"You know, esteemed one, we've had an intriguing incident here. Someone robbed thieves!"
The Baron stated this as if the news should have at least knocked his interlocutor off his feet.
"Only other thieves could have robbed thieves!"
Laughter filled the study.
"Well said. Yes, the captain of the guard believes it was their own kind. Personally, I'm glad a couple of scoundrels met their end. Will you join me for breakfast?"
"It would be my honor, Your Grace."
As he reached the door, the Baron paused and, after a brief moment of reflection, turned back to the vampire.
"I would like to ask you for a small favor next time."
"I am entirely at your service, Lord Baron."
"Could you capture a few goblins alive next time?"
Seeing the confusion on the vampire's face, he smirked.
"Oh right! There are no goblins in Valeria! — and noticing the knight's utterly bewildered expression, he continued — Well, why are you so surprised? I understood from our very first meeting that you are from the magical order of Valeria or a part of it. Don't worry, whoever might pursue you, they won't come here, and I haven't blabbered about it on every corner."
"Interesting dance they're doing, four in a row! So that's why the Baron was so lenient towards us!"
Seeing that the knight's face had smoothed out and no longer resembled a frozen mask of mixed emotions, the Baron returned to the matter that interested him.
"So, back to the goblins. Capture a dozen of the older ones."
"But why? I really don't understand, Your Grace."
"Well... what I'm about to tell you, I haven't told anyone! You in Valeria are spared from this plague and know little about them... You see, all goblins are poisonous. No antidote works against their poison. And there's no antidote for their venom."
The Baron cracked open the door, ensured no servants were eavesdropping, closed it again, and lowered his voice.
"They say goblin meat is very tasty but poisonous. And from a live goblin, you can make a deadly poison! Of course, it's only suitable from live creatures; you can't make it from dead ones. But, as you understand, such things are frowned upon, by both the Inquisition and the Kingdom's secret police, unlike goblin hunting. I'm interested in hunting! Goblin hunting! It's marvelous! If a goblin is older than a quarter century, it puts up such resistance and sets such traps!"
The Baron reminisced, his face reflecting pure bliss.
"Marvelous. And they fetch a high price. And it's an original gift. I'll pay you well!"
"Goblins are apparently poisonous, and our idiots dried them out without noticing!"
"I didn't know all this about goblins. So, I understand, it should be kept secret when delivering them?"
"No no no!" The Baron waved his hands. "If it's delivered secretly, it will immediately raise suspicions! I really do need them for hunting and as gifts! I won't do anything illegal with them! Ten silver for a head. But only for a live goblin older than a quarter century! Young ones are worth a silver coin."
"Even convicts are cheaper!"
But the Baron's next statement plunged the vampire into complete shock.
"But just so you know, if you sell live goblins on the black market, the price there is completely different. Starting from a hundred silver."
The Baron made an emphatic gesture with his index finger.
"How fortunate that Gena (Gennady) doesn't know about this!"
Indeed, if their main merchant found out how much money the vampire community had sunk into the ground, they would all be in trouble. Conversely, if he knew, Leonid would have to catch goblins alive instead of calmly killing them.
"But, Lord Baron, if goblins are worth so much, why aren't they captured? Set such a price, and you'd have a sea of live goblins! And this is the first time I've heard about their poisonous nature."
The Baron looked at the vampire and hesitated.
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