Wolf and Virtuous Scales

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

Synopsis
Lawrence and Holo travel to the town of Poroson, where Lawrence sells the pepper he received from Milone Company. During the exchange, Holo reveals that the man buying the pepper is attempting to swindle Lawrence. In exchange for not reporting the swindler, Lawrence receives more profit than he originally expected. In fairness, he asks for armor as he expects the man to be able to quickly make back what he lost to Lawrence by selling it at the church city of Ruvinheigen. They also get veal and wine from the man for travel provisions.

While traveling there soon after, Lawrence and Holo talk about future profit from the armor he received from the merchant and the illegality of smuggling gold. The Church heavily tariffs gold that comes into their territory and being caught attempting to get around it brings serious penalties. They pass a group of travelers who warn them of mercenaries from the north. Continuing on the road, they come across a female shepherd and stop to greet her, though Holo is less than enthusiastic because of the instinctive hostility between shepherds and wolves.