??Chapter 155: Chapter 11: Magical Machinery_2
Chapter 155: Chapter 11: Magical Machinery_2
“Heh, that’s just the kingdom’s support, but without the hard work of our Caucasus people, it would all be for naught.” Kor waved his hand dismissively, not interested in continuing with these trivial matters. He had sought out this person today to find a solution to the current food crisis, and the man before him was the key to that solution.
“Mr. Kudan, I’ll get straight to the point, you’re in the business of food. You’re probably aware of the food situation here in the Caucasus. The North has raised the transit tariffs on our food imports, and the prices have reached an unacceptable level. Our foundations in the Caucasus are weak, and with the influx of over a hundred thousand immigrants, the work of clearing land for cultivation has just begun. It’s impossible for us to be self-sufficient in the near term. That’s why I’d like Mr. Kudan to discuss how we might address the food shortage that has arisen here in the Caucasus.”
The confident Kor seed utterly unaware that the man in front of him was an important mber of a pirate organization; he looked more like he was negotiating with a business partner about how to deal with a problem in their trade.
“A food problem?” The whiskered man’s lips were a bit dry. Although he ostensibly dealt in food, in reality, every aspect of logistics had to be solved through him, and food was just one important area. But now the young lord was attributing this problem to him—could it be that he was also planning to pin the bla for the Caucasus’s food shortage on him?
Perceiving the doubt and tension in the other’s eyes, Kor smiled magnanimously, “Mr. Kudan, no need to be nervous. There’s no hidden aning in my words. I’ve heard that Mr. Kudan has so associates who engage in mariti transport, and I’d like to ask if you could facilitate a connection. We need to import a large amount of food into the Caucasus, of course, at the original market rates, not the current inflated tariffs. To put it plainly, what I’m talking about is smuggling, albeit for the welfare of the entire Caucasus populace.”
With the conversation turning to such matters, the whiskered man’s suspended heart finally settled down. Knowing already what he was involved in and yet daring to invite him, the whiskered man couldn’t help but admire the young lord’s audacity. Pirates had always been the common enemy of coastal nations, and no one had ever dared to deal with pirates openly. Even private interaction ca with considerable risk. However, this lord dared to openly negotiate with him, even though he had scarcely ward his seat in power. Apart from shock, the whiskered man was also weighing the pros and cons of this matter.
Seeing that the other party’s expression had changed and he had fallen into deep thought, Kor did not press him. The deal was inherently risky. The North had clearly tightened its blockade on food supplies south of Leon. Although it was still, in na, a free market, if one wished to bypass the tax officers at Bruce Fortress, they would have to transport by sea. However, the itineraries of all shipping fleets were firmly controlled by the guild under Philip’s managent, and avoiding Philip’s surveillance was nearly impossible.
Of course, there was one exception—the “Gray Skull” pirate fleet active in the Southern Nether Sea.
Kor knew that for “Gray Skull” to grow and thrive in these lands, they must have so secret connection with those in power. The fact that the ships of the Philip Family were free to travel southward while other fleets had to pay hefty protection fees hinted at this, though it proved nothing. After all, as the rulers of a region, the Hor region boasted a professional navy. While it had few ships, this was still a regular navy, and it was this force that allowed Philip to maintain this peculiar balance with the “Gray Skull.”
To smuggle food past Philip’s watch, the only suitable choice was the power that the man before him represented. Of course, Kor was also prepared to pay a price.
“Lordship, since you understand everything, it would be hypocritical of
to explain further. Indeed, I represent the organization in the Caucasus. As the lord, you’ve been in office for a while, and I, on behalf of the organization, am grateful for your kindness to us, which has allowed us to continue to exist on this land. However, we have never troubled you, Sir, and I’m sure you’re well aware of that. You ntioned smuggling food earlier, and I think you’re interested in our organization’s fleet. Personally, I agree, but as you know, our organization also has connections and interests dealings with the North. If you want to convince the organization to take this risk, I’m sure you’re prepared with appropriate terms, so I’d like to hear your thoughts, sir.”
With a stern look, the whiskered man returned to his normal deanor, and the bold aura he exuded showed that his rchant lifestyle had not worn away his true nature.
Kor chuckled softly with hidden joy. If the other party dared to make such a statent, it ant that the relationship between these guys and the Philip Family wasn’t as close as he had originally thought. Now, it was about whether they were willing to board his ship or not.
“Heh heh, Mr. Kudan, my gift certainly won’t disappoint you. However, my request is not just for this one-ti food smuggling,” Kor countered with an air of ease and confidence, causing the other party to be sowhat unsure of what Kor really had to offer in exchange to agree to this risky business.
“Please speak plainly, Lord. Our organization’s nature is well-known to you. Day in, day out, in wind and rain, living by the blade—what day aren’t we licking blood from the knife’s edge? No risk, no need to be in this line of work at all! As long as Your Lordship has sothing of value to exchange, it’s not just food smuggling we can talk about. What if we even sold our lives to you, Lord?” the whiskered man said, showcasing the wild and fierce nature of the seafarers, which made Kor nod repeatedly.
“Good, since Mr. Kudan has been making his living on the rough waters for a long ti, I wonder if you have heard of the Mirror of Thousand Miles and the Magic-ard gun?”
The bland words hit the whiskered man—who had been maintaining a leisurely composure while awaiting an offer—like a thunderclap, visibly startling him so much that he knocked over the coffee on the tea table without a care, took a few quick steps toward Kor, a big, stout man whose face turned red and lips quivered as his chest heaved with rapid breaths. In a trembling voice, he asked, “Lord, what did you say?”
“The Mirror of Thousand Miles, the Magic-ard gun,” Kor calmly repeated, as if he had anticipated this reaction.
The man struggled to keep calm, but the overwhelming shock made it impossible for the usually cool and ticulous whiskered man to restrain his emotions. His hands clasped together as if trying to wring blood from his fingers, setting aside his own rudeness and loss of composure, the whiskered man stared intently at Kor’s mouth and asked word by word, “Lord, are you saying that you have news of these items? Or are you saying you have a lead on them?”
Seeing that Kor slowly shook his head, the whiskered man beca furious, and his anger seeped to his guts. An unnad fire raged through him, his expression suddenly turning grim: “So, Lord, you ca here to mock Kudan?”
“Mock? Heh heh, Mr. Kudan seems to have misunderstood. My point is that if I wish to possess them, I can have both the Mirror of Thousand Miles and the Magic-ard gun!” Kor’s light words echoed through the Reception Hall.
“Your Lordship, please don’t joke about such matters. These two artifacts have been lost for hundreds of years, and for so long, the Continent has never heard any rumors of these things being unearthed. Although you are a mage, Your Lordship, these artifacts, although related to magic, aren’t sothing one can simply create by being proficient in magic,” the whiskered man advised, feeling as if a giant stone weighed down his chest. He stood motionless before Kor, his emotions in turmoil.
He was skeptical of Kor’s words, but also hoped that Kor would assertively refute his opinion, given the gravity of the matter. Either of these items would cause a massive upheaval, not just for their organization, but for all ships active in the Nether Sea and the diterranean. If what Kor claid was true, it wouldn’t be just about insignificant food smuggling. Even attacking Cyprus wouldn’t be out of the question.
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