I Became the Progenitor Vampire Chapter 22 - 22 Layout

Chapter 22: Chapter 22 Layout

Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

“No, Laurent, maybe we still have a chance to cooperate.”

Laurent looked at Lide in confusion. How could they have a chance to cooperate when he was bankrupt?

Suddenly, as if realizing sothing, his face lit up with excitent: “Lord Lide, do I have a mage’s talent?

Goddess above, isn’t it said that the older one gets, the weaker the casting talent becos?

Could I be the magic genius sung by the bards? Lord Lide, I am willing, I am willing to beco your apprentice.”

Lide’s face darkened. With that appearance, you think you have mage talent.

Your current begging talent is definitely the strongest, just wait until you’re bankrupt.

“No, Laurent, forget about being a mage. The Magic Goddess isn’t a generous deity.”

“Compared to magic, I’d prefer to hand over the Golden Wheat Comrce to you.”

Laurent was obviously disappointed again. Did he really not have magic talent?

Lide’s words left him montarily stunned. Hand over the Golden Wheat Comrce to him again?

“Lord Lide, are you saying that you want to invest in our Golden Wheat Comrce?

Goddess above, your insight would astonish the Goddess of Wealth…”

Laurent felt a sense of happiness as if chosen by the Goddess of Wealth. A mage, respected even in Green City, wanted to invest in his comrce.

This was even more exciting than having magic talent.

“No, Laurent, you’re overthinking.”

Lide’s leisurely words sent Laurent’s spirits plumting, as if the last straw of hope had been snapped.

“Lord Lide, you, you…”

Seeing the mix of despair and hope on Laurent’s face, Lide shook his head.

“I’m not interested in investing in the Golden Wheat Comrce.”

It was over.

Lide’s words extinguished the last bit of hope in Laurent’s heart. He was still a businessman on the brink of bankruptcy.

“However, I am interested in acquiring the Golden Wheat Comrce.

I’ll help you repay all the debts, and the Golden Wheat Comrce will belong to . Be it your premises or the slaves of the comrce, they will all be my private property.

And you, Laurent, can still continue to manage the Golden Wheat Comrce, and I will pay you a salary of 10 Gold Pucks every month.”

“No, Lord Lide, our comrce’s premises and slaves, along with our sales channels, are worth more than two hundred Gold Pucks. Even if the Green City Comrce repossessed everything, I wouldn’t owe them much Gold Pucks.”

“Haha, do you think that after you fail to repay the debts, these things will still be worth that much? You should know the ways of the nobles, they will drain you dry.”

After draining his cup of hot milk, Lide stared piercingly at the silent Laurent.

“Sir Laurent, there’s only one chance. If it weren’t for our familiarity, you wouldn’t have my favor.

You must understand, a high-level mage with a seat in the Green City Mage Association need only say the word and countless people will offer their comrce.”

Lide completely dominated this asymtric negotiation. Laurent had no right to say no in front of him.

To choose between bankruptcy and becoming a debtor worse than a beggar, or clinging to a powerful ally and becoming a comrce steward.

A smart person would know how to choose.

Though Lide’s acquisition of the Golden Wheat Comrce was on a whim, he had considered deeper issues.

As the castle developed, a large number of humans would undoubtedly live there in the future.

By then, a substantial amount of living materials would need to be purchased from outside.

Without his own comrce, consistently purchasing from outside would not only leave him exposed in the long run, but also incur significant extra costs, given that comrce needs to make a profit.

If he had a fully controlled comrce, these problems would not exist.

The Golden Wheat Comrce happened to be tily—a comrce on the verge of bankruptcy due to lack of funds, untouched in its trade routes, was an excellent choice.

Crucially, in the mory of the Blood Clan Ancestor, Laurent was a businessman with no background but not lacking acun in the business field, actually very shrewd.

Were it not for having no backing and being exploited by various forces in the city every ti, his scale would undoubtedly be greater now.

Establishing a new comrce now would be extrely ti-consuming. Personnel, territory, and even trade routes would all start from zero, not aligning with his interests now.

The fixed assets of the Golden Wheat Comrce were enough to match those two hundred Gold Pucks… only he couldn’t convince the nobles to acknowledge it.

This investnt couldn’t lose.

With proper control, it might beco a strong asset in the future—a risky investnt for the future.

This investnt of just over 200 Gold Pucks, even if it failed, was insignificant. He could afford the loss.

Laurent didn’t think for long; he had no bargaining power with Lide.

The title of Advanced Mage alone was enough to swallow many bargaining thoughts.

“I am willing, Lord Lide, as long as you help repay the Gold Pucks I owe. The Golden Wheat Comrce will be yours.”

Laurent spoke with a hint of bitterness but still gritted his teeth to say it.

Though it pained him to see the comrce he built up over a lifeti beco soone else’s, he felt a weight lift off his shoulders, no longer burdened with the 200 Gold Pucks debt to the Green City Comrce.

The Green City Comrce was established by the nobles. He could foresee the consequences if he couldn’t repay the money.

Comrce, house, wife—all would be taken by those detestable nobles.

“A wise decision. Co to my Mage Tower to sign the contract after returning to the city, and you will have an Advanced Mage as your backer.

From today, those underground forces will no longer trouble you, nor will those troubleso nobles bother the Golden Wheat Comrce.

This is your reward for being wise.”

Laurent suddenly felt that it wasn’t so bad to sell the comrce.

Dealing with the nurous underground forces in Green City was a headache for a comrce without background like the Golden Wheat Comrce. At least sixty percent of the Gold Pucks he earned each year were extorted by these underground forces.

Many underground forces were backed by nobles, making it impossible for rchants to resist.

“Lord Lide, this is your grace. I, Laurent Orlando, swear my loyalty to you.”

Laurent was also one who could adapt quickly. After confirming his position, he knelt on one knee and swore allegiance to Lide.

Ding~ Laurent Orlando swears loyalty to you. Do you accept?

Lide was montarily stunned at hearing the system prompt beside his ear. Was this even possible?

Accept.

He helped Laurent up and opened his attribute panel with a thought.

Na: Laurent Orlando

Profession: rchant [Level: 12]

Talent Specialization: Business

Skills: Observe Words and Expressions, Negotiation, Intimidation, Bargaining, Inquiry

Explanation: This is an excellent rchant who may be capable of managing a large-scale comrce.

Affiliation: Crimson Mage Tower (Lide Kachar)

Lide was astonished after reading Laurent’s attributes, not expecting him to be a professional rchant with a level as high as 12, even two levels higher than himself.

A feeling as if he’d struck gold washed over him.