CHAPTER 197: THE TRADE AGREEMENT

CH197 The Trade Agreement

***

[There’s only one Chapter today. This one took quite a bit of time—I had to rewrite it several times. I’m not entirely satisfied with how it turned out, but I’m on a schedule.

[Still, I hope you enjoy it. The point of their conversation and the Chapter will be clearer in the next Chapter.]

-

Alex smiled at Lucas now that the man was willing to play ball.

He reached for an inverted glass cup, turned it over, and poured a serving of Fruit Must before sliding it across the table toward the older man.

If one didn’t know better, they’d think this was Alex’s home, and Lucas was merely a visiting guest.

Once Lucas accepted the glass, Alex leaned back and spoke:

"I wish to acquire resources which your liege’s fief is known to have in greater abundance than my Fury Family."

He gave a small pause before continuing.

"The Kellerman fief is reputed to host the highest number of Master Blacksmiths and Forgesmiths in the entire Northwestern region. I’m curious... how many of them are currently under direct employment by the Kellerman family?"

"If you’re only interested in Masters, the number stood at fifteen the last time I checked," Lucas answered. "We lost another five to retirement last year. There are about ten Experts currently on the verge of advancing to the Master rank—hopefully filling the gap, and then some."

"So, the family won’t mind if I go ahead and snag a few of them for myself, right?" Alex asked with a probing smile.

"Not exactly," Lucas frowned. "You might be able to get your hands on some of the Experts, but I doubt the family would let any of the Masters go—under any circumstances."

"Why is that?"

"The Experts aren’t guaranteed to become Masters. Meanwhile, the family currently has the Masters working around the clock to help rebuild Ormshire City, which was destroyed by the plague last year."

Lucas shook his head with a tired sigh.

"The fief’s been bleeding income ever since the city fell. Earl Kellerman has ordered a full-scale reconstruction effort. The administrative department has even started signing up every artisan they can find. The recent spike in smith contracts has become a hot topic in the Logistics and Procurement departments," he revealed.

"In that case, I suppose my alternative target—ore from the Kellerman mines—is also off the table?"

"You’re right. In fact, the fief is more likely to buy ore from you than sell any. Even after ramping up mining operations by purchasing more slaves, most of the output is being funneled straight to Ormshire. There’s barely enough ore flowing into the other cities and towns."

He gave a bitter chuckle.

"It’s become a major headache for the Procurement department."

"Textiles, then?" Alex asked, though his tone suggested he wasn’t hopeful. "Don’t tell me Ormshire is also swallowing those up?"

Lucas shook his head. "Not Ormshire this time. It’s the other cities and towns. As you probably know, Ormshire was the major textile supplier within the fief. Without it, every other settlement is scrambling—fighting over what little remains on the market."

"I was under the impression the fief was known for its large textile reserves. I remember reading somewhere that Earl Kellerman once boasted about having enough stockpiled to supply the entire Northwest for half a decade—possibly even a full decade," Alex raised an eyebrow.

Lucas sighed. "From what I’ve gathered, it seems the Earl was blowing hot air. As you’re probably aware, it’s common for nobles to exaggerate and inflate the actual potential of their territories."

"I see..." Alex’s fingers tapped rhythmically against the chair rest. "Then my only option left is salt. I’m not too enthused about it, though."

Lucas cleared his throat. A wry smile spread across his lips.

"Salt is also not a possibility," he revealed.

"What? Why not?" Alex frowned.

"The fief’s largest salt reserve at Olred’s Bend town was affected by the wildfire that gutted the southeast of the territory earlier this year. The wildfire also destroyed farmland in the region, which in turn triggered a spike in banditry around the affected provinces.

"Food and salt merchants have been forced to open more obscure and unconventional trade routes in order to move their goods. Unfortunately, these newer routes are underdeveloped, which means that deliveries aren’t arriving on time—or in the expected quantities," Lucas explained.

Alex gave the man a knowing smile.

"It sounds to me like you’re nudging me toward provisioning to make my profit instead of resource exploitation."

A flicker of surprise flashed in Lucas’s eyes.

He hadn’t expected this young noble to catch on so quickly.

"Yes," Lucas eventually admitted. "It’s far more profitable for you to provide the territory with its current deficiencies rather than try to exploit it. Besides, Earl Kellerman is more likely to accept any proposition—no matter the source—if it helps supply the resources the fief so desperately needs. Of course, the price has to be within reason."

"Not to mention, it’ll also make life easier for your Procurement Department," Alex added smoothly. "A deal like that would go through your office, which means more funds flowing through your channels. And the more money that flows through your department..."

He let the implication hang in the air.

Lucas chuckled.

"...the more I get to skim." The older man finished the sentence himself, flashing a wry smile.

"A win-win deal. Just the way I like it," Alex said with a shrug.

"Win-win..." Lucas echoed, rolling the phrase around like he was tasting it. He seemed to grow increasingly fond of it by the second—so much so that he either didn’t realize or didn’t care that he’d just casually admitted to embezzling funds from the Kellermans via the Procurement Department.

"Well, the Dankrot Forest is known for its expansive agricultural potential. What the Fury Family is most likely able to sell in volume is food. The only question is, how much food is needed—and how much do you believe the fief will be willing and able to pay?"

