Clyde, disguised as a soldier, stood beside Princess Saras to listen to the discussion with the three tycoon clans’ envoys. At present, Princess Saras was nominally the Suzerain of Steinbeck Fief while Clyde was just an administration officer. Thus, there was no problem in disguising himself as a mere guard to listen to the discussion.
Sacred Moon Dragon Knight Princess Verly was also present, wearing a complete set of heavy knight armor that covered her face. Among these envoys, Douglas Clan was represented by Knight Fast who belonged to a branch family and had had his knight peerage purchased as an empty aristocratic title, i.e. an honorary aristocrat. This arrogant, brown-haired handsome young man frivolously gazed at Princess Saras clearly imagining indescribable scenes. However, if he dared to act rashly, Clyde didn’t mind cutting him down on the spot.
Moreston Clan had sent Knight Fortes who was no handsome young man. He was fat, but this fatty’s gaze was not as disgusting as Fast’s. At least, he only admired Princess Saras without having any intentions toward her. As a merchant, he similarly was only an honorary aristocrat, but he gave Clyde a good first impression. The cooperation agreement between himself and Miss Morais had been made in private agreement, so most of the Moreston Clan shouldn’t know about it. This Knight Fortes was also clearly unaware.
The envoy sent by Stuart Clan was more to Clyde’s liking. An elegant lady, Miss Mia had no peerage. She had pink hair and peach-blossom eyes with a slender yet proportional figure. She wore a magician’s outfit, and judging from the badge on her magic robes, she was actually a Junior Mage. Among the human beauties beside Clyde, only Princess Annie and Miss Sigrid who had lived for several hundred years were higher ranked than Mia. The other beauties had not even reached the Advanced Magician stage, not to mention Mage.
Clyde was very interested in Mia. Just from her magic robe, he couldn’t determine her most skilled magic element. Merely, this showed that Stuart Clan had great enough face to invite a Mage to serve as a go-between, which was incomparable to the other two tycoon clans. On the surface, Mia was calm and composed, but inside, she was quite nervous. Originally, she had thought of taking advantage of her Mage status, but beyond her imagination, the other side had an even higher-level existence. Although Princess Verly had kept a low profile, with a single Dragon Knight level move, she could instantly dispose of a Mage without any problems.
Most of the magicians of Ximengsi Continent’s interior nations only fought in internal wars against other humans. Basically, they had not experienced battles against different races on the border. Without being tempered through cruel war, their actual combat power was lacking. Princess Verly could easily cripple the Master Archmages of the interior nations without suffering any injuries, not to mention a trifling Mia. Currently, Verly couldn’t determine Mia’s magic attribute, so she adopted a wait and see attitude. She already knew her Master Clyde’s preference: he would want that female magician, so she paid special attention to her movements. Once Mia made any move, she would immediately subdue the other party.
“Young Lady Suzerain, as long as you give us the absolute management rights to the Needham Plains, we’ll sever our ties with Marquis Charles. In addition, to show our sincerity, our side is willing to sponsor 200,000 gold coins as well as give an interest-free loan of 300,000 gold coins. What do you think? With your beauty, staying in a small place like Steinbeck Fief is too pitiful. Perhaps, it will be better to move to a bigger place…”
“Sire Fast, are you coming to a blind date or a business talk? The people are in an abyss of suffering, and you actually want to occupy the Needham Plains and drive up the price of grain. Do you all still have any humanity? Young Lady Suzerain, as long as you don’t give the management rights of the Needham Plains to this gentleman, our Moreston Clan is willing to supply grain to you for five years at a low-price, no, at production cost price!”
“Sire Fortes, you damned fatty! Regardless of what you say, our Adrian Empire’s grain prices have always been much higher compared to the other neighboring nations. Isn’t that because your Moreston Clan has a monopoly over the food business? Do you have any face?”
“Fast, you disgraceful bastard, what monopoly? Are the affairs of merchants to be called a monopoly? All these years, your Douglas Clan engaged in frontier trade, mostly purchasing second-hand, inferior goods from other countries at low prices before selling them to the Adrian Empire’s common people at a mark-up. Doesn’t your conscience hurt?”
From the beginning, the representatives of the Douglas and Moreston Clans loudly argued. These two merchants didn’t hesitate to verbally attack each other verbally, disclosing each other’s faults. This made the meeting room full of gunpowder. Despite being the hosts, Clyde and the others turned into onlookers.
