Merchants and alchemists like to emphasize the principle of equivalent exchange, where "commodities" of different values are exchanged according to the amount of value they have, contributing to the basic process of commodity exchange.

Merchants emphasize the equivalent exchange of goods because the goods they use for trading have a certain value, and what they need to exchange for is the surplus value of the goods. Equivalent exchange does not exist in every exchange process, but over a longer period of time, the price of a commodity remains in line with its value.

Alchemists, on the other hand, emphasize the equivalent exchange of potion concoctions because they work to make something of a certain value out of something of a certain value. Matter of the same mass, after alchemy change, can only produce the same mass of matter, and in order to achieve success, there is also a corresponding price.

For mercenaries or assassins who export their skills and powers, "they" are the value themselves in exchange, and they pay the corresponding labor in exchange for payment. There is no such thing as a free lunch in this world, and giving a deposit to represent "sincerity" for no reason will only cause vigilance in this industry.

"So, the information investigated by these guards is a greeting gift?"

Hermia's body leaned in front of Curt, and the curves of her body were quite obvious in the desert-style thin clothes: "To be honest, you did arouse a little curiosity in me. After all, a delicious-looking teenager actually commissioned me to kill a four-star rated sorcerer...... You know, even in places where strange orders are always transferred, this can be a rare one. ”

So what exactly is the reward?

Despite having the reputation of "no blood and no tears", it is similar to a mercenary like Curt who is subject to the constraints of the mercenary management office. The Hermia assassins also had their own set of rules that they had to follow. However, in order to get them to follow these rules, the most basic "reward" is indispensable.

Curt knew that Hermia was not a "bad guy" by nature. At least she was one of the safer ones in the industry. But she was as greedy as her own kindred in the legends—and not just in the way of commissions.

The relationship of trust between them is only based on the same interests, and perhaps because they both understand this, they get along well. Excluding some troublesome considerations, only considering ability and attitude towards commissioning, Hermia is the best choice.

After all, you get what you pay for - she's a good choice, but it's also an expensive one.

"Didn't I already say that? You'll probably have to ask him about the remuneration - after all, he's the principal. Curt patted the silent teenager on the back. The young man who had kept his head down until now seemed to be frightened, and subconsciously shrugged his body, "But I can tell you the basic situation - he is very poor. Even if the whole net worth is combined, it may not be able to give a fraction of the commission fee. ”

The amount of value of a commodity depends on the socially necessary labor time spent producing the commodity, and in the process of barter, the two parties to the exchange can always roughly estimate the labor cost of the other party, so as to realize the mutual exchange of equal labor costs. And after the advent of money. The exchange of goods and money became the most prevalent form in the market. Thus, the exchange of labor time is reflected in the fact that the price of the commodity corresponds to the value.

And assassins like Hermia have not only their own strength, but also the lives of the people whose clients want to kill. Therefore, their pricing method is also very simple - based on their own value, and the difficulty of the goal, they combine it and then set their own price.

Except for some guys with big mouths, usually the more capable the assassin is, the more expensive he is, and the identity and personal ability of the target are all elements that must be considered. Mercenaries are not messengers of justice, and assassins are not. They are merchants, buying and selling the lives of others.

Wait until Curt finishes speaking. The boy began to speak in a deep voice, "Mr. Leinster is right...... I may not be able to afford it - but instead, I'm willing to pay what I need. As long as it's something I have, even if it's me. ”

Curt raised an eyebrow, the boy's implication was to sell what he had—even himself—in exchange for Hermia's power.

The slave trade has existed since thousands of years ago, and the sale of humans and other intelligent beings as commodities was even more prevalent in the pioneering era hundreds of years ago. Whatever the purpose, this "trade good" is popular in a variety of fields.

The young and the young are used as laborers, and the young and the young are slaves...... Denying an individual's own identity as a person and treating them entirely as buying and selling goods. Such a transaction is dirty, but it has not been completely swept into the dustbin of history because of the exhibition of the times.

Hundreds of years ago, the empire signed a decree prohibiting human trafficking, but this situation continues to be prohibited. No one pays attention to the missing teenagers and girls in the slums at the bottom, and even ordinary civilians have disappeared in villages in remote areas.

