Castle of Black Iron

It was not Zhang Tie’s first time to go to a fish market.

When in Hidden Dragon Island, Zhang Tie had often visited fish markets. When in Youzhou Province, he also always went to fish markets. Fish markets being close to wharves were the best place for setting free marine organisms given the large quantities of marine organisms, low prices and geographical convenience. He could even rent ships to set free marine organisms away from the seaside, in which way, it would not arouse the attention of the others. Everything was ready.

Compared to setting free marine organisms, it was not that convenient to release other terrestrial animals.

Take setting free chickens, ducks, cattles or sheep as an instance, it was not difficult for him to buy them; but it would be very difficult for him to set free them in the wild.

Firstly, these animals couldn’t adapt to the living environment in the wild. Secondly, even though he could find some suitable living environments for these animals, it was a big problem for him to transport them. Thirdly, even though he didn’t care about the cost of transportation, as long as he set free too many terrestrial animals in one place, people would go there to catch them for sure. This problem could barely be eradicated. If he wanted to eradicate this problem, he had to buy a large area of land and hire a lot of people to look after those animals. Even so, it would also arouse the attention of the public. Additionally, the operation would be very troublesome. Besides, many more problems would be derived from it.

Therefore, since the Third Holy War between humans and demons broke out, Zhang Tie had only set free earthworms and golden uangs on land.

It was not because that Zhang Tie didn’t want to set free more terrestrial animals for more fruits of redemption so as to increase his strength; instead, the concrete operation would be very troublesome. In peaceful times, Zhang Tie had enough time, money and land to do that; however, in the holy war, it would be like putting the cart before the horse by spending much time and labor forces on it.

After the holy war broke out, Zhang Tie should protect humans ahead of animals.

Zhang Tie once thought about releasing those animals into Castle of Black Iron; however, the biggest shortcoming for doing that was that it would easily expose the existence of Castle of Black Iron to the public. If he purchased a large number of animals once, which then disappeared in a short period of time, someone would definitely discover it. That might bring troubles to Zhang Tie. To be honest, Zhang Tie didn’t have time to stroll in fish markets to buy small animals since the holy war broke out.

…

The fish market in Tigerback Town was not small. It lasted about 1,600 m alongside the wharf. Simple bamboo sheds were close to each other, large or small. Under those bamboo sheds were fish ponds made of stone. Many fresh sea products were put in the fish ponds closely after they were discharged from ships. Only a few of them were dead which would be put aside. As fresh sea products could be sold at high prices, fishers and street pedlars preferred fresh sea products.

Besides satisfying the demands of Tigerback Town, this fish market could also cater to the demands of some towns in the farther distance around Whitedragon Gulf. As for the people in those towns, this place was the closest place where they could buy fresh sea products. Therefore, many people would come here to purchase fresh sea products on each early morning.

As a country, Emperor NvWa City was very large and had a lot of people. Therefore, many populated commercial centers in Emperor NvWa City were called towns instead of cities, whether large or small. Small towns were almost like common towns outside Emperor NvWa City where lived thousands or even tens of thousands of people; big towns were vital towns which always contained millions of people just like cities.

In the beginning, Zhang Tie was confused about this; after staying in Tigerback Mountain for a few days, he finally figured it out.

Therefore, although the fish market in Tigerback Town was available to only a few towns, it was not small given the sizes of those towns.

The air in the fish market was stinky as the ground there was always wet. Uran carriages were accessing to those bamboo sheds with water tanks. Many purchasers often visited here; therefore, they were already familiar with the bosses. These customers almost didn’t bargain with the bosses as they had long fixed the prices. After checking goods, they would weigh them and load them on the uran carriages. After payment, the purchasers would drive uran carriages away.

However, as for those strange customers or those who didn’t purchase too many once, they used to bargain with the bosses across the fish market.

Zhang Tie didn’t stay too long under those bamboo sheds. Based on his experience in Taixia Country, Zhang Tie knew that he should find a couple of reliable agents to do that for him for the sake of efficiency. Those large fish stores’ bosses were ideal targets for him.

