Negotiation

Luo Ning brought Philiton into the Fortress Hall of Mountain Forest Castle. This itself counted as a fairly formal gesture.

"My apologies, Sir Philiton. Because of Prinster's betrayal, there are not enough people in my castle for the time being. I cannot provide you with wine or any other services!"

Luo Ning took his seat first. As he exchanged pleasantries, he gestured for the other man to sit as well.

Mountain Forest Castle's fortress was exceedingly simple. The hall, built from massive stones, had only tiny windows in its surrounding walls. Even with sunlight streaming in, it remained dim.

Macken could only order the guards to light the candles in the hall.

Philiton had some objections to Luo Ning's less-than-proper reception, but naturally did not speak out about it. He merely chuckled and flattered him. "Baron, you are truly efficient. You are very much like your father!"

Luo Ning raised an eyebrow. Was that supposed to be praise, or an insult?

"I wonder what important matter has brought you here today?" Luo Ning did not want to beat around the bush and chose to ask directly.

However, Philiton did not answer at once. Instead, he asked, "Lord Luo Ning, what exactly was the purpose of the letter you had the guards deliver to Wushan Castle?"

He was still trying to find out what Bob and Marseille's letter had said.

Nobles cared greatly about appearances. Even if there were conflicts between them, they would generally still smile when meeting in public. Stabbing each other in the back was something done behind the scenes.

Thus, during the time Luo Ning had spent with Philiton, he had also taken care to maintain the hospitable demeanor expected of a host.

But after hearing Philiton's question, his expression turned cold after two seconds of thought.

"You should know what Sain Territory has taken from my Mountain Forest Town over the years!"

If he acted timid now, he would be letting down yesterday's brilliant performance. Luo Ning had to make the other side understand that he was not afraid of offending Sain Territory.

Philiton's expression grew more solemn. At the same time, he was glad that he had intercepted those two messengers on the road. Otherwise, Sain Territory would have been in serious trouble this time.

He also secretly blamed Luo Ning for being so hasty. Why could he not leave a little room for both sides to ease the situation?

Sure enough, just as the rumors said, Wiggins and Luo Ning truly were a similar father and son pair from Wushan Castle.

"I know a little about what you mean, my lord."

Philiton delivered the lines he had prepared. "Perhaps you do not know this, my lord, but Mountain Forest Town's security situation is not good. To the west lies the Wushan Magical Beast Mountain Range, which harasses the town, while remnants of savage tribes lurk in the forests to the north and east. To maintain order here and ensure that the town could continue serving Wushan Castle, Administrator Prinster could only seek help from the nearby Sain Territory."

Luo Ning deliberately challenged him. "So you seized so much wealth from Mountain Forest Town? This embezzlement must be reported to Wushan Castle, so that my father and grandfather can pass judgment on Baron Resen!"

"What you say is not correct, my lord!"

Philiton rose to his feet, gave a Knight's Salute, and began to argue. "My lord, my master, Baron Resen, fulfilled his duties as a vassal of Wushan Castle. He sent troops and contributed his strength to protect Mountain Forest Town for Wushan Castle. The things Prinster gave us were merely payment for our services. How could that be called embezzling Wushan Castle's wealth?"

Luo Ning sneered. "As a vassal, helping his liege suppress rebellion is an obligation he should fulfill. Baron Resen still wants compensation?"

"You are right, but that would only apply if Wushan Castle had ordered Sain Territory to act."

Philiton argued again. "We acted in response to Prinster's request and promise. Wushan Castle gave no such order. If this matter must be pursued, then the greatest criminal is Prinster!"

"I do not want to know whose fault is greater or lesser, nor do I wish to inquire about it."

Luo Ning spoke indifferently. "I only need to tell my father what you have done. Given his temperament, I believe he will definitely make Baron Resen pay the price!"

Philiton knew he could not reason with Luo Ning like this, so he stopped wasting words and began revealing Baron Resen's plan.

"My lord, if you report this matter to Wushan Castle, Sain Territory may ultimately have to compensate Wushan Castle with a certain amount of money or resources."

As he spoke, he sat back down, his tone carrying a strong note of persuasion. "That money would be given to Wushan Castle. You would not receive a single coin."

Luo Ning's heart stirred. Here it was—the other side's true purpose.

