Signing the Contract

Roland looked at the document before him and knew this was Leslie's true purpose.

The earlier gifts had merely been groundwork for this upcoming trade agreement.

So Roland examined the trade contract with great seriousness.

But in less than a moment, Roland's expression turned strange.

It was not that the contract was overly harsh. On the contrary, Roland could scarcely see any profit for Leslie in it.

The contract stated that Leslie would provide Roland with all kinds of Magic Materials at cost and purchase the potions Roland produced at market price. The terms were far better than selling directly to the kingdom.

Though it clearly stipulated below that, from the moment the contract was signed, all potions Roland sold externally had to be sold to Leslie.

Even so, after accounting for both purchases and sales, nearly all the profit would belong to Roland. Leslie would merely obtain the potions. What was the point of that?

Seeing Roland's puzzled expression, Leslie smiled faintly. "Roland, I told you earlier that I am investing in your future, not your present."

"Beginner potions are one thing, but the value of intermediate- and high-level potions is not limited to the price they can be sold for. What I truly value is their added value."

"Besides, with sufficient resources, your progress in potion-making will accelerate. The higher the grade of potions you produce, the greater my returns will be."

Hearing Leslie's completely candid explanation, Roland could not help but feel moved.

He had come to the banquet tonight filled with apprehension, expecting to be exploited and carved up. Yet none of that had happened. Instead, he had gained enormous benefits from Leslie.

This was completely different from the image Roland had held of Leslie, and it caught him entirely off guard.

"Young Master Leslie, tonight I have seen your sincerity and generosity. What reason could I possibly have to refuse you?" Roland said. He took a magic pen from his robes and swiftly signed his name beneath the contract.

After Roland signed the contract, the harmonious atmosphere in the study reached its peak.

Leslie even instructed Tim to open another bottle of fine wine to celebrate the occasion.

As their relationship deepened further, Roland directly asked about the final item among the earlier gifts: the protection of the Black Knight Pirates.

"Roland, do you know how many Pioneer Knights who go to the Sea of Ten Thousand Islands to establish territories die every year?" Leslie did not answer. Instead, he posed a question to Roland.

Naturally, Roland could not know the exact figure, since there had never been any reports on the matter.

After seeing Roland shake his head, Leslie continued, "According to incomplete statistics, around one hundred and twenty Pioneer Knights die in the Sea of Ten Thousand Islands every year."

"Then do you know how many people go to the Sea of Ten Thousand Islands to establish territories each year?"

Roland shook his head again.

"About one hundred and forty."

"..."

Though Roland had been mentally prepared, he was still shocked by the cruel number. One hundred and forty went, and one hundred and twenty died. This was not establishing territories—it was lining up to throw away their lives.

This time, Leslie did not continue questioning him. Instead, he said directly, "Of those more than one hundred and twenty Pioneer Knights each year, half die to plundering by the Pirate Alliance, forty percent die at the hands of the Noble Council, and the remaining ten percent die to magical beasts in the sea."

"The Pirate Alliance? The Noble Council? They are human forces, yet they would attack Pioneer Knights?" Roland asked incredulously.

Roland would not assume the status of Pioneer Knight was an invincible shield, but Pioneer Knights had been established by the ancient Human Alliance to open up living space for all humanity. They were protected by the entire Human Alliance.

Thus, few dared openly attack a Pioneer Knight, because doing so would invite the contempt and even punishment of all humanity.

Leslie gave a bitter smile. "The situation has changed long ago. Pioneer Knights no longer hold the status they had among humanity in ancient times. Things are different on the continent, under the watchful eyes of every nation, where few would openly move against a Pioneer Knight. But in the lawless Sea of Ten Thousand Islands, what makes you think the identity of a Pioneer Knight can ensure your safety?"

"Moreover, though the Sea of Ten Thousand Islands is vast, after so many years of development, there are not many unclaimed islands left. In recent years, every Pioneer Knight who went there to establish a territory was actually seizing living space from the Pirate Alliance and the Noble Council."

"Do you think the Pirate Alliance and the Noble Council would simply allow that to happen?"

Leslie's explanation made Roland's heart sink. Though he had been prepared for the situation in the Sea of Ten Thousand Islands, he had not expected it to be this bad.

The moment he set foot in the Sea of Ten Thousand Islands, he would become a thorn in the side of the two behemoths, the Pirate Alliance and the Noble Council. How was he supposed to play this game?

"So the protection of the Black Knight Pirates is meant to prevent attacks from the Pirate Alliance?" Roland hurriedly asked.

"Yes. Without the protection of the Black Knight Pirates, no matter how many supplies you prepare, it will be difficult for you to last even a month," Leslie said.

Roland believed Leslie's words. After all, he could not think of any reason for Leslie to deceive him.

Thus, Roland could not help feeling a trace of relief. Fortunately, he had not rashly gone to the Sea of Ten Thousand Islands. Otherwise, he might already have died at the hands of pirates or other nobles.

"What about the Noble Council? Won't they attack me?" Concerned for his own safety, Roland no longer cared about appearances and hurriedly pressed the question.

Hearing Roland's follow-up question, Leslie could not help showing a trace of helplessness. He replied irritably, "Roland, did you not properly study the distribution of powers in the Sea of Ten Thousand Islands beforehand?"

"Well... I really didn't," Roland answered innocently.

After all, he had spent this period madly brewing potions to save up what he needed to establish a territory. He truly did not know much about the various powers in the Sea of Ten Thousand Islands.

