Merchant From Earth in the Magical World
Chapter 52 The Mysterious Lord_1

Chapter 52: Chapter 52 The Mysterious Lord_1

Eden’s silver tongue not only made Li Zhua suspicious of the rumors’ authenticity; other Werewolf Tribes also had their own reasons for not shunning Eden. All the Werewolf Tribes who traded with Eden had become reliant on his caravan. By exchanging items they usually deemed worthless for food from Eden, they could greatly relieve the pressure of feeding their tribes. Consequently, the Werewolf Tribes cherished their relationship with Eden and were even willing to kill some humans approaching the swamp in exchange for food as payment.

The news of trading agarwood at a 200-to-1 ratio was spread only by the werewolves of the Red Mud Wetland, and other werewolves could not discern its truth. But this exchange rate was too tempting, so the Werewolf Tribes didn’t rush to sell Eden too much agarwood this time. With an opportunity to obtain more food, the werewolves naturally wanted to hold out for the best price.

"I certainly trust you, my friend," Li Zhua said to an earnest-faced Eden. "It’s your food that kept us from having to discard some pups. But werewolves from Red Mud Wetland are proclaiming everywhere that Lord Yan Xing of the Eternal Domain is willing to trade with the Werewolf Tribes at a price of 200 to 1 for their wood. He calls this wood ’agarwood.’ This price far exceeds what you offer us."

"What! Someone is offering a 200-to-1 price to buy agarwood! Is he insane?" Eden was greatly shocked upon hearing this price. The spice merchants in the Golden Oak Chamber of Commerce only paid him the equivalent of 300 kilograms of food for one kilogram of agarwood. If one deducted the cost of travel to the Thunderous Swamp, food expenses, and the fees for hiring mercenaries, the profit Eden made from reselling one kilogram of agarwood from the Thunderous Swamp was only 200 kilograms of food. Eden didn’t believe that a human merchant new to doing business with the Swamp Werewolves could make more profit from agarwood. What was he trying to do?

"Whether this human Lord is insane or not, I do not know, but I do know he is a very powerful and wealthy Lord," Li Zhua said. "Anyway, all the Werewolf Tribes on the edge of the Thunderous Swamp know this news. You probably haven’t received much agarwood on your way here, right?"

"It’s a scam, definitely a scam," Eden said, trying his best to slander his competitor. "Trading agarwood for food at 200 to 1 will cause him to lose everything. No sane merchant would do this... You—you just said he is a human Lord?"

"Yes, he is a human Lord. His domain is not far from here, named the Eternal Domain. If it weren’t for waiting for your caravan, I would have already visited this neighbor," Li Zhua answered.

Li Zhua was, in fact, the Clan Leader of the Stenchwater Forest Werewolf Tribe and the brother of Steel Fang. He had already heard about Steel Fang and had learned about the Eternal Domain through the messengers coming and going. Mysterious, wealthy, powerful... These were Li Zhua’s impressions of the Eternal Domain at the time. He looked forward to seeing the fences made of iron and tasting the delicacies from the Eternal Domain. He also hoped this would be an opportunity to ease the tension between Stenchwater Forest and the Eternal Domain.

The werewolves from Red Mud Wetland had become quite arrogant with the support of the Eternal Domain. Although they had kept their promise not to attack Stenchwater Forest, Duan’er and his Werewolf Warriors had been continuously active on the borders of the two tribes’ territories. Duan’er was dressed in brand-new steel armor, and all the Werewolf Warriors were wielding steel flails. They would occasionally cross the border into Stenchwater Forest territory and wildly shoot around with magical slingshots. This kept the Stenchwater Forest Tribe constantly on edge, fearful that Duan’er might lead his Werewolf Warriors in an attack.

Li Zhua had once sent werewolves to the Eternal Domain, hoping that Lord Yan Xing would restrain Duan’er, but Lord Yan Xing had not given a clear response. Instead, Steel Fang had suggested that Li Zhua pay a personal visit to the Eternal Domain. Li Zhua also felt that he should visit this neighbor. Duan’er was too much trouble...

Hearing that Li Zhua planned to visit this human Lord, Eden immediately felt an even greater sense of crisis. The werewolves’ high level of wariness towards humans was the foundation of Eden’s monopoly on this trade route. If the werewolves were allowed to contact this Lord named Yan Xing, his practice of making exorbitant profits in these transactions might be discovered by the werewolves.

Eden said to Li Zhua, "When did a human territory appear so close to the swamp? Marquis Anderson made it clear that humans should not disturb the peaceful Thunderous Swamp. Clan Leader Li Zhua... I hope you will carefully decide whether or not to visit this unidentified human. I can feel that he is full of hostility towards the Swamp Werewolves."

Li Zhua replied, "Eden, your concerns are indeed valid, but I have compelling reasons to visit the Eternal Domain. Lord Yan Xing’s family creed is to keep his word, and I don’t think he will trouble the leader of a small Werewolf Tribe. The trade is already complete. We shall meet on the next trade day, my old friend."

Li Zhua didn’t tell Eden that his decision to visit the Eternal Domain was due to Steel Fang’s suggestion and his own longing to see the affluent Eternal Domain. After his tribe completed the trade with Eden, he led the werewolves, carrying the exchanged food, back into the swamp.

Eden watched the werewolves leave, his face gradually revealing a sinister expression. "Everyone, return to the convoy! We are going to the Eternal Domain to visit Lord Yan Xing!"

The merchant convoy gradually left the swamp area, moving in the direction Li Zhua had indicated. Without agarwood, this trade route is no longer meaningful. Those pelts and herbs are just extras in this business endeavor; the profits hardly cover the mercenaries’ wages.

Eden sat inside the comfortable carriage, opened the window, and summoned the mercenary leader. He spoke in a low voice, "Have your men be on alert. Once we reach the Eternal Domain, they are to act on my orders. If that Lord Yan Xing isn’t strong, you should know what to do."

The mercenary leader, dressed in knight’s armor with long, flaxen hair and several scars on his face, gave a smirk and said, "Eden, that’s a Lord, a Hero. Li Zhua said that Lord is rich and powerful; he must be quite a challenging character. He must have a domain army by his side. Moreover, this is not within the scope of our agreed-upon task. You’ll need to pay more!"

Eden scoffed, "I know your rules. You’ll get your money. Just don’t disappoint me."

"Rest assured, Eden," the mercenary leader said. Hearing that Eden was willing to pay, he loudly rallied his men, "Brothers, Eden has brought us a big job! Once we arrive at the Eternal Domain, everyone get ready for battle! On my command, we’ll finish this task cleanly and efficiently!"

The mercenaries responded loudly in unison.

Eden closed the window and leaned back against the soft cushion. The mercenaries he’d brought were formidable. They had protected his trade in the Thunderous Swamp and repelled werewolf attacks many times. Their leader, Yarlin, was a Knight Hero. The group consisted of two Sixth Order guards, six Fifth Order infantry, fifteen Third Order Archers, and twenty Second Order militiamen. With their excellent weapons, armor, and ample arrows, this mercenary force could easily handle an all-out attack from a small Werewolf Tribe.

As for the Eternal Domain... a month ago, he hadn’t heard of any human territories near the swamp. There was no noble named Yan Xing among Marquis Anderson’s vassals. On the Wildwind Highlands, anyone not a vassal of Marquis Anderson wasn’t worth fearing. Yan Xing must be just some minor Lord from who-knows-where. In a month, his domain couldn’t be more than a dilapidated village. He’d be lucky to have even a few militiamen.

The mercenary leader, Yarlin, thought the same.

This money is too easy to make!