Chapter 53 : Chapter 53
Chapter 53. The Big Patron
The sound of hooves rang across the newly leveled roads of Black Territory Valley, stirring up fine dust.
When Eli appeared at the camp entrance with Buck, Wolfgang, and ten Black Crow Knights, the soldiers on gate duty immediately let out cheerful whistles, and the news spread through the camp like ripples on water.
The lord had returned!
Eli did not delay. The first thing he did was summon all of the Black Territory’s core administrators to a meeting.
Inside the council hall, the long table was filled with familiar faces. Only Brandon was absent, as he was stationed in Lucerne City handling government affairs.
“My friends,” Eli said as he took his seat at the head of the table, getting straight to the point. “I’m back. On this trip to Shadow Vale, I met Sabda Medici.”
He briefly recounted everything that had happened during the gathering at Shadow Vale.
Sabda’s ambition to annex others. The false nature of the alliance he had tried to lead. His sudden hostility. And the final breakout.
Eli did not embellish the story. He merely stated the facts.
“Hmph! That brat from the Southern Frontier has stretched his hand far enough!” Master Glenn Parr was the first to lose his patience, slamming a heavy palm against the table.
“Coming to our land to throw his weight around, and he still wants to be the alliance lord? Bah! Why doesn’t he take a piss and look at himself first?”
Old John’s grizzled beard bristled with anger as well.
“A wolf with wild ambitions! What alliance? He clearly wanted to fatten us up and swallow us whole!
Good thing you were prepared, my lord, and didn’t let him get his way!”
Leon, Hadi, and the others did not speak so loudly, but their faces were equally full of indignation.
At the same time, an unprecedented sense of exhilaration was rising in everyone’s hearts.
Their lord, Baron Eli Pendragon, not only held Lucerne City as his fief.
He had also stood his ground against the son of the Duke of the Southern Frontier and retreated unscathed.
That solid, undeniable achievement, along with his title, had given everyone immense confidence and reassurance.
Eli raised a hand, silencing the discussion.
“There is no doubt about Sabda’s hostility. Behind him stands the powerful Medici Family of the Southern Frontier, and they cannot be underestimated.
“Beyond that, the greater threat still lurking in the Western Frontier remains the remnant federal army.”
He swept his gaze over the room.
To face those two threats, the strength of the Black Territory and Lucerne City alone is no longer enough.
“That is why, on the return journey, I formally entered into an alliance with Griffin Easton of the Easton Territory, Baron Hans Clive of the Clive Territory, and Lady Emilia Frost of the Frost Territory.”
The moment he said this, the council hall fell briefly silent, then broke into a wave of murmurs.
Their territories each have their own strengths, and each has their own shortcomings.
“I have already reached an agreement with them. We will share intelligence, exchange resources, and support each other militarily.”
“In the future, whether it is Sabda’s retaliation or an attack from the remnant federal army, we will face it together!”
“Yes, my lord!” everyone answered in unison.
The meeting moved into its regular reporting stage.
Old John rose first. He spread out a hand-drawn parchment map and pointed to several key locations in the valley.
“My lord, in accordance with your orders, the site of the Black Territory’s new city walls has been finalized, and construction has already begun.
“Using the natural barriers of the ridges on both sides, we have laid out three main gates here, here, and here, along with the initial outlines of supporting bastions.
“The first batches of stone and timber are already being transported, and the foundation excavation is underway.”
“Good.” A trace of approval flashed through Eli’s eyes. “How is the progress?”
“If we have enough manpower, the foundation walls and main gates should begin to take shape within two months,” Old John said confidently.
“We’ll have the manpower.” Eli turned his gaze toward the others.
“The mines are operating normally. Master Glenn is leading us in a full effort to break through the technical difficulties of extracting the vein,” Leon reported.
Master Glenn gave a grunt, which counted as confirmation.
Listening to the orderly reports from his administrators, Eli felt greatly reassured.
