After alighting from the carriage, Carl put on a Humboldt hat with a solid curled brim and satin ribbons, adjusting his clothes.
Unlike the formal dress he wore in the morning, his outfit now appeared more casual.
"Sir."
The coachman helped to lower the black-cloth-wrapped seat clock. "Your item."
"Thank you," Carl said politely. He reached out to lift the seat clock and strode toward the bustling marketplace.
Such great strength!
As the coachman watched Carl's departing figure, he looked surprised. It had taken him quite an effort to lift that thing off the carriage. He estimated it to weigh at least several dozen pounds. It was so heavy, yet the other man handled it with ease.
Could he be a knight's Attendant? Or perhaps… a distinguished Knight himself? But such a person would have their own carriage.
「Badi Pawnshop.」
Carl had heard of the place before, but today was his first visit—although his father was a regular customer. When many respectable families in the city experienced hard times, they would often bring items they temporarily didn't need to exchange for kroner or gold pounds. They could buy them back when finances were more comfortable, as a temporary relief. It was somewhat like a 'pawnshop'. However, the vast majority were unredeemed pledges, so there were many second-hand goods here.
The jewelry for sale at the pawnshop, including various second-hand rings, necklaces, and watches, accounted for about 75% of all the goods. There were also some art pieces and luxury items. That's why many people referred to it as the 'middle-class treasure warehouse.' With some extra money, they would come here to dig for treasures.
"People call me Old Nick. I've been here at Badi Pawnshop for over thirty years and have never misjudged an item."
The Nick in front of him had white whiskers, a bald head, cloudy eyes, and a face full of wrinkles. With such an unimpressive appearance, it was no wonder people doubted his ability.
Looking up at Carl, Nick grinned. "First time here?"
If it were not his first time, he would surely have recognized me already.
"Mhm." Carl nodded. He placed the seat clock on the table, removed the black cloth, and gestured for Nick to appraise it. "How much do you think it's worth?"
"Oh!" Seeing the seat clock, Old Nick instinctively sat up straight, his expression turning serious. "A fine piece."
He exclaimed, "This outer layer is completely Gold!"
The seat clock before him, nearly half a meter tall and resembling a spire, was exquisitely shaped and made from a combination of Gold, wood, and porcelain. Gold and wood were common enough, but porcelain was rare, especially so in seat clocks. Their seamless integration made it a rare work of art.
Old Nick took out a magnifying glass and inspected the clock meticulously, inside and out, for a long while before finally looking up at Carl. "How much do you expect to sell it for?"
"Ask me?" Carl sat opposite, his expression calm, a front for the nerves inside. He countered, "Shouldn't it be you who says how much it's worth?"
"Yes." Old Nick nodded. "That's the customary way, but I'm afraid the price I suggest might disappoint you."
Carl frowned. "Let's hear it."
He didn't believe it could be that cheap.
Old Nick extended one finger and began slowly. "Ten Gold Coins!"
"Artworks worth a hundred gold pounds are not common. This seat clock's craftsmanship is superior, and it's a large, quite rare piece. However, some of its parts are broken, so this is the most I can offer."
"Heh…" Carl was speechless. "Old Nick, you're joking, right? Ten Gold Coins probably isn't enough to buy the Gold used on this clock."
The seat clock was not merely coated with a layer of gold paint; some of its components were entirely made of Gold.
Ten Gold Coins? What a colossal joke!
"Yes." Old Nick did not deny it. He simply turned the clock around, lowered the hidden back panel, and pointed to the carving on it. "What do you see here?"
"This..." Carl had only taken a brief look at the clock and didn't understand the carving inside, nor had he even noticed the back panel.
Now, gazing at it intently, his eyebrows unconsciously furrowed. "A ritual to the Divines?"
"Exactly." Old Nick grinned. "This carving depicts a scene or a ritual of mortals worshipping Divines, indicating that this item is a Holy Artifact."
"The crux is..."
"The Divine being worshipped is an Evil God!"
"Moon Goddess, Goddess of the Moon, I've lived for so many years and have never heard of this Divine."
In this world, there are Divines with dominion over the moon, but none are solely referred to as the Moon Goddess. And worshipping an Evil God is a grave sin. If discovered by the Church, even being remotely associated with it could mean life or death was uncertain. Forget worshipping an Evil God; even with a Righteous God, anyone other than the Master of Dawn would face significant trouble in this country. Moreover, hiding a carving of a ritual to a God in such a concealed place—it would be abnormal if there were no ulterior motives.
Watching Carl's expression grow darker, Old Nick spoke with a smile, "Report to the Church, or sell this thing to me for ten Gold Coins. Your choice."
Carl's eyes narrowed.
No wonder! No wonder he offered ten Gold Coins—he was blackmailing me!
"Old Nick." Carl pressed his lips together, then said slowly, "I forgot to introduce myself. I am a noble, and this item is a trophy my grandfather acquired from the battlefield. It's quite normal not to know its background."
"Noble?" Old Nick was taken aback. He hadn't considered this possibility.
In the moment he was caught off guard, Carl suddenly reached out, his hand forming a fist, and smashed it towards the back panel of the clock.
"BANG!" The metallic back panel was forcefully bent and deformed. Although it didn't break, the carving on it was now blurred, making it impossible to distinguish if it depicted a ritual to the Divines.
"I know Badi Pawnshop doesn't fear the status of a noble, but if you think you can bully me, it won't be that easy."
"Now!" Carl leaned forward, his gaze fixed on Old Nick. "How much?"
Watching Carl, Old Nick's murky eyes flickered, and he suddenly grinned widely. "Don't be angry. Let's talk this over properly."
The outcome of the proper talk was fifty Gold Coins.
It wasn't until Carl walked out of Badi Pawnshop that he realized his back was covered in cold sweat, though he didn't know when it had started. Feeling the wind, he couldn't help but tighten his clothes.
Who would have thought that selling something brought from another world would cause such trouble?
Patting the few small items left in his pocket, Carl shook his head lightly, deciding for the time being to give up on selling them. He would go back and do a thorough check first. After all, he had enough money for now.
Just as he was hailing a carriage to leave the marketplace, a noisy commotion erupted from behind.
"Latest news! Latest news!"
"Duke Gambis passed away due to illness on his campaign against Kolon, and it is suspected that Duke Saxony will take over the military expedition…"
"Breaking news…"
Duke Gambis is dead?
A shock went through Carl's heart. The Duke was just over fifty years old, a renowned Legendary Knight, strong as a tiger, whom even swords might not have easily hurt. How could he suddenly die of illness?
The crucial point was, with Duke Saxony—who had been the City Lord of Sigerno City—possibly taking over, would he conscript the city's populace? The nobility?
Forget it; it's useless to think more about it now.
I need to recover my energy first and secure the Baron title. As Kolon mentioned, the Day of the Blazing Moon is approaching, and Black City will soon have its monthly period of safety. I'll have to make a trip there then.