Chapter 50 - Actually, I Have a Cheat Too

Translator's Note:

Hello, I hope you've all been doing well.

 

As I said before, if you wish to read ahead, you can head over to my Patreon to get early access to all the translated chapters.

  

I’ve finished setting up the Bella Novels Discord server! You can join us using this invite. There, you’ll be able to easily follow chapter updates for the novel(s) of your choice—along with access to many other features and community content.

I’m also introducing something new: the Chapter Boost System! This system lets you accelerate a novel’s releases by one, five, or even ten chapters.

Join the Discord to learn more about how it works and take part in this new feature!

 

If you’re able to provide me with the Raws of the Novels I need, you'll be the first person to receive my translation of them. You’ll also gain instant access to up to 30 advanced chapters for the novel of your choice, OR you can also request a SuperBoost for that novel.

For more details, you can check out the Raw Provider new page. 

 

Here you go, and I wish you a good read. 

Chapter 50: How a Shady Merchant Is Made

 

 

Back in their room, Ge Yan took out one-fifth of the profit and gave it to Elia. No matter how many times Elia tried to decline, Ge Yan insisted, and in the end, Elia accepted with a dazed look—just hours ago he'd been a penniless debtor, and now, thanks to a chance encounter, he'd become a man of means. Life was full of surprises.

 

Thankfully, the C-grade room's bed was large enough for two men without feeling cramped. They made it work for the first night.

 

The next morning, Ge Yan proposed a new money-making idea.

 

Since news of the dragon knight recruitment hadn't yet spread publicly, only those with well-connected sources knew of it. But once the word got out, droves of people would flood into the city. Every inn in Saint Lanriel would be packed. So what if they reserved the premium rooms in advance at luxury inns, then resold them to desperate noble sons later for a tidy profit? It was basically scalping—just with rooms instead of tickets.

 

Elia hesitated, a bit uncomfortable with the idea. It felt like taking advantage of others. "Isn't that a little shady?" he mumbled. "I don't know if I should..."

 

Ge Yan raised a brow and pointed at the door. "Then get out."

 

Elia didn't budge. In the end, the two went together.

 

Though they didn't know the imperial capital well, Yami's Cottage was located on a street lined with upscale inns. As they made their way down the avenue, they passed by one luxury inn after another, bustling with traffic.

 

Ge Yan paid close attention. He noticed that unless an inn had poor reputation or service, most upscale lodgings already had few vacancies. That gave him an idea.

 

But instead of acting immediately, he took Elia with him to some of the more crowded districts of the city to ask around about past dragon knight recruitments. After confirming what he needed, he made his move.

 

"Here's the plan," Ge Yan said, excitement sparkling in his eyes. "We don't want to draw too much attention. So let's keep it subtle—book three premium rooms at each luxury inn. There are seven or eight of them on this street. If we spread it out, the cost won't be too high. And even if no one buys, we won't lose too much. What do you think—are you in?"

 

Elia, having never done anything like this before, felt wildly out of his element. But he didn't want to dampen Ge Yan's enthusiasm. Without him, Elia would be sleeping in the streets. With the mindset of "ride or die with my benefactor," he gave a determined nod.

 

The two began at the first inn. Since the rush of out-of-town guests hadn't yet hit its peak, there were still rooms available—for now.

 

"Gentlemen, you've come just in time," the attendant greeted them with a smile. "We have exactly three premium rooms left. A moment later and they'd be gone."

 

This inn wasn't as pricey as Yami's Cottage. It charged forty gold coins per night—not even half as much. Still, for the average citizen, it was steep. Ge Yan, who had over 7,000 gold on him, paid five days in advance, spending 600 gold on the spot. Then they moved on to the next one. Prices across the upscale inns were similar, with only slight variations.

 

At inns that had few premium rooms available, Ge Yan settled for mid-tier rooms instead—but never lower-tier ones. After about an hour, the two of them had racked up twenty to thirty room tokens and spent four to five thousand gold coins.

