RNP Chapter 26 Pawning and Distribution
Chapter 26 Pawning and Distribution
"Vito, could you find a few pawnshop or bank employees to come over?" Tiberius asked.
"Alright, valuation it is, huh? But kid, you'd better be prepared to haggle." Vito shrugged. "Such a large quantity of jewelry and various currencies, it's impossible not to haggle! Besides, this is truly unlucky stuff."
"Fine, let them lower the price then." Tiberius could only wave his hand helplessly. "What can we do? Distribute it directly to everyone? Impossible!"
Tiberius knew very well that these were large quantities of "black market" goods that were eager to be sold. Although they were technically spoils of war, they were indeed "bad luck."
Moreover, their value is uneven and difficult to distinguish, so it's better to exchange them for real silver coins.
Moreover, pawnshop people are masters at turning "a robe of mountains and rivers, a skirt of heaven and earth" into "a tattered, discarded bell"—they are veritable masters of blatant lying.
Vito acted swiftly, bringing back two capable-looking middle-aged men in no time. One was an appraiser from a reputable pawnshop in the city, and the other was a clerk from a money exchange shop that dealt in small amounts of gold and silver with the Rogal Bank. They carried small scales and monocles with gilded chains around their necks that could be clipped to their eyes.
In short, it looks very professional.
Next, even though Tiberius was prepared to drastically lower the price, the appraiser's "estimate" still opened his eyes.
"This Pentos gold coin is of insufficient purity, has severely worn edges, has been trimmed three times, has a hole punched in it, and has three teeth marks. It is worth three and a half silver coins."
"Topaz ring, the color is acceptable, but unfortunately it contains inclusions. The silver base is of extremely high purity, but the workmanship is rough, typical of a country silversmith's apprentice... It's worth six and a thirds of silver..."
Tiberius could not resist and picked up the gold coin and the ring.
"No way, boss! This is way too much of a price cut! You're offering this gold coin for three silver coins?! Even if this topaz is common, it's still a gemstone, and besides, the craftsmanship is quite good! This isn't how you cut prices!"
The bespectacled appraiser adjusted his glasses, looking at Tiberius expressionlessly. His tone was calm yet carried the certainty of an expert: "Young Tiberius, that's not how it works. You've released so much stock at once; it's having a huge impact on the market! We can't possibly recoup our investment from your goods all at once. Besides, some of them weren't suitable to re-enter the market in the first place. Look." He pointed to a ruby ring.
"Look, that gemstone is a glass imitation, but the ring base is rose gold, and the small diamonds around it, while not real, are still crystal! This means it needs to be remelted, reworked, and the real gemstone removed... all of which will incur costs. This price is definitely fair."
Seeing Tiberius still somewhat indignant, the appraiser stared at him mercilessly. "If you're not satisfied with this price, you're free to ask elsewhere. However, I believe there aren't many shops in all of Ries that can offer a higher price than us." He paused, then added.
"And..." he said meaningfully, pointing to a ring with a unique family crest, with considerable apprehension.
"The 'story' of these items is now known throughout all of Ries, and even the entire Three Daughters Kingdom! It takes a bit of... courage to put them away. Oh dear, look, I'm going to have to haggle again!"
"We're willing to pay so much only because of Lord Lisangzhuo and 'The Keeper of the Faith'!" the clerk from Rogal Bank chimed in. "Don't make things difficult for us, sir; this is the going rate!"
"Then what about currency exchange..."
"Tiberius, take a look at all this money! From the iron coins of Braavos to the gold dragons of Westeros, from the silver moon of Myr to Rhys, from the pirate rubbish of the Stepstone Isles to the copper coins of Meereen... By the Lord of Light, we're already being kind by even bothering to calculate the coins; most banks just throw them into the cauldron and convert them into Rhysian silver coins based on their gold and silver content!"
Tiberius was quite discouraged after hearing this and could only wave his hand, telling them to continue calculating the coins.
As the appraisers calculated the final total, Vito quietly pulled Tiberius aside and whispered a reminder.
"Listen, kid, they'll give you two amounts later. One will be a lot of silver coins, and the other will be a little less. But remember, take the smaller one!"
Tiberius, curious, immediately asked, "Why?"
Vito, with a "you're still too young" look, patted him on the back of the head: "Stupid! That larger amount sounds good, but who knows how many of those are chipped, punched, low-purity, lead-filled worthless coins! Kid, if you choose the larger amount, these guys will probably be eager to give you all those hoarded, uncirculated silver coins! Only the Seven Gods know how much silver is actually in those coins; maybe they can even be attracted by a magnet... their actual value is less than the more clean amount! Trust me, you won't regret it!"
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"Uncle, can I tell you something?" Tiberius walked into the tent and said to Jules, who was sharpening his twin swords.
"explain."
