In the days that followed, Alaric discreetly set about selling the herbs he had found. He knew that moving these items quietly was crucial, and he opted to approach the doctors of various noble houses. The secrecy of their dealings would ensure that the herbs would not be traced back to him or the bandits.
Under the cover of night, he made his first visit. Wrapped in a cloak, he knocked on the back door of Dr. Malvern's residence. The door creaked open, and the elderly physician peered out.
"Who's there?" Dr. Malvern asked, squinting into the darkness.
"It's Alaric Vargas," Alaric replied in a low voice, pulling back his hood just enough for the doctor to see his face. "I have something you might find interesting."
Dr. Malvern's eyes widened slightly in recognition. "Come in, quickly."
Inside, the doctor led Alaric to a small, cluttered study. Alaric pulled out a small pouch, revealing a selection of the herbs.
"I have a few crates of these," Alaric explained. "Can you use them?"
Dr. Malvern examined the herbs closely, sniffing and even tasting a small leaf. "These are rare. Where did you get them?"
"Does it matter?" Alaric replied, leaning back against the wall. "The question is, how much will you pay for them?"
The doctor nodded, understanding the need for discretion. "I'll take them. Name your price."
They haggled briefly before settling on a sum. Satisfied, Alaric handed over the herbs and received a small pouch of gold in return.
Over the next few nights, Alaric repeated this process with other doctors. Each transaction was conducted in the same manner: under the cover of darkness, with an understanding of mutual secrecy. He visited Dr. Harlow, a renowned healer known for her discretion, and Dr. Whitaker, whose loyalty could be bought for the right price.
Each deal added to Alaric's growing coffers. He kept meticulous notes of his sales, ensuring he wasn't cheated. With each transaction, his confidence grew. He was careful to vary his routes and the times of his visits to avoid drawing attention.
One evening, after his last sale, Alaric returned to his room. He spread out the gold he had collected on his desk, counting it meticulously.
"Not a bad haul," he mused, a slight smile playing on his lips. "This should fund my next few projects quite nicely."
As he stashed the gold away in a hidden compartment, his thoughts turned to his next move. He still had the mana crystals and other magical materials to deal with, and he needed to find the right buyers or uses for them.
"Step by step," he reminded himself. "First the herbs, now the crystals."
The secrecy of his transactions had been maintained, and none of the doctors had questioned him too closely. They were more than happy to get their hands on such rare herbs, no matter the source.
Alaric felt a sense of satisfaction. He might not have the magical talent of his siblings, but he had his wits, and that was proving to be just as valuable.
As he prepared for bed, Alaric glanced at the pistol lying on his nightstand. It had become a symbol of his determination and ingenuity. He picked it up, feeling the weight of it in his hand.
"We're just getting started," he whispered to himself. "There's much more to do, and I won't stop until I've secured my place in this world."
With that resolve, he put the pistol back down and climbed into bed, ready for whatever challenges the next day would bring.
After successfully selling the herbs, Alaric turned his attention to the remaining crates. He knew he had to be just as discreet with these as he had been with the herbs. The first step was to secure the crate of gold.
Late one night, under the cover of darkness, Alaric made his way to a secluded spot in the woods behind the Vargas estate. With a shovel in hand, he dug a deep hole and carefully lowered the crate of gold into it.
"Better safe than sorry," he muttered to himself as he covered the crate with earth, making sure the ground looked undisturbed. Satisfied with his work, he marked the spot in a way only he would recognize and returned to the estate.
Next, it was time to deal with the low-level mana crystals. Alaric knew that selling these openly could draw unwanted attention, so he decided to auction them off anonymously. He carefully packaged the crystals, making sure they looked as pristine as possible, and made arrangements to have them delivered to the auction house under a false name.
The auction house was located in the bustling market district of Mythoria. Alaric disguised himself with a hooded cloak and made his way through the crowded streets. The bustling marketplace was filled with merchants hawking their wares and noblemen inspecting goods. Alaric kept his head down, avoiding eye contact with anyone.
Reaching the auction house, he approached the clerk at the back entrance.
"I have a package for auction," Alaric said, keeping his voice low. "It's under the name 'Blackthorn'."
The clerk nodded, taking the package and inspecting its contents. "These are fine crystals. Should fetch a good price. Do you want to set a reserve?"
Alaric shook his head. "No reserve. Just make sure they sell."
The clerk gave him a curious look but didn't press for more information. "Very well. The auction will be held tomorrow evening."
Alaric nodded and slipped away, blending back into the crowd. The next day, he attended the auction, remaining in the shadows at the back of the room. The auctioneer, a portly man with a booming voice, took the stage and began the proceedings.
"Ladies and gentlemen, we have a special lot today—low-level mana crystals of the finest quality," the auctioneer announced, holding up one of the crystals for the crowd to see. "Bidding starts at ten gold pieces."
The room buzzed with excitement as the bidding began. Alaric watched as the price climbed higher and higher. He could see the greed in the eyes of the bidders, many of whom were likely planning to resell the crystals for a profit.
"Fifty gold pieces!" one bidder shouted.
"Sixty!" another countered.
The price continued to rise until it finally settled at eighty-five gold pieces. The auctioneer's gavel came down with a loud thud. "Sold!"
Alaric allowed himself a small smile. It was a good price, more than he had expected. As the auction concluded, he waited until the crowd had dispersed before approaching the clerk.
"I'm here to collect the proceeds for the 'Blackthorn' lot," he said, keeping his hood low.
The clerk handed over a heavy pouch of gold coins. "Here you go. Quite a successful sale, if I may say so."
"Thank you," Alaric replied, taking the pouch and slipping it into his cloak. He made his way back to the estate, feeling a sense of accomplishment.
As he reached his room, he poured the gold coins onto his desk, counting them meticulously. "Eighty-five pieces," he murmured. "Not bad at all."
He put the gold away, his mind already turning to the next crate. The remaining crates contained magical materials, including the large magic crystal. These would require even more caution to sell, but Alaric was confident he could manage it.
"Step by step," he reminded himself. "Just keep moving forward."
With that, he began planning his next move, knowing that each successful transaction brought him closer to his goals.