"Are you sure you don't want to eat anything? You didn't eat anything yesterday, and now you're refusing breakfast. If you're unwell, we can see a doctor."
"Nah, I'm fine. I ate some fruit while you were sleeping, that's why I'm not hungry. Don't worry."
"I hope so. By the way, is there anything you want to buy today? Or anything you're interested in?"
In the early morning, Sigurd's voice was heard at the door of the white sailboat anchor shop.
Ed stretched and said lazily through a yawn, "First, we need to buy some bullets, clothes, materials, tools, and other necessities. It would be nice to have a more detailed map, too."
Hearing Ed's request, Sigurd nodded and jerked his head to the side. "What are you waiting for? Let's go."
The two walked directly along the cobblestone road toward the city centre, arriving at the weapon shop Ed had first visited.
"Going to this store? I think their stuff is more expensive," Ed said, hands on his hips as he looked at the shop signboard.
"Of course it is. This is the official weapons store of the Golden Alliance. Naturally, it's pricier, but it's not our destination. Let's go to the alley next to it."
As he spoke, Sigurd led Ed over a hundred meters to the side, turning into a small alley where a shabby-looking shop stood. There wasn't even a sign. Sigurd walked over and patted the wooden door that seemed like it would break at any moment.
"Where's the boss? We need to buy some bullets!" After knocking, Sigurd yelled loudly.
"Coming! Why are you rushing me so early in the morning? Don't you have anything better to do?"
A young man around 25 years old, who looked a little sloppy with messy hair and clothes as if he had just woken up, walked over. His face was a little dirty, and he wore a leather apron covered in grease and grime. He wiped his face with his dirty hands, making it even dirtier.
"What kind of bullets do you want?" He said lazily, his eyes barely open.
Having already discussed it on the way, Sigurd said directly, "Six boxes of No. 3 pistol ammunition. Do you have ammo for this gun?" As he said this, he took the short-barreled gun he had obtained yesterday from his coat.
The young man looked up and took a glance before exclaiming, "Alando's work? It's a pistol-shaped shotgun! How rare. Is it a real one or a replica?"
"Don't ask so many questions. Do you have the bullets or not?"
Hearing the impatience in Sigurd's voice, the young man shrugged and replied casually, "This kind of bullet is hard to get. It costs 10 Copper Swallows each."
"So expensive? This is broad daylight robbery!" Sigurd hammered his fist on the counter, his face shocked.
"If you think it's too expensive, go buy it at the big store over there. Then you'll know what true expensive is," The young man replied indifferently, cleaning his ear with his pinky, utterly unconcerned with Sigurd's red, explosive-looking face.
Seeing the crazy look in Sigurd's eyes, Ed could only sigh helplessly and shake his head, thinking Sigurd had no talent for negotiation... well, neither did he. But since he could earn money easily, he just said, "Fine, give me 20 rounds."
Seeing that Ed had already given in, poor Sigurd could only relent as well. "Then I'll take 10 rounds, too."
Hearing this, a smile appeared on the young man's face and he confirmed their order. "No. 3 pistol bullets, 10 Copper Swallows per bullet. The total is 3 Silver Snakes. Payment first, then the goods."
Sigurd made a sorrowful expression, as if parting with his life rather than his money, as he took three Silver Snakes from his purse to pay.
The young man heartlessly snatched the three coins from Sigurd's reluctant hand, weighed them, and smiled before heading to the back. He returned a moment later with two small bags.
"Here's your change, 100 Swallows. The bullets are in the bags."
Sigurd picked up the purse, weighed it in his hand, and put it in his pocket after hearing the satisfying rustle of coins, only he knew how he confirmed the amount was correct. He then checked the bullets before taking them and leaving.
"Let's go buy you some new clothes."
After going around in circles through the market and visiting almost every cheap-looking shop, it wasn't until noon that Ed finally bought everything he wanted, all under the meticulous, penny-pinching care of Sigurd, who would do anything to save a single Copper Swallow.
Ed bought some clothes, mostly loose beach shirts and shorts, with only five formal outfits. He also purchased three pairs of boots and seven pairs of comfortable slippers, as wearing boots on a ship was torture for the feet in the sweltering heat.
He bought hats of all kinds and shapes, a few for himself and a dozen or so for Raila and her daughters.
Having accepted her, he naturally had to bring gifts for his stepdaughters; otherwise, Raila would be sad. Buying the ladies' hats involved a half-hour game of hide-and-seek with Sigurd.
Finally, he acquired some small tools, mostly for map-making, 100 special sheets of map paper, a few dozen blank books, a large box of ink bottles, several dozen quills, and other materials from the tool store.
As for the blank books, he had a reason. Life on the ship was monotonous, with literally nothing to do. During their three-day journey, he had literally counted all the wooden planks in sight. So, he decided to start writing down all the famous works he had read in his past life into books, with the aim of publishing them if he found a good channel.
He was sure the poor, entertainment-starved people of this world, especially those working on ships, would be desperate to read them.
Except for the ammunition, which was a gift from Sigurd, everything else cost him a total of 5 Silver Snakes—one third of his entire savings. And this was far from enough; there were still many things he needed to buy, especially a comfortable, large bed.
There was no way he was going to sleep on that stone-like bed on the ship again, despite having his Inventory. However, because of Sigurd's watchful eye, he couldn't buy it now and would have to wait for nightfall when fewer people were around to discreetly store the bed in his Inventory.
"Why did you buy so many writing supplies, tools, and materials? Are you planning to be a writer or learn a craft?" Sigurd couldn't help but ask, looking at Ed's overstuffed backpack and the several other leather bags he was carrying.
After a moment's thought, Ed suddenly stopped. He put down the bags, took a Silver Snake from his pocket, and held it out on his palm.
"Watch this."
The Silver Snake wobbled left and right in his hand as if pulled by an invisible string. Then, Ed suddenly closed his fist. "Where is it now?"
"It's in your left hand, of course," Sigurd said with full confidence, a smile on his face as if to say such a childish trick couldn't fool him.
"Hmph, as expected of you. You couldn't see it even from such a close distance," Ed taunted, shaking his head. He then reached out and patted the outside of Sigurd's pocket. "It's here."
"How is that possible?" Sigurd gave a mocking smile and put his hand into his own pocket, but his smile instantly froze. He pulled out a Silver Snake with an obvious scratch on its head.
Sigurd's eyes widened in disbelief. "How did you do that?" he asked, jumping excitedly like a child.
"I am a magician! Bow before me, commoner!" Ed raised his head high and spoke with feigned arrogance, pretending to look down on Sigurd. He had seen this kind of act in anime often and was finally getting a chance to try it himself.
"Come on, I've been to the circus and seen that. It's some kind of magic trick, right?" Sigurd ignored Ed's attempt to look cool in the middle of the road, while people around them stared as if they were crazy, and hurriedly asked while shaking him like an apple tree.
"Stop shaking! Alright, I'll tell you... Ha! Just kidding, you got pranked!" Saying that, Ed quickly picked up his bags and ran off, leaving a dumbfounded Sigurd behind, who hurriedly chased after him.