Besides, he had not known before that the Pirate Alliance and the Noble Council would even attack him.

"You are truly lucky to have met me. I am starting to feel as if I have become your nanny."

"We are friends, aren't we?" Roland hurriedly put on a flattering expression.

"Friends? Please go back and properly learn about what you will be facing next. Do not tell me you have not even heard of the Black Knight Pirates."

"I stand corrected. After I return, I will certainly make up for my lack of intelligence on this matter," Roland hurriedly promised.

Only after seeing Roland's assurance did Leslie nod in satisfaction and continue, "The Black Knight Pirates are one of the Pirate Alliance's seven super pirate crews. Their strength ranks third among them."

"With the Black Knight Pirates protecting you, not only will other pirate crews not dare touch you, even the Noble Council will have some reservations. Do you understand?"

"I understand, I understand." Roland nodded repeatedly. Though he still did not quite understand what the seven super pirate crews represented, he knew Leslie seemed to have found him a powerful backer.

"Before you establish your territory, the Black Knight Pirates will send someone to deliver a map for you to choose an island."

"A map? Choose an island?" Roland froze again. He swore that when he returned this time, he would use every possible channel to thoroughly learn more about the Sea of Ten Thousand Islands.

"Yes. Within their sphere of influence, they will designate an island where you can establish a territory. Naturally, the island will not be very large, so you should prepare yourself mentally."

"The service is this thorough? They will directly assign me an island?" Roland's face was filled with shock.

"Of course. If you chose an island within the Noble Council's territory, how would they fulfill the contract? I paid a great price for this," Leslie said even more irritably.

Roland smiled awkwardly and hurriedly raised his wineglass, clinked it ingratiatingly against Leslie's, then drained it in one gulp.

Seeing this, Leslie also raised his glass with a helpless expression and took a light sip.

"Young Master Leslie, you would not want anything to happen to your friend, would you? Why not tell me more about what I should watch out for when establishing a territory?" Roland set down his wineglass and said with a smile.

"Roland, I am not your nanny," Leslie said, feigning anger.

"Yes, but you are my friend."

"I am starting to regret my earlier decision."

"The contract has already been signed. With your noble character, you would not be thinking of breaking it, would you?" Roland hurriedly flattered Leslie.

"Fine, you win." Leslie greatly enjoyed the praise, so he did not continue arguing with Roland.

Over the following hours, Roland's horizons were truly broadened by Leslie's detailed explanations. He gained a deeper understanding of the situation in the Sea of Ten Thousand Islands. In particular, as the second heir of the Oroko Family, Leslie possessed information that was largely unknown to outsiders.

It could even be said that Leslie's explanations to Roland that night were perhaps no less valuable than his gifts.

Only deep into the night did Roland reluctantly leave Leslie's estate. He boarded the carriage Leslie had prepared for him and returned to the house he rented.

After Roland left, only Leslie and Tim remained in the study.

"Young Master, this Roland seems a little too foolish. Supporting him may be very risky," Tim said with faint concern.

By then, Leslie had long since lost his earlier animated expressions. He was extremely calm, his gaze as still as water as he looked at the chair Roland had occupied and said lightly, "Tim, do you know the Saint Paul Family?"

"Saint Paul? One of the Holy Light Empire's four great guardian families?" Tim froze, not understanding why Leslie had brought up the Saint Paul Family, which seemed entirely unrelated to Roland.

The Saint Paul Family bore the word "Saint" in its name, which was enough to show its status within the Holy Light Empire. This ancient and mysterious family possessed unfathomable strength. Every generation had Legendary experts guarding it, and its influence spread throughout human territory. Its power had nearly reached the pinnacle among the nobility.

"Yes. Do you know how their family reached its current position?" Leslie asked again.

"This... Old Servant does not know," Tim answered shamefully.

Yet Leslie did not mind at all and continued, "Eight hundred years ago, the Saint Paul Family was utterly unremarkable in the Holy Light Empire. They held only a baron's title, and their fief was no more than a single town. Yet their patriarch, disregarding the objections of the rest of the family, insisted on funding Lucifigus, who was then merely a Beginner Apothecary, and signed an exclusive agency agreement for his potions."

"Lucifigus?" Tim silently repeated the unfamiliar name. But in the next instant, his expression changed drastically, and he cried out, "Lucifigus—the Holy Apothecary who developed the Dew of the Gods potion?"

Leslie nodded slightly and continued, "After receiving the Saint Paul Family's support, Lucifigus suddenly displayed unparalleled talent in potion-making. As Lucifigus's exclusive potion agent, the Saint Paul Family also soared to greatness. Even today, they still enjoy the lingering benefits Lucifigus left them."

Tim did not find it strange at all that the powerful Saint Paul Family was still enjoying another person's lingering benefits, because that person was Lucifigus, the man who developed the Dew of the Gods.

The Dew of the Gods was also known as the miracle of the gods. It could turn an ordinary person into a high-level Saint Realm expert with a profession level as high as eighteen in just one month, without any side effects.

"But Roland may not become Lucifigus. The odds are too low," Tim still said, shaking his head.

"But I have not invested much either. As long as Roland becomes an Advanced Apothecary, I will recover my investment. And if he becomes a master-level apothecary, I will gain returns of more than ten times my investment," Leslie said.

Only then, after hearing Leslie's answer, did Tim finally lose the worry on his face. He said with admiration, "Young Master is wise."

"Keep a closer eye on Roland from now on. At the very least, do not let him die so easily."

"As you command."