Wolf and Virtuous Scales

Wolf and Virtuous Scales is the eighth episode of the first season of the Spice and Wolf anime.

Official Synopsis
Amid rumors of danger ahead, Holo and Lawrence move on after exposing a swindler. The next soul encountered on the road north makes the little wolf very uneasy.

Plot
Lawrence and Holo travel to the town of Poroson, where Lawrence sells the pepper he received from the Milone Trading Company to the Latparron Trading Company. During the exchange, Holo reveals that the buyer is attempting to swindle Lawrence. In return for not reporting the swindler, Lawrence receives more profit than he originally expected and demands from the Latparron Company the option to buy double that amount on margin. In fairness, he asks for high-quality armaments as he expects them to sell well at nearby Ruvinheigen, allowing a tidy profit and quick repayment of his loan.

On the road to Ruvinheigen, Lawrence and Holo talk about the future profit from their cargo of arms. Holo wonders why more portable goods like spices, gold, or jewels are not better options. Lawrence explains the local market prices and notes that the Church heavily tariffs gold entering its territory. Being caught evading this tax brings serious penalties.

After a while, they pass a group of travelers who warn them of mercenaries from the north on the main road. Detouring to a more dangerous path, they come across a young female shepherd and stop to greet her, though Holo is less than enthusiastic because of the instinctive hostility between shepherds and wolves.

Differences from the Light Novel

 * Holo and Lawrence visit Poroson for two nights instead of only a few hours in the morning.
 * Holo is not shown extorting mutton and wine from Latparron in exchange for her silence.