As a newcomer, Miss Mia was dumbfounded. She wasn’t a wily old bird like Fast and Fortes, so she also couldn’t tear the others’ faces and quarrel. She was left at one side to dry in the air. The most awkward thing was that like Princess Verly, Princess Saras also knew Clyde’s intentions, so she could only wait for Mia to speak. Their devil master was not interested in men.
“Cough, cough, Miss Mia. Does your Stuart Clan have any favorable terms?”
“I… I’m not from the Stuart Clan. I just accepted their commission to come here. If you give the Needham Plain’s management rights to the Stuart Clan, they are willing to give an interest-free loan of 150,000 gold coins as well as 100,000 sets of standard empire soldier equipment including weapons and so on.”
“Since that is the case, Miss Mia, you can stay behind and discuss the specific details. Sire Fast, Sire Fortes, I’m sorry, but I’ve already decided. Please go back!”
Miss Mia was overwhelmed by this unexpected favor. She had never expected to snatch this business from the two wily old birds. Both Fast and Fortes’ faces turned black, and they suddenly turned hostile on the spot. However, as wily old birds, they wouldn’t shed all pretenses of cordiality. Even though they had failed to receive business, that didn’t mean all their paths were cut off. A battlefield was unpredictable!
“Young Lady Suzerain, since you have already made a decision, I’ll take my leave. But this is not a wise choice. If you regret it, you can contact me at any time.”
“Young Lady Suzerain, even though this trade failed, there is still next time. Hereafter, if you need any bargain army provisions, you can come look for us.”
Fast and Fortes left in succession. Fast was quite unhappy because he was forced to leave before having a chance to speak more with Princess Saras. Fortes, however, was gloating. As long as Steinbeck Fief didn’t cooperate with the Douglas Clan, and the Needham Plains didn’t fall to the Douglas Clan, the situation was still very beneficial for the Stuart Clan. It was good enough if their opponent didn’t get any benefits.
After a few courteous words to Princess Saras, these two wily old birds took their leave. Afterward, according to Clyde’s signal, Princess Saras invited Miss Mia to stroll around the garden of Saka Fortress while discussing their cooperation. Mia accepted the invitation and left with Princess Saras, leaving behind just Clyde and Sacred Moon Dragon Knight Princess Verly.
“Master, do you truly want to cooperate with Stuart Clan?”
“Of course not! I’m just interested in Miss Mia. She is just a go-between who came here after receiving a commission and isn’t directly related to the Stuart Clan.”
Clyde and Princess Verly strolled along Saka Fortress’s enclosing wall. They eyed the distant Kurrus Fortress while thinking about how to break this deadlock. Clyde had no intention of truly cooperating with any of the three tycoon clans. Those merchants didn’t have any moral integrity. It was impossible to be on intimate terms with them without feeling any suspicion.
“Big Brother Clyde, so you’re here! I’ve found a way to break this deadlock.”
“Sister Lucifer, you… Where did that bloodstain at the corner of your mouth come from?”
“Oh, it was carelessly wiped on me by someone. Big Brother Clyde, come with me! I’ll take you to see this breakthrough point.”
“Okay. Verly, you…”
“Master, I still have patrol duty. I won’t bother you.”
Sacred Moon Dragon Knight Princess Verly’s expression had a subtle change; she had an inexplicable fear of Lucifer. She didn’t dare to follow them and quickly found a reason to escape. All the beauties around Clyde knew their Master’s younger sister, the mysterious Bloodkin Lolita Lucifer. In the aspect of wicked erotic means, she surpassed even Clyde. Princess Verly would rather fight against Demon Kings and evil dragons than visit Lucifer’s room.
Clyde didn’t make things difficult for her since he was quite clear about Lucifer’s preferences. However, he pretended to not know anything and cooperated with his younger sister’s performance. With Lucifer taking the lead, Clyde walked deep into Saka Fortress. After being brother and sisters for such a long time, Clyde still had not yet visited Lucifer’s boudoir. This bloodkin Lolita, however, had frequently inspected his bedroom.
“Big Brother Clyde, if this battle is successful, will there be any rewards for me?”
“Sister, you… you want a lot of rewards. Of course… Of course, there will be rewards this time. Your hard work will not be in vain.”
