Feng Ye moved carefully through the streets of Redwood Town. The atmosphere had shifted to a restless one with tension in the air.
The city was louder than usual. There was no celebration, but uncertainty was shown on some adventurers' faces. Whispers and wary glances passed between adventurers.
Guards and now uniformed enforcers from the guild walked around in groups. Their hands rested on their weapons and diligently scanned all faces that they came across.
Many mercenaries can be seen gathered in a variety of corners and alleyways observing.
Attracted by the temptation of riches, many bounty hunters with fame around the area are seen in great numbers silently moving about gathering as much information from locals and information dealers as possible.
The hunt had begun.
Feng Ye adjusted his cloak. He had to move carefully. Too fast, and he'd stand out. Too slow, and he'd look like easy prey. He was the loot goblin and the target.
The Guild was searching for the stolen ledger.
And anyone asking too many questions might end up in the river.
Feng Ye made his way toward the Beast Core Exchange.
The Beast Core Exchange was one of the busiest markets in Redwood Town. It wasn't just a place to trade, it was the heart of the town's economy. Here, cores were king.
Within the exchange, it was noisy. The entire marketplace was incredibly loud with the sounds of bartering. Stalls lined the streets, ranging from wooden carts to well-furnished storefronts protected by hired guards and mercenaries.
Adventurers bartered fiercely, exchanging cores for weapons, gear, potion materials, and cultivation elixirs.
Feng Ye observed that three types of merchants exist in Redwood Town.
The guild backed traders inside the beast core exchange who were controlled by guild regulations.
The street vendors outside the exchange and throughout the streets of Redwood Town who are independent but vulnerable to guild enforcement.
The city merchants who operated entirely outside the guild influence which avoided guild fees but had to defend their own property or hire their own guards.
Looking further down the pathway, Feng Ye noticed that there was an inner section to the exchange as well. Feng Ye observed that the Beast Core Exchange was operated under strict Guild regulation. Merchants here were divided into two layers and two separate regions.
The inner market and outer market.
The inner market is the "higher-tier" and for guild favored merchants where only elite merchants recognized by the guild could trade. They sold a variety of higher end goods like enchanted weapons, rarer materials for potions, and higher grade spellbooks. To set up a stall here, the business expenses were very high, however, these merchants have guaranteed protection by guild enforcers.
It seems that only the wealthiest and most connected traders could survive setting up shop here.
The outer market by contrast was a massive step below. It was still guild controlled, but fees were significantly less than those of the inner market. These merchants usually sold more mid-tier items. Items and goods are better in quality than those outside of the market, but not as high quality as those in the inner market. Here, protection wasn't guaranteed but there still was a better sense of security as enforcers would still patrol. However, it was dependent on how they felt that day to intervene if a dispute really broke out.
Feng Ye walked through the crowd. His expression was calm and relaxed. He walked deeper until he reached the inner market area.
Nearby, he overheard a rookie adventurer arguing with a merchant over a mid-tier beast material.
"This is worth only three beast cores in the outer market!"
The merchant smiled. "In the inner market, this is worth six. Take it or leave it."
Not far from here was a wealthy swordsman who traded a higher-tier beast core for a patterned long sword which a unique scabbard.
The merchant handling the trade grinned and laughed. "An excellent trade! This blade is truly suitable for you."
However, when a lesser known adventurer offered the same type of core, the response was different.
"Apologies, but I can't offer this rate today, it would be two higher tier beast cores. Perhaps, if you had a guild referral…"
After hearing this, Feng Ye understood immediately.
The guild didn't only control the trade here. They controlled who got stronger. Controlled the flow of resources while profiting massively. The inner market gave the best rates, gear, and opportunities but only to those favored by the guild.
The outer market in contrast continues to fight for scraps to be able to get into the inner market.
This was true market control.
It seems that without any type of guild referral, the rates were pretty trash. It wasn't worth it. Feng Ye lost interest immediately. He'll just stroll around and see if anything catches his eye then take his leave.
As Feng Ye continued to stroll in the inner market, suddenly, voices rose sharply from a nearby stall.
An adventure with a frustrated expression stood facing off against a pair of guild enforcers. These guild enforcers are easily recognizable due to the uniform and guild enforcer emblem on their sleeves.
"You can't be serious," the adventurer shouted. "That's daylight robbery!"
"Guild regulations," replied the enforcer calmly. "You traded unauthorized cores outside the Exchange yesterday. Your stall privileges here are revoked until the penalty is paid."
The merchant stepped forward, pleading urgently. "But I've paid every fee the Guild demanded! You doubled the rates without notice! How am I supposed to keep trading?"
The lead enforcer shrugged and replied with an indifferent expression. "Take it up with the guild."
"Clear your stall immediately, or we'll confiscate everything."
The adventurer tried to protest again, but the second enforcer blocked his path staring him down.
"You heard him. Move."
The crowd quickly parted. No one dared to interfere. It was not worth it to offend the guild.
Feng Ye watched silently. The man gave up quickly and packed away his stall.
Another victim of Guild control.
The enforcers weren't done.
The lead enforcer turned his gaze to a second stall beside them. This stall was run by an older woman selling beast core-enhanced fabrics and enchanted cloth.
He smiled. Anyone could tell that it was the smile of a predator.
"You seem like a smart woman," he said, tapping his sword against her counter. "We wouldn't want your stall to run into… any problems, would we?"
The woman froze and she nodded immediately. She understood the message.
"I already paid my fees this month," she whispered.
The enforcer chuckled. "Regulations change all the time. If you want to keep doing business, it's best to stay ahead." He held out his gloved hand.
A bribe.
A shakedown.
This wasn't about regulations.
This was extortion.
The woman frowned but then reached into a small pouch and placed two beast cores into his palm.
Receiving the cores, the enforcer pocketed them and laughed before walking away. "Pleasure doing business with you."
After witnessing this, Feng Ye could clearly observe that the corruption was even worse than imaginable. This was the inner market. Its advantages were evident, however, it seems that even the traders here were getting squeezed.
Here, enforcers weren't just regulating trade, they were squeezing and extorting merchants for protection money.
Any merchants or adventurers who resisted were ruined and threatened with their stall revoked under the umbrella of guild violations.
Enforcers weren't just following orders but actively exploiting their power for personal gain.
This wasn't a fair marketplace. It was an extortion ground.
Feng Ye sighed. He has seen enough. He turned away. It truly wasn't worth it here. Perhaps, the auction house will be better. The guild's reach and influence seem to be at its peak. It has a stranglehold on Redwood Town.
It's no wonder the guild branch needed to expand.
Now, onwards to the auction house. This is where the true rulers of Redwood Town played their games.