Become A Profiteer In Isekai

Chapter 7: Chapter 7: Otherworld Scratch-Off

[Giant Spider Silk Gland]

[Species: Material]

[Level: Ordinary]

[Value: 30 Copper Coins]

[Introduction: A secretory organ extracted from the body of a Giant Spider. It contains a viscous, silky fluid with strong Magic Guide properties, and can be used as a base material for Enchantment.]

[Note: It is said that some Dark Elves and Succubi will sew the Silk Gland into their bodies to replace damaged vocal cords.]

「Half an hour later.」

”Phew!”

Lu Wei put down his Dagger, wiped the sweat from his forehead, and finally let out a long sigh of relief.

After a great deal of effort, he had finally managed to extract all five Silk Glands.

And not a single one was ruptured; they were all perfectly intact!

’That was not easy at all.’

He glanced around and, seeing no danger, decided to take a short break.

He plopped down on the head of a Giant Spider’s corpse and took a waterskin out of his pack.

While washing his hands, he read over the information on the Silk Glands again.

’Damaged vocal cords...’

’How could this thing replace vocal cords?’

’And why would vocal cords get damaged in the first place?’

’Something about it feels weird.’

’Oh well, as long as it sells, that’s all that matters.’

’But why does it say its Value is 30 Copper Coins?’

’The buyback price in Heitai Town is only around 20.’

Frowning slightly, Lu Wei thought for a moment and concluded it was probably a matter of supply and demand.

The ”Value” he saw using [Precise Identification] was likely the average price across the entire Kingdom.

Or perhaps it was a ”theoretical value” derived from the Kingdom’s price levels and currency purchasing power.

Here in Heitai Town, the supply for this kind of basic material clearly exceeded demand, so the actual price was bound to be a bit lower.

He believed that if he took them to Kalin Port, which was a bit farther, or even to the more distant Haiwang Castle or Winterfell, the market’s purchase price would be much higher.

Of course, Lu Wei wasn’t about to run all the way to Kalin Port just for that small price difference.

However, this did give him an idea.

’Maybe flipping goods and speculation could be a good way to make money too.’

’But I definitely can’t do it like most merchants—running to the source to buy goods, then shipping them to a place where the price is higher to sell.’

’That’s just a way to make ”small money.” The scope is too limited.’

’Since I’m a Crafty Merchant, I can’t be bound by law and morality. I have to use the advanced thinking from my past life to find the way to maximize profits!’

’For example, selling Weapons to goblins, or selling human trash to the Burrow Dwarves of the Underground City...’

’Once I let my imagination run wild, the ideas just start pouring out.’

His expression grew more and more excited as Lu Wei was suddenly struck by many very criminal ideas.

With a total net worth of less than two silver coins, he was already daring to think about getting into the ”arms dealing business.” It was hard to say where he got the nerve.

Fortunately, he understood the principle of ”taking things one step at a time.” He quickly shook his head, pushing these ”genius ideas” to the back of his mind for now.

He pulled the torch out of the ground and carefully placed the Silk Glands in his pack.

’As long as I can get back to town safely, today will have been a perfect day!’

...

...

CRACKLE... POP...

The sound of the burning pine resin was crisp. The firelight swayed with his steps, like the only beating heart in the endless night.

Walking along the winding path, Lu Wei gripped the torch tightly, his expression noticeably more tense than when he had arrived.

It was far from fear, however.

After all, [Crafty Merchant] had given him a [Perception] of 16, making his intuition and observation skills three times that of an ordinary person.

This also meant he could keenly sense potential dangers and opportunities.

Just like right now.

CRUNCH...

The fallen leaves under his feet made a soft sound. Suddenly, Lu Wei stopped without warning, staring quizzically into the dense forest ahead.

Although he couldn’t see anything clearly, he was absolutely certain there was someone up ahead.

And they were no more than fifty meters away.

The feeling was hard to describe in words. It was less a ”sixth sense” and more like a rapid judgment based on the environment, the atmosphere, and all the surrounding details.

Students who often play on their phones during study hall should have a similar experience.

When the classroom suddenly goes quiet and the atmosphere plunges into an eerie silence, even if you don’t look up, you know for sure that the head teacher has arrived.

...

Drawing his Dagger, Lu Wei stared fixedly ahead, his mind racing.

’There’s obviously no suitable campsite nearby, so it might be an Adventurer getting ready to leave the forest.’

