CHAPTER 75: CHAPTER 17: SALVAGING THE MAGIC PEARL

The mountains of gold coins brought great joy to Su Li.

In this world, although it is idealistic, it is also very materialistic. Especially in this wild, remote, yet vibrant Border Prince’s Territory, more than eighty percent of problems can be solved with money.

For example, Su Li’s biggest pressure now, the forest’s green dragon, Deceitful Wings Aeliria Erebos, could be dealt with by offering a bounty and recruiting warriors or a knight order to take her down.

If he could put out enough money, surely some dragon slayer or powerful knight order would be willing to take on the bounty. But a thousand gold coins would certainly not be enough to send a warrior to slay a dragon.

"So, I have to focus on farming," Su Li sighed as he walked out of the castle’s cellar. Only a more prosperous territory could provide him with more gold coins; whether forming his own army or enlisting warriors for bounties, he’d have more options.

Just as he stepped out of the cellar, Lauren, who was waiting in the hall, came up and said, "My lord, you’ve finally returned. I’ve taken care of everything you asked me to arrange."

Su Li sat on the chair, calmly saying to Lauren, "Very good, my capable Civil Servant. You truly are my right-hand minister. With you handling it, I am much more at ease."

Su Li entrusted Lauren with many tasks, and Lauren reported one by one: "After careful screening, I’ve found six sea women within the territory. Since this matter is not convenient for you to handle personally, I will supervise it by the shore. Once we gather the magic pearls, the first one will be presented to you."

Sea women, also known as pearl gatherers. Since pearls and magic pearls are very rare and precious, exclusive to high nobles, many fishermen risk life and limb to meet the needs of royalty and nobility. These women who dive to gather pearls are highly talented divers, fighting bare-bodied against the dangerous currents, hence they are called daughters of the sea.

The preparation for this job is not difficult, but it is fraught with danger. The women gathering pearls use no equipment, tying a rope around themselves to dive deep into the waters, using specialized knives to pry the mussels off underwater rocks, then following the rope or being pulled up by someone on the boat to bring the shells back to the surface.

Legends say many sea demons or banshees were once sea women. Because of the perilous nature of this task, their lives depend on the rope tied around them, which they entrust to their relatives on the boat. If they encounter danger below, they pull the rope as best they can, hoping to be pulled to safety, or at least their bodies retrieved. The rope is held only by family because the sea women trust no one else. However, if their husbands betray them, they might take them to dangerous waters and throw the rope overboard.

This afternoon at precisely two o’clock, a magic tide clam will pass the confluence of the territory’s rivers, and we must obtain it at any cost, requiring a ruthless official to oversee all the pearl gatherers as they dive.

The image of the Lord must be bright, majestic, merciful, and generous, so Lauren took on the role of the harsh official himself.

Su Li greatly appreciated the talents of this Minister of the Seal, and the rumor that graduates from the administrative management department of the Mordheim Griffin Military Academy have the ability to govern and benefit the world has been proven true.

Su Li nodded and said, "This task is quite urgent, and we haven’t trained for it before. On my behalf, reward these diving sea women. Each diver will be awarded 3 Silver Coins, and whoever finds the magic tide clam will be awarded 3 Gold Coins!"

"With great reward comes bravery," Lauren said confidently, "Rest assured, my lord, I will certainly bring back that magic tide clam."

After completing the emergency task Su Li assigned him in the morning, Lauren continued, "I’ve also completed the trade negotiations. The commerce head awaits your audience on the dock outside the castle. Do you have time to meet with them?"

This was scheduled just yesterday, and Su Li readily agreed: "Let him come in. Also, tell me how the negotiations went."

Hilude immediately sent an attendant down to bring the commerce head inside. As he entered the castle, Lauren said, "This trade convoy is named the West Highlands Alliance Merchant Association, hailing from the renowned West Highlands Plains within the Empire, for short, West High Merchant Association."

"West High Merchant Association?" Su Li asked curiously, "Why such a strange name? Why not just West Merchant Association?"

Lauren explained: "Because the West Territory is one of the Electors within the Empire, and West Highlands is the core area of the secular Elector West Territory. The dynamics of the West Territory are complicated; though adjacent to the Empire’s power centers, it is known for being an odd and backward rural area. This is largely because it encroaches upon terrifying territories of vampires and forest elves, defined by the world’s Edge Mountain Range and the three great rivers of the Empire. Along the West River heading east, the thick forests gradually thin out, fragmenting into isolated woods, including the fearsome Desolate Forest and the infamous Lawrence Forest."