The machinery of the territory had continued to run efficiently even during his absence.
A rare trace of ease appeared on his face.
“You have all worked hard. The Black Territory is what it is today because of everyone’s united efforts. This meeting is adjourned.”
“Yes, my lord!”
Everyone rose, bowed, and filed out in order.
In an instant, only Eli and Aila remained in the council hall, the latter having sat quietly beside him the entire time.
As the tension drained away, the fatigue from days of travel silently welled up.
Looking at Aila’s gentle, composed profile, Eli felt a warm current rise in his chest.
He reached out and naturally wrapped an arm around her slender waist, intending to scoop her up and carry her back to his room so they could enjoy a brief moment of tenderness and peace together.
Caught completely off guard, Aila let out a soft cry, and a flush instantly spread across her cheeks. Her clear violet eyes filled with shy embarrassment.
“Eli... don’t... it’s still early...”
Just as the intimate atmosphere was beginning to bloom, the heavy wooden doors of the council hall were slammed open with a bang!
“Young Master! Young Master!”
Estor’s urgent voice shattered the silence.
Like a startled deer, Aila broke free from Eli’s embrace and quickly stepped back. Lowering her head, she straightened a dress that was not even disheveled, while the tips of her ears turned red as well.
Left with empty arms, Eli let out a helpless sigh and asked irritably, “What now?”
Only then did Estor clearly see the scene inside the hall. He shrank his neck belatedly, but remembering the important matter, he hurriedly spoke anyway.
“The Merchant Guild people are here! From the Nors Merchant Guild! They brought a whole lot of wagons and are waiting outside the camp!”
Eli rubbed the space between his brows, suppressing a trace of annoyance.
Business came first.
He straightened his robe and sat back down in the main seat.
“Bring them in.”
“Yes!”
As if granted a pardon, Estor turned and ran out at once.
Not long afterward, he led two men inside.
The man in front looked to be around forty. He was somewhat plump, dressed in a silk robe of fine quality, and wore a polished professional smile on his face.
But in those shrewd eyes, there was a faint trace of scrutiny hidden so well it was almost imperceptible.
Half a step behind him stood another middle-aged man who likewise radiated the unmistakable air of a merchant.
“Honored Baron Pendragon, good day to you!”
The plump merchant bowed deeply the moment he entered, lowering his posture to the utmost. His voice was loud and respectful.
“My name is Caron, manager of the Western Frontier branch of the Nors Merchant Guild, in charge of the slave trade.
“This is my colleague, Pierre, who oversees bulk grain transactions.”
Pierre hurriedly bowed as well.
The attitude of both men was beyond reproach, but Eli sharply caught the flicker of calculation hidden deep in Caron’s eyes.
Clearly, this manager from a major Merchant Guild had doubts about the purchasing power and credibility of this overly young new baron whose territory, at first glance, looked far from prosperous.
Eli paid it no mind and went straight to the point.
“Manager Caron, how many people did you bring?”
The smile on Caron’s face did not change.
“In reply to your honored lordship, our branch specially mobilized premium stock from our rear depots in response to your request.
“In total, we have brought eight hundred strong young slaves. All of them are healthy and capable workers.
“Considering what we believed your possible needs might be, and since we still have to continue on to several other frontier points, the amount we brought this time... is indeed somewhat larger than an ordinary order.”
There was explanation in his words, but also a subtle note of testing, as though he feared Eli might think it too much.
“Eight hundred?” Eli lightly tapped a finger on the tabletop.
“Good. I’ll take all of them.”
“All... all of them?!” The perfect professional smile on Caron’s face froze instantly. His eyes widened into circles.
Behind him, Pierre also jerked his head up, his face filled with disbelief.
Eight hundred slaves!
This was not eight hundred turnips! Even for a noble, buying so many at once was rare!
Caron swallowed with difficulty, doubting his own ears.
“M-My lord... you... you’re not joking, are you? Eight hundred people... this...”
