Merchant From Earth in the Magical World
Chapter 55: I Dare to Compensate if You Dare to Send Me (Seeking Recommendations and Favorites)_1

Chapter 55: Chapter 55: I Dare to Compensate if You Dare to Send Me (Seeking Recommendations and Favorites)_1

Under the watchful gaze of the domain’s subjects and visitors, Yan Xing, clad in brand-new armor, walked toward the tent flanked by Eddie and Olaf, who were also attired in new armor.

The friction of the armor plates produced a sonorous metallic clang, and the heavy thud of their footsteps attested to the substantial materials used.

The silver surfaces of the armor gleamed, adorned with exceptionally lavish golden patterns.

Even the red silk ribbons used for decoration fluttered gracefully, despite the complete absence of wind.

Could the Lord’s presence be so commanding as to stir the air into disarray?

What shocked Stephen Eden and the mercenaries even more... was that light seemed to emanate from the crevices in the armor.

Could this... could this be magical energy spilling out?

Just what kind of a supremely powerful being was this Lord, and from where did he hail?

Only such a mighty being could explain the steel that seemed as common as dirt, as well as the glass wine glasses and the mysterious cutlery.

At that moment, Stephen Eden instantly understood the significance of these wine glasses and utensils.

The glass wine glasses and the mysterious cutlery signified rarity and value, and by extension, status and power. They symbolized the master of this domain, his noble and supreme identity.

And the inferior red wine and the apples served within...

He had gulped down the wine in one go, and the mercenaries had eaten the apples, yet he had carefully placed the wine glasses and cutlery back on the table.

Was this a hint about his own fate?

Stephen Eden was truly frightened. Without waiting for Yan Xing to approach, he immediately stood up and bowed respectfully, "Stephen Eden of the Golden Oak Chamber of Commerce greets Lord Yan Xing."

Yan Xing handed his helmet to Eddie and walked past Stephen Eden.

Only after settling into his own seat did he speak, "My Eternal Domain is newly established. I will treat all visiting guests with the utmost hospitality. Please, take a seat! Gang Ya, you should sit down as well."

"Thank you, Lord Yan Xing."

Only then did Stephen Eden notice that Gang Ya from the Stenchwater Forest was also here. The armor had been so dazzling that he had overlooked him.

Hadn’t Li Zhua said he was planning to visit the Eternal Domain? How did Gang Ya come to be here first!

Moreover, his relationship with the Lord here seemed to be quite intimate.

And those werewolves working within the domain... on reflection, some of them were from the Stenchwater Forest.

This is bad! I’ve been duped!

The words Li Zhua had spoken, even pointing out the direction of the Eternal Domain—wasn’t this all a ploy to lure me into a trap?

After Gang Ya sat down, Yan Xing instructed Gao Sipa to pour the wine, then said to Stephen Eden, "I don’t often drink this wine. I had the servants open a bottle especially since we have a guest from afar today. Mr. Eden, as a merchant, you must be well-traveled and knowledgeable. What do you think of my wine?"

This wine was purchased by Yan Xing in the real world, costing several hundred Gold a bottle! He himself usually only drank beer, but now that his competitors from Thunderous Swamp had come knocking, he decided to open a bottle of good wine to awe these bumpkins who had never seen the world.

The red wine poured into the glass, its color as vivid as blood.

It appeared to be of exquisite quality.

Stephen Eden took a cautious sip of the red wine, pondering how to respond to Lord Yan Xing.

To be honest... this wine... really wasn’t all that great.

It was better than the swill in taverns, certainly. However, compared to vintages aged for over a decade in the cellars of true nobility, the difference in taste was significant.

But in this situation, could he really say, "Lord Yan Xing, your wine isn’t good; it tastes like it’s been watered down too much?"

