Chapter 273: Cross-Regional Procurement.
A Level 12 Dwarven Iron Smith.
Among various races, dwarves have a higher proficiency in forging than other races.
This doesn't mean other races lack high-level blacksmiths, but dwarves excel in related professions.
"Continue!" Wu Heng looked towards the second coffin.
"Suarez, Wood Elf, 374 years old, died from assassination, Level 11 Gardener."
"Julian, Human, 38 years old, died in a shipwreck, Level 10 Chef."
The second body was tall and slender, hands clasped over the chest, with an intact face, indicating death was recent.
Wood Elves are a type of elf, but Wu Heng was unclear on how they differ from other elves.
The third body was a human male, unremarkable in build, with some preservation treatment making the face unrecognizable.
After viewing the bodies, Wu Heng sat back down and said, "I'll take these three bodies, but adjust the commission; I don't need the Gardener and Chef professions."
"Understood, sir." The man maintained his smile, instructed someone to revise the commission, and said, "Sir, you'll need to settle 1,700 silver coins for these three bodies."
Wu Heng nodded, took out the corresponding silver coins.
He had the coffins sealed and stored them in his space ring.
The man continued, "The new commission has been updated."
"Alright, publish it. I'll return in a couple of days."
"Certainly, sir."
After their conversation, Wu Heng didn't linger.
He left the consortium directly.
…
After leaving the consortium,
Wu Heng headed towards the blacksmith shop on 'Lighthouse Street.'
"Sir, you're early today." The turban-wearing shop owner greeted warmly.
The previous crossbow bolts were all purchased from here.
Wu Heng had bought out all the shop's arrows.
"Yeah, business seems good today." Wu Heng said casually as he entered the shop.
"Just some regular customers supporting us."
Wu Heng didn't say much, scanning the shop's counter.
He asked, "How much for these two crossbows?"
"Heavy crossbow is 32 silver coins, and the hand crossbow is 28 silver coins," the owner explained.
Crossbows come in three main types: heavy crossbows, hand crossbows, and arm crossbows.
Heavy crossbows are two-handed, with high power and long range, but are also heavy; hand crossbows are lighter, easier to operate, but have less power and range.
Arm crossbows are mounted on arm armor, commonly used for assassinations.
"How many do you have in the shop?" Wu Heng asked while walking around.
The owner's eyes narrowed, feeling a surge of joy.
This customer often buys out the entire stock.
Previously, Wu Heng had bought out all the stock of crossbow bolts and arrows.
"Just a moment, I'll have someone tally it up." The owner quickly said.
Soon, the tallying clerk returned.
"We have 12 heavy crossbows and 35 hand crossbows!" the clerk reported.
The owner turned to Wu Heng, "Sir, that's all we have."
"Give me a discount; I'll take them all."
"That… I can't offer a discount."
"Pack them up; I'll take all of them." Wu Heng said directly.
"Alright, I'll get it ready for you." The owner instructed his staff to prepare the goods, and Wu Heng sat down to wait.
Soon, the crossbows were ready.
Wu Heng paid the corresponding silver coins and stored them all.
As he left the shop, the owner followed closely, "Sir, if you need anything, please come again."
Wu Heng nodded and left.
…
He continued to visit several other shops.
He bought out all the crossbows in these shops.
He collected a total of over seventy heavy crossbows and more than a hundred hand crossbows.
Wu Heng exited the shop and didn't bother checking other weapon stores.
He hailed a carriage and headed out of the city.
Once he reached a secluded area and the carriage left,
he put on the 'Conductor's Hat.'
The next second, the train whistle blew, and the train appeared out of thin air, stopping in front of him.
Wu Heng boarded the train with two skeleton attendants, writing 'Netaray City' on the logbook.
Netaray City was a port city in the Yek Kingdom.
A few hours later,
the train arrived at the forest edge outside Netaray City.
Confirming the direction, he headed straight for the city.
He entered the commercial street.
Wu Heng walked into a shop.
The shopkeeper, a middle-aged man, was scolding two assistants in a low voice.
