Chapter 26

This was Boris and Vincent's third visit to Desinia's castle.

Boris had come with a decision already made.

He said, "I agree to the second cooperation proposal, and the Nagabi Merchant Guild can meet the three requirements you proposed."

"However, Nagabi Salt must be sold in other places where Rose Salt is available. The Count has no right to interfere with that."

The Nagabi Merchant Guild was, after all, a renowned merchant guild that had existed for a long time.

The reformed Nagabi Salt would only sell better than Rose Salt.

Xia Zuoyi said, "Of course. In other places, we'll compete based on our own abilities."

He would turn around and use reputation points to exchange for books on marketing strategies, sales methods, product-selling concepts, and the like.

In the reconstruction plans for Visas and Komoy Fort, sufficient manpower and adequate funding were the two most crucial conditions.

The reason Xia Zuoyi had demanded that Nagabi Salt permanently withdraw from Gadayat was to secure most of Rose Salt's market share and ensure that the refined Nagabi Salt produced through sun-drying methods could not reclaim it later...

That would otherwise reduce and deplete the Thorn Merchant Guild's funds, making the reconstruction plans impossible to carry out smoothly.

As for the manpower issue.

He was about to solve it now.

Xia Zuoyi said, "Mr. Abel, next we can discuss what the Nagabi Merchant Guild can use to purchase the formula for the plant medicine."

Boris caught the key word in his statement.

"Use what? Does the Count intend to barter?"

Bartering was a relatively special method of purchase and sale between merchant guilds. It did not require money for transactions, instead using goods of equivalent value as settlement.

Xia Zuoyi nodded. "That's right. I want a batch of goods from the Nagabi Merchant Guild."

Boris Abel needed time to consider it before giving his answer.

During that time.

The information Xia Zuoyi had long ordered people to investigate about the Nagabi Merchant Guild was delivered.

As the largest merchant guild in the Anas Empire, the Nagabi Merchant Guild sold salt, all kinds of daily necessities, weapons and armor, and also possessed the largest slave market in the Anas Empire.

On the Western Continent, slaves were merchandise as well.

The Nagabi Merchant Guild sold slaves.

Although the Anas Empire and the Saint Airo Empire were locked in opposition and maintained a relatively stable situation, they were not always peaceful and free of conflict.

Turmoil and friction often arose between the two great empires.

The small tributary states and the nations established around them repeatedly suffered unavoidable harassment and invasion.

Especially from the Anas Empire.

The king would turn all captured people into slaves of the empire, fitting them with heavy shackles and branding them with obvious marks that could not be removed. They no longer had freedom over their own bodies.

Usually, all these slaves captured by the empire would be sent to the Nagabi Merchant Guild's slave market, where they would await auction by the guild or be sold in large batches.

Xia Zuoyi's people had learned of a recent war in the Anas Empire.

—The Trak Kingdom had been destroyed.

Almost all the people of the entire kingdom had been captured and taken to the Anas Empire.

They were now all imprisoned in the Nagabi Merchant Guild's slave market and had not yet been bought by nobles.

When Xia Zuoyi was reading the report, Ferdinand and Walker were beside him as well.

He asked, "Why was the Trak Kingdom destroyed so quickly?"

"It was only a little over two months from the Anas Empire's invasion to the end. Is the Anas Empire really that powerful?"

Ferdinand said, "We've heard about this matter too."

"The Trak Kingdom was a small nation with only three cities. It had always been located in the remote northern region, backed against Ama Mountain and actually quite far from both the Anas Empire and the Saint Airo Empire."

"Because the northern climate was simply too cold and the environment extremely harsh, there were practically no other nations around the Trak Kingdom."

"But later, the people of the Trak Kingdom discovered a small iron mine in Ama Mountain, which sparked an internal conflict."

"Someone wanted to use that iron mine to seize the position of heir to the Trak throne, so they borrowed troops from the Anas Empire. Who would have expected that to bring in a pack of ill-intentioned wolves?"

"In just over two months, the Anas Empire destroyed the Trak Kingdom. Everyone in the kingdom, whether nobles, commoners, or slaves, was captured."

Xia Zuoyi thought that borrowing troops from the Anas Empire was no different from seeking the tiger's skin. The man had been bold but incapable.

Walker continued, "Because the people of the Trak Kingdom had lived for generations in the cold and harsh northern environment, both men and women were very tall and sturdy."

"I heard that women could fight in their kingdom too."

"Especially the knights of the Trak Kingdom. In terms of cavalry combat ability, they were no weaker than the knights of the Anas Empire, perhaps even stronger."

Walker said regretfully, "It was just that the Trak Kingdom's population was too small, and the Anas Empire's attack caught them completely off guard. That was why they were defeated so quickly."

Xia Zuoyi asked, "How many people from the Trak Kingdom were captured in total?"

Walker said, "I heard it was more than a thousand. The rest either escaped or died."

"However, the final number of captives may be even lower. After all, some people were severely wounded when captured and could not receive effective treatment. They could easily die along the way or after reaching the Anas Empire."

Ferdinand said, "I remember that the populations of the Trak Kingdom's two cities combined were fewer than three thousand."

Xia Zuoyi said, "So few?!"

Ferdinand nodded.

Seeing his thoughtful little expression, Judith asked, "Count, do you have something in mind?"

Xia Zuoyi's eyes curved as he nodded. "I do."

At that moment.

Xia Zuoyi said to Boris, "I want you to exchange all the captives from the Trak Kingdom for the formula for the plant medicine."

