After a proper rest and meal, Asher sat in the sacred hall, ready to face today’s matters. He had reduced it to the best he could but couldn’t avoid his duty for the entire day.
Boom!
The doors swung open and two familiar figures walked into the hall. Sirius looked at the two individuals for a brief moment before turning away.
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That brief look meant it had met these fellows before.
Asher squinted while Kelvin was shocked. It was the merchant, Jon, and his daughter Jane.
Both of them reached the center of the hall and fell on one knee.
As they bowed, their voices rang, “We greet His Lordship.”
“You’re familiar. I have met you before, haven’t I?” Asher tilted his head.
Jon cleared his throat. He shot his old friend a glance.
Kelvin crossed his arms but said nothing.
Seeing this, Jon sighed internally. “Indeed you have. I am the merchant who fled after being captured by Baron Snow. You were the one who rescued us.”
“Oh?” Asher shook his head as he remembered those days. Then, he just had a little over a hundred bronze-ranked men and felt quite protected.
He admired the courage of his past self.
“It’s been a year.”
“Indeed it has been. I have joined the Norde Merchant Guild and was sent back here because of the Evergreen olive oil. Our Guild wants to trade with you.”
“Norde Merchant Guild?” Kelvin said.
Jon looked at him. “They’re one of the big guilds in the Sacred Flame Empire. The empire is known for its outstanding merchant guilds, and our guild will be able to spread the evergreen olive oil to several regions.”
Asher leaned forward.
“Such a great thing doesn’t come without a cost. What is the cost, Jon?”
His eyes met that of the merchant. Asher knew very well that from the creation, merchants had outstanding control over their tongues.
They could beguile almost anyone.
“70%. That’s all we shall take in exchange for exporting the evergreen oil beyond the horizons of the wastelands into the valleys of the Silvermoon kingdom, the shores of Everad, the mountains of Nightfire, and even the plains of the Galvia empire.”
Asher chuckled. “These are the major powers of the world.”
“They are, and my guild trades with outstanding nobles with centuries-old heritage there. Exporting the evergreen olive oil won’t be a problem.”
“70% is simply outrageous, Jon. You coming here with such prepositions is disheartening. This is a great chance for His Lordship to gain revenue and aid his domain, but you want to take 70%!”
Kelvin glared at Jon.
“The Guild is doing almost all the work while you just have to keep producing. 30% of the revenue from all these regions will be enough to fund any county.”
Jon said with a sincere tone.
Asher cleared his throat.
“We reject that offer. I shall take 60%, and your guild shall take 40%. This will stand for as long as our alliance stands.”
Jon frowned. “Your Lordship, the guild won’t accept such an offer, especially from a growing count.”
Asher smiled. He knew Jon wasn’t wrong. These big guilds were as wealthy as kingdoms! They had power and influence, so much that some nobles had to bend to their wills.
However, Asher wasn’t planning to join those nobles who had bent the knee to mere merchants.
He could rather start up his own guild, and for that to happen, he needed influence.
What better way than his battle with Count William?
Although he won’t be able to export to the entire world in a year or more, it was better than slaving away for some greedy merchants.
“Then return to them with my words. I refuse.”
Jane’s pupils shook.
Did Asher just reject an offer that even Count William would accept and in such an arrogant tone?
She didn’t know what to feel. Impressed or spiteful. freēwēbnovel.com
Jon exhaled.
“What about the Westfall Restaurant?”
The moment he said that, both Asher’s and Kelvin’s eyes sharpened.
“What about it?”
“We would like to purchase the products used. Like the jade wheat, golden fragrant corn, and the eggs.”
Jon didn’t bother speaking about the recipe because he knew that would result in a greater disagreement and even cause him to be forced out.
“You can discuss that with my regent.”
Asher got to his feet. With large strides, he walked out of the hall.
……..
When evening came, a man clad in thick golden armor stood in the middle of his courtyard facing 10 Stormbringer markswomen.
The skull of the helmet had a crown-like crest with something that looked similar to a cross at the front.
The cheek plates were well built, with the visor having few tiny holes on the golden plate. The chest plate curved outward, and it settled perfectly on his chest and upper abdomen.
A leather belt made from one of the strongest Ovoks was wrapped around his waist with a golden metal in the middle.
His gauntlets were gold, but the area that covered his fingers was dark silver. It matched the dark silver lining, which could only be seen if one squinted well.
The chest plate had two layers. One was internal, while the external one had a well-forged addition at the top. It acted like a defense against weapons that came for his neck.
Around that open space, which should have left his neck and some part of his shoulder exposed for someone looking from the top, was an adornment of thick white fur.
It made the armor look regal. Like it belonged to royalty.
Standing there, the golden-armored swordsman looked like he could destroy the walls with a single blow.
He looked powerful. His aura was like a boulder on the shoulders of those who stood by.
There was no armor in the entire domain that could compare to this one in terms of creation, capability, aura, looks, durability, and battle force connection.
This armor was a masterpiece. And its name was Exodus, the conqueror!