Rocky had no idea what was happening on the distant horizon, for his attention was now wholly focused on the Gold Coins that were practically in his grasp!
After a half-month of prolonged flight, Thunderhawk City was once again approaching Eternal City!
Several months had passed since Rocky’s last visit to this magnificent Super Sky City, yet he was just as awestruck as he had been during his first time here, overwhelmed by the splendor of Eternal City.
However, armed with the experience from his last visit, he was well versed in the entire process of heading to Eternal City, so he quickly set off with his people.
This time, as a large amount of trade was to be conducted, Rocky brought out ten Skyships in one go, three of which were loaded with fabric because Aileen had already arranged with the Steward of the Golden Purple Flower Commerce Chamber to trade directly at the trading port.
As for the other seven Skyships, they were filled with Demon Corpses; after all, next to Eternal City’s trading port was a vast array of warehouses, storing a hundred or so corpses was a trivial matter.
The ten Skyships reached the trading port of Eternal City after a brief flight, and after queuing for a short while, they smoothly landed.
Once Rocky led all ten Skyships to land, he met the Steward of the Golden Purple Flower Commerce Chamber, who was responsible for the trade with Thunderhawk City, just as they had agreed to wait there for the transaction.
“Steward Maima, it’s been a long time.”
Upon seeing the Steward of the Golden Purple Flower Commerce Chamber, Rocky was very courteous and then asked Aileen to arrange for the fabric to be moved off the ship.
Just as Aileen was about to handle this matter, the fifty-something Steward Maima suddenly stopped her and, grinning at Rocky, said, “City Lord, before we trade, I’d like to inspect the goods first.”
An inspection? Maima’s request left both Rocky and Aileen taken aback.
The fabric trades between Thunderhawk City and the Golden Purple Flower Commerce Chamber had been ongoing for more than just a day or two. Long before Rocky had become City Lord, the two sides had been trading. Was there really a need for inspection? Could it be that Thunderhawk City was capable of deceit?
Although he furrowed his brows, Rocky didn’t make much of Maima’s request and simply nodded, allowing Aileen to have a few boxes of fabric carried down from the Skyship. Maima also promptly had his accompanying helper begin the inspection.
A dozen minutes passed, and the helper finished inspecting several boxes of fabric, then hurried over to whisper to Maima.
Rocky and Aileen found the entire sequence of actions perplexing. Was there such a need for formality?
However, while they were puzzling over it, Maima shook his head and said to Rocky, “City Lord, the Chamber of Commerce has new quality requirements for fabric. Therefore, the batch you have provided doesn’t meet the standards.”
“What?!”
At his words, Rocky was dumbstruck. He hadn’t anticipated such an issue!
“Steward Maima, what do you mean? We’ve been cooperating with your Chamber of Commerce for years, and the quality of the fabric has always been the same. How can it suddenly be substandard?”
This matter naturally fell within Aileen’s domain, so before Rocky could speak, she challenged Maima with displeasure in her voice.
Indeed, if quality were to be mentioned, the fabric from Thunderhawk City was indeed very ordinary, a fact Aileen acknowledged. But don’t forget, it was exactly because of its ordinary quality that the Golden Purple Flower Commerce Chamber traded with Thunderhawk City! Because ordinary quality meant lower prices, and the Chamber was buying fabric from Thunderhawk City precisely to save costs.
In Aileen’s view, this so-called lack of quality was laughably absurd!
In response to Aileen’s objection, Maima still greeted her with a smile and said, “Miss Aileen, these are the requirements set by the Chamber; I have no authority to question it.”
“But…”
“Oh! Isn’t this the finance officer of Thunderhawk City?”
Just as Aileen intended to continue, a voice she found somewhat familiar suddenly appeared. When she looked towards its source, she indeed saw a familiar figure.
Jia Xi!
Enjoy exclusive adventures from empire
The person who had unexpectedly emerged was none other than the Steward of the Azure Commerce Guild, Jia Xi!
“Aileen, what a coincidence to meet here,” said Jia Xi as he approached them with a stance that seemed both smug and taunting, “We meet again at this place.”
After saying this, Jia Xi glanced behind Aileen and naturally caught sight of Rocky.
“Oh! Isn’t this the City Lord of Thunderhawk City? Seeing you is truly a rare pleasure!”
Upon seeing Rocky, Jia Xi raised his voice, and the remark clearly had an undercurrent, since Rocky had previously made him wait for over a month in Thunderhawk City without granting an audience.
Honestly, Jia Xi’s sudden appearance came as a surprise to Rocky and the others. Was this coincidence too good to be true?
Of course, it was no coincidence! For right after that, Jia Xi casually stationed himself beside Maima, and the two began chatting and laughing together!
“Old buddy, it’s been a while since we last saw each other.”
