"Deposit."
Villen leaned back in his chair, speaking casually, "I know the world is in turmoil right now, and the risks are high, so the price is 30% higher than usual."
"After all, the bigger the waves, the more expensive the fish."
"You just need to pass on a message to Ice Fang Kuai for me. Whether it works out or not, this money will be your reward for your trouble."
"I'll stay at this hotel for only ten days. If you've thought things through, come find me anytime."
After saying that, he said no more, picked up his wine glass and sipped it slowly, appearing calm and unhurried.
The Dilong stared at the money bag on the table, his Adam's apple bobbing violently.
A 30% premium, that's a lot of gold coins just for the service fee...
If he closes one deal, it will be worth more than half a month's income in previous years.
But he was still uneasy, feeling that this was too much of a coincidence—the plague had just broken out, and someone was already buying up icefield goods at high prices?
He hesitated for a long time, but finally pushed the money bag back and chuckled dryly:
"Sir, it's not that I'm being disrespectful, it's just... my life is more important."
"I can't do this business."
Villen didn't press the matter; he simply smiled and took the money pouch back.
"It's alright," he said casually.
"You can think about it again. I'll be here for the next ten days."
As if granted a pardon, Dilong hurriedly got up to say goodbye and left the tavern in a hurry, without even finishing his ice-cold drink.
Watching his hasty departure, a barely perceptible smile appeared on Villen's lips.
The rejection was expected.
Anyone would be suspicious if they suddenly encountered such a windfall deal.
But he wasn't in a hurry. The Dilong could refuse once, but it couldn't refuse a second or third time.
The Ice Fang Clan was even more lacking in resources than he was.
The plague disrupted trade routes. The savages survived the winter, but not the lean spring.
Without the food, medicine, and tools of the Hive City, their lives will only become more and more difficult.
Chieftain Kuai would never let go of any opportunity to exchange for supplies.
Now that the Dilong has returned, it will surely try to send a message to the ice plains.
We were just waiting for him to come to us.
Events unfolded exactly as Villen had predicted.
The next evening, the Dilong reappeared at the Cinder Inn.
This time, his vigilance was no less, but there was even more of an barely suppressed eagerness on his face.
He walked straight to Villen's booth, rubbing his hands together and smiling:
"Sir, is the deal you made yesterday still valid?"
Villen put down his book, looked up at him, and said calmly:
"Natural arithmetic, what, you've figured it out?"
"Hey, I've thought about it carefully. Sir, you look like a respectable businessman. I Dilong, can't just let money slip by, can I?" He sat down with an embarrassed smile.
"To be honest, Chieftain Kuai and I are indeed old friends, but the roads have been difficult to travel recently, so news travels slowly."
"But don't worry, I've already sent a message, and I estimate we'll get a reply in seven or eight days."
"This is the price, you really want a 30% premium?"
"Words are golden," Villen said calmly.
"Not only will the price be 30% higher, but you'll also receive a 5% commission after the deal is done."
The Dilong's eyes lit up immediately.
Five points!
He'll earn more from this one deal than he usually does in a whole month!
All suspicion and vigilance vanished instantly in the face of real money.
"Don't worry, sir! Leave this to me!" he assured, patting his chest.
"I know the goods from Ice Fang. I'll make sure you get the quality right; they're all top-notch!"
Over the next few days, the two met at the tavern every day to discuss the types of goods, delivery locations, and transportation routes.
Villen was very generous, not only booking the best room in the hotel, but also insisting on paying the bill every time they ate or drank, and even giving Dilong many small gifts.
From high-end tobacco to exquisite lighters, everything was delivered to the recipient's heart's content.
After a while, the Dilong completely lowered its guard, thinking it had encountered a wealthy and generous nobleman who was easy to fool, and gradually became more talkative.
That evening, Villen specially booked a private room on the second floor of the hotel and ordered a table full of fine food and wine, saying it was to celebrate the successful cooperation in advance.
After a few rounds of drinks, Dilong, his face flushed, started talking non-stop, recounting everything from the interesting stories of the Lower City to the strange events of the ice plains.
Villen picked up his glass at the opportune moment, and said with a smile:
" Dilong? I heard there's a Dragon of Frost on our Ice Plains? Is that true? I thought it was just a folk tale for kids."
The mere mention of the Dragon of Frost instantly sobered the Dilong up a bit.
He glanced around instinctively before lowering his voice and saying:
"Sir, this isn't made up, it really is!"
"Oh?" Villen showed just the right amount of curiosity. "You've seen him before?"
"I'm not that lucky." The Dilong shook its head, but its face showed a hint of pride.
"But Chieftain Kuai has met him!"
"He told me personally that it was the guardian of the ice plains, covered in bluish-green scales, with wings that could blot out the sun and freeze people solid with a single breath!"
What he said was largely the same as what the savage leader remembered—all vague legends.
Villen knew what was going on, but feigned surprise, refilled the Dilong's cup, and continued the conversation:
"That powerful? Was it He who drove away the Orks when they invaded the Ice Plains last time?"
"Of course!"
Dilong downed his drink in one gulp, and as the alcohol took effect, his voice grew louder.
"You know how fierce the Orks are; even the regular army of the Hive City has a headache dealing with them, let alone those stone spear-wielding savages on the Ice Plains."
"If it weren't for the Dragon of Frost's intervention last winter, the Ice Fang and Snow Claw clans would have been wiped out long ago!"
As he spoke, he leaned forward and lowered his voice mysteriously:
"Sir, I have something to tell you, but please don't tell anyone..."
" Chieftain Kuai mentioned to me how the Dragon of Frost repelled the Orks. The scene was... wow, you wouldn't believe it if I told you..."
No sooner had he finished speaking than the wooden door to the private room creaked open a crack in the wind.
A biting wind rushed in through the crack in the door, causing the candlelight to flicker violently and casting the long, thin shadow of the Dilong.
In the Hive City, except for the Uptown, the rest of the city will fall into a deep winter as soon as the heating is turned off.
The temperature difference between day and night is unimaginable.
Even though the Dilong understood this principle, it still instinctively shivered.
The second half of the sentence caught in his throat, and a strange fear flashed in his eyes.