In the pavilion in the center of the pond in the famous Vorotti Garden in the palace district of Marlin Castle, a cool breeze was blowing. The summer sky was very bright, and there were many cicadas chirping. Laing and the others sat in the middle of the pavilion and enjoyed tea together.
"It's very difficult to exchange dwarven gold coins on the market now," Casanova proposed. Casanova came up with his own plan. "If we really want to exchange 38,000 dwarven gold coins, the current black market price is 1: 3.5 to 1: 3.8. This is a price we can't accept. How about this, Your Majesty Leon, if possible, we hope to pay the same amount as when the dwarves signed the Book of Hatred, which is 1: 2.5. If that's the case, then the compensation amount will be 97000 gold marks. Let's round it up and make it 100,000 gold marks. What do you think?"
100,000 gold marks? Laing thought that 100,000 gold marks wasn't unacceptable. Originally, when Belega wrote the Book of Hatred, the exchange rate was 1: 2.5 to 1: 3. If Marlin Castle was willing to pay 100,000 gold marks, then it was still negotiable. This was originally an extortion and revenge.
Deep down, Laing didn't want to push Marlin Castle too far. There were three reasons.
First, as Baron Li said, Marlin Castle was the commercial center of the old world. Brittany, including Laing's two big businessmen, Hadrian and Oliver, had a lot of business here. If a fight really broke out, then everyone would be affected.
Second, Laing always knew that Emperor Carl's family had been trying to take back Marlin Castle ever since he ascended the throne. If they really pushed Marlin Castle to the brink, it was very likely that the emperor would have the opportunity to intervene in Marlin Castle's internal affairs. This was not something that Laing wanted to see, and it was also not in the interest of Brittany.
Third, Tegris had now arrived at the Great Ocean Coast, and it was at most a week's journey from Marlin Castle. The most important thing was still the invitation to Ossouin. The small bearded men could run rampant in Marlin Castle largely because of Forgen and his elite troops, as well as the ironclad warship at the docks supporting Little Sol Green. However, it wouldn't be appropriate to drag things out too long.
Therefore, Laing was willing to see the business princes take the initiative to make peace.
"110,000, I'll go talk to the dwarves," Laing said lightly. "As for the specific time, I also need to confirm the time."
"108,000 gold marks. That's the bottom line." Viscount Casanova bowed respectfully, "As for time, can you give us one more week? We will get Hugmans and the others to raise money as soon as possible. At the same time, we will launch a city-wide donation drive to help Marlinburg tide over this crisis. The citizens will be willing to donate generously, I promise. "
Laing thought for a moment, then slowly nodded in agreement. "One more week. So, starting from today, I'll give you an extra ten days?"
"Yes." Casanova nodded repeatedly. "Exactly."
"Alright, then let's split up. I'll convince the dwarves, and you'll convince the princes of the business world in the Upper and Lower Houses." Laing stretched out his hand. "That's it. Let's work together happily."
"It's a pleasure working with you." Casanova exhaled softly and reached out to shake Laing's hand.
A verbal agreement was barely reached. Next, it would depend on how both sides carried it out.
By the time they finished talking, it was already very late. Laing could see that Baron Li of Aurora seemed to have something to say to Viscount Casanova, so he left first.
On the carriage back, Suria held Laing's hand and leaned into her husband's embrace. She said softly, "Laing, you actually agreed to a week's delay so easily?"
"At least give Marlinburg some time to raise money, right?" Laing hugged his wife lovingly. Knight King frowned and told Suria his three points of view.
"I know all that you said." Suria nodded gently. She stretched out a finger wrapped in a white lace glove and tapped Laing's forehead. "I mean, you agreed a little too easily. You said a week's delay, and it's a week's delay."
"Because Tegris will arrive in a week's time at most." Laing complained. "Tegris will need about three days to replenish the fleet's supplies and explain the mission. In total, it'll be ten days. The matter at Marlinburg will be over, and we can leave after getting the money."
"You've calculated everything?" Suria couldn't help but snicker. "Are you really going to take so much money to go to sea? Little Hammer will also go with us? "
"Isn't that for sure? Bellegar has obviously made up his mind to send his son here to train. There will only be benefits and no harm in meeting more people and doing more things. " Laing smiled. "Also, I don't like Emperor Karl getting involved. Suria, dear, take a guess. Does the emperor of the Empire have any thoughts about Marlinburg?"
