Trade Route Construction 2

Lajos Assad was undoubtedly excited. Everything he had encountered since arriving at Eagle Ridge had completely exceeded his expectations. His original unease, nervousness, and hesitation had, through Thor's description, utterly transformed into anticipation and boundless longing.

One hundred sets of fine Black Iron Armor, along with one set of fine Silver Armor, were not much—indeed, they were very few, enough at most to satisfy one or two nobles. But having them and not having them were two entirely different matters. Having them meant he could open the doors to most of the nobles in the entire Northern Province.

As long as he could open the doors of the noble lords, the trade that followed would become far smoother.

The only issue was that his current strength was still insufficient.

But there was always a way to solve that.

At worst, he could go back to the family and cry for help again.

"You are truly too generous. I don't even know how to describe how I feel right now."

Lajos Assad sighed softly. His feelings at that moment were complicated, unlike anything he had ever experienced before.

"We are friends, aren't we?"

"And there is one more thing, my friend, that perhaps you still do not know."

"Setting aside the Silver Armor, I can provide you with Black Iron Armor for trade every month."

Thor smiled and shook his head. What he said next made Lajos Assad's body tremble once more.

"Every month?"

Lajos's eyes widened, and even his words became somewhat stuttered.

He had already begun imagining the trade route ahead.

Yet he had not expected the surprises to keep coming.

"Of course."

"I told you, my father is very generous. Giving away some Black Iron Armor and Silver Armor is naturally no problem."

Thor nodded again with a light laugh.

"Oh, my friend, your father truly is generous!"

"So generous that I am even a little jealous."

"What do you need me to do? I, Lajos Assad, am willing to serve my friend."

Lajos's heart shook again, and in the end, he spoke with complicated emotions.

Envy.

At this moment, envy was all he could feel.

Other than that, he truly did not know what words could express it.

"My friend, you misunderstand!"

"This is merely a transaction!"

"However, I do have a suggestion. I wonder if you would be interested, my friend?"

Thor smiled and shook his head. After a brief pause, he spoke again.

"Please, go on!"

Lajos hurriedly said.

"It is like this, my friend. As you can see, construction has already begun in my territory. But building a territory requires vast amounts of supplies and resources. Those damned vampires of the Habs Merchant Guild will certainly gouge us fiercely, and I simply cannot tolerate that."

"Lajos, my friend, your Assad Family is a merchant family. I believe we can establish our own trade route in the Northern Province. I can provide knights, manpower, and goods, while you, my friend, can build the trade routes throughout the Northern Province. The Northern Province is vast. If we can connect with the other lords, I believe they will be willing as well. After all, the Habs Merchant Guild will not leave Loren City to come to these barbaric territories."

Thor spoke slowly, laying out his plan.

The Northern Province was vast, nearly ten times the size of Frost Moon Province.

There were more than thirty nobles with titles within it, while the number of Pioneer Lords was beyond count.

The resources and supplies contained within such an enormous province were unimaginable.

If trade routes could be opened between them, the development of Eagle Ridge would once again enter a phase of rapid growth.

Moreover, Thor could use the expansion of this trade route to test the range of Daily Intelligence.

To see whether it would change along with his own changes.

Naturally, no one else knew any of this.

Lajos's eyes immediately lit up when he heard Thor's words.

"My friend, did I hear correctly? You are willing to help me establish trade routes?"

Lajos spoke in disbelief.

"Of course. You are my friend, aren't you? And the trade routes concern my territory as well."

"How about this? If you are willing, we can establish a merchant guild of our own. I can provide the goods and personnel, while you will be responsible for running the merchant guild."

Thor smiled and nodded. After pondering briefly, he said something else that made Lajos's heart race.

"A merchant guild?"

Lajos asked excitedly.

"Yes, a merchant guild. We can each hold fifty percent."

Thor smiled and nodded, confirming it once again.

"My friend, I must say, this is truly too tempting!"

"How about this? We are friends, and I will not let my friend suffer a loss. I only need thirty percent. However, my friend, you must provide enough knights to serve as the merchant guild's security force."

Lajos took a deep breath, suppressing the turmoil in his heart. He looked at Thor and spoke seriously.

"Security?"

"Of course. Ten Formal Knights, thirty Apprentice Knights, and one hundred Reserve Knights will serve as your initial force. If the merchant guild expands, I can add more manpower."

Thor pondered briefly before nodding and giving his terms.

At present, some of the knights in his territory had already been transferred to the iron mine, but Eagle Ridge still had quite a few knights.

They could be put to use now.

As his Guardian Knights, Thor did not need to worry about them being won over by Lajos. On the contrary, they could keep an eye on Lajos for him.

"Of course!"

"That is already more than enough."

"My friend, your strength is already greater than that of most Pioneer Lords."

Lajos could not help but say with feeling.

He was not merely flattering Thor. Most Pioneer Knights probably had only one Formal Knight under their command. Those with two or three Formal Knights were already considered relatively powerful Pioneer Lords, while those able to mobilize more than ten Formal Knights were mostly lords who had obtained titles.

Yet Thor had directly offered him ten Formal Knights at once. Thinking of his circumstances when he had first set out, Lajos was left speechless.

But speechlessness was speechlessness.

Before long, it was still overwhelmed by anticipation.

After all, such strength would soon be his to command.

With this strength, along with Black Iron Armor and Silver Armor, he could fully open up a market across the Northern Province.

The merchant guild would also have a chance to truly be established.

As long as he could accomplish something in the Northern Province, perhaps even achieve considerable success, he would surely gain the attention of the Assad Family.