"Well, uh, Lisandro's large sum of money is indeed going to be distributed, but could... uh, could you distribute my silver coins first?" Tiberius stammered.
A slight smile curved Jules' lips.
"A clever lad, you know how to win people's hearts." Jules sheathed his twin swords. "Alright, it's not time to pay them yet. I'll let you go and 'buy' their hearts first."
"Alright!" Tippy said with a slight smile.
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"The money's here! The money's here!" Inside the tent, the twenty-odd knights who had participated in the operation sat in chairs waiting for their pay. They shoved each other, made lewd jokes, and boasted about their achievements.
"Lightning Boy, what are you doing sitting there? Where's Chief Jules?" A red-haired knight with a goatee couldn't help but ask as Tiberius entered carrying a chest of money and casually took his seat at the head of the table. "This seat isn't for just anyone. If you want it, go to the Garden of Desire and let the brothers watch you deflower a virgin!"
Upon hearing this, everyone present burst into laughter.
"Uncle Calvin, I'm here to distribute the money this time." Tiberius tossed the money box onto the table and said in a tone as if announcing the weather. "Regarding our spoils from that stinking ogre den at Bloodwave Point: those coins and unclaimed jewelry have been converted into cash, and now they'll be distributed according to merit."
"Hey, Tiberius, little chieftain," another knight with a scarred face and carrying a hammer added. "Anyway, unless Chief Jules comes, we can't take this money! It's not that we don't trust you, you're smart and bold enough, you'll definitely be a leader someday! But we really can't take this money, it's not that we're rolling in money..."
"...It's not because we're rolling in money, but because the distribution of funds has always been handled personally by the captain. Unless Chief Jules comes here right now and says that you, Lightning Boy, are distributing the money, otherwise...hehe." The red-haired knight sneered and patted the sword at his waist.
"The last guy who secretly accepted bribes from a patron had his head chopped off by the commander and hung outside for three days! I put his head on the tip of a spear! Harwin was right!"
"What's all the noise about?" Before he could finish speaking, Vito lifted the tent flap and said with considerable displeasure.
"Boss Jules himself said that all the loose change and jewelry seized this time will be handed over to Tiberius for distribution! Anyone have objections? Do you want to ask the boss yourself, or do you think I, Vito, am spreading false information?"
Upon hearing this, Calvin immediately put on a fawning smile.
"Oh, Brother Vito, of course we believe you! What else is there to say?"
There was no other way. Vito, as the captain of the crossbowmen, had two hundred crossbowmen under his command. Moreover, he was a veteran of the White Legion, Jules's absolute confidant, and held a high position. Furthermore, he was a scholar in the legion, so he could not be disrespected.
Seeing that the knights below no longer questioned him, Tiberius said nothing more. He opened a simple register and began to call out names one by one according to the list and amount that Vito had calculated for him, distributing the corresponding amount of silver coins.
The whole process was clear, orderly, and without any unnecessary delays.
"Vito Coppola, organized the files, killed three people, perfectly completed the 'fishing plan,' captured an important enemy, and was awarded forty-eight silver coins."
"Red-haired Calvin, leading a five-man squad, was lying in wait outside the cave. He spotted the Second Sons and reported it in time, earning twelve and a quarter silver coins."
"Tiberius Mord..." Tiberius paused deliberately when he said his name. "To devise the 'fishing' plan, to 'persuade' Miss Zera to join the plan, and to kill Jon Starr, the vice-captain of the Second Sons, who dared to offend you in the dueling arena, one hundred silver coins will be awarded."
"I didn't expect this kid to be so calculating... I thought he'd get a smaller share, after all, he killed Jon, he was the one who suggested finding the cave, and he was the one who came up with the 'fishing plan'... He only got one-tenth, he should actually get the lion's share." Vito muttered as he counted the silver coins in his hand. "Tsk, but this amount of money can buy that 'Collection of Love Poems by Rhys'."
"Hey! Top quality! No trimming, no punching!" A scarred old soldier grinned, revealing a few yellowed teeth stained from strong liquor. "Just like Chief Jules, fair and square, no tricks! The coins he issues are real silver coins that make a clattering sound when you blow them!"
"Tsk, 'Lightning Boy,' not only is his spear throwing fast, but he's also good at math!" one of the knights who received the silver coins said to his friends. "Fair and square, my shield is torn, my armor is scratched, and that's all factored in!"
"Great! If there are any more jobs like this that require both brainpower and allow the brothers to make a good living, I'll be the first to sign up to work with you!" "Red Hair" Calvin had also changed his expression, grinning from ear to ear, having completely forgotten his earlier doubts.
Tiberius sat in the chair at the head of the table, his face still expressionless, and calmly closed the register.
He knew that the twenty-odd people in front of him, including "Red Hair" Calvin, were all his uncle Jules's confidants.
And now, they must also acknowledge Tiberius's authority!