The merchant stood there thinking for a moment. He leaned back slightly.
"You're not trying to create something" He said slowly "You're trying to complete something"
Shion didn't confirm it, but didn't deny it.
"That depends on what you have"
Silence settled between them again.
Eren tried to pretend being busy watching vials, flasks and potions.
"You described resonance-based stabilization without naming a single reference from any common text"
"That's because it wasn't in any of them. Your books included"
Now his composure started to show a tiny crack. He showed interest. Real interest.
"You're either very well trained" He said quietly "Or you're going to doom us all"
Eren spoke without turning to see them "Which one would you prefer?"
The canvas moved slightly, clearly the Kobold was behind it and afraid of the conversation.
The merchant exhaled through his nose, then gave a short nod.
"Carthis, close the tent's entrance"
The Kobold rushed to follow his master order.
The merchant took a couple books, a couple magic items, and a note.
He presented them on the counter, and took back the first books he showed.
"These are the finest goods I have. Usually are not up for sale, but I'll be making an exception for you"
Shion walked closer to the counter.
"Alchemical reactants during the first eras" This was an ancient book, found in royal libraries.
"Magic stabilization: The core of blood" A banned book.
"Forgotten structures and forbidden changes" Another illegal book.
The magic devices were pretty, but to be honest, not even Shion knew what they did.
She picked one up and pretended to examine it.
Finally, the note, rolled up and tied.
It had a blank paper outside, probably to cover it. Or to protect the ink from the note itself.
The note was a draft of a formula, sure. But it wasn't a page of a book.
Not the right size. One side was blank. The other had a complete formula.
A one page formula?
It didn't add up, made no sense.
"We were told you had another formula besides of this" Shion pointed out.
"That's all I have. I'm afraid if this doesn't satisfy your needs, I have nothing more to offer" The merchant replied.
Silence rose again inside the tent.
"A merchant told us someone by the name of Carthis tried to sell a piece of paper with scribbles on them" A bold move from Eren, she took a risk.
All eyes shifted to the Kobold, that was now pale as a ghost.
"Kobold, you took something from the cart?" The merchant was not yelling, but clearly raised his voice.
"I didn't steal! I tried to get some coins" Carthis was worried "It was for a good intention"
"Planning to run away?" The merchant teased.
"I would never. I wouldn't"
The merchant didn't even look at Carthis, keeping his eyes on Shion.
"A page, you took it from where exactly?" The merchant's jaw tightened.
Carthis swallowed.
"I didn't know it was important" His voice cracking "It was between the books and the manifest"
"Where is it?" The merchant asked.
Carthis hesitated.
He walked towards the back, where the crates are kept.
From inside the crate he slept into, he pulled a small paper, a bit rugged, but mostly well kept.
"I was trying to sell some paper, to learn from the master" The Kobold said as he offered the piece of paper.
The merchant took it slowly.
He didn't show anger, didn't yell. Just took the page in silence.
"Now we can talk" He placed the paper on the counter, under his hand to block the contents "If you were after a specific piece of paper, it means it has value"
Eren's idea backfired.
They had to take the chances.
"Probably" Shion replied "But we won't know unless we know the contents"
"But letting you see the contents will render it worthless again" The merchant argued "Bad for business"
None of them wanted to take the first step towards a negotiation.
"How much would you say paper is worth, Alice?" Shion asked.
Eren thought for a brief second "Probably one copper"
"Used paper is worth less" Shion completed.
"Now, now. You're here for knowledge, not paper" The merchant started his defense "And knowledge is worth. Specially rare knowledge"
"What if it isn't what we need?"
"You'll have to take your chances" The merchant kept his ground.
Shion studied his hand over the page. He was being careful.
"You misunderstand" She said calmly "We're not here because it's rare"
The merchant's eyes flickered.
"We're here because it is incomplete"
That landed. A flicker of doubt crossed his expression.
"If someone sold you a sword without a hilt, would you call it valuable?"
The merchant didn't answer.
Shion continued "The lower quadrant is missing. There's something missing on the binding angle"
She paused.
"Which means it cannot function"
Very slowly, the merchant lifted his hand, just enough for the top of the page to show.
There was ink. Dense. Layered. Technical.
He probably was testing her, if she leaned in.
She didn't.
"If it were complete" She added "Carthis wouldn't have tried to sell it as scrap."
Carthis shifted nervously behind them.
The merchant lowered his hand again "You assume I failed to understand it."
"I assume" Shion replied "Otherwise you wouldn't have it with the books and the manifest"
Now they were also evaluating, not just buying.
"Without the missing parts, then this page is only dangerous" Eren added.
The merchant's gaze sharpened "Dangerous?"
"Yes" Shion said "If someone tries to test an incomplete formula, what would happen?"
She let the thought trail off. The implication sat heavily in the air.
"We could be the next incident, like the smuggled magic crystals" The merchant said.
"I think" Shion replied "The merchant on that incident did not survive"
Carthis went still.
The merchant weighed his options.
"At least I can promise we won't try to replicate it" Eren added "Unless we're sure of what we're doing"
The merchant finally lifted the page fully and turned it toward them "Fine, one silver"
Shion remained unchanged. Paid for the page and took it.
"Thank you" She rolled the page and put it inside her armor "It was great doing business with you"
Kobold unlocked the tent for Shion and Eren to step out.
Outside there was not much daylight illuminating the streets.
They started walking towards Pingnast's.
"Someone is following us" Shion pointed out.
"Argue with me" Eren suggested.
Shion stepped in front of Eren, ranting about anything she could think of.
"I told you we need to get more stabilizers! More types, not just quantity!" She said with her voice still raised.
"Do you see them?" Eren asked quietly.
"No, they're good"
They didn't know what to do. So they defaulted towards the pub.
The same noisy place, full of chatter, mugs and coins.
They just went inside, took a table far, outside the visible area from the windows, and waited to see if anyone walked in.
"Give me the page" Eren told Shion.
Shion blinked once, looking her straight in the eye.
"For what?" She asked.
"I'll get out of here from the kitchen. You stay here and keep their attention. Then we can meet at the inn" Eren suggested a plan. Not a bad one.
Shion complied, she gave the page to Eren under the table.
Eren puts the page inside her armor, and walked outside casually.
A group of travelers, a bit tipsy, starts walking out of the pub at the same time.
Perfect.
Eren blends in just enough to get out for a whole block.
Then speeds up towards Pingnast's.
She looks back every few steps, trying to see if anyone is following her.
Pingnast is looking at his books inside his tent. One of his workers talking to him.
As soon as they see Eren come inside, their conversation stops.
"Ah. Miss Mercenary. Have you completed the job?" Pingnast asked.
"Here is the page" Eren puts the page on the counter "No violence. No threats. No suspicions from the merchant"
Pingnast looks pleased by looking at the page.
"Just in time" He looks at the page for a moment "This is real. Any complications?"
Eren looked a bit distressed.
"Someone followed us after we left the merchant's"
"Please tell me you didn't bring them here" Pingnast asked, his voice showed a hit of worry.
"No, my associate distracted them" Eren replied.
"Good" Pingnast started filling a small bag with the coins he owed to them "I'll tell you what. 2 extra silver coins. Probably you bought this with your own money. Collect it at the Association's desk tomorrow morning"
"I have a question" Eren interrupted "The missing page, has a missing piece"
"Ah yes. Most unfortunate" Pingnast added "To my knowledge, that page was always like this." He said calmly.
That didn't make sense.
Why would someone be so interested into a missing page with a missing piece of a formula?
Not her problem. She was paid.
Eren nodded and left.