Vincent's brow twitched at his words. "Count, are you sure you want the Trak Kingdom's slaves?"

"I'm sure."

"But..."

Vincent looked at Boris hesitantly, his face troubled.

Judith said, "They're only slaves. Does the Nagabi Merchant Guild not wish to exchange them?"

"I imagine slaves are worth less than gold coins."

Boris said, "The goods the Count wants are indeed somewhat inconvenient."

"I might as well be frank with the Count. Duke Bass Riches of Gadayat also wishes to purchase some of the Trak Kingdom's slaves."

Xia Zuoyi could not help exchanging a meaningful glance with Judith.

If that was the case, then he had to snatch them even more :)

He said, "Has Mr. Abel already reached an agreement with Duke Riches?"

Boris said, "Not yet."

After all, he had come to Visas as soon as he disembarked.

Xia Zuoyi pressed his lips together, his eyes curving as he gave Boris a friendly smile.

"If Duke Riches only purchases some of the slaves, then the rest will be of no use to me. If I want them, I want all of them."

Boris raised a brow. "But if I agree to the Count's transaction, I'll inevitably break my word to Duke Riches. That will also cause the Nagabi Merchant Guild to lose a source of income..."

Xia Zuoyi said, "But I think exchanging all the Trak Kingdom's slaves for the formula for the plant medicine would maximize both our benefits, wouldn't it?"

"The Nagabi Merchant Guild surely wouldn't care about the money earned from selling slaves."

He considered briefly. "How about this? As long as our transaction is completed, I can give Mr. Abel additional compensation. What do you think?"

Boris asked with some interest, "What compensation?"

Xia Zuoyi said, "A book on methods and precautions for cultivating medicinal herbs."

Boris said, "..."

Xia Zuoyi calmly said, "Most of the herbs included in the medicine formula are difficult to grow. The initial investment and consumption are the greatest."

"But if someone experienced, such as myself, tells you how to grow them, it will not only improve the survival rate of the herbs, but also greatly shorten the time before sales can begin."

"That way, the plant medicine can be produced sooner and sold through the Nagabi Merchant Guild."

There were still no chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and the like on the Western Continent.

Commoners and slaves did not know how to keep plants warm or drive away pests, nor did they understand sowing methods or the proper time for planting... It was inevitable that medicinal herbs would have a low survival rate.

Yet the compensation Xia Zuoyi offered was actually an extra item that had originally been meant to be traded together with the medicine formula.

After all, he also wanted this medicine, which could treat coughs and fevers, to become widespread as soon as possible.

And with the Nagabi Merchant Guild's capabilities, as long as the herbs were successfully cultivated in sufficient quantities, they could absolutely sell them over a vast area.

He just had not mentioned it before.

Boris Abel had no way of knowing that the so-called compensation had originally been a free gift...

Xia Zuoyi thought, I really do have such a clever little brain.

The deal was finally reached.

The two sides drafted a detailed agreement on parchment.

First, every bottle and jar containing the plant medicine would bear the crest of the Desinia Family.

Second, from then on, the Nagabi Merchant Guild could not interfere with or suppress any products sold by the Thorn Merchant Guild, including Rose Salt.

Third, the Nagabi Merchant Guild promised that Nagabi Salt would permanently withdraw from the Gadayat Kingdom.

After both sides signed their names, they pressed their handprints onto the parchment.

Xia Zuoyi said, "Once all the Trak Kingdom's slaves have been delivered, the formula for the plant medicine will naturally be handed over to the Nagabi Merchant Guild."

"I trust the Nagabi Merchant Guild's credibility."

Boris said, "Naturally, I also trust the Count's credibility. A pleasant partnership."

"A pleasant partnership."

Before Xia Zuoyi sent Boris and Vincent out of the castle, he specifically explained that when the Nagabi Merchant Guild's ships came to Gadayat again, they could sail along the Volri River and dock at Gaya Port.

It was also the port in the city nearest to Komoy Fort.

Boris said there would be no problem.

They returned to Niramo's port, boarded their ship, and set off back for the Anas Empire.

Meanwhile, Bass Riches waited and waited, yet no one from the Nagabi Merchant Guild came.

After sending a servant to ask at the branch guild in the city, he learned that the people from the Anas Empire had already left Niramo.

Bass Riches was nearly angered to death at the time, but there was nothing he could do.

More than half a month later.

Bass Riches heard that five ships carrying slaves from the Trak Kingdom were sailing along the Volri River.

Seven days later, the five ships passed Niramo and, after sailing for some time, docked at Gaya Port.

Then Desinia sent knights to take away all the Trak Kingdom's slaves.

"..."

How could Bass Riches still fail to understand what had happened before, causing the Nagabi Merchant Guild not to trade with him?

So it was all that little brat Desinia's "good deed"!

Bass Riches gritted his teeth in rage. "...Him again!"

The steward beside him said, "Duke, Desinia has repeatedly angered you and seized Komoy Fort. Should we..."

Bass Riches's gaze flickered. After a long while, he said, "Leave him alone for now. What matters most at present is... there will be time to deal with Desinia later."

As for the Nagabi Merchant Guild.

Just from the fact that Boris could leave Niramo without even informing him, it was clear that Bass Riches could not afford to offend the Nagabi Merchant Guild.

Although he had made that decision, Bass Riches still remained thoroughly furious for several days, even developing two mouth ulcers.

At the same time.

Ferdinand and Walker personally led soldiers to bring the people of the Trak Kingdom back to Komoy Fort.

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