Chapter 23 : Chapter 23
Chapter 23.
At the industrial park construction site, Aaron wiped the sweat from his forehead and stared at the procurement list in his hand in frustration.
The main structure of the blast furnace had already been completed, but what they lacked now was high-quality coke, high-grade iron ore, and several basic alchemical catalysts.
These materials had to arrive as soon as possible, or the entire plan would come to a halt here.
“Sir, when will the materials arrive?” a foreman walked over and asked.
Aaron put away the list.
“Wait a little longer.”
He swung himself onto his horse and rode straight toward Winter City’s largest commercial organization—the Winter Merchant Guild.
The guild’s entrance was imposing, with two rows of guards in matching uniforms standing at the gate.
After Aaron reported his identity, he was led into the reception hall.
In less than a quarter of an hour, a fat middle-aged man walked in.
He wore an expensive silk robe, had three gemstone rings on his fingers, and carried a friendly smile on his face.
“Sir Aaron, I have long heard of your name.”
Baroque extended his hand.
“I heard you are in charge of the industrial park’s construction. Truly young and promising.”
Aaron shook his hand.
“You are too kind, President Baroque. I came this time to discuss a business deal with the guild.”
“Please, sit, sit.”
Baroque made a welcoming gesture.
“What is it that you need?”
Aaron took the list from his coat and handed it over.
“Fifty tons of high-quality coke, one hundred tons of high-grade iron ore, and these alchemical catalysts.”
Baroque took the list, scanned it briefly, and deepened his smile.
“We do have all of these things, but…”
He paused and lifted his head.
“The price may be somewhat higher than the market rate.”
Aaron frowned.
“How much higher?”
“Three times.”
Baroque said it lightly, as if it were nothing.
“And payment must be settled in cash. No credit.”
Aaron shot to his feet.
“Three times? That is outright robbery!”
Baroque spread his hands.
“Sir Aaron, as you know, business in every trade has been sluggish lately. Transport costs alone have risen considerably.”
“Three times the market price has nothing to do with cost!” Aaron said, forcing down his anger. “President Baroque, we are purchasing on behalf of Her Highness the Princess. If you do this—”
“Oh, Her Highness the Princess.”
Baroque cut him off, and the smile on his face faded slightly.
“That new young lady is said to be quite capable. Still, business is business. I am simply following the rules.”
Aaron took a deep breath.
“I need to renegotiate the price with you.”
“The price is what it is. There is nothing to discuss.”
Baroque stood up and patted him on the shoulder.
“Sir Aaron, if you think it is too expensive, you may look elsewhere. But in the entire Northern Territory, the only one capable of supplying this quantity is probably our Winter Merchant Guild.”
Aaron clenched his fists, but in the end, he loosened them again.
He knew Baroque was telling the truth.
The Winter Merchant Guild monopolized most of the resource channels in the Northern Territory, and the smaller guilds simply did not have that kind of capacity.
“I will report the situation to Her Highness the Princess.”
Aaron turned and left.
Baroque remained where he was, watching his departing figure with a cold sneer curling at the corner of his mouth.
After Aaron had gone far away, several core members of the guild stepped out from an inner room.
“President, are we not going a bit too far?” a tall, thin man asked in a low voice.
Baroque gave a cold snort.
“Too far? How is this too far? Ever since that little girl took power, she first pushed that so-called new tax law and cut more than half of our profits. Now she wants to build some industrial park. Who does she think she is?”
“But… she is still a princess.”
“So what if she is a princess?” Baroque said coldly. “Without merchants like us, the Northern Territory’s economy will only become even more chaotic. When that time comes, she will not have an easy time. I am going to make her understand that if she wants to gain a foothold in the Northern Territory, she has to follow our rules.”
The others all voiced their agreement, their words full of disdain for the new regime.
Baroque waved a hand.
“All of you go back now. Just wait and enjoy the show.”
***
Inside the Duke’s residence, Aaron reported the entire situation in full detail to Sylvia and Logaris West.
“Three times?” Sylvia’s voice was so cold it was frightening.
“He really dared to ask for that?”
Aaron lowered his head.
“I already did everything I could, but they were clearly targeting us on purpose.”
Sylvia stood up and walked to the window, her hand resting on the hilt of her sword.
“Victor.”
“I am here.”
“Take men to the Winter Merchant Guild and arrest that man named Baroque.”
“Wait.”
Logaris spoke.
Sylvia turned her head.
“You object?”
Logaris pushed up his glasses.
“Using force will not solve the problem. If you send soldiers to arrest him now, it may look like killing a chicken to scare the monkeys, but in reality it will drive all merchants away from you. The Northern Territory is already poor. If you ruin its commercial credibility as well, who will dare do business here in the future?”
Sylvia was silent for several seconds.
“Then what do you suggest?”
Logaris leaned back in his chair and looked at her.
“I will handle this matter.”
Sylvia stared at him.
“And how do you intend to do that?”
Logaris did not answer.
He merely smiled.
“Do you think I only taught classes at Saint Arcadia Academy?”
Sylvia paused for a moment, then understood what he meant.
The network of connections Logaris had at the Academy was far more complicated than she had imagined.
“Fine. I will see how you handle it.”
Sylvia sat back down in her chair.
“But if you cannot solve it, I will do it my way.”
Logaris rose and walked toward the door.
“Do not worry. It will not take long.”
***
That night, inside the Winter Merchant Guild.
Baroque and several core members sat around a large table covered with food and wine.
“Come, let us drink to our victory.”
Baroque raised his glass.
The others raised theirs as well, all wearing smug smiles.
“That little girl must be jumping in frustration by now,” the tall, thin man said with a grin.
“So what if she is?”
Baroque took a drink.
“If she dares use force, we will report this matter to the royal capital. By then, not only will she fail to get the materials, she will also earn herself the reputation of oppressing merchants.”
“Brilliant, President.”
Baroque set down his wineglass, satisfaction showing on his face.
“Once she can no longer hold out, she will naturally come begging to us. When that time comes, not only will we demand that she abolish the new tax laws, we will also make her hand over control of that so-called industrial park.”
The group chatted for a while longer before finally dispersing.
***
At the same time, inside Logaris' study.
He sat at the desk with an exquisite magical communication device placed before him.
At the center of the device, a crystal was giving off a faint glow.
Lilith stood to one side, curiously studying the object.
“What is this?”
Logaris did not answer.
His finger lightly brushed across the surface of the crystal, and intricate patterns of mana lit up in response.
A few seconds later, the face of a young and handsome man appeared within the crystal.
“Logaris?”
The man looked somewhat surprised.
“What made you think of contacting me?”
Logaris leaned back in his chair.
“Phoenix, I need a small favor from you.”