Building the Trade Route

Inside the castle.

A grand banquet was underway.

Plate after plate of food was carried onto the table.

Without question, this food once again left Lajos deeply shaken.

Not only was there Boar Beast meat, but also the meat of various first- and second-tier magical beasts. Every bit of it was extraordinarily valuable. As he ate, Lajos felt as though he were swallowing gold coins, and his heart ached terribly.

Several times, he nearly spoke up, only to force himself to hold back.

But when the banquet ended,

Lajos could no longer restrain himself.

"My friend, thank you for your hospitality. I am truly honored."

"But forgive my presumptuousness—if today's food were sold, it could easily fetch one or two gold coins. For Eagle Ridge, gold coins are what matter most."

Lajos spoke with grave sincerity.

"No, no, my friend!"

"Gold coins are indeed important, but entertaining a friend is more important, isn't it?"

"Besides, my friend, I believe I have something more important than these—and something better suited for you."

Watching Lajos's expression and hearing his words, Thor could not help but smile inwardly. Clearly, the results had been excellent.

So he stopped concealing his intentions and spoke again with a light laugh.

"More important?"

Hearing Thor's words, Lajos had been about to respond instinctively, but his eyes widened again, and his breathing became heavy.

"Ryan."

"Bring it up!"

Seeing Lajos's labored breathing, Thor spoke to Ryan beside him.

"Yes!"

Ryan nodded quickly.

His figure soon jogged away.

A moment later, knights carried over wooden crates one after another.

"What are these?"

Lajos looked at the crates being brought over, his expression puzzled.

"Open them. Let my friend have a look."

Thor gestured.

The knights quickly opened the crates.

Then patches of black appeared before everyone's eyes.

Lajos froze at first, then his body moved forward of its own accord.

"This is..."

He reached out and touched it instinctively. The next moment, his eyes widened once more as his gaze snapped toward Thor.

"Fine Black Iron Armor forged by goblin hands. Even in Frost Moon Province, each piece would be worth more than fifteen silver coins. Here in Northern Province, I believe people would be willing to pay forty silver coins—or even fifty silver coins—for one."

"My friend, what do you think?"

Thor spoke with a smile, and his words nearly made Lajos's heart stop.

"My friend, you are not joking, are you?"

Lajos suppressed the trembling in his heart. He looked at the Black Iron Armor around him, still unable to believe it.

"Joking?"

"No, this is no joke. All one hundred sets of fine Black Iron Armor here can be handed over to you!"

"Additionally, I have one set of Silver Armor."

Thor shook his head and gestured.

At his signal, Ryan swiftly opened the final wooden crate.

The moment that silvery gleam appeared, Lajos could barely remain standing.

If the fine Black Iron Armor had been enough to tempt him, the appearance of the Silver Armor nearly blanked his mind.

Silver Armor.

It was a genuine magical item—and a strategic resource at that. It would normally only appear at auctions in Loren City, Northern Province. Yet now it was right before his eyes, and Thor's words suggested that he intended to hand it over to him.

At that moment, his mind truly went blank.

With his eye for such things, he could tell at a glance that every piece was the finest armor.

That was true of both the Black Iron Armor and the Silver Armor.

Even for the Assad Family, obtaining armor of this quality was no easy matter, much less transporting it into Northern Province.

That was practically impossible.

"What do you think, my friend?"

"I once promised to help you establish your trade route. Now is the time for me to fulfill that promise. With these, I believe those lords will be more than willing to buy goods from you."

Thor paid no attention to Lajos's stunned shock. His smiling voice sounded again.

Thor's words gradually brought Lajos back from his blank state.

The shock in his eyes remained, but he quickly calmed himself.

After taking a deep breath, he looked at Thor and spoke with utmost seriousness.

"Honestly, this is far too astonishing."

"I even feel as though I am dreaming!"

"Please allow me to confirm once more. Can these truly be handed over to me?"

His words were uneasy, and his expression had never been so tense.

"Of course they can."

"However, you will need to offer a reasonable price before you can take them away."

Thor said with a smile.

That renewed confirmation made Lajos excited.

After pondering briefly, he spoke.

"Of course!"

"For the Black Iron Armor, I can offer thirty silver coins—no, fifty silver coins!"

"As for the Silver Armor, how about five hundred gold coins?"

His words came out hurriedly, and a flush rose to his face.

Just as Thor had said, once he acquired these items, he would certainly be able to open up a trade route through Northern Province. Their value was simply beyond comparison with gold coins.

Even if he had to pay a premium, he had to secure them.

Yet amid his excitement, Thor shook his head.

Seeing Thor shake his head, Lajos gritted his teeth and prepared to quote another price.

But Thor raised a hand to stop him.

"My friend, you are far too generous."

"But the price is too high. I will not let my friend suffer a loss. How about this—thirty silver coins for each set of Black Iron Armor. I can sell you one hundred sets. As for the Silver Armor, the Habs Merchant Guild values it at three hundred gold coins, so let us settle on three hundred gold coins."

His light words left Lajos stunned.

He even wondered whether he had misheard.

"Lord Thor, you... you..."

He spoke instinctively, but for a moment, Lajos did not know what to say.

"We are friends. How could I let a friend suffer a loss?"

"This price is just right, isn't it?"

Thor smiled and shook his head. He was naturally no fool.

He was simply thinking of long-term business.

Within the Large Iron Mine, if not Silver Armor, then at least Black Iron Armor would be produced continuously. There was no point in shearing the sheep clean in one go. It was better to let the profits flow steadily.

At thirty silver coins per set of Black Iron Armor, Lajos would profit, and so would he—handsomely.

That was enough.

He could even use Lajos to establish a complete trade route.

That would be when the real harvest began.

This was only the beginning. There was no need to rush.

"Thank you so very much!"

"Yes, we are friends!"

Lajos finally came to his senses. He spoke excitedly, his eyes fixed on Thor with deep gratitude.