CHAPTER 124: CHAPTER 122: SEA SIREN

They drew the swords at their waists, ready to rescue Alan.

But were quickly stopped by the soldiers led by Rose.

The two merchant teams together had nearly forty armed guards.

Naturally, Rose wouldn’t let them rampage through the territory.

A fleeting trace of fear flashed in Alan’s eyes.

A smile quickly appeared on his face, "Cousin Grayson, what nonsense are you talking about? I was just having a casual chat with Master Lynn!"

Grayson glanced at Alan and finally withdrew the dagger from his neck.

"That would be best!"

Alan grinned, reaching his right hand to the painful spot on his neck.

He put his hand down and saw a stain of crimson on his palm.

Alan didn’t care at all, taking out a piece of silk and pressing it against his neck.

He spoke to Lynn, "Master Lynn, I’ll be off now, next time I’ll bring you the needed warhorse!"

Lynn nodded.

Alan didn’t linger any longer, heading towards the guards at the back.

Mounting his horse, Alan left gradually with the carriage and guards.

Only at this moment.

Grayson spoke with a face full of helplessness, "Master Lynn, sorry for disturbing you."

Lynn chuckled lightly and said, "It’s alright."

Grayson hastily explained, "Master Lynn, what Alan said..."

Lynn shook his head and said, "It’s not important."

No matter what Alan said, whether true or not.

It was merely Alan sensing something and trying to sow discord between him and Grayson.

But to him, it was of no importance.

As long as Grayson transported the various goods, Lynn traded them for fine salt by weight and handed it to Grayson.

The transaction was complete!

What kind of relationship matters?

A bit more friendship means just a few more trades?

However.

What surprised Lynn was the complexity of the Brown Clan members’ conflict.

Seeing Lynn’s still calm expression, Grayson paused slightly.

In the next moment, Grayson also understood.

It turns out, he was overthinking!

Grayson’s composure gradually returned.

He gazed directly at Master Lynn and said, "Master Lynn, the transportation of slaves may take increasingly more time!"

Lynn said nothing, waiting for Grayson’s explanation.

Grayson’s face was full of seriousness as he continued, "The entrance of the Gibraltar Strait is occupied by Sea Sirens!"

The Southern Sea Region of the Garonia Continent is the Sea of Vortex.

To enter the Karedi Empire, one must cross the Sea of Vortex and the Gibraltar Strait to reach.

But the entrance of the Gibraltar Strait was occupied by Sea Sirens.

It can be said that it blocked the ships entering the Karedi Empire outside the strait!

Which means the ships entering the Karedi Empire would greatly decrease.

Or detour through other entrances.

But it would increase the time and cost of transportation!

A bold idea emerged in Lynn’s mind.

Karedi is a landlocked country, relying on merchants’ transportation to fulfill the supply and demand for many items.

But now, due to the presence of Sea Sirens, the market might experience huge fluctuations.

Eventually leading to... supply shortage!

The most easily affected, naturally, is the sea-sourced edible salt!

Lynn instantly understood the implication in Grayson’s words.

The price of fine salt will explosively rise!

Even though the Karedi Empire’s market still has a large storage of fine salt.

But with the Karedi Empire’s nearly two hundred million population.

How long can the market’s edible salt stock last?

Half a year?

Three months?

Or one or two months?

Know that this world lacks macroeconomic regulation.

At most, relying on the Lord’s Church and Manor Lord’s economic adjustments.

But when a shortage of goods occurs, what can they do?

Nothing!

Then the salt mine he holds here...

What salt mine?

It’s a gold mine!

This information from Grayson is vital for Lynn.

Not only because the same weight of fine salt can be traded for more goods.

But also because more merchants, due to salt shortage, will transport goods to his territory.

What he wants to do is... recruitment!

He needed a sufficiently powerful armed force to protect this salt mine.

With an approving glance at Grayson, Lynn spoke, "So, this time, one percent of Alan’s transaction commission is also exchanged for fine salt?"

Upon hearing the word ’commission,’ Grayson’s face instantly lit up with joy.

"Of course, Master Lynn."

When Lynn, Master Lynn, transported five hundred slaves last time, he had already converted Alan’s transaction commission into fine salt and given it to him.

Perhaps this one percent commission does not match the profits from Alan’s sale of fine salt.

But it is an additional transaction, an extra gain.

Grayson left.

Grayson had already made up his mind.

He wanted to store these recently exchanged fine salts.

Wait until the Karedi Empire experiences an edible salt crisis, and then sell the fine salt at high prices!

By then, the fine salt would not be as simple as seven or eight pence per pound.

Perhaps, it could more than double.

One pound of fine salt, one shilling!

By then, his worth would double!

After the soldier under the city wall opened the gate, Grayson walked out of the city gate.

However.

As soon as the city gate closed, a cold sneer reached Grayson’s ears.

"You bastard! I thought you’d hide in someone else’s territory for a lifetime!"

Grayson’s face instantly stiffened.

...

On top of the city wall.

Rose coldly watched everything below.

He knew that both Grayson and Alan were merchants in cooperation with the master.

But that was all.

He received no orders or instructions to protect Grayson or Alan.

Moreover, they were outside the city walls!

Even the two groups of guards with Grayson and Alan had already started brawling with each other...

It had nothing to do with him!

Withdrawing his gaze, Rose continued patrolling along the city wall.

...

In the pasture.

Eighteen Badan Purebred Horses were locked in separate stables.

At this moment, Guy’s face was full of surprise, "Master Lynn, these are... Badan Purebred Horses?"

Lynn was surprised to look at Guy, "You really know your stuff."

Guy’s heart was increasingly filled with wonder.

Lynn continued, "Take good care of these horses; we might need them to breed and expand!"

Guy’s face instantly became serious, he quickly responded, "Yes, Master Lynn."

As a breeding worker, he was well aware of the value of Badan Purebred Horses.

Not to mention eighteen of them, even one warhorse could buy the life of the entire ranch.

The key is, these Badan Purebred Horses can still reproduce!

Their value is even more immeasurable.

After handing the warhorses to Guy, Lynn rode an ordinary horse and left the ranch.

After watching Master Lynn leave, Guy withdrew his gaze.

He gathered the thirty villagers on the ranch.

Guy spoke, "Everyone, our work has started, with draft oxen, horses, wild boars, and those domestic chickens... Most importantly, the warhorses that Master Lynn just sent over!"

"Remember, those warhorses are more precious than our lives; no mistakes can happen."

"Understood?"

The care and attention needed for warhorses are naturally not comparable to ordinary horses!

Whether it’s the feed or the care methods...

First of all, the most common and basic feed for warhorses is hay.

Ideally dried pasture like alfalfa hay is the top choice.

However, as there’s no pasture planted at the moment, we can substitute it with other dried hay.

The role of hay is to provide warhorses with satiety and to help them grind their teeth, aiding digestion.

Regarding grains and legumes, there’s a large stock of barley and peas in the warehouse that can supplement feed.

Then there’s the living environment of the warhorses.

Fortunately, when planning and building the horse farm before, he had divided the stables into separate stalls.

Different care and feeding can be provided for different warhorse conditions.

Ensuring sufficient food and nutrition for the warhorses, they also require regular physical check-ups and body care.

During times without military arrangements, they also need a moderate amount of exercise.

This ensures the warhorses’ vitality and stamina.

Breeding is not as simple as imagined!

The thirty villagers responsible for breeding all had solemn expressions on their faces.

"Yes, Master Guy."

Upon hearing everyone’s synchronized response, Guy nodded and said, "Get to work."

The villagers dispersed to begin their work.

...