A Million-Level Transaction

Three minutes later, all three cargo trucks had been pulled apart by the soldiers, the furs inside stacked neatly.

"Miss Maria, please inspect them."

Lin Lei blinked and gestured with his hand.

"Gu'er, Maha, you two go take a look. Be careful not to damage them."

"Yes, Miss."

The two guards beside Maria exchanged a glance, stepped forward, and felt the quality of the furs.

"Miss, the goods are quite good. Most are very intact, though they look like they've been stored for a long time; they don't look like they were hunted recently," Gu'er whispered into Maria's ear.

Maria's expression shifted, her eyes growing brighter.

"Baron, this batch of goods is excellent. Although they are a bit old, their preservation and integrity are very high. How about this: I will purchase your goods at the market price for new animal skins. Consider it a way for us to make friends."

"I am extremely grateful. I didn't expect Miss Maria to be such a straightforward person. I, Lin Lei, will gladly be your friend."

With Maria intentionally seeking to build a connection with Lin Lei, the transaction proceeded very smoothly. After confirming the value of the goods, Maria offered a price of one million gold coins.

After pulling a ten-thousand gold note deposit directly from her bosom, Maria left without looking back.

"Henry, that girl is not simple. I advise you not to get any ideas about her."

After Maria left, Lin Lei's face instantly turned serious.

"Why? We were getting along very happily just now. She even said I was very humorous and witty, and that she particularly admired me," Henry asked, puzzled.

Lin Lei looked at the lovestruck Henry, knowing that this guy wouldn't listen to any negative evaluations of Maria right now, so he said no more.

Poor kid, you aren't even on the same level as that woman. But fortunately, you have a good father; she shouldn't do anything too excessive to you. Just treat this as a growth experience, Lin Lei thought to himself.

The next day.

Early in the morning, Maria arrived at the courtyard where Lin Lei was staying with the gold notes. It took less than twenty minutes for both sides to settle the payment and goods.

Maria was just as hurried in her departure as she had been in her arrival, clearly showing that they placed great importance on such a large deal.

"Luo Ji, is the buyer for the ore ready to trade?" Lin Lei asked.

Yesterday, Luo Ji had personally led a team to the trading market. He hadn't just gone to handle the fur trade; he had also been looking for buyers for the ore.

After making the rounds, buyers for both the ore and the furs had been targeted. Later, since the furs were sold directly to Maria, Luo Ji only contacted the ore buyer.

"They said they would come early this morning. They should be on their way."

Lin Lei nodded, lost in thought.

Yesterday, Luo Ji told him the buyers were dwarves from Iron Hearth Fortress. Thinking about it carefully, that made sense; dwarves were the most obsessed with minerals, willing to go bankrupt for a good piece of ore.

Lin Lei had met dwarves before. Back when he was a centurion, he had even competed against a dwarf named Huo Er. They had ended up respecting each other, though Lin Lei didn't know if he would see him this time.

"Bang! Bang!"

Orderly knocking at the door interrupted Lin Lei's thoughts.

"Baron, it's the dwarves buying the ore."

"Let them in."

With heavy, rhythmic footsteps, several dwarves, just as Lin Lei remembered them, appeared before him.

Lin Lei withdrew his gaze with a hint of disappointment, leaving the ore transaction to Luo Ji while he stood to the side as a listener.

As a baron, his noble status gradually constrained him. He had to start controlling his words and actions, and the status of these dwarves did not warrant him negotiating personally.

After a fierce battle of wits, Luo Ji managed to get the dwarves confused, ending up lowering the price to sell to them.

"If anyone tells me again that dwarves are honest and simple, I'll have to cut them down with my forty-meter blade," Lin Lei cursed under his breath. Because of Luo Ji's foolish behavior, he had to step in personally.

This time, both sides finally reached a consensus, and the deal was closed at a price of six hundred thousand gold coins.

As the goods were being handed over and the dwarves were about to leave, Lin Lei couldn't help but ask, "Is your Young Master Huo Er doing well?"

The dwarves exchanged glances, their expressions pained as they said, "Baron, Huo Er died in a riot a month ago. His body was transported back to Iron Hearth Fortress for burial."

"Dead?"

Lin Lei was surprised and pained, though upon reflection, it made sense.

Lin Lei waved for Luo Ji to see the dwarves out, leaving himself alone to sit in silence.

His mood dipped, but fortunately, he quickly adjusted his mindset and regained his positivity.

Everyone faces low points in life, encountering all sorts of difficulties that leave them feeling despondent. Some never recover, succumbing to self-abandonment, while others actively adjust, persevere, and successfully emerge from their desperate straits.

Lin Lei was the latter type of person.