Seeing Wu Heng enter, he quickly changed to a smile, "Sir, what do you need? We offer both retail and export."
Wu Heng walked around the shop, looking up at the heavy crossbows on display.
"How much for these crossbows?" Wu Heng asked.
"30 silver coins; these are our export models, moderately weighted, stable performance, popular among all races." The owner explained.
"What about hand crossbows?"
"Hand crossbows are 25 silver coins."
"What are the requirements for export, and the price?"
"For 200 units or more, heavy crossbows are priced at 28 silver coins, hand crossbows at 20 silver coins."
The price was considerably cheaper than on Gold-Silver Island.
Wu Heng took one of the heavy crossbows from the counter, inspected it, and said, "I'll take 500 heavy crossbows to go."
He had already bought some hand crossbows on Gold-Silver Island.
It wasn't clear if they would be popular in the shelters, so he would decide later whether to buy more.
Hearing the immediate order, the owner was delighted.
But then he quickly shook his head and said, "Sir, the warehouse doesn't have that many; export orders need to be arranged in advance."
"What a hassle!" Wu Heng said, then asked, "How many do you have in the store?"
The owner checked the records on the desk.
"We can provide 120 heavy crossbows now, and if you place an order, I can draft an export contract, and these will be priced at the export rate." The owner said.
120 was acceptable.
The shelters wouldn't be able to exchange for large quantities.
"If I place an order, how long until delivery?" Wu Heng asked.
"About ten days."
"Alright, draft a contract, and I'll have someone pick them up then."
The owner quickly had the contract prepared and offered tea, chatting with Wu Heng.
Wu Heng signed the purchase contract, paid the deposit, and collected the 120 prepared heavy crossbows.
He didn't stay long and left the shop.
…
He glanced across the street and headed towards an armor shop.
The shop's lady owner noticed Wu Heng and the weapon shop owner escorting him out.
She immediately straightened up.
She adjusted her loose collar, got up, and warmly greeted him at the door.
"Sir, what do you need?"
"Looking at some armor." Wu Heng walked into the shop.
The lady owner followed with a smile.
The variety of armor was greater than that of weapons. After looking around, Wu Heng pointed to a set of leather armor, "How much is this?"
The armor was mainly leather, with iron plates on the arms, shoulders, and chest.
Not too heavy but effective against zombie bites.
"35 silver coins per set, 32 for export."
"How many in the warehouse?"
"About 50 sets."
"Draft an order for 500 sets; include these 50, and I'll take them now."
The lady owner's eyes lit up, her face beaming, "I'll get the order."
She returned shortly, bending over to present the order.
Her low neckline revealed a large area of pale skin.
Wu Heng glanced, then looked up at the lady owner, who smiled, "Sir, do take care of us in the future."
"Yes, let's sit and talk." Wu Heng nodded.
After signing the order, the armor was prepared.
Wu Heng stored them in his space ring and left.
He exited the city, found a quiet spot, boarded the train, and returned to Gold-Silver Island.
…
Back at his residence.
It was nearing dusk.
Traveling from Gold-Silver Island to Netaray would take five days by ship.
Even with the Ghost Train's time reduction, it still took five hours.
Minnie and Andviel had not yet returned.
Wu Heng tidied up briefly and used the portal to head to the zombie world.
Upon descending, Li Yanhong was directing the shelter members to move the scavenged goods to the designated warehouse.
"We've collected a lot of daily necessities." Li Yanhong said, walking over when she saw him.
The shops in Rentam City had closed.
Li Yanhong continued collecting various daily items here.
"Wait a few days, and I'll take them then."
"Alright, the warehouse is getting full."
Supplies from the shelter were piling up, and new warehouses were being built outside the bus station.
"Let's go to the warehouse." Wu Heng said.
The two went to the warehouse, and Wu Heng brought out the three coffins.
The lids were opened, revealing the bodies inside.
Wu Heng glanced at them and immediately cast [Raise Skeleton] on the dwarf.
Flesh fell away, and a pale skeleton rose from the coffin.
[Skeleton Iron Smith (Level 12)]
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