’But this person doesn’t seem to be moving.’

’Could it be that they’ve spotted me too?’

”Is anyone there?”

After a moment of silence with still no movement from ahead, Lu Wei shouted out loud, hoping to signal to the other person that he was also human.

But he received no response. There was only the RUSTLE of the wind through the treetops.

’In that case, there were only three possibilities.’

’1. It was all an illusion; there’s nothing up ahead.’

’2. The other person doesn’t trust me and doesn’t want to respond.’

’3. That person is already dead.’

’Maybe I should take a detour...’

He took half a step back subconsciously, hesitant.

Encountering an unidentified person while traveling alone in the forest... Although the Adventurer’s Manual didn’t say what to do in such a situation, he figured that ”keeping a wide berth” was probably the safest choice.

But the problem was that it was night. Visibility was low, and taking a detour could very well get him lost.

That would undoubtedly be even more trouble.

’I’ll get a little closer and take a look.’

After hesitating for a moment, Lu Wei gritted his teeth and started moving forward again, trying his best not to make a sound while staying ready to flee at a moment’s notice.

And just as he moved forward another few dozen meters and peeked his head out furtively from behind a large tree to observe...

”Hm?”

His eyes widened slightly. At the very edge of the area illuminated by his torch, he was stunned to see a body lying in the bushes!

It was lying face down, so he couldn’t make out its gender or race.

Based on the body shape, however, it definitely wasn’t a Beastman or a Dwarf.

’So much blood...’

Moving a little closer, Lu Wei looked at the blood on the ground and quickly analyzed the situation:

’The trail of blood comes from another direction, which means they were injured somewhere else and fled all the way here, ultimately dying from blood loss.’

’And the clothes are intact, with no signs the body has been disturbed, which means the killer probably didn’t catch up.’

’So I still have time to hit the jackpot!’

With his analysis complete, Lu Wei’s heart leaped with joy. He hurried over to the body, ready for a round of the Otherworld’s unique ”real-life scratch-off ticket.”

’An Adventurer’s corpse is like a treasure chest; you never know what surprises it holds.’

On the Falanis Continent, this saying was known to all, young and old, and there were countless examples of people who had struck it rich by ”looting corpses.”

Especially a fresh, first-hand corpse like this one. Even if it wouldn’t make you rich overnight, it would never leave you empty-handed.

’My luck today is just too good!’

Silently thanking the Goddess of Fortune for her favor, Lu Wei held the torch high, racing against time to search for a backpack around the body.

But after searching for a long time, he found nothing.

Not only was there no backpack, but there wasn’t even a Weapon!

’Did they drop it while fleeing to reduce their Weight Carrying?’

Frowning, Lu Wei’s excitement instantly cooled by half. He could only pin all his hopes on the corpse at his feet.

He stuck the torch in the ground nearby, squatted down, and turned the body over, finally getting a clear look at the deceased’s face.

Her face was pale, her eyes were shut tight, and her long brown hair was matted together with dried blood, sticking clammily to her neck as if still holding a trace of warmth.

’It’s actually a woman.’

Lu Wei was slightly surprised, but he quickly regained his composure.

Although it was true that most Adventurers were male, women still made up about a quarter of them, so it wasn’t that rare.

Besides, man or woman, it was just a corpse now. He certainly wasn’t going to give up on looting it over issues of ”propriety” or ”respect.”

’Anything will do, as long as there’s something good.’

’If the value is over one silver coin, I’ll definitely come back and bury you tomorrow.’

After muttering his promise, Lu Wei, filled with anticipation, began to search the body from top to bottom.

Two minutes later, he had meticulously patted down every single pocket on her body.

In the end, all he found were a few crackers and several ”travel-sized” packets of seasoning.

Salt, pepper powder, chili powder, bay leaves...

’Seriously, what is all this?’

’Were you out here on a picnic??’

Staring blankly at the paper packets of powder in his hand, Lu Wei was completely bewildered.

But the next second, his gaze locked onto the corpse’s neck.

In an area obscured by her hair, there seemed to be a thin black string he hadn’t noticed before.

’So it must be some kind of Pendant.’

’Still a chance!’

Tossing aside the seasoning packets, Lu Wei’s hope was instantly rekindled, and he immediately reached his hand toward the corpse’s chest.

And then...

’That’s not right... why is it still warm?’

’Hasn’t it gone cold yet...?’