"Everyone knows that Karl wants to take back Marlinburg. Ever since his grandfather, he has been trying to take it back many times." Laing reached out and touched his wife's perfect, silky thighs. Knight King sighed. "Let me tell you, Suria. If Karl had a sum of money, he would've taken the initiative to come to Marlinburg."
"Even if the emperor is tight on the palace's expenses, he should be on his way to Marlinburg after such a big incident." Laing hugged Suria and smiled at his wife. "How about we make a bet?"
"Why are you smiling like a dog? You don't look good at all. Bet? What bet? " Suria really felt that Laing had changed. The female knight followed her husband's wishes and said, "If you want to bet, then I'll choose the side and name the price. Laing, I'm a Brittany female knight! I have the right to choose! "
"Hey, dear, you're a female knight. So you're saying that I'm a horse?" Laing said half-jokingly.
"Laing, you bastard!" Suria's face suddenly turned red. She kicked Laing's calf with her beautiful long legs. "Why are you always so naughty?"
"Naughty is good." Laing smiled and hugged his wife tightly. "Naughty is the atmosphere we should have between husband and wife. Suria, I apologize for what happened before. It was my fault. We are husband and wife, we shouldn't be on guard against each other."
"I'm also wrong." After Sulia heard this, she could not help but feel a little sour in her nose. "I still know too little about Lord Godfather. When he asked me, I just … stupidly told him everything."
Laing nodded slowly. The couple looked at each other and smiled. The previous matter was finally over.
Ten minutes later, the carriage arrived in front of the detached house at 53 Amber Avenue. Laing pulled Suria out of the carriage. The dark elf Olica, wearing a black-and-white maid outfit and white velvet pantyhose, came out to greet them. Olica looked at Suria's expression, and her eyes flashed with understanding and envy. She said sweetly, "Master, Madam, you're back?"
"Yes, we're back." Laing also took Olica's hand and motioned for them to go in together.
After returning home and sitting down, Laing noticed that Forgan wasn't there. He asked the wood elf princess Karona, "Where's brother?"
Karona got a brand-new maid outfit from somewhere and put it on. It was black-and-white like Olica's, but the pantyhose was flesh-colored with seams and jacquard patterns. When she heard Laing's question, she unhappily told Laing and the others what Forgan had done.
To put it simply, Fulgen went to Marlin Castle's largest gathering place for nobles, the "Golden Club". He played and sang there. His rich knowledge, strong artistic talent, elegant manners, and noble speech quickly made him the darling of all of Marlin Castle.
In addition, Forgan also spent all day in the largest tabletop chess club in Marlin Castle. He changed his name to "AlphaGo" and won 25 consecutive games in the chess tournament, setting the record for the highest winning streak in the history of Marlin Castle's tabletop chess club.
"Well, brother, you're so cool."
… I'm the cut-off line for a 25-game winning streak …
At the same time, the business princes of Marlin Castle finally learned about the conditions offered by Laing and the others from Viscount Casanova.
108,000 gold marks for a period of ten days.
"This is impossible! Absolutely impossible! " While the other business princes were still frowning and thinking over and over again, the chairman of the Judon Chamber of Commerce, Van Hugmans, was furious when he received the news at home. He angrily grabbed the high-quality lacquer imported from Mupeng and smashed it on the ground. "They want to extort 20,000 or 30,000 gold marks from me with just a few words? Are these dwarfs and chivalrous people worthy?"
The angry descendant of the Judon royal family smashed his house into a mess. After he vented his anger for a while, the butler came up. "Master, what do we do next? We still have some money in the bank. Why don't we … pay for it first? "
"I'll pay for your ass!" Hugmans almost slapped his butler in the face, but he suppressed his anger with supreme perseverance. The chairman of the Judon Chamber of Commerce gasped hard. "No, I will never admit defeat. I'm the blood of King Jutenis. How can the Judon royal family accept such humiliating rules?"
Hugmans was different from the other business princes of Marlin Castle. He was a noble with the title of Count and had many manors around Marlin Castle. Therefore, he was not completely a businessman and still retained some of the pride of a noble.
