Merchant Guild

As for low-end armor, it was not because it was poor quality, but because it referred mainly to lower-tier lines, such as equipment for soldiers and mercenaries.

Low-end armor was rather varied, including leather armor, heavy knight armor, light swordsman armor, and so on.

Fox quickly noticed that the light swordsman armor here looked very similar to the armor styles some Human Race merchants had smuggled over some time ago.

Could it be?

Fox grew a little excited. If the weapons and equipment those Human Race merchants smuggled all came from here, buying them here would definitely be far cheaper than buying from smugglers.

"How much for a set of light swordsman armor like this, plus a one-handed sword?" Fox asked, pointing at the armor.

"Unenhanced equipment costs 100 gold coins, Fine Iron equipment costs 200 gold coins, and the one-handed sword comes free. But rest assured, the free weapon will be equipment of the same grade. There will absolutely be no passing off inferior goods as better ones. Of course, these are all standard first-tier equipment. For a higher price, we also have second-tier weapons and equipment," Avilan said with a smile.

So-called first-tier equipment was actually gear for levels one through ten. Wearing it required a certain amount of strength or other qualifications, requirements that were generally met upon reaching the first tier. Second-tier equipment had improved attributes in every respect, but the requirements for wearing it also increased accordingly.

Still, this was not a game. It was not like in games, where high-level players wearing low-level equipment had their attributes reduced.

Thus, armies in every nation had always preferred low-tier equipment. Only elite units were issued equipment of the same tier as their strength.

Fox nodded calmly, but inwardly, he was screaming. The price was simply too cheap.

Compared with those profiteering Human Race merchants, who charged two hundred gold coins for a set of armor while excluding the helmet and one-handed sword, everything here was included for free.

"I have one request. I want the appearance of this armor altered slightly, to make it more characteristic of our Munk Kingdom," Fox said, gesturing with his hands.

Avilan nodded. Customers were gods, after all. It was merely a minor request to alter the appearance, and compared with the price, it was practically nothing.

"Very good. Then let us discuss the price. My request is simple: since I am buying in such large quantities, I need a discount," Fox said solemnly.

"Of course, that will not be a problem." Avilan told Fox about the discount he had offered Kalons, except the required quantity of weapons and equipment was doubled.

After all, Fox might represent the entire Munk Kingdom, whereas Kalons represented only the lordly faction of the Kompno Duchy.

"Good. I want ten thousand sets. But I need to return to my country to gather the gold coins. I did not bring that much with me."

After settling the price with Avilan, Fox decisively signed a contract with him. At the same time, he explained that he needed to return and raise the money, but hoped Avilan could let him take one thousand sets of weapons and equipment back first.

Avilan naturally agreed, leaving Miuo utterly puzzled. That was one thousand sets of armor, yet Fox had not even left a deposit.

"If you were a high-ranking official of the Munk Kingdom, and you had such a stable source of weapons and equipment, would you give it up just to swindle a thousand sets of armor?" Faced with Avilan's question, Miuo immediately fell silent.

Only those who came from the Munk Kingdom knew just how backward and scarce the kingdom's blacksmithing system was.

When he had led his tribe in fleeing the Munk Kingdom, more than three thousand people had brought out fewer than three hundred weapons.

Time passed quickly. More than half a month flew by, and April had quietly arrived. The weather began to grow hot as the blazing red sun shone over all directions, spilling down its light.

Despair Fortress Hall.

"Mole Xiu, how is the food cultivation progressing?"

Avilan sat high at the head of the hall, with Arthur standing beside him. Below them, Zhou Yu, Mi Yue, Aranda, Mole Xiu, and Tiger Fang sat upright, their eyes fixed straight ahead.

Mi Yue now commanded Oldwood Fortress, recruiting troops and training soldiers. Especially after the Piten Tribe was purged, more and more Wild Men gathered by Tian Ye had become the main population of Oldwood Fortress.

The Piten Tribe's original population of more than five thousand had been sacrificed and turned into over four thousand Horned Demons and more than one hundred Demonkin. The Horned Demons were stationed in Satellite Town, located on the route between Despair Fortress and Oldwood Fortress, under Mize's command. As for the Demonkin, they were flying units and had naturally been transferred back to headquarters.

"Lord Avilan, one-fifth of the food base in the northern district has been restored. The cultivable land now exceeds 1.5 million mu. Due to insufficient manpower, we can only plant 500,000 mu, and sowing has already begun."

Mole Xiu rose to his feet and reported respectfully.

"Very good. Also, post notices that Despair Fortress is recruiting blacksmiths, carpenters, tailors, and other craftsmen. Alchemists and mages willing to pledge allegiance may negotiate their compensation!"

Avilan nodded lightly, very satisfied with Mole Xiu's efficiency. Restoring so many cultivation bases in barely more than half a month spoke for itself of the hardships involved.

But if war were to drag on, having sufficient provisions alone would not be enough.

Avilan swept his gaze across everyone present and gave another order.

"Arthur, take note!"

Arthur immediately took out a small notebook and wrote it down.

"Also, I intend to establish a merchant guild in the name of Despair Fortress. Who should take on this important position?"

His gaze shifted as Avilan looked toward Zhou Yu and gave the order calmly.

Their operations were spreading wider and wider, and money was needed everywhere. Establishing a merchant guild to earn wealth was imperative.

"Lord Avilan, I believe this merchant guild must have members of other races serving in it. For example, merchants dealing with the Munk Kingdom must be handled by beastmen, while Human Race nations should naturally be handled by humans. Only then can they integrate into the local environment as quickly as possible."

Zhou Yu bowed respectfully.

"Mm, that really is a headache!" Avilan rubbed his temples. Zhou Yu had given him a suggestion that was truly troublesome.

Other races would be relatively easy to handle, but humans gave him a headache. Despair Fortress had originally possessed only four humans, and those four had fled some time ago. They still had not been recaptured.

"Where has the team hunting Eddie and the others reached now?" Avilan asked irritably.

"These four humans are far too cunning. They have been taking detours the whole way, and the location of their village is extremely remote. Even after we split off some manpower, we still cannot find them." The Demonkin were now led by Didi, a name personally bestowed upon him by Avilan. Though he looked like a half-grown youth, the delicate, handsome sort at that,

he was actually an extraordinarily cruel fellow who loved nothing more than eating his opponents' hearts raw. He was a fourth-tier magic warrior.

His combat strength was not outstanding. He could attack and cast magic, but his attributes were mediocre, making him an all-rounder.

"Hurry it up. This matter has a tremendous impact on all of Despair Fortress." Noticing Avilan's displeased expression, Arthur stepped forward and barked coldly.

Didi was so frightened that he prostrated himself on the ground and did not dare rise.