In such a fish market, those small pedlars only needed to set up a bamboo shed. Those who had a bigger business or monopolized the pricing of one or two sea products would found fish stores as they had higher positions in the fish market and the wharf.

As long as Zhang Tie could pay them enough money and use some spiritual secret method to control one or two able and obedient assistants in the fish stores, it would be easy for him to make it. By doing that, he didn’t have to care about it himself; instead, he only waited to eat fruits.

After strolling in the fish market for a while, Zhang Tie saw a large fish store in front of him. It contained more than 100 bamboo sheds and fish ponds which were connected with each other. There was a magnificent 2-storey building in front of these bamboo sheds and fish ponds on the edge of the wharf. There were some golden words above the gate of the building——Du’s Fish Store, which dwarfed all the other booths and bamboo sheds.

When Zhang Tie came here, two people were talking at the gate of the fish store.

“Butler Liu, the price of these hairtails remains unchanged. I even lost my capital. You know the situation facing the fish market today, after the abnormal phenomenon in Whitedragon Gulf, the prices of many sea products have risen. Take hair fish as an instance, its price is at least 30% higher than that before. When you go back, remember to put in a good word for me in front of the boss of Jadeocean Building. Don’t forget about me when you have other demands in the future…”

“Mr. Du, was that real? I couldn’t believe it. How could the fish and shrimps deep in ocean jump out of the sea level? Previously I only heard that dolphins could jump into ships. If it was real, the fishing boats in Whitedragon Gulf must have got a big harvest. In that way, the prices of these sea products should be lower. How could they rise?”

“A big harvest? Many fishermen were scared so much. Fishers respect the Dragon King the most. Whenever they go to sea, they would like to be safe. They have not even heard about such an abnormal phenomenon before. Previously, if fish or shrimps jumped into ships, they would be very happy about that as they felt it meant good luck. However, if all the fish and shrimps jumped out of water; even those marine organisms which could never be seen on the sea showed up, it would be utterly different. At the sight of it, they would feel cold. Even though those things jumped in boats, nobody dared take them. They all thought that the Dragon King must be losing his temper. They even set free all the sea products that you had caught on that day and came back soon for the sake of reassurance. Therefore, the total amount of sea products in the fish market today is at least 30%-40% less than that before. Of course, the general price should have risen. Butler Liu, if you don’t believe in me, you could ask around…”

“Alright, I gotta get going. The boite is waiting for me. No matter what, we’ve cooperated for a couple of days. Sometimes, when the general price in the fish market was a bit lower, we still referred to the same price that we had fixed, right? Mr. Du, that’s what a business is supposed to be, right? Only in this way could our cooperation last long and Mr. Du’s business become better. If Jadeocean Building’s business in Xin’an Town becomes better, all the hundreds of boites and restaurants in Xin’an Town would know that we purchased fresh food ingredients from your fish store at reasonable prices. Of course, Du’s Fish Store would be well-known in the region…”

“You’re right, Butler Liu; you’re right…”

As they talked with each other, Mr. Du walked Butler Liu out. Outside Du’s Fish Store, four uran carriages had been loaded with sea products. Butler Liu directly got on one of them. After noticing his partners, those drivers drove away…

Seeing Butler Liu off, Mr. Du shook his head with a bitter smile. When he was going back to his store, he heard a strange voice.

“Are you Mr. Du?”

Mr. Du turned around as he found a youth was smiling at him…

Despite his average look, only after taking a look at the youth’s costumes, Mr. Du had revealed a passionate smile out of respect. There were too many important guests in Tigerback Town who came from all directions. To be honest, the boss of a fish store dared never offend anyone of them whether they were here for learning medical skills or for medical treatment. “I’m Du Dahai, the boss of Du’s Fish Store, may I help you, Your Excellency?”

“It’s said that Du’s Fish Store is not bad in this region; therefore, I’m especially here for some goods!”

After hearing that Zhang Tie was here for goods, Mr. Du’s smile became more enthusiastic as he hurriedly made a hand gesture to invite Zhang Tie in, “Please come in; please come in. Let’s talk inside…”