CHAPTER 54: CHAPTER 54: DEALS AND TRADE

The benefit of spending enough money was that all the goods could be delivered to your door.

When Ryan returned to the estate he was temporarily staying in, the Imperial Trading House had already sent over the slaves he had purchased. As for the grain and livestock, those would only arrive at the Tundra Territory in two months.

After resting for a couple of hours, Ryan headed in the afternoon to a noble residence in Northwind City.

"Go announce to Viscount Randa that my lord, Baron Ryan, is here to pay a visit."

Rosen called out at the entrance. Soon enough, someone came out to escort Ryan inside.

Noble visits were usually elaborate affairs, but among the Northern Wind Province nobility, such formalities were often skipped. After passing through a few gates, Ryan saw Viscount Randa.

He already knew the viscount was short on money—so short that he had given up a deposit on pre-ordered elven slaves and let the deal go.

"Ryan greets Lord Viscount."

"Ah, so you are Ryan. A child of the Rimehart family indeed—handsome and distinguished,"

Viscount Randa said with a smile. The Northern Wind Province wasn’t small, but the noble circles—like anywhere—were tight. As a baron, even one of the remote Tundra, Ryan still counted as upper-tier in provincial aristocracy.

Moreover, Randa was privy to some insider news from the Empire: the Rimehart family had recently risen in power. Even without a ducal title, their influence among the counts was increasing rapidly.

Naturally, someone from House Rimehart—like Baron Ryan—was not to be casually targeted, even here in the north.

That’s why, during the recent council session, when someone mentioned that Tundra Territory had no money, no one dared chime in with derision.

They were all nobles. Though not particularly close to Ryan, they were aware of Count Rimehart’s rising status. And they all knew what kind of place Tundra Territory used to be—so no one wanted to trip him up.

After all, if they ever ended up visiting the Empire’s south, they might have to greet Ryan with a smile and flattery themselves.

That’s the privilege of being a noble heir.

Viscount Randa himself had recently felt he’d become more agreeable—perhaps the devastation in Cold Mountain County had changed him.

He spoke first:

"Ryan, is there something I can help you with?"

Ryan understood the etiquette of noble discourse—appearances must be maintained.

"Indeed, I would like to ask Lord Viscount for your help."

"I hope to purchase a batch of slaves—both serfs and beastman slaves, if possible."

At those words, a smile spread across Viscount Randa’s face.

"Ah, using them for land development—yes, slaves are the most efficient option."

The orc invasion had ravaged many areas, costing nobles dearly—but it had also brought in a surge of slaves.

Captured beastmen and displaced, impoverished commoners had become slaves—all of which now made up the property of the nobility.

"However... Cold Mountain County is in ruins. I too need a large labor force to reclaim farmland. As you know, we’ve missed the best window for spring planting. This year’s harvest likely won’t compare to last year’s."

"I’m willing to pay 20% above market rate."

Ryan offered without hesitation.

Sure enough, Viscount Randa’s eyes lit up.

Selling slaves was his key to regaining control of his viscounty. His main buyers were merchant guilds—but they only wanted serfs. Beastman slaves had no market in the south. In fact, until Ryan arrived, Randa had been stressing over how to deal with them.

Beastmen ate too much and had poor cost-efficiency. Who would’ve thought someone would appear right on time like a fool with gold to burn?

"One gold coin for five beastman slaves—I’ll take fifty thousand."

Ryan said directly.

But Viscount Randa refused at once.

"Ryan, that’s not how business is done. Sure, one gold for five of the standard ones—gnolls, catfolk, ratmen—but minotaurs are different. Their stamina makes them worth a gold each."

"As it happens, I currently have over ten thousand minotaur slaves and more than six thousand kobolds—ideal laborers. One gold each is the minimum."

As soon as Randa finished speaking, Ryan waved his hand with flair and replied boldly:

"Three gold for five. I’ll take them all."

"I can still—wait, what?"

Randa stopped mid-sentence and stared hard at Ryan.

"You’re taking all of them?"

He couldn’t believe Ryan had that kind of money—nor could he believe Tundra Territory could even use that many slaves.

But... Ryan was offering far too much.

"It seems that ever since Count Rimehart returned to the Empire, your fortunes have improved significantly."

In Randa’s mind, that was the only logical explanation. Only the Rimehart family could be this generous. Rumor had it that they had recently shipped all of Ryan’s rightful property north to Tundra Territory.

Ryan said nothing—just smiled calmly at Viscount Randa.

Very soon, the deal was made.

Ryan also purchased a batch of grain from Viscount Randa. After all, tens of thousands of beastman slaves needed food.

At the same time, he leased a military unit from Randa to help suppress and control the slaves. In just ten minutes, Randa had made a killing.

A few days later, Ryan led his soldiers with Viscount Randa to Cold Mountain County. With 700 soldiers, they began escorting a massive group of beastman slaves back to Tundra Territory.

Traveling with slaves was slow. Under strict supervision, many beastmen died along the way—but Ryan had no better option.

From Cold Mountain to Lingdu County, seven or eight hundred beastman slaves were lost on the road. As they neared Zero Crossing City, Ryan and a few others entered the county capital.

He headed straight to the Sharp Rose Trading Company—to purchase some magical hatching scrolls.

"Magical beast eggs?"

Upon hearing Ryan’s description, Irina—with her ample bosom—lit up. She had been particularly busy since spring began, but decided to set everything else aside for this.

"Frost Python eggs..."

Irina looked hesitant, then glanced back at Ryan.

"Baron Ryan, if I may advise you—it would be better to sell them."

"Why?"

"Frost Pythons take a hundred years to reach maturity. If you hatch one with a scroll, even if you order beast growth potions from the south, the cost is enormous—and even then, the growth period can only be shortened to around thirty years. Any more than that, and the beast’s foundation will be damaged."

"Especially Frost Pythons—they’re classified as large magical beasts. The amount of food they consume every month... your Tundra Territory..."

In short: their food needs were massive, and you simply couldn’t afford them—making them very low cost-performance.

Ryan frowned. He had clearly overlooked the energy consumption and maintenance costs involved in raising magical beasts.

A single beast might protect a family for centuries—but for Ryan’s fledgling territory, now in a critical growth stage, it wasn’t worth the drain.

"Then, how much would you pay for three Frost Python eggs?"