"What're ya buyin'?" — One of the lines spoken by the Merchant upon being interacted with.[1]
The Weapons Merchant (武器商人,buki shōnin?) is a mysterious character and trader that appears in Resident Evil 4 and the Resident Evil 4 remake as a means for the player to upgrade, sell, and purchase weapons.
Biography
While the Merchant primarily functions as a shop for players, he still "acts" as a character.
He is a weapons peddler who dresses in a long, black coat, with a purple bandana covering half of his face all the way down to his neck. A torch emitting blue flame marks the locations of his shops, and he appears capable of traveling great distances in the blink of an eye. He carries a wide selection of weapons inside his huge backpack and coat. While his appearance in the original Resident Evil 4; with his glowing yellow eyes in particular, suggests that he is a Ganado, he doesn't seem to regard outsiders as a threat, and will deal with anyone as long as the price is right. No one knows how he gets his weapons, but his selection is enough to impress even Leon. He's very good at his trade, flattering the buyer with phrases like "The choice of an avid gun collector!" and "You'll need guts to buy that weapon!"[2]
The Merchant reveals himself to Leon Kennedy after he wakes up in the house in the Valley by beckoning him from outside a window.[3] When Leon goes around the outside of the building, the Merchant shows off his merchandise.[4] He is also encountered by Ada Wong on various occasions. Ada later runs into him inside the Cave connecting the Village to the Church, before he properly sets up his shop (which includes lighting a torch that emits blue flame). Leon crosses him in this same area when he is ready, and he greets Leon.[5] He was last seen before Leon fights Saddler.
The Duke, another merchant from a European village is heavily implied to be his close acquaintance, calling the Merchant an "old friend" of his while referencing his trademark voiceline.