“Yes, indeed, how long has it been? How have you been recently?”
“Not bad, just running errands for the Chamber of Commerce…”
In the presence of Rocky, Aileen, and others, the two chatted away as if they were old friends who hadn’t seen each other in years.
By this time, even a fool could understand what was happening. Everything that had occurred before, whether it was the supposedly poor quality of Thunderhawk City’s cloth, was clearly nothing but Jia Xi and Maima colluding to deliberately make things difficult!
This Jia Xi truly was a persistent ghost. Despite being played by Rocky last time, not only did he not become more honest, he actually came back for more!
By now, Jia Xi and Maima had been chatting for a while before Jia Xi suddenly slapped his own head as if he’d just realized something, “Oh my, Maima, you were in the middle of negotiating with the City Lord. Look at that, I’ve interrupted your important business. Please, continue, continue.”
As he spoke, he retreated behind Maima, then put on a cold smile as he looked towards Rocky and Aileen.
Afterward, Maima still had a beaming smile, but when he turned to Rocky, he actually showed a hint of apology on his face, “City Lord, I’m truly sorry. Jia Xi is an old friend of mine. Let’s continue.”
After saying these words, Maima glanced at the few boxes of cloth on the ground, then turned to Rocky, “City Lord, the quality of your goods really is subpar. However, if you really wish to sell them, we’re not unwilling to purchase them, but the price cannot be the original one.”
“Oh?”
Rocky looked at Maima and then at Jia Xi standing behind him. He was far from angry because, in his eyes, these two were merely a joke. The only thing on his mind was whether he should play along and pretend to be furious, given they had gone to such lengths to retaliate against him.
Unfortunately, Rocky simply couldn’t bring himself to do that; the most he could do without bursting into laughter was to ask, “Steward Maima, how much do you intend to offer for these goods?”
“Twenty percent of the original price.”
Maima, with chin held high and flashing two fingers in front of Rocky, set his price, then didn’t forget to add, “City Lord, if you think the price is too low, feel free to try elsewhere in the city. There are plenty of Chambers of Commerce in Eternal City.”
After Maima finished his sentence, Rocky couldn’t help but let out a laugh. Did Maima really think him a fool?
To purchase the cloth at twenty percent of the original price would lead Thunderhawk City to its financial demise!
And as for what he had added, suggesting that they could try at other Chambers of Commerce in the city?
Without even checking, Rocky knew it was most surely a set-up, and in all likelihood, Jia Xi had already notified many Chambers of Commerce to ensure the cloth couldn’t be sold anywhere.
As the steward of the Azure Commerce Guild, Jia Xi had that level of influence. It wasn’t that he wielded monumental power, but rather, to many Chambers of Commerce, Thunderhawk City was simply too insignificant to warrant making an enemy out of the steward of a major Chamber of Commerce. Instead, they would prefer to curry favor with him by offering a convenient gesture of goodwill.
Unfortunately…
“Steward Maima, if that’s the case, then we won’t be selling the goods.”
Rocky looked at Maima and said.
As if Maima had been eagerly anticipating this reply, he immediately shook his head with regret, “City Lord, that is truly regrettable. Next time, next time we might have the opportunity to collaborate.”
“There’s no need to wait for next time.”
Just as Maima turned to leave, Rocky suddenly called out to him, “Steward Maima, I have another batch of goods here. Would you be interested in taking a look?”
“Oh?”
Such words made both Maima and Jia Xi pause, bewildered, then both revealed sly looks. What was Rocky thinking, being unable to see the situation for what it was, yet still intending to do business with them?
But for Jia Xi, who relished the opportunity to further humiliate Rocky, it was a chance not to be missed, so he nodded his head at Maima. After understanding the gesture, Maima stayed behind with a grin.
Seeing that neither had left, Rocky was relieved. He had indeed been worried that the two clowns might just walk away!
“Aileen, have everyone unload the other batch of goods.”
“Yes!”
With a firm response, Aileen cast a glance at Jia Xi and Maima, then ordered the guards, who were already fuming with contained rage, to unload the goods from the other seven skyships.
All that had happened was witnessed by the aboard Guards, and it had left them seething with anger.
It was evident that Maima and Jia Xi were purposely making things difficult for Rocky, something the Thunderhawk City Guard Corps could not tolerate. What was more intolerable to them was Maima’s claim about the cloth’s substandard quality.
The cloth meant for trading was personally woven by the wives and children of the guards!
Claiming that its quality was subpar was tantamount to insulting the labor of the guards’ families!
Could the guards stand for that? Had it not been for Rocky’s presence, they might have already rushed forward to beat these two infuriating old fools to death.
So, when Aileen ordered them to unload, the guards on the ship swiftly got to work, and soon after, one after another, Demon Corpses were being carried off the ship!