Trade

Padesto City, Gray Dwarf prisoners of war, shackled and waiting on the grass by the roadside, were eating breakfast.

In order to give these Gray Dwarf prisoners of war enough strength to reach the Pagisto Plateau, each Gray Dwarf prisoner of war was given an Elf Biscuit and two apples.

The Gray Dwarf are robust and adaptable, able to survive in any harsh environment, making them invaluable candidates for miners.

In Roy's view, these Gray Dwarf prisoners of war would be far more useful than elven miners if the mine's management system were improved.

Roy rode up to the front of the group...

The road from Padesto City to Rampart Town is relatively easy to travel.

The Silver Pegasus Military Department has assigned sixty Silvermoon Elven Guard to escort these Gray Dwarf to Rampart Town. The rest of the journey to the Pagisto Plateau will be completed by Roy's men.

The Silvermoon Elven Guard were waiting by the roadside; Captain Elvis had once served under Commander Berkeley.

Before returning to Empress Ivini Islands, Commander Berkeley specifically instructed Captain Elvis to make sure these grey Dwarf Warrior were escorted to Rampart Town.

A Silvermoon Elven Guard stood beside Captain Elvis and whispered, "Captain, it's almost time. We should set off..."

"Wait a little longer. This time, we're only responsible for escorting the Gray Dwarf prisoners of war," Captain Elvis instructed.

With the rainy season over, Padesto City is getting hotter every day.

The jungle becomes sweltering and stuffy at midday, with only the early morning and late evening being suitable times for travel. These Silver Moon Elven Guard, accustomed to a life of luxury in the Padesto City, worried that if they set off too late, they would be traversing the sweltering jungle.

Augustus only learned this morning that Boss Roy is about to leave Padesto City.

Langbo was in charge of the Elementary Magic Herbs trade in the Padesto City.

Because the process was rushed, many details of the transaction have not yet been finalized.

After careful consideration, Augustus decided to ride after Boss Roy. Only by finalizing the price of the Elementary Magic Herbs could the subsequent transactions proceed normally.

Having finally encountered this opportunity, Augustus was determined not to let it slip away.

When Augustus caught up with Roy's prisoner-of-war group on horseback, he felt like his body was about to be shaken apart by the warhorse beneath him. He had been living in the Padesto City for the past few years, rarely venturing out, and hadn't ridden a horse in a long time.

"I had military duties to attend to this time, so I couldn't stay in Padesto City any longer and had to leave in a bit of a hurry..."

Roy saw Augustus catching up with him along the Forest Path and offered him an explanation.

"Boss Roy, I think we should settle the price for the Magic Herbs now so that the rest of the transactions can proceed," Augustus said as he rode up to Roy.

Roy nodded.

He turned and waved to Captain Elvis, signaling that the team could continue.

Then, pulling on the reins of his warhorse, he stopped it on the shady ground by the roadside.

Watching the Gray Dwarf prisoners of war rise from under the shade of the trees, form two lines, and continue marching forward, he turned his gaze away and said to Augustus beside him:

"The Pattington Plane is rich in Magic Herbs, but most of the high-grade Magic Herbs grow deep in the Blackwater Swamp and in the Magic Beast Forest north of Padesto City. For most Half-Elf, those places are very dangerous, but very few Half-Elf can actually enter these dangerous areas to collect them."

"Actually, the original intention of acquiring these Elementary Magic Herbs was to allow ordinary Half-Elf gatherers to make money without taking too much risk. You understand what I mean?"

Augustus nodded, but he didn't understand why Roy was saying all this.

Roy continued, "I have some knowledge of the forests surrounding Padesto City. It may not be easy to find high-level Magic Herbs in this jungle, but Elementary Magic Herbs are everywhere. If you go south from here, as long as you reach the territory of the Lapis Lazuli Beast, you will find that Elementary Magic Herbs are everywhere in that forest."

Augustus was more familiar with the distribution of Magic Herbs in the Pattington Plane than Roy.

He assumed Roy was saying all this to show how easy it was to gather Elementary Magic Herbs on the Pattington Plane, so he could further drive down the price...

