Negotiations

The two sides officially began negotiations. Considering it was the first time, Victor directly participated in the negotiations, as did the two viscounts.

As for that Baron of Red Ginseng Territory, I'm sorry, your territory has been occupied. We're being generous by leaving you some personal wealth; you're still hoping to use that money to redeem yourself!

Oberon, as their representative, spoke first, since they needed Victor's help and had no airs to put on.

"Your Excellency Viscount Victor, considering the approaching winter and the health of the two viscounts, we would like to first determine the ransom for the two viscounts."

We have prepared the following conditions for our two territories: 5,000 gold for each territory, plus 3,000 serfs, all of whom are able-bodied male slaves, and tons of wheat!

Is this enough for you?

Victor remained expressionless upon hearing the terms, but inwardly he was overjoyed. The total value of these items exceeded that of gold, considering that the current market price of wheat alone was 0.5 gold per ton, more than double the previous value.

As expected of an old noble family from Boler County, their wealth is truly substantial. Although serfs and grain are not particularly valuable to them, merely items with high prices but no market value, they still gave a substantial 5,000 gold coins.

Victor guessed that the ransom list must have been discussed and agreed upon by the two viscounts before being given to their son, which showed that the two viscounts must have had some understanding of his expectations in the past few days.

Since everyone was being so cooperative, Victor couldn't refuse the two viscounts. Considering he still wanted to win them over, Victor thought carefully for a moment and finally spoke.

"I think this ransom is perfectly reasonable. It's quite generous for the Golden Sunflower Territory. It would be impolite for me to keep pressing it."

Oberon and Tira were getting impatient. Hearing what Victor said, they felt that the negotiations were going very smoothly and that both sides had reached an agreement. Smiles began to appear on their faces.

"However, I have another idea..."

Victor didn't stop and continued speaking.

Upon hearing this, Oberon and Tira's mood instantly changed from sunny to cloudy. Tira even prepared to stand up, but Viscount Leo stopped him. The two viscounts were somewhat disappointed that their child was so impatient.

Victor noticed their behavior, raised an eyebrow, and smiled.

"I have captured more than 2,100 Serf Soldiers. I have told the two viscounts before that these Serf Soldiers will not be redeemed, and the two viscounts have agreed."

In that case, I plan to include these serfs in the ransom, and the two territories will replenish the ransom to 3,000 in turn, based on the number of these serfs.

"By the way, if possible, they don't all need to be young and strong male slaves. These Serf Soldiers also have relatives, right? You can send their families to me as well, regardless of age or gender; I can accept them."

As soon as Victor finished speaking, Oberon's mood instantly brightened, while Tira White Asparagus's face turned completely red, not from anger, but from shame.

The two viscounts were embarrassed by their son's behavior, and Viscount Leo grabbed Tira's head and pressed it down.

"Tira, put away your guilt and quickly thank Viscount Golden Sunflower for his magnanimity."

Tira said softly, "Thank you, Viscount Victor. I'm so sorry, I apologize for my previous opinion of you."

"It's nothing, it's just that I speak slowly."

This attitude made Tira feel even more guilty, and she mumbled something but couldn't say anything.

Oberon performed much better. "Viscount Victor, I apologize for my previous petty suspicions, but please do not refuse. We will make up the ransom for the 3,000 serfs, and we will also send back the families of the captured serfs in full."

Upon hearing this, Isolde slapped his face. Victor could guess what the Viscount was thinking: he was just being greedy and didn't care about the consequences.

However, Victor did not intend to accept these offers. After all, making the two families realize that they owed him a favor was better than anything else and would save him some effort in persuading the two viscounts later.

"Please forgive me for not being able to accept this. Over the past few days, I have had a very pleasant conversation with the two viscounts. In every aspect, the two viscounts have given me a lot of guidance as elders."

Our hostile actions are all things we do not want to happen, and the harm we cause to each other is unintentional.

If possible, I would even like to waive part of the ransom, but that would not reflect the distinguished status of the two viscounts.

At this point, even the two viscounts nodded in agreement with Victor.

Viscount Isold simply pushed his son Oberon aside and sat down at the negotiating table.

"Victor, we've felt your respect for us these past few days, regardless of our own perspectives. Besides, we're both defeated and have only ourselves to blame."

"The ransom should be whatever it is; don't refuse. If word gets out, people will say our two families have lost all aristocratic decorum and are just like Court Noble, greedy for petty gains."

"Yes!" Viscount Leo, Oberon, and Tira all said in unison.

"These two things cannot be confused. Besides, I have something to ask of you. As I said before, you two have agreed to cooperate with me to extend the negotiation time, so I should naturally express my gratitude."

Even if you two disagree, I will add these conditions later when negotiating the ransom for the army.

Victor's tone was very firm.

"That would be good. I will have Oberon and Tira return to the territory to find the families of these Serf Soldiers and send them to Golden Sunflower Territory as soon as possible."

How about we calculate children under 12 and elderly people over 40 as only half a young adult male slave? We'll make up the difference with other young adult male slaves.

Viscount Isold's proposal was unanimously approved by the other three, since both families were old viscount nobles with a large number of serfs, so compensating them for this amount of serfs was nothing.

Seeing that the time was right, Victor did not refuse any longer. "Since both of you are in the same boat, I will gladly accept your offer. As for the ransom for the army, I think it would be better to leave it to someone else to handle."

"Of course, haggling is really beneath the dignity of a nobleman. I will arrange for my steward to handle it. Viscount Victor, you can also have Steward Boon take charge of this matter."

"No problem."