Think of something happy, like the 1.6 million gold coins. With this money, I can at least build my territory to the scale of Wheat Town. I can buy more people, train more knights, and expand my strength.

Lin Lei patted his cheeks with both hands and muttered to himself.

"Luo Ji."

Thinking of this, Lin Lei spoke to Luo Ji, who was standing nearby.

"Procure the items written on this paper. These are essential supplies for the development of our territory and a golden opportunity for us to take flight. I'll give you three days to complete it. Do you foresee any difficulties?"

Luo Ji took the parchment Lin Lei handed over with both hands. It listed forty-nine procurement targets, with a total value exceeding one million gold coins.

Regarding this, Luo Ji asked in confusion.

"Aren't we buying too much? These five tons of grain alone will require at least ten wagons to transport, not to mention all the other miscellaneous items. On top of that, we are to purchase five thousand people. You know our total population is only a little over a thousand. Won't we be taking too big a step, making it impossible to manage?"

Lin Lei pulled out a cigar he had made himself, took a deep drag, and said.

"I have considered this. We are indeed purchasing quite a lot this time, and it will take at least thirty wagons or more. However, I plan to hire three mercenary groups and borrow troops from the Flower Territory from the Viscount to complete this procurement."

"Understood."

Seeing that Lin Lei had already planned everything out, Luo Ji stopped questioning him.

As an officer under the Lord with an aristocratic background, he understood better than anyone that the Lord's authority was supreme. Even if Lin Lei made a wrong decision, he could not contradict him to his face.

Since Lin Lei had his own plans this time, Luo Ji would execute them resolutely, regardless of the consequences.

"Bring Lin Yu here."

Lin Lei turned his head and said to the guard beside him.

Lin Yu was one of the slaves Lin Lei had bought. Now a free citizen of Crouching Dragon Ravine, he had been selected during the soldier recruitment to become a glorious infantryman. Due to his diligent training and rapid cultivation speed, he was now a squad leader in charge of ten soldiers.

His parents were slaves, and he had been a slave since childhood, possessing no name other than the nickname "Mad Dog." The name Lin Yu was given to him by Lin Lei, based on his own surname. At that moment, having a name of his own, he suddenly felt the world become beautiful; he stopped being taciturn and began trying to communicate with others.

"Clack, clack, clack."

The soldiers under Lin Lei walked with such sounds, each march accompanied by loud, rhythmic footsteps.

Lin Lei looked toward the source of the sound. A thin, dark-skinned young man appeared at the door. His frame was large, but he lacked much flesh, making him appear frail, while a pair of cold, black pupils sent a chill down one's spine.

"Baron."

Lin Yu stood before Lin Lei, eyes fixed straight ahead.

"Lin Yu, you're here. I have a task for you."

Lin Lei was very satisfied with his spirit.

"There are two cosmetic shops in the Flower Territory. Go and buy a few boxes."

"Understood."

Lin Yu took the money bag from Lin Lei's hand and went out.

Lin Lei had given him five hundred gold coins to buy the cosmetics. These were, of course, not for his own use, but for Aierlan. He had just realized he had never bought her a gift, which was why he had called for Lin Yu.

"I should go to the Lord's Mansion to pay my respects to the Viscount first. As a member of the Flower Territory, it wouldn't be right to visit without checking in, especially since I need to borrow the Flower Territory's soldiers the day after tomorrow."

Lin Lei paced as he thought, then grabbed the coat from his chair and walked out the door.

Three hours later, Lin Lei returned to his courtyard, playing with the cosmetics in his hands with a good mood.

He hadn't seen the Viscount at the Lord's Mansion. According to the servants and guards, the Viscount had apparently gone to attend Princess Jaina's coming-of-age ceremony and to meet with Admiral Daelin.

He had been gone for at least half a month, and it would be at least another half-month before he returned.

Lin Lei's plan to meet the Viscount had fallen through, but his primary goal had been achieved.

He hadn't seen Lord Edward, but he had met Miss Alice. After Lord Edward left the territory, he had handed all authority to his daughter, and Miss Alice now held the power to command the territory's soldiers.

Lin Lei had a good relationship with Alice, and she had readily agreed to his request, which wasn't overly excessive.

Of course, Lin Lei had paid a reward of fifty thousand gold coins, but considering it was for hundreds of elite soldiers, Lin Lei felt the fifty thousand gold coins were well spent.

Lin Lei had the financial resources; he had only feared lacking a channel to borrow troops. Fortunately, everything had proceeded smoothly.

Luo Ji also returned to report the procurement status to Lin Lei. The major items were mostly finished, leaving only the miscellaneous trifles. They were few but important, much like the role of trace elements in the human body.

These remaining items would have to be slowly acquired in the market. With luck, it would take only a day; with bad luck, it might take three days or more.