 

Back at Yami's Cottage, Ge Yan laid out all the tokens across the table. Elia's breath caught at the sight—these weren't just wooden keys; they were shimmering gold in disguise. He'd never imagined he'd one day be part of such a bold venture. If they couldn't sell these rooms, they'd lose thousands of gold. No, no—he shook the thought away. That wouldn't happen. It couldn't happen. Right?

 

Two days later, just as they'd predicted, the capital was flooded with people—especially the bustling commercial street they were on. The broad roads teemed with travelers. The inns' entrances resembled scenes from festivals—crowds constantly coming and going. The lucky ones snagged a vacant room. The unlucky? Not even a broom closet to rent. Joy for some, frustration for many.

 

Ge Yan decided the time was ripe. That very day, he dragged Elia outside.

 

The capital, Saint Lanriel, was filled with intersecting avenues—particularly in the market districts. The most crowded places were often the crossroads. There, the two set up a simple table and stuck a small sign into the surface:

 

"Three Premium Room Tokens at Tranquil Mind Inn — Available for Transfer. Serious Inquiries Only!"

 

This novel method of sales immediately drew attention. A small crowd gathered within minutes. Someone stepped forward to ask the price.

 

Ge Yan merely smiled and pointed at the "Serious Inquiries Only" line on the sign.

 

The man saw it, looked a little embarrassed, and turned away without another word.

 

"How did you know he wasn't serious?" Elia asked, intrigued.

 

"Curiosity," Ge Yan replied. "New things always draw the curious. Especially the first ones to speak up. Watch how they talk, how they dress. Even if that guy was here for the dragon knight selection, he wouldn't shell out this much for a premium room."

 

"Tranquil Mind Inn. Premium rooms." Those words alone were enough to dissuade anyone whose purse strings were tight. Thanks to the four smaller characters—"Serious Inquiries Only"—they didn't have to deal with unqualified hagglers either. The time was perfectly chosen too. It was just between waves: good inns were full, while poorer folks sought budget lodgings. Those from wealthier families, unwilling to sully their image, would definitely aim for something better.

 

At first, not many approached. But once word got out, it didn't take long. After about an hour, they welcomed their first customer.

 

The buyer didn't show up himself—it was his attendant who came, asking straight to the point: "How much per token?"

 

"One thousand gold coins," Ge Yan said breezily.

 

Elia's eyes bulged. One thousand?! That was five times the original price!

 

The attendant frowned. "That's robbery. You're charging more than five times the rate. A premium room at the Tranquil Mind Inn only costs forty gold."

 

"So?" Ge Yan replied with a shrug.

 

"Two hundred and fifty, tops," the attendant countered immediately.

 

"Then you're welcome to find someone else," Ge Yan said without missing a beat. He didn't even bother haggling. Only five times the price? Please. He could've asked for ten. Two-fifty? Did he look like a fool selling for two-fifty?

 

Elia gave his sleeve a small tug. He thought two-fifty was already a high offer. What if they scared off the buyer?

 

The attendant, clearly unaccustomed to being refused so bluntly, looked displeased. Still, he couldn't force a deal. He turned away, returning to his young master, and explained what happened. That young noble agreed the price was outrageous and decided to walk.

 

"They left…" Elia muttered in disappointment, watching their retreating backs.

 

"Let them," Ge Yan said nonchalantly. "Don't worry—this was only the warm-up. The real show is about to begin."

 

Elia didn't quite understand, but he stayed by Ge Yan's side, wide-eyed, watching the ebb and flow of people passing through the street.

 

And sure enough, Ge Yan was right. Soon, a second customer arrived.

Last Chapter | TOC | Next Chapter
⥼ Bonus Discord Chapter ⤴

 

❧ Join Bella Novels' Newsletter by clicking here ↫ and
receive an email for each New Update -͙✧˖*°࿐