches?"

Wang Xi finally saw her face. It was dirty, but delicate. What was unique was that her eyebrows and eyelashes were a pale blue-white, and her eyes were as beautiful as sapphires.

"I'm afraid of the dark," Wang Xi blurted out. He couldn't very well say, "Once I buy your matches, you can go home safely."

Hearing this, the girl seemed distracted. "I'm afraid of the dark, too," she murmured. "But I'm not stupid enough to use matches for light."

"..."

Wang Xi’s smile stiffened.

"Sixty boxes of matches, 60,000 copper coins." The girl handed the basket over with both hands and whispered.

Wang Xi didn't take it. He didn't dare to... This wasn't selling matches; this was highway robbery!

Lillian tilted her head, her eyes full of confusion.

"One box of matches is 10 copper coins; 60 boxes should be 600 copper coins. How did it become 60,000..." Wang Xi had thought the girl was being difficult on purpose, but seeing her genuinely confused expression, he said helplessly.

The girl suddenly looked shocked. She bowed her head silently and began to count with her fingers. Soon, she gave up, her ten slender fingers curling into a fist.

"Mm, it is 600 copper coins," Lillian nodded.

Seems like a math idiot... Wang Xi sighed inwardly, took out 20 silver coins, and handed them over. Given the market rate of 40 to 50 copper coins per silver coin, this was already a significant overpayment.

But the girl didn't seem to understand; she just took them silently and said softly, "Thank you."

"Go home quickly." Wang Xi gave the girl a kind smile, took the wooden basket, and turned to leave.

As he led his horse toward the inn, the blonde girl’s gaze remained fixed on the young man’s back, her sapphire-like eyes flickering. She seemed to be lost in thought.