"What do you think of him?"
"Not much, just an ordinary guy with a bit of cleverness."
Siduri answered casually, with a hint of understated disdain in her tone.
Ishtar nodded and laughed:
"Alright, you can leave."
Siduri secretly breathed a sigh of relief, just about to pull Luo En down the mountain, but suddenly her hand felt empty.
At that moment, Ishtar was pulling on Luo En’s arm, smiling as she said to her friend:
"You can go, but he has to stay. Go back and tell Utu, I want this man!"
The sudden turn of events left Siduri utterly shocked:
"Didn’t you say he wasn’t suitable?"
"He is suitable now."
"Don’t be impulsive, marriage is not a child’s play! Didn’t you want to marry Enki Mudo, the Agriculture God? I can help you mediate."
"No need, I’ve changed my mind. Shepherds are fine, I’m tired of farmers, just want a change of taste."
Ishtar answered seriously, but secretly sneered in her heart.
Do you really think I’m stupid?
Utu’s sight may be poor, but not so poor as to fancy an unimpressive shepherd.
And you, when did you ever spare the time to escort an ordinary person to Abi Mountain to mediate for me?
I may not know how good he is, but I know the more valuable something is, the more people fight over it.
For someone who’s always polite to others, never speaks harshly, to actively smear and demean, and even seem afraid I’d choose him.
Then he must have something extraordinary.
At least in your eyes, his value is high!
If I don’t seize this chance now, when the value rises someday, won’t I suffer a huge loss?
Seeing the smugness in Ishtar’s eyes, Siduri realized she had been outsmarted.
Feeling frustrated, she reluctantly said:
"Let me take him away, I’ll cover a year’s supply of alcohol and the mountain path repair costs."
Upon hearing her friend’s exchange offer, Ishtar couldn’t help but be tempted.
Nailed it! There’s really something fishy with this guy!
Seeing Ishtar not responding immediately, Siduri had to grit her teeth and say:
"Two years! Besides the repair fee, I’ll give you three boxes of gemstones!"
This price can be raised further?
Ishtar sharply inhaled, her expression shifting from shock to exuberant joy.
Once this deal is done, she could live carefreely for a long time!
Ishtar turned her head and looked at her newly claimed "husband" beside her, her gaze full of heat and excitement, as if seeing a small gold statue beckoning at her.
Seeing her friend seemed tempted, Siduri asked again:
"How about it? Are you satisfied with this deal?"
However, Ishtar shook her head like a rattle, pulling Luo En behind her, and showing a look like guarding against a thief to her friend.
Trying to exchange this for me? Joking!
The more you offer, the higher the value it proves!
I’m not that lucky to begin with, finally grabbing something big, if I don’t make enough...
No, unless it’s multiplied by tenfold, no one can make me let go!
Even if Marduk comes, it’s useless!
Siduri became anxious:
"We can negotiate the price further, I..."
"No trade! Not even for my life! Trying to bribe me with money and alcohol? Do you think I’m that kind of God? No sincerity at all!"
Before Siduri could finish, Ishtar decisively invoked her Authority, transferring her friend out of Abi Mountain.
Seeing the starlight descending from the sky forming a barrier, sealing off the entire Abi Mountain, and her unscrupulous friend dragging Luo En into the Heavenly Ship Manaana, heading straight to the mountain top temple, Siduri’s vision went black, her heart wailing.
It’s over, I’ve messed up!
Du Muzi, I’m sorry, I got you into trouble.
But soon, this Goddess bearing the name of Wisdom regained her spirit, looking at the soil at the foot of the mountain emitting wisps of black air, her eyes flickering.
No choice, if soft means don’t work, I’ll have to try another approach.