“Do I look like I’m joking?” Eli said evenly. “Name your price.”
Caron’s heart began to pound wildly. Enormous joy and a trace of panic surged up at the same time.
Struggling to suppress his excitement, he ran calculations through his head at lightning speed, working out costs and profits so quickly that sweat even began to bead on his forehead.
“Uh... that... honored lordship, eight hundred prime young slaves.
“At the current market rate, the average price is around seven silver coins each, making the total... five hundred and sixty gold coins!
But you are a distinguished baron, and this is a bulk transaction, so our guild is willing to offer you the most favorable price.”
“Five hundred and twenty... no, five hundred gold coins! What do you think?”
He quoted what he considered an extremely sincere low price.
Instead of answering Caron immediately, Eli turned his gaze to Pierre, who was still reeling in shock.
“Manager Pierre, what about your grain? Name your price as well. I’ll take all of that too.”
Boom.
Pierre felt his mind go blank with a buzz, and his legs nearly gave way beneath him.
What he had brought was no small amount. It was a stockpile of grain large enough to sustain a thousand people for months.
All of it... as well?!
What kind of concept was that?
His lips trembled.
“M-My lord... I... the grain we brought...
It consists mainly of high-quality wheat and rye... along with some beans…”
“The total... the total...”
“At Thorne City’s bulk wholesale price... converted into gold... it comes to... roughly six hundred gold coins!”
When he spoke that astronomical number aloud, even he himself felt as though he were dreaming.
After hearing both quotations, Eli leaned back slightly in his chair, interlaced his fingers on the tabletop, and revealed no expression at all.
He remained silent for several seconds.
That brief silence, however, drove Caron and Pierre to the brink. Their hearts leaped into their throats, and their palms turned slick with sweat.
Finally, Eli spoke, his voice as calm as still water.
“Five hundred for the slaves, six hundred for the grain. Eleven hundred gold coins in total.”
He paused and let his gaze pass over the two merchants, who were so tense they were almost suffocating.
“Round off the remainder. One thousand gold coins even.”
One thousand gold coins.
Caron and Pierre sucked in sharp breaths!
Although a hundred gold coins of the “fraction” had been cut away, the number was still so enormous that it made them dizzy.
Any lingering doubt or pride they had left was instantly smashed apart by overwhelming ecstasy.
“D-Deal!!” Caron practically shouted the word, his voice cracking with fear that Eli might change his mind.
Pierre nodded frantically like a pecking chicken. Where was the slightest trace of the earlier skepticism now?
All that remained was infinite awe for the great patron standing before them.
“Estor.” Eli looked toward the young butler waiting at the side.
“You and Old John will handle the follow-up delivery in full.
“Count the people and the grain. Inspect the quality. Then take both managers to the treasury and have them collect the gold from Mr. Sebastian.”
“Yes, Young Master!” Estor answered loudly.
Eli looked again at Caron and Pierre.
“I’m satisfied with the efficiency of the Nors Merchant Guild. I hope that in the future, we can maintain this kind of... pleasant cooperative relationship.”
At that moment, the two merchants were so excited they nearly wanted to drop to their knees and kowtow to this god of wealth. Hearing those words, they bent their waists nearly to a right angle.
“Certainly! Certainly! It is the greatest honor of the Nors Merchant Guild to be of service to your lordship!
“Our guild will devote itself wholeheartedly to serving you! We will be at your call at any time!”
With the deal concluded, the massive shock of their good fortune left the two merchants dazed. Under Estor’s guidance, they withdrew from the council hall in a flood of thanks.
Silence returned to the hall.
Eli let out a long breath.
He felt a touch of weariness, but even more than that, he felt a deep sense of solidity about the future.
He rose to his feet and looked once more at Aila, who still had a flush on her cheeks and was secretly glancing at him from the side. A gentle smile lifted the corners of his mouth.
“Now,” he said, extending a hand toward her, “no one will interrupt us.”