Negotiating prices required patience.
Luo Ning had plenty of patience. After all, he held the chips now; the advantage was his.
Still, he knew that one thousand gold coins was indeed too high a price. Even if the other side had an estimate, they would not be willing to pay it.
So he would lower it gradually.
After some back-and-forth, and two cups of cold water, the two sides finally reached an agreement—
608 gold coins, plus three male Black Water Buffaloes and ten female Black Water Buffaloes.
Holding a pen, Luo Ning signed his name on the Parchment, a lingering smile on his face.
"Please go back and tell Baron Leysen that I guarantee no one else will learn of this matter!"
Philiton put away the signed Parchment, then took out the bag of gold coins from his robes and handed it to Luo Ning. "My lord, there are six hundred gold coins inside."
Clearly, the most Baron Leysen had provided was six hundred gold coins.
As Philiton spoke, he took another eight gold coins from his pocket and added them in. This was his own private money, advanced ahead of time.
The instant the money bag landed in his hand, long-unseen words appeared before Luo Ning's eyes:
"Prosperous Fortune" achievement completed. Attribute Points +20, Energy Essence +40
"My lord, please count them."
Luo Ning chuckled and set the money bag aside. "No need to count them. I have never doubted your credibility, Sir!"
Philiton could not smile at all.
Not only had he handed over all six hundred gold coins Baron Leysen had prepared, but he had also paid eight gold coins out of his own pocket!
"As for the cattle we just discussed, I will send two Retainers to deliver them tomorrow."
Philiton cursed furiously inside, but maintained his composure and bowed. "Then Philiton will take his leave, my lord!"
"Don't go yet~"
Luo Ning grinned broadly. "I'll have lunch prepared right away. Sir, you must stay."
"Lord Leysen is about to depart for Black Python City to celebrate Count Orson Hyde's birthday. I must hurry back to report back. I hope Lord Luo Ning will not blame me."
Leysen had actually left that morning. He was merely finding a reasonable excuse to leave.
Yet this excuse made Luo Ning wary.
Did Baron Leysen still have ties to the Hyde Family, the Border Count's family?
Then he would have to be even more vigilant in the future.
Luo Ning stopped trying to persuade him to stay. "In that case, I won't force you to remain. Please convey my regards to Baron Leysen!"
Under his warm send-off, Philiton and his Squire Knight left the castle, mounted their horses, and galloped away.
Luo Ning secretly breathed a sigh of relief as well.
After this incident, at least Sain Territory would not come looking for trouble with him for some time.
Moreover, Baron Leysen had gone to Black Python City for the birthday celebration. He probably would not return for ten days or half a month.
Even if they wanted to deal with him, they would have to wait until Leysen returned. Philiton was only an Ennobled Knight, after all, and could not decide to attack a noble.
"Congratulations, my lord, on gaining such a large sum of gold coins!" Macken said with a smile.
"Haha, we have a good neighbor to thank for that!"
Luo Ning was extremely pleased. "Have someone inform Bob and Marseille that they do not need to deliver the letter anymore. Oh, and remember to burn that letter."
"Yes, my lord. I'll go and inform them right away."
"Wait."
Luo Ning called out. He brought up Macken's Attribute Panel and spent all forty Energy Essence he had obtained, raising the other man's knight progress to 135/200.
The sensation of becoming stronger made Macken feel invigorated all over. He had not expected to improve again only a few hours after becoming much stronger that morning.
"Thank you for your gift, my lord!"
Luo Ning patted his shoulder. "Go on. Train a few more Professional Knights like David for me."
He could add points for Macken and Elrond, but he could not add points for people like David.
If these people wanted to become extraordinary professionals, they had to rely on their own efforts. The same applied if they wanted to raise their strength.
Therefore, David and the others needed training, sparring, and battle. Only then would they grow stronger and stronger.
Macken could fill that role very well.
"Macken will certainly give it his all!"
The Guard Officer solemnly performed a Knight's Salute, then left brimming with determination.
Luo Ning summoned his Attribute Panel and walked toward the study while adding points to himself.
After the exhilarating surge from his rapidly rising Mental Power, Luo Ning's mage progress reached 126/150.
"I only need another 24 Attribute Points to break through and become an Intermediate Professional!"
After obtaining the gold coins from Sain Territory, Luo Ning now had three ways to acquire Attribute Points:
Monthly Check-in, First Purchase Bonus, and Achievement Master.
Over the next six days, he could only obtain 6 Attribute Points through the Monthly Check-in;
Besides allowing him to summon a Professional Knight with Blazing Sun Aptitude, completing the First Purchase Bonus would also grant a Luxury Gift Pack. Luo Ning guessed it would contain Attribute Points.
Other than those two, the last option was the Achievement Master interface.
Luo Ning looked over.
At this moment, just like the Slaughter Master achievement he had completed before, the Prosperous Fortune achievement had advanced to a new stage after its first stage was completed.
Prosperous Fortune: Obtain 1,000 gold coins at once. Reward: Attribute Points +50, Energy Essence +100
Compared to the first stage, this time Luo Ning needed to obtain 1,000 gold coins in a single transaction.
Although Luo Ning's current savings had already exceeded one thousand gold coins, that did not mean earning money was so easy.
Of his gold coins, more than nine hundred had come from Wushan Castle, Lakeside Town, and Sain Territory. The rest had all been taken from killing people, such as the mage Pedro and Prinster.
As for money he had truly earned himself...
Unfortunately, not a single coin.
"No matter what world I'm in, I still have to make money. What a headache!"
As far as Luo Ning currently knew, Mountain Forest Town had only one source of wealth: selling grain.
According to Philiton, quite a lot of grain had been sent to Sain Territory over the years.
Now that Luo Ning no longer needed to "pay tribute" to Sain Territory, he could haul out and sell the surplus grain produced each year.
But grain simply could not bring in money as quickly as the horses of Pasture City or the Black Water Buffaloes of Sain Territory.
Selling ten thousand jin of Barley would only earn around 30 gold coins.
If he wanted to earn 1,000 gold at once by selling Barley, he would need to prepare 330,000 jin of Barley.
Where would Mountain Forest Town find that much Barley to sell?
Clearly, that path was not feasible.
"I wonder whether Mountain Forest Town has any specialties!"
After arriving at the study, Luo Ning sat down and searched through the books on the desk—though there were not many. Unfortunately, Prinster had not left behind any written introduction to the products of Mountain Forest Town.
"I need to inspect the territory."
Luo Ning had already decided to make a round of inspections through the territory within the next two days. At the same time, he planned to recruit an Administrator from Mountain Forest Town.
At this stage, he could lower his requirements for an Administrator. He did not need the person to have any governing ability, only to be able to convey his intentions and conscientiously carry out the tasks he assigned.
"Whether serf or free citizen, anyone who can read and has even a little logical sense can apply."
Luo Ning planned to have Chahar issue a notice recruiting an Administrator after he finished recruiting castle servants.
Besides these two matters, Luo Ning also needed to make a trip to Pasture City to buy Magic Crystal Stones before Baron Leysen returned from the birthday celebration.
Before you continue