"Assemble! Assemble!" Hugmans immediately ordered his private army to assemble. The Judon Chamber of Commerce relied on a large amount of funds to maintain a private army with considerable fighting power. There were about 800 people and they were equipped with a large number of firearms. "Move out. One group of people, go and control the iron armored ships at the dock! Another group, go and surround the dwarven craftsmen's association! "
"But … but chairman, if you do this …" The butler quickly came up to persuade him. "It's like declaring war!"
"I didn't declare war. I just want them to understand that the Judon Chamber of Commerce is not easy to bully!" Hugmans roared angrily. "If they really want to fight, I'm not afraid! I don't accept this price. Negotiate again! This time, I'll do it personally! "
"This …" The butler was stunned.
Hugmans didn't wait for the butler to say anything else. He ordered the army to assemble in the Judon Chamber of Commerce building.
Just like Hugmans, all the members of the Judon Chamber of Commerce were trembling with anger after hearing the result of the negotiation. Their bodies were covered in cold sweat on a hot day, and their hands and feet were cold. 'Can this society be any better? How do we merchants live in order to satisfy you?' They couldn't help but shed tears. This country was full of oppression towards merchants, when would merchants truly be able to stand up?
Soon, the emotions of grief and indignation spread throughout the Judon Guards. An army was assembled here.
After some preparations, the Judon Guards were ready to set off. Hugmans personally led the team. "Let's fight it out with the small mustaches!"
These people even started to sing.
"The waves in the Rick River move, the grey mountains fly in disorder …"
"I stand alone in this muddy world, righteous indignation burns with hot blood …"
"The dwarf knight is proud, I worry about the lack of people in this country …"
In the night of Marlin Castle, new waves were stirred up.
But not long after this army set off, they met a group of people at a street corner. This group of people had just entered Marlin Castle. Most people didn't know of their arrival.
"If it wasn't for Your Majesty personally naming me, I really didn't want to come to Marlin Castle again. The last time I saw that little brat Laing here was many years ago. At that time, I could hold his head down. Now, I want to call him Your Majesty." Griffin Duke Ivan Ferdinand was followed by more than ten griffin knights. He said helplessly, "Of course, I'm still very willing to deal with those princes of the business world."
"Hahaha, this matter is too big. Otherwise, I wouldn't have come." Emperor Karl-franz of the Empire was followed by a group of Rick Guards. The Emperor had a bright smile on his face as usual. "Helberg is very opposed to me coming to Marlin Castle personally. But I hope to use this opportunity to talk to Laing. I heard that he gained a lot from the Eight Peaks Mountain expedition. Can you help me with a loan? Hahahaha … "
"Your Majesty, King Laing is a person who understands the big picture. He will understand your difficulties." The chief grand wizard of the royal family of the Empire, the great alchemist, the rebuilder of the Saul Territory of the Empire, and the leader of the alchemy college, Bayershazer Gelt, held the staff of Volan and wore a golden robe. He followed beside the Emperor. "Your Majesty, there seems to be singing nearby."
"It's so late. Why are they still singing? I know Marlin Castle doesn't have a curfew, but aren't they afraid of disturbing the people? "Karl-franz also didn't understand the singing nearby.
However, in the next second, the two groups of people who met at the street corner bumped into each other face to face.
The Emperor, the Gryphon Duke, the Chief Grand Wizard, as well as the Rik Guards, the Gryphon Knights, and the elites of the Sol Domain under Galt, the Eldrad Lance Guards, looked at the approaching fully armed enemy with a puzzled expression.
The soldiers of the Judon Guards and the descendant of the Judon Royal Family, Hugmans, also looked at the army that blocked their way in disbelief. Obviously, the other party was fully armed and came prepared. These private soldiers didn't hesitate to show their weapons.
In the dark night, there were no magic lights on this street, only a little bit of starlight and a few torches. No one could see each other clearly. They only knew that the other party wasn't on their side.
The Emperor's flag bearer, Ludwig Schwarzhammer, immediately blocked the Emperor's confused face behind him. "Protect the Emperor! Protect the Emperor! "
"Your Majesty, please step back!" Bayershazer Gelt also immediately took two steps forward. "An assassination! A premeditated assassination! It's time to let these heretics have a taste of my destructive lava flow! "
"Knights, prepare for battle!" Ivan, the Griffin Duke, also immediately pulled out his silver griffin holy sword.
Just like this, before both sides had time to react, a fierce fight broke out directly on the street of Marlin Castle!
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