But selling oneself as a commodity seems to exist only in fairy tales – in reality it is either a madman or a liar.

Obviously, the boy's offer was very abrupt, which surprised Hermia, the assassin who had been in the black zone of Catrice for a long time. But this accident was only fleeting, and after a moment, she suddenly laughed sneeringly, and her pink tongue inadvertently licked the fangs in her mouth.

"Ahh She looked at the boy's face with a teasing smile, her slender fingers running lightly across his chin, "That is...... If I accept this commission from you, I can do whatever I want with you?"

Curt shook his head silently, the boy may have made such a condition out of a desperate gambler's mentality, but for Hermia, it was exactly what he wanted. She also seemed interested in the teenager - and the boy's proposal might be a good deal for her.

It is true that in the actual process of operation, the price of commodities is not always consistent with value, and only under the condition of balance between supply and demand. In commodity trading competition, the supply and demand of commodities are constantly changing, with prices falling when there is an oversupply, and rising prices when demand exceeds supply.

And in some cases, the price of a commodity can fluctuate in a special way – like a glass of water in a sea of sand, or a boat on a mighty river. These things, which may not normally have much value, are priceless to those who need them in certain circumstances.

This market-regulated price rise and fall in turn guides production and consumption, thereby influencing market supply and demand, driving supply and demand to converge, and leading commodity prices closer to the value of the commodity. The movement of the market price around the market value makes the price tend to be consistent with the value in terms of trend, so that the principle of equivalent exchange can be expressed.

If the price is below the value for a long time, and the merchant does not receive enough money to cover the cost of raw materials and labour, or to make sufficient profits, then he will not be able to expand the scale of production or even maintain simple reproduction, and the reproduction process will be interrupted. If the price is higher than the value for a long time, and the businessman makes a small profit, it will affect his improvement of his own management level and further development.

To each according to his needs, to each his own...... It guarantees that the cost of production in the various material sectors is compensated by the selling price of the commodity and that an average profit is obtained, so that social reproduction proceeds smoothly. The boy's offer happened to be a good one for Hermia.

"If you fulfill the commission - I want you to kill that bastard, no matter the means. The young man was still a little afraid of Hermia's eyes, but he still tried to keep his voice steady, "As long as the commission is indeed completed, then you have no problem with me what you want." ”

The boy saw a glimmer of hope, and even though the "hope" was rather slim and rested on a relationship that was difficult to trust, he still clinged to the possibility. He already had nothing to lose, and naturally was not afraid that it might be a scam.

He didn't know what the possibility of his life might exist, and the remaining life might be the only valuable remnant, and he was glad that Hermia was interested in him. But no matter how fortunate she is, after all, it is the last thing that can be entrusted, and it is impossible to let her do whatever she wants before the other party completes the commission.

"Of course, who do you think I am? I'm Hermia, one of the best pharmacists in our clan, and one of the most dangerous assassins in the city. You can ask Leinster, have any of the commissions I've taken so far that haven't worked out?"

Grabbing the envelope that Curt had placed on the bar, rubbing it for a moment and putting it in his pocket beside him. Hermia looked at the fire of revenge in the boy's eyes, and her smile became deeper, and even the snake's tail coiled in the lower half of the chair swayed with excitement.

Curt looked at Hermia, who seemed to be about to be eaten alive at the moment, and took over indifferently: "It's better not to ask me, I'm just an ordinary mercenary who doesn't know anything." Nor will it know the secret information of such a machine as the completion of an assassin's mission. ”

It seems that the matter is basically going to be settled, but Curt still has to remind both parties to be careful out of his own role as an "intermediary". The boy may not have the guts to deceive Hermia, but this Lamian serpent woman was as cunning and greedy as a snake.

"Leinster, do you think I'll not be able to guess your purpose?" Hermia glanced at Curt and gave a sinister smile, "As for my side, I am basically absolutely loyal to the commission - but those who dare to lie to me often do not survive. ”

Even if it happened to be something I liked—Hermia's reptilian eyes seemed to reveal such words.

After saying that, she writhed like a snake, grabbed the young man's forearm tightly with her hand, and a red serpentine mark slowly appeared on the place where the two of them made physical contact.

This is the seal of the covenant. (To be continued!)

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