Chapter 159: The First Step in the True Sense

Long Lang’s expression was a little nervous, and his eyes stared unblinkingly at Dean—clearly, for this black market merchant to rush all the way from Horn Town to Vauban City, it was definitely not for a business of three hundred Gold Pulton.

“Of course, but I need you to prove your strength!”

Dean smiled and nodded, then handed a piece of parchment he had prepared in advance to Long Lang opposite him, saying: “I need one hundred and fifty sets of Light Steel Armor, one hundred and fifty Longswords and Long Spears, as well as twice the number of Crossbows and a large batch of arrows produced in the Capital of Emerald… I will be waiting for your arrival at the station of the Ferrchelen Knight Order in two weeks!”

Long Lang took the parchment and carefully examined the records on it, as if he hadn’t heard Dean’s subsequent words at all.

It was a full four or five minutes later that he raised his head, looked at Dean, his grave expression carrying a trace of excitement he could not hide, and asked extremely quickly: “Is this true?”

Long Lang pointed at the parchment.

“Do you think I have time to joke with you?”

Dean looked at the other party leisurely, the smile on the corner of his mouth not changing in the slightest.

“I’m rich! I’m rich!”

Long Lang looked at Dean’s expression, then, whoosh, he stood up from his chair and began pacing on the spot, muttering incessantly.

For Long Lang, a ‘trade route’ that had truly escaped the surveillance of the Emerald Kingdom, the meaning it represented was something he knew clearly.

Large batches of weapon s and armor without worrying about being confiscated.

Countless medicinal herbs and furs also did not need to be taxed.

Transporting the finest weapons and armor out of the Capital of Emerald, selling them at high prices to the Four Northern Counties, then, purchasing cheap medicinal herbs and furs from the Four Northern Counties, and selling them at high prices in the Capital of Emerald.

Almost in an instant, Long Lang saw a golden road.

The excited mood lasted for a moment, then Long Lang finally calmed down; he looked at Dean sitting calmly in the chair and asked subconsciously: “Aren’t you excited? Do you know how many Gold Pulton that represents?”

“I have no interest in Gold Pulton itself, I only like the weapons, armor, and potions exchanged for Gold Pulton!”

Dean did not hide his true thoughts and answered very frankly.

In fact, for this smuggling channel that would make the Bola Family ‘rich’, the value Dean valued most was that it could quickly provide everything he wanted.

The simplest example: weapons and armor.

These two were the most basic things for the Knight Order besides personnel; wanting to obtain them in the Tier Territory was absolutely not an easy matter.

After all, it was well known that there were no iron mines and enough blacksmiths in the Tier Territory, and although the neighboring Defendi Territory had these, due to their hostile relationship, if one wanted to go there to purchase, not only would one have to pay several times the price, but one would also suffer humiliation; the former was certain, and regarding the latter, having experienced previous events, Dean could also be certain.

That Baron Defendi was definitely one to seek revenge for the smallest grievance.

And more importantly, even if one endured the humiliation and paid a large amount of Gold Pulton, the weapons and armor obtained would still be barely presentable.

Naturally, it was not ruled out that Baron Defendi was playing tricks, but another more main reason was the ability of the blacksmiths in the Defendi Territory.

Dean highly suspected whether the blacksmiths there truly understood the crafting of a Scale Armor or Plate Armor, rather than simply forging some iron sheets and iron plates.

As for weapons?

The matter of them breaking during chopping was not the first time to appear in the Defendi Territory.

Therefore, Dean was unwilling to accept the weapons and armor produced in the Defendi Territory.

Using such weapons and armor to deal with the Iron Cavalry of City was, in Dean’s view, a joke.

What he needed were weapons and armor crafted by real blacksmiths in the Capital of Emerald.

And without this smuggling channel, wanting to fulfill the above wish was almost impossible—because, the trade of weapons and armor was explicitly prohibited in Emerald, and only a few shops that had obtained permission from the Royal Family or County Kings could possibly deal in these special items.

And anyone else, any merchant who dared to cross the line, would be hanged.

Even a County King of a county, if he wanted to purchase weapons and armor from other counties or the Capital of Emerald, needed to go through layers of review, and only after paying high taxes could it be achieved.

And this, obviously, was something Dean could not bear.

It was not just the Gold Pulton required, but more importantly, in terms of time, Dean could not wait.

However, precisely because of such prohibition, some merchants who were bold enough for profit came into being—just like Long Lang in front of him, the other party was definitely the most outstanding one.

Plus, regarding this smuggling channel, Dean was very clear about what kind of wonderful reaction there would be.

“You only need weapons, armor, and potions? Don’t you want a share?”

