Chapter 86: The Jiangnan Adventurers Guild Has Gone Bankrupt!

The next day, Andy and Catherine returned once more to the market he had labeled as “D.” Catherine hadn’t wanted to come today, but Andy felt he was due for a comeback—how could he not have an audience? A promised feast persuaded Catherine to accompany him.

He dutifully paid the protection fee, found a decent stall, and laid out his exquisitely packaged manuals. Then, with an air of authority, he sat down on his little folding stool.

Today’s market was smaller than yesterday’s, with noticeably fewer people, but Andy was not the least bit worried. His confidence remained unshaken.

He unhurriedly took a sip from his water flask and then, turning to Catherine, asked in measured tones, “What time is it now?”

Having spent so much time with Andy, Catherine had picked up some of his bantering techniques. She swished her tail and replied, “The auspicious hour has arrived!”

Clap! Clap! Clap! Andy applauded, announcing, “We’re open for business!” As he spoke, he pulled out the recording box from yesterday and pressed the play button.

A voice began to ring out across the market.

“Dallas of Collin County, Dallas of Collin County, largest adventure group! The Jiangnan Adventurers have gone bankrupt! Captain Barton squandered everything—drinking, gambling, and womanizing—ran off with thirty-five thousand magic stones, taking his sister-in-law with him. We had no choice but to sell the adventure group’s secret manuals to pay our wages. Manuals originally priced at five hundred, three hundred, two hundred each—now all a hundred each, just a hundred! Barton, you’re no man—you made us work for you for half a year without pay. Give us back our hard-earned money! Give us back our hard-earned money!...”

The moment the recording played, it caused a stir. With each repetition, its effect grew. Vendors and customers, haggling over prices, stopped to listen intently.

Soon enough, a crowd gathered around Andy’s stall. A young man suddenly pushed his way forward, pointing at the boxes. “Can I open it to see which manual it is?”

With a nonchalant gesture, Andy assented. The young man carefully opened the beautiful packaging and drew out the parchment-bound book. At the first page, delight lit his face—he flipped through the manual, reluctant to put it down.

At the right moment, Andy stopped him from leafing further. Catching Andy’s signal, the young man scratched his head in embarrassment.

In fact, in transactions involving secret manuals, it was customary only to glance briefly—just enough to judge authenticity. It was generally not permitted to read at length, for who knew if someone with exceptional memory might memorize the whole thing in one go? Such incidents had happened before.

If someone insisted they couldn’t determine the manual’s authenticity without careful study, sellers would know they were either a genuine novice or pretending to be one. In either case, the seller would suggest they return with a parent or a knowledgeable friend.

The young man, after a moment’s awkwardness, suddenly stomped his foot. “A hundred magic stones, right? I’ll buy it!” He began to untie his purse, but then faltered.

He turned back to the crowd. “Jack, lend me ten magic stones, I’ll pay you back at the next group payday!” Jack, obliging, lent him the stones without fuss. The young man counted out the full amount to Andy, then left, clutching his manual, with Jack at his side.

With the first sale made, the others’ curiosity was piqued. More people crowded around Andy’s stall, though most were still there to look rather than buy—a hundred magic stones was, after all, no small sum.

Some newcomers, seeing the throng and hearing the recording, grew even more curious and insisted on seeing for themselves what Andy was selling.

Andy’s prices were already low, so it wasn’t long before he made a second sale, then a third, and a fourth.

The fifth customer was a sleazy-looking fat man who seemed rather well-off. He paid the magic stones without hesitation but didn’t leave. Instead, he flashed Andy a sly grin and asked, “Was Captain Barton’s sister-in-law pretty?”

Andy, ever courteous to customers, grinned back. “Beautiful—fair-skinned, lovely, with long legs!”

The fat man sighed heavily. “What a shame, such a fine woman wasted!” He left in obvious disappointment. Andy, too, sighed—he’d nearly lost himself in the act.

By midmorning, only one manual remained. Andy decided to sell it and then pack up, planning to treat Catherine to a lavish lunch.

He replaced the magic stone in the recording box and switched it on again. The familiar recording played through the market: “Dallas of Collin County, Dallas of Collin County, largest adventure group! The Jiangnan Adventurers have gone bankrupt! Captain Barton squandered everything—drinking, gambling, and womanizing—ran off with thirty-five thousand magic stones, taking his sister-in-law with him...”

The voice, sorrowful and sincere, brimmed with emotion, evoking sympathy in listeners. Yet it was not Andy’s own voice—it was Catherine’s, expertly mimicking another’s. If any member of the Divine Wind Knights had been present, they would have recognized it as belonging to their former vice-captain, Grand Knight Allen.

As for why Andy had used the voices of Captain Barton and Allen for his advertisement, it was simply because he had unwittingly been dragged into the Grim Academy by them. Feeling a bit put out, he thought it only fair to give them a taste of their own medicine.

While Andy busied himself with his lucrative enterprise, he was unaware that Grand Knight Allen Barr—his unwitting voice actor—had already arrived in Prondra, the capital.

Allen was soon to be ennobled as a landed baron, and he’d also received news: Her Majesty’s consort, the kingdom’s first prince, would be chosen from among the outstanding young men of the four great families.

Unaware that he was already out of the running, Allen was determined to leave a good impression on the Queen at the ennoblement ceremony in half a month. He was resolved to show off his greatest advantage—his looks!

So he planned to prepare a splendid outfit for the event, something that would highlight not just his handsome features but also his valor. Ideally, he wanted to acquire a set of ceremonial half-armor and a fine sword—not his current practical gear, but ornate pieces, preferably adorned with magical runes to display taste and status.

Allen decided to spend the next few days scouring Prondra’s extraordinary goods markets, hoping to find something suitable. If not, he’d have no choice but to be fleeced at one of the Night Circus’s shops.