Now that their win-win agreement was sealed, Lucas became even more forthcoming.

"The southeast was the Earldom’s food basket. The farmlands there won’t produce another crop for at least half a year. In the meantime, most of the cities across the fief are scrambling to find alternative sources of food to cover the deficit."

He took a slow sip of his drink before continuing.

"So, based on a rough estimate, I’d say the Earldom could easily absorb three times the current amount of food being imported from the Dankrot Plains. Possibly more, if panic sets in."

"And the cost?" Alex asked, voice calm but eyes alert.

"The current situation can only be kept under wraps for another month at best. After that, it’ll blow up. Once word spreads, wealthy families and merchants will panic-buy in bulk. At that point, you could sell at five times the normal price without anyone blinking."

He leaned in slightly, lowering his voice.

"That sort of price bubble will last for a month, maybe two, before the Earldom is forced to intervene. While it’s easier to buy from Dankrot, it’s not their only option. Once the Kellermans begin exploring alternatives, they’ll do their best to drive the price down—probably to double or triple the normal rate."

Lucas gave a shrug. "With that in mind, I’d say three times the current market value is the safest and most sustainable figure you can expect."

"I see..." Alex murmured, fingers tapping in thought on the armrest.

He intentionally let his next words trail just above a whisper.

"It will be harvest season in a couple of weeks... if we shift some things around... the profit to be made would outweigh any contractual penalty or compensation owed..."

Lucas’s eyes gleamed.

Sensing Alex’s interest, he decided to throw in one more bait.

"Since we’re already working together, I can guarantee that—so long as you can deliver the goods—the Logistics and Procurement Department will make sure there are no obstacles with the trade. We’ll smooth out any wrinkles."

Alex’s expression brightened.

"I see... No one needs to know where the goods are coming from, do they?"

"Exactly." Lucas smiled back, eyes twinkling with mutual understanding.

Both men raised their glasses.

"To a beautiful and profitable relationship," they toasted in unison—and drank.

’Look at this weasel. As expected of a bureaucrat, he probably thinks I’m gullible just because I’m a young noble.’

Alex’s gaze remained calm, but inwardly, he was dissecting the man before him.

’If this deal goes well, we’ll have a trade. But if it fails, at least he will have weaseled his way out of his current predicament—buying enough time to clean up matters before things blow up.’

And indeed, Lucas had thoughts along those lines.

’I can’t delay this any longer. I need to marry Anna before anyone catches wind of the situation,’ he mused to himself. ’As for the witch back home, I just have to guarantee that her children will inherit my estate. Thankfully, Anna can’t bear children—which is why she’s such a rare and ideal side woman in the first place. There won’t be any chance of rivalry.’

’Once that’s secured, no one will have any dirt on me. If anything, I’ll be seen as the kind man who gave his late friend’s wife a home after she could no longer fend for herself following his passing.’

’Yes, yes... that has a good ring to it.’

His eyes glinted with satisfaction as he and Alex exchanged smiles, glasses having been emptied.

’I should thank you, brat. If it weren’t for you, I might not have realized how much of a ticking time bomb I had on my hands. If the opportunity arises, I’ll make sure you profit for your trouble. But if not... don’t blame this old man for pushing you into the wind. Consider it a lesson fee—not to underestimate your elders.’

With the deal sealed and all the necessary information extracted, Alex knew it was time to make his exit. He rose from his seat.

"Please convey my thanks to Lady Anna for her hospitality—and do also pass on my apologies for the... forceful methods used by my people," Alex said, polite but firm.

Lucas shook his hand with an affable smile. "No problem. It’s water under the bridge."

Alex nodded and turned toward the door. But just before stepping out, he paused and spoke again without turning back.

"Of course, I trust you realize that nothing we’ve discussed tonight should leave this room. I’d hate for word of our agreement—or any extracurricular activities—to reach the wrong ears."

"You don’t have to worry," Lucas replied, matching his tone. "This isn’t my first dance in this kind of room."

"That reminds me," he added, "I never did catch your name."

"That’s because I didn’t give it. See you around, Mr. Lucas Zell."

With that, Alex stepped out of the building and into the night.

His figure melted into the shadows, joining two others. The trio vanished silently into the darkness.

Lucas briefly considered raising an alarm, but in the end, he didn’t. He chose to stick with his original plan.

As thoughts of impending profit filled his mind, a familiar heat stirred within him. His feet moved before his mind caught up, rushing toward the room where Anna had been kept.

Just as Alex had promised, Anna was unharmed—simply locked in a separate room.

Though frightened, Anna rushed to Lucas, worry etched across her beautiful features. She anxiously examined him for injuries.

Seeing the mix of weakness, vulnerability, and concern on her charming face only added fuel to Lucas’s already simmering state. Before long, his hands began wandering over her clothes.

It was only then that Anna noticed his... heightened condition.

One of the things Lucas liked most about her was how well she read his moods—and how readily she accepted her place.

Knowing the danger had passed and that he was in that mood, Anna responded with practiced charm and allure, further intensifying Lucas’s arousal.

Moments later, the room was filled with muffled, drawn-out moans and groans.

It was a blissful night for all involved—one that would serve as a testament to Alex’s extraordinary negotiation skills.

***