Long Lang asked subconsciously, but seeing Dean’s half-smiling expression, this future big merchant grinned awkwardly—clearly, no one would give up such a large sum of Gold Pulton falling into their hands.

Dean was no exception.

After all, he needed to build an army that could truly participate in the Blood Moon War, and also needed to increase his strength quickly; without the support of a large sum of Gold Pulton, it was fundamentally impossible.

“I want sixty percent!”

Dean said with a half-smile.

“Sixty percent? Impossible! At most I give you three and a half percent. You have to know you are doing nothing, while I have to pay a huge price. Do you think those Royal Family merchants are as kind as me? Also, the selection of reliable men requires paying a large amount of Gold Pulton!”

Long Lang shouted loudly.

“So, as I said before, you need to prove your strength—this is my greatest contribution!”

Dean pointed at the parchment and spoke leisurely.

“What about the weapons and armor you mentioned later?”

Long Lang was stunned.

“That is also part of you needing to prove your strength!”

Dean chuckled.

“Bastard, bastard, you are the cunning merchant, the biggest cunning merchant!”

Long Lang angrily slapped the table again.

One had to know that the one hundred and fifty sets of Light Steel Armor produced in the Capital of Emerald were worth no less than three hundred Gold Pulton each, and this was even counting Long Lang’s immense capabilities; if others went to purchase, they would need to pay at least five hundred Gold Pulton per set. Adding one hundred and fifty Longswords, Long Spears, as well as twice the number of Crossbows and a large batch of arrows, the price was at least six thousand Gold Pulton, and calculated at market price, it was almost ten thousand Gold Pulton.

And ten thousand Gold Pulton was only part of the proof; that Long Lang did not flip the table and curse out loud was already showing great sincerity.

However, precisely because of this, it proved that there was still a possibility for both sides to continue talking.

“Four and a half percent, no more!”

Long Lang slapped the table several times in a row, and only when he couldn’t help but hold his hand and cry out in pain did he give such a quote.

“Fifty percent… you have to know, me coming to you first to discuss this matter is already the greatest sincerity—this is a long-term matter, I hope our cooperation is the same!”

Dean smiled, but the expression on his face was unquestionable.

“Fifty percent, fifty percent… alright, fifty percent!”

Long Lang muttered in a low voice for a while, and finally, gritted his teeth and agreed.

Then, a Magic Contract appeared on the table—this was prepared by Long Lang; as a true merchant, such a Magic Contract was absolutely essential.

After reading it carefully, Dean did not hesitate to sign his name ‘Dean Ken’.

And when Long Lang also signed his name, this future big merchant could not help but let out a long breath—clearly, the importance of this smuggling channel made Long Lang care immensely.

Only when the Contract was truly completed could his tense nerves relax.

After all, only with the existence of the Contract were both sides truly safe.

Regarding this young man who mastered such a smuggling channel, although the other party behaved like a down-and-out minor noble, if everyone thought that this was really his performance, Long Lang would certainly laugh out loud; after all, he knew clearly that the other party was a nobody in Horn Town, and in less than two months, had become a lord with a title.

Even if it was only the lowest rank of Lord, his inheritable characteristic obviously allowed him to step into the noble class of Emerald in one step.

And for Dean, who could accomplish such a thing in such a short time, Long Lang naturally would not be careless.

However, looking at that Magic Contract, Long Lang couldn’t help but smile with relief.

No matter how powerful the other party was, wasn’t he now his ally and partner?

“Dean, why did you choose to cooperate with me?”

After signing the Magic Contract, the relationship between the two obviously took a step closer, and some words originally hidden in the bottom of their hearts could obviously be asked.

Facing Long Lang’s question, Dean certainly could not say, I saw your future and already knew your character; therefore, after pondering slightly, Dean said: “Because, I am optimistic about you—whether it is your attitude towards Gold Pulton, or your attitude as a merchant, both make me think you are the best partner… at least, compared to those Royal Family and County King’s imperial merchants, you are countless times better, isn’t it?”

And such an answer made a smile appear on Long Lang’s face again; he nodded repeatedly and laughed: “That’s right, those guys are the ones who have no respect for merchants, how can they compare with me? Mhm mhm, Dean, you really understand me too well… come, let’s go look at your goods, for the sake of our pleasant cooperation, you must give me a discount!”

“My goods?”

Dean was stunned.

“Of course, the goods in your shop! You wouldn’t expect me to return to Horn Town empty-handed, would you? At least let me take some spices and furs!”

Long Lang said as a matter of course.

“You really are a qualified merchant!”

Dean smiled bitterly.

“Of course!”

Long Lang raised his head, looking extremely proud.