"Indeed, our territory is troubled by vampires and forest elves. Our people are even more superstitious, for instance, in the West Highlands when strangers enter the village, children throw pig droppings at them, believing it helps ward off evil essence souls. Those covered in pig droppings receive particularly strong protection." A deep voice emanated from outside the hall, as a middle-aged man with brown hair and eyes and dark skin entered the hall.

If it weren’t for the heavy and expensive fur coat he wore, Su Li would hardly believe that his robust physique belonged to a caravan leader. Clearly, he resembled a powerful knight more than a shrewd merchant.

After entering the castle, he slightly bowed, placing his right hand on his chest, and greeted, "Kurt Steel, Steward of the West High Merchant Association, greets you, esteemed Pioneer Lord. Please allow me to explain that although our association is named the West High Merchant Association, it is not because our influence fails to cover the entire West Territory."

"On the contrary, any merchant association with the suffix ’High’ in the West Territory is a powerful and respected one. The word ’High’ represents authority, official recognition, and honor in the West Territory. It proves our outstanding contributions to the West Territory and our deeply rooted presence on this land. It reminds us why, in this vast West Territory, we people of the Empire retreat to a highland, why, despite the extensive forests around the West Territory, we go to the border to cut timber."

The citizens of the Empire are indeed fierce and vengeful, their flames of revenge never extinguished!

After listening to their introductions, Su Li immediately gained an understanding of the situation in the West Territory, which somewhat resembled the Central Pass, with a flat internal plateau close to the Empire’s core, a great river flowing through it as a natural barrier, but outside, the situation was dire, threatened by numerous monsters and rebels.

Originally, the main force of the vampire rebellion took place within this territory.

Su Li waved his hand in courtesy and said, "No need for such formality, Master Kurt. We have already reached a part of our cooperation; we are now collaborative partners, aren’t we?"

"Yes." Kurt nodded and said, "Your Minister of the Seal truly possesses remarkable talent. In negotiations with him, we did not gain any advantage. At the price of 3 Golden Crowns per day, obtaining the military assurance you provided, we really earn little profit on this trip."

Golden Crowns per day for military assurance is indeed not a small security fee.

To know, a significant portion of elite knights’ monthly salary is only about 3~~5 Golden Crowns.

This price could even buy an armed attendant directly from a slave camp.

They would stay in the woodland for at least 30 to 50 days during a logging trip, implying they would provide at least 100 Golden Crowns in security fees to the Hesse Territory.

If only relying on cutting Blood Pine Wood, the profit would be relatively thin.

However, the allure of the forest lies in the fact that no one knows what unexpected encounters one may find within.

If during logging, they happen to collect some precious herbs or rare magical beast cubs, high-value ores, or gemstones, they could still earn a profit.

Furniture merchants’ teams usually include pharmacists and gatherers precisely for this purpose.

Of course, Su Li also profits greatly. The martial protection he provides does not require him to station troops with them constantly, only ensuring the forest is safe from large groups of bandits and raiders. The lower risk of small monster attacks, they solve themselves, which was the main negotiation point Lauren focused on yesterday. This aligns with Su Li’s strategic goals anyway, as he needs to clear forest bandits, and large groups of bandits need to be eliminated.

Originally, Kurt was reluctant to agree to this condition, doubting whether this territory had the strength to clear various threats within the forest.

But today, seeing Lambert’s head, the leader of the Black Arrow, changed his attitude, so after sitting down, he proposed a request, saying, "I have seen the bounty for the Black Arrow bandit group in Marle Castle. I am willing to offer 5 more Golden Crowns, buying Lambert’s head from you at the price of 25 Golden Crowns."

"Believe me, this is a very favorable deal. Even if you meet Count Amadis von Draken, it won’t bring you any additional benefits. You are both Pioneer Lords, and disputes might arise over a disagreement. It’s better to hand it over to our association; we need this head as a gift to open relations with Count Amadis. In the future, if there are any specialties between your territories, our association can act as a bridge for communication."

Su Li generously waved his hand and smilingly said, "No problem, I’ll hand over Black Arrow Lambert’s head to you. I happen to have a small issue that requires Master Kurt’s aid in resolving."