Pearl Route (Part 2)

Duke was not overwhelmed by flattery when the other party came forward to recommend herself.

When Duke had first become an Earth Mage, he had merely been a promising rising star. But now, he was showing signs of being "a comet that flashed across the sky and vanished, heading toward becoming a star."

A lack of sufficient funds to support Duke's magical studies had been the greatest shackle restraining his growth. But what if that shackle were removed?

Duke could easily become an incalculable new force in Stormwind!

His honored status as a mage allowed him to stand above the noble factions, and being a mage meant he was destined to be unable to devote too much time to commercial activities.

Thus, Elizabeth Jones's visit carried a deeper meaning beyond discussing cooperation. Otherwise, she would not have personally come all the way to this tiny, godforsaken island.

"Hello, Jones." Duke was refined and courteous, neither overly enthusiastic nor coldly distant.

Elizabeth Jones was an elegant woman in her thirties. Having heard of Duke's age, she had assumed he would be easier to deal with, but she realized from the very start that she had been wrong.

Duke was clearly not some inexperienced youngster who would lose his bearings after a few compliments.

So Elizabeth decided to treat Duke as an equal, a prospective business partner.

In a gentle, ladylike voice, she asked Duke, "May I learn about the quality, quantity, and means of acquisition of your pearls?"

Duke snapped his fingers. A splash sounded from the shore. The suddenly appearing Murlocs startled both Jones and the sailors Duke had newly hired. The sailors nearly readied themselves for battle.

Because they were Murlocs!

Their mottled fish-like bodies were supported by powerful limbs. The two Murlocs grandly carried a massive shell, walking beneath everyone's gaze until they reached Duke and Jones. They set down the shell and knelt before Duke.

Duke made strange noises such as "Ola ga wo," and the two Murlocs happily pranced back into the sea with peculiar steps.

Then two hands glowing with arcane light appeared, giving Jones and the sailors another fright.

Duke smiled with pursed lips and had Mage Hand open the shell.

Under the morning light, the large shell, big enough to hold a five-year-old child, was filled with a dazzling array of pearls that nearly blinded Elizabeth Jones.

In her mind's eye, countless varieties of beautiful new pearl jewelry had already appeared.

Only the sailors quietly gasped in amazement.

"My God! Our employer, Lord Marcus, has actually subdued Murlocs!?"

"Those crude and evil Murlocs that hunt nearby humans?"

Duke raised a hand, and the sailors' hushed discussion abruptly stopped.

"Lady Jones, as you can see, because I studied the Murloc language, I was able to control three Murloc tribes along Westfall's northern coast through certain means. They will continuously gather pearls, coral, tortoiseshell, and other valuable marine products for me."

Duke turned and smiled at the sailors. "Likewise, any vessel bearing my mage's mark at its prow will be absolutely safe in the waters between Stormwind Harbor and here. The Murlocs will not merely refrain from attacking you; they will protect you from attacks by other sea creatures. Of course, putting to sea always carries risks. The Murlocs cannot fend off powerful marine creatures beyond their ability to fight."

For a moment, both Jones and the sailors felt their hearts burn with excitement!

As if reluctant to part with them, Jones picked up one pearl after another, examining them repeatedly. Then she broke into a smile. "Then, Lord Marcus, shall we return to Stormwind and discuss this in greater detail?"

"Very well."

Traveling overland from Stormwind meant heading south through Goldshire, then west through Westbrook Garrison into Westfall, before finally reaching the northern beach. The whole trip took a full week.

By sea, however, it was incredibly simple. Departing from Stormwind Harbor and following the coastline southwest, they could arrive in just one day.

Waiting was boring. In fact, within the cramped ship's cabin, Duke and Elizabeth had already reached a basic cooperation agreement.

It was a ten-year contract.

Starting now, Duke would guarantee the supply of no fewer than one thousand pearls per year to Elizabeth Jones's jewelry shop. As the raw-material supplier, Duke would receive forty percent of the final sale price of the pearl jewelry. The price would be jointly determined by both parties when Duke delivered the goods.

Whenever Duke made a delivery, it would be goods for money, paid on the spot.

After Duke delivered the first batch of pearls, Elizabeth would also pay Duke an additional ten thousand gold coins as a signing fee for obtaining exclusive sales rights to Duke's Pearl Route.

Inside the cabin, Elizabeth's attendant offered wine to symbolize their successful partnership. Duke and Elizabeth gently clinked glasses in celebration.

"Frankly, Lord Marcus, I must remind you that under this arrangement, I will earn far more than you imagine. If you are willing to accept payment after sales, settled once per quarter, you could earn at least twice as much wealth as you do now."

Duke gently swirled the wine in his stemmed glass, letting the fragrance of the alcohol drift out. He took a light sniff. "For merchants, pursuing greater profits is instinct. But I am a mage first, and only then the master of the Pearl Route."

"I understand what you mean. It is precisely because we value different things that we can cooperate so pleasantly."

"Indeed." Duke's smile carried a hint of deeper meaning. "Besides, by buying out my pearls, you are taking on considerable risk as well. It is acceptable for me to sell them to you at a lower price."

"Though I apologize for saying so, Lord Marcus, you possess a maturity that does not match your age."

Nonsense! I'm a college student...

Though he mocked her inwardly, Duke felt a little guilty. He did not know how long Jones would be able to profit from this pearl business. He only knew that once the Orcs arrived and Stormwind fell, Jones would probably lose a great deal of money.

Unfortunately, for Stormwind's future, amen! Good luck!

Through Elizabeth Jones, Duke's pearls quickly became the new favorite of Stormwind's society ladies. Nearly all of Stormwind's upper nobility learned that Duke Marcus possessed a hen that laid golden eggs.

Yet no one could interfere.

It was not as though no nobles had set their sights on the Pearl Route.

The fishing boats they secretly dispatched were all attacked by Murlocs without exception, suffering grievous casualties. Duke merely stated that those Murlocs were not under his control, so it had nothing to do with him.

And so, carrying a vast fortune envied by all, Duke stepped onto the stairs of the Stormwind Royal Academy of Arcane Arts library.

When faced with the librarian informing him that copying every spell here required payment,

Duke said only one thing: "Please pack them up! I want every Earth Mage-level spell!"