He waved a hand and lounged sideways in his chair. "I have no interest in money. I only hope Wushan Castle will teach Baron Resen a lesson, so that he understands not to overreach!"

Knight Phileton cursed Luo Ning a hundred times in his heart. He felt the boy had no sense at all. The matter had already been made so clear, yet he still did not understand?

"My lord, Baron Resen wishes to compensate you!"

He stopped wasting words and laid everything on the table. "As long as you no longer pursue the mistakes Sain Territory made over the years after falling into Prinster's trap, Lord Resen is willing to compensate you."

Perhaps worried that Luo Ning still did not understand, Philiton continued explaining. "If you report this to Wushan Castle, Sain Territory will pay Wushan Castle. But if you do not pursue it, our compensation will go into your pocket!"

Luo Ning was overjoyed. He had just been thinking he did not have enough money to spend, yet Sain Territory had come to deliver money to him.

"Compensate me?"

He pretended to be deeply interested. "How does Baron Resen intend to compensate me?"

Philiton held up two fingers. "Lord Resen is willing to pay Mountain Forest Town two hundred gold coins in one lump sum!"

Two hundred gold coins, and they thought that would be enough to dismiss him?

Luo Ning repeatedly shook his head. "I am of the Wushan Family bloodline. How could I deceive Wushan Castle together with him?"

His face was full of disdain. "Sir Philiton, please return, and do not obstruct my messengers again. Otherwise, I would not mind having Knight Macken keep you in Mountain Forest Castle for an extended stay!"

Philiton was thoroughly disgusted by Luo Ning's words. Luo Ning had clearly seemed interested just now, yet he was now rejecting the offer so decisively. Nothing more than because he thought the money was too little.

At such a young age, he was already like a greedy merchant.

"Three hundred!"

Philiton raised three fingers. "Three hundred gold coins. I hope you will change your mind, my lord!"

Luo Ning questioned coldly, "Justice and fairness are my principles. Is Lord Resen testing me?"

"Four hundred, my lord. Four hundred should be enough, right?"

Philiton felt as though he were negotiating with a disgusting merchant. "Mountain Forest Town only provided Sain Territory with some grain each year. Added together over all these years, it probably was not even worth four hundred gold coins!"

Luo Ning chuckled. Though he did not know exactly how much Prinster had given Sain Territory, it was definitely more than four hundred gold coins.

"Sir Philiton, you should understand that Baron Resen committed a crime! Once Wushan Castle learns of it, no one knows how severe the punishment will be."

While cursing Luo Ning for clearly wanting more money while pretending to be righteous, Philiton put on a troubled expression. "My lord, four hundred gold coins really is not a small amount!"

Luo Ning held up one finger. "I will not make things difficult for you. One thousand gold coins. As long as Baron Resen compensates me with one thousand gold coins, I can pretend I never discovered the matter between Prinster and your people!"

Philiton opened his mouth, seeming to think he had misheard.

Good heavens, he had directly demanded one thousand gold coins. He was greedy beyond measure!

Did he even know what one thousand gold coins meant?

Philiton steadied his uneven breathing. If Macken, tall and powerfully built, had not been standing beside them all along, he truly would have wanted to rush forward and strangle this greedy fellow.

"My lord, although Baron Resen has some savings, asking him to produce one thousand gold coins all at once is impossible!"

Philiton shook his head. "Even if you report this to Wushan Castle, when the Marquis passes judgment in the end, the amount probably will not reach that figure. You may as well report it!"

Unable to produce one thousand gold coins?

Luo Ning smiled. "It does not matter if he does not have one thousand gold coins. Baron Resen can use cattle to make up the difference. I hear Swamp Town has plenty of Black Water Buffalo. I like beef, so thirty or forty head will do."

Philiton twitched his lips. Indeed, Sain Territory had many swamps, suitable for Black Water Buffalo to live in.

Over the years, Baron Resen had indeed earned quite a bit of money through taming Black Water Buffalo. But Luo Ning had opened with a demand for thirty or forty head. That was utterly absurd!

To be honest, if Lord Resen had not repeatedly insisted on easing the situation first, he would have stood up and left immediately.

But the negotiation had to continue. "My lord, there truly are not that many!"