In fact, the price he offered was already very low. Augustus was even selling off some of the less common Elementary Magic Herbs at a loss.

Roy continued, "As Mine Owners in the Pagisto Plateau, I can actually make a lot of Magic Crystal Stone just by managing these mines. So for me, the business of Elementary Magic Herbs is dispensable."

Augustus was almost certain that Boss Roy was saying all this... just to drive down the price, and he would do it very hard.

Roy glanced at Augustus, paused for a moment, and then said:

"My initial intention in discussing the business of Elementary Magic Herbs Elementary Magic Herbs you was not to make money from it."

The Padesto City now economically depressed. Most Trading Company have closed down, and it has been a long time since Adventure Group from the Elf Continent have come here to explore. It is also difficult for caravans from outside to enter the Pattington Plane. The city is like a stagnant pool.

More and more Half-Elf are forced to venture into the jungle to gather potions and hunt monsters in order to sustain their lives in the city.

In reality, most Elementary Magic Herbs are unsellable in Padesto City, forcing them to risk their lives to gather advanced Magic Herbs in order to survive.

Roy paused here, then looked at Augustus and said:

"I control a portion of the mining resources in the Pattington Plane, and I hope to help some Half-Elf in need."

After saying that, Roy handed the list of Magic Herbs to Augustus.

"The prices of Elementary Magic Herbs on this quote are even lower than what I paid for them on the Pagisto Plateau. We're trading in Padesto City, and after deducting some transportation costs, you'll still have to make a profit. The money left for the Half-Elf gatherers... I'm afraid there won't be much left."

Augustus thought to himself: Actually, I'm selling some of them at a loss.

Roy shoved the quote at Augustus and said:

"In this way, I will increase the price by thirteen percent on top of this price, which will be your commission. I hope you can turn this price quote for the Magic Herbs into your purchase price, and make sure that this profit is delivered to those Half-Elf gatherers, so that the gatherers feel that they can make money even when gathering Elementary Magic Herbs."

After saying this, Roy rode off with the Gray Dwarf prisoner-of-war, saying as he went, "If you can do this, then go and deliver the prepared Elementary Magic Herbs to the city's warehouse. But if one day I find that you haven't followed our verbal agreement and given this portion of the profits to the gatherers, then our trade will end..."

"Boss Roy, I will do it!"

Augustus followed Roy and made a promise to him.

Roy turned and waved to Augustus, indicating that he did not need to follow the group.

The Gray Dwarf prisoners of war, shackled on their feet, walked slowly forward in two lines, with Roy riding at the very back of the procession.

Augustus squinted at the group as they gradually disappeared into the distance along the Forest Path, feeling that he hadn't encountered such interesting elves in a long time...

Although Roy currently has three Gemstone Mine, two Mithril Mine, three Black Iron Mine, and four Iron Mine are already in normal operation, in the Elf Continent, the elves do not have a high demand for metals. Only high-quality spinel and magic mithril are best-selling items.

Magic Black Iron and other common Metal Ingots are not very popular, at least in Castleton City.

Roy's biggest gain from his trip to Padesto City was actually from the four Mine Owners who had fled from the Nikoba Mountain Range.

When they escaped from the Pagisto Plateau, they brought with them almost all the most valuable items from the mines: high-grade magical beast materials, high-grade Magic Herbs, and a large quantity of Magic Crystal Stone —all of which are valuable currencies wherever they go.

Roy 'picked up' the Magic Pouch of the four Mine Owners. Among the seized items, the most difficult to value were the magical materials, while the easiest to count were the Magic Crystal Stone. A large treasure chest could hold about five thousand Magic Crystal Stone, and Roy found a total of twenty-four chests in the Magic Pouch of the four Mine Owners.

Roy has been wondering for the past few days why the Pagisto Plateau, with its abundant mineral resources, has never been developed.

The number of Half-Elf living on the plateau is estimated to be between 50,000 and 70,000. Since many Half-Elf live a secluded life deep in the mountains and forests, there is no accurate number.

When Roy met with the Commander Berkeley, he voiced his question.

The Commander Berkeley's answer was very simple: there is no Tree of Life on the Pagisto Plateau.

If elves live in a certain place, that place will most likely have a Tree of Life growing there.

The Silver Moon Elf expand outward across the plane primarily based on whether there is Tree of Life deep within that plane; they will only choose to expand their territory in places where there is Tree of Life.

Although the Pagisto Plateau is rich in minerals, not a single Tree of Life can be found on the entire plateau.

Therefore, this plateau is of no value to the Silver Moon Elf.

These Gray Dwarf prisoners of war walked barefoot, and their ankles were shackled, making a rattling sound as they walked.

Some of the Gray Dwarf ' ankles were chafed raw by their shackles, so Roy would have the Gray Dwarf prisoners of war gather some Hemostatic Herb in the woods, crush them, and apply them to the wounds. In this way, the wounds on their ankles would heal overnight.

The Gray Dwarf are only about 1.5 meters tall, but they are very strong and have very large feet.

Even with shackles, he could still run through the woods.

These Gray Dwarf prisoners of war had no tents. At night, they would find a dry spot under a tree, lie down, and sleep. In the morning, they would get up and continue their journey.

Most of them did not understand Elven Language, but they knew some simple gestures.

However, some of the Gray Dwarf prisoners of war could understand Elven Language, so Roy couldn't help but run over and talk to them. He was curious as to why these Gray Dwarf Gray Dwarf Bandit were fighting with the Silver Moon Elf for control of the islands, even though Empress Ivini Islands was Silver Moon Elf territory.

Roy sat down opposite an older-looking Gray Dwarf prisoner of war and handed him a Mackerel Jerky.

The old Gray Dwarf prisoner of war took it without hesitation, stuffed the Mackerel Jerky into his mouth, and chewed it a few times...

He sat under the shade of a tree, leaning against the trunk, silently recovering his strength.

After finishing the Mackerel Jerky, he made no attempt to ask for more, nor did he look at Roy across from him. Instead, he closed his eyes without uttering a word.

"Where did you come from?" Roy couldn't help but ask.

"Empress Ivini Islands, don't you know about them?" the old Gray Dwarf muttered.

"Why do we want to occupy the Empress Ivini Islands? These islands have always belonged to the Silver Moon Elf..." Roy said again.

The old Gray Dwarf shut his mouth and completely ignored Roy.

"Do you know where you're going?" Roy asked again.

Having finally encountered a Gray Dwarf who speaks Elven Language, they certainly couldn't give up easily.

The old Gray Dwarf opened his eyes and looked at Roy, but his mouth remained tightly closed.

"The Pagisto Plateau has abundant mines. If nothing unexpected happens, you'll probably spend the rest of your lives in those mines. Of course, it's also possible that your companions will offer you some ransom," Roy said casually.

The old Gray Dwarf looked at Roy with some surprise and asked with difficulty, "We... are we going... to... the plateau... to mine?"

He practically uttered each word individually, so he probably only knew a few simple Elven Language.

"We're going to mine Mithril Mine!" Roy said.

The old Gray Dwarf prisoner hesitated for a moment, then nodded slightly to indicate that he understood.

Perhaps feeling there was no harm in saying it, the old Gray Dwarf hesitated for a long time before speaking in broken Elven Language:

"Our homeland was taken over by a group of Dark Creatures that appeared out of nowhere, turning the entire island into a dead island. We escaped from there by ship and headed south in search of a place to settle down. Wherever we went, people drove us away: orcs, Naga Sea Clan, elves..."

The old Gray Dwarf's lips trembled slightly.

"What kind of Dark Creatures?" Roy asked curiously.

Before the old Gray Dwarf could speak, Captain Elvis emerged from the woods behind him, followed by several Elven Guard appeared to be patrolling the area...

"A monster covered in all sorts of tentacles, like Giant Octopus. Don't listen to their stories. These Gray Dwarf Bandit have been living in this sea for over a hundred years. They're like a swarm of locusts, rushing in wherever they go, taking what they can, robbing what they can, and running away if they can't win."

"Whether it's the Naga Sea Clan or the elves of the surrounding seas, they have all suffered from their plundering..."