CHAPTER 58: CHAPTER 58 GREED_1

From the way Eden excitedly held the fruit tray, Yan Xing could judge... This world has no porcelain.

This is a unique business opportunity! It won’t do to sell something worth two Gold Coins for four. It has to be packaged and marketed so that ordinary people can’t afford it. Not just unaffordable for ordinary people; even those kings and nobles must feel extremely honored after spending a lot of money on it, as if they’ve gotten an incredible bargain. Precious metals are out of the question; vulgar things aren’t worthy of this refined treasure. It will be sold for God-given gold coins only. I need to firmly grasp the psychology of the wealthy and high-status individuals. They’re not afraid to spend money; they’re afraid no one will know when they do. From the very beginning, porcelain must be tied to God-given gold coins, instantly pushing its prestige to the maximum. The noble lords will be happy to buy it and use it at home!

As a successful businessman, Eden instantly understood the benefits of selling the Ice Jade Porcelain for God-given gold coins and couldn’t help but exclaim admiringly to Yan Xing, "Master, you are truly brilliant! However, I don’t know how many God-given gold coins this set of Ice Jade Porcelain with the sheep-fat-blue floating patterns is worth?"

When it came to the price, Yan Xing dropped any pretense and said straightforwardly, "Of course, the more the better. This time, when you return to Nuta City, promote my Ice Jade Porcelain well. In a few days, when I go to Nuta City to handle some matters, I will bring five sets of... Ice Jade Porcelain with sheep-fat-blue floating patterns for auction there. If the auction satisfies me, I will even gift you a large porcelain bowl for soup."

A soup bowl! Eden felt so overwhelmed with joy that he almost fainted.

The simple banquet concluded with both host and guest in high spirits.

Upon leaving, Eden carefully wrapped the fruit tray Yan Xing had given him in layers of velvet and placed it close to his chest, in the most secure position.

Once they left the Eternal Domain, the caravan headed straight for Nuta City at full speed.

For the soup bowl promised by Master Yan Xing, I must ensure the nobles and rich merchants of Nuta City witness the splendor of the Ice Jade Porcelain with sheep-fat-blue floating patterns as soon as possible!

Eden was eager to return, continuously urging the caravan to hasten its pace.

Yarlin, the mercenary leader, lagged behind the group. He looked towards the Eternal Domain, the wind whipping through his loose, unkempt hair.

Far off in the distance, the shocking trench with its barbed wire was hidden beneath the grass. It seemed as though this stretch of barren grassland was as uninhabited as ever, as if the astonishing domain had never existed.

But Yarlin’s eyes still held the image of those sets of gleaming armor.

This made him unconsciously stroke the knight armor he wore.

The once-beautiful patterns on the armor had long since worn smooth; time had left behind patches of irreparable scars.

Battle after battle... The memories replayed in his mind, and then he recalled the shiny steel armor he had just seen. All of those armors were made of fine steel.

As if making a momentous decision, Yarlin summoned a mercenary. He whispered to him, "Ride to Stakes Castle and tell Chief Little Lillia what you saw in the Eternal Domain."

The mercenary was shocked by this command. "Captain, what are you planning to do?"

"Keep your voice down." Yarlin glanced up at the caravan. Seeing that no one was paying attention to them, he said to the mercenary, "The Eternal Domain has just begun construction. They haven’t built high walls yet, and the trenches and protective walls wouldn’t be difficult to breach. Tell Chief Little Lillia that the Eternal Domain contains a large amount of iron and food, and that he should send troops to attack. If 300 Malevolent Wolf Cavalry travel by night and hide by day, and I send someone to coordinate, they should be able to slip through the gaps in the Silvermane Principality’s Army’s defenses. If they act swiftly, they can finish the battle before the Duchy’s Army can react and take away a large amount of supplies."

The mercenary immediately understood Yarlin’s intent. As mercenaries who lived on the edge, they all naturally hoped to possess a set of sturdy armor. This was equivalent to an extra life, or even several. The armor equipped for the militia and Werewolves in the Eternal Domain was something to drool over.

Hearing that Yarlin intended to contact the Orcs to attack the Eternal Domain, the mercenary was, of course, extremely willing.

However, the mercenary also voiced his concerns, "Captain... there are so many Werewolves inside the Eternal Domain. Sending 300 Malevolent Wolf Cavalry from Chief Little Lillia to attack might not be enough. Even if we join in, our losses will be heavy."

Yarlin laughed. "While I was in the Eternal Domain, I quietly inquired with those Werewolves. They come from the Red Mud Wetland and Stenchwater Forest tribes of Thunderous Swamp, forced to pay war indemnities with labor after being defeated by the Eternal Domain. Even Steel Tooth from Stenchwater Forest is doing hard labor for the Eternal Domain now. If we attack the Eternal Domain, it’s like rescuing them. They’d be too grateful to us to even consider obeying Yan Xing’s orders and fighting against us. The Eternal Domain’s own military forces aren’t plentiful. They might be able to deal with the Swamp Werewolves, but they’re definitely not a match for 300 Malevolent Wolf Cavalry. As for Yan Xing... even if the Malevolent Wolf Cavalry can’t kill him, they can still greatly deplete his strength. Then it will be our turn to strike. His armor is mine!"

The armor Yan Xing and his soldiers wore had aroused Yarlin’s greed.

In the Eternal Domain, my eyes never once glanced at the porcelain fruit tray; I was completely focused on admiring that enviable armor. Since my mercenaries and I lack the strength to conquer the Eternal Domain on our own, I have to use this cunning plan: let the Orcs do the dirty work. I’ll have Chief Little Lillia’s Malevolent Wolf Cavalry launch the first wave, and then I’ll swoop in to claim the spoils!

The mercenary who received the order immediately mounted a horse and quietly left the group.

Yarlin continued on with the caravan towards Nuta City.

「Meanwhile」

Yan Xing was unaware that his display had triggered the greed of the caravan’s mercenaries. But if Yan Xing hadn’t showcased the armor he had provided for his soldiers, this meeting with Eden might indeed have gone differently.

「Back in the Eternal Domain」

After the caravan left, only Yan Xing and Steel Tooth remained beside the dining table under the tent pavilion.

Yan Xing drew the Double-Handed Greatsword from the scabbard at his waist. This sword had been ordered along with his armor and was forged from pattern-welded steel. After it was delivered, he had it sharpened at the Blacksmith Shop in his domain.

The Double-Handed Greatsword weighed 10 kilograms, was 1.3 meters long, and three fingers wide. The blade, due to its material, displayed layered cloud-like patterns, and its sharp edge reflected a cold light.

For Yan Xing, a Level 10 Knight Hero, a 10-kilogram heavy sword was quite manageable. He grasped the sword with both hands and gently pressed the blade onto a ceramic plate on the table.

The ceramic plate broke instantly.

Puffing on his cigar, Yan Xing picked up the broken pieces of the plate to inspect them, very satisfied with his sword’s sharpness.

"Steel Tooth..." Yan Xing motioned for his subordinates to clear the table, then said to Steel Tooth, "You should have understood everything I just discussed with Eden, right?"

Steel Tooth, somewhat distracted by the plate that had been broken in two, immediately answered when he heard Yan Xing’s question, "I heard. This Ice Jade Porcelain is extremely valuable and requires a very large payment of God-given gold coins to obtain from you. Sir, you actually used such precious Ice Jade Porcelain to test your sword..."

But Yan Xing just laughed. "Who asked you about the porcelain? I’m asking you about... the matter of exchanging food for agarwood. Did you understand all of that? Come on, follow me to test my sword. Chopping ceramic plates isn’t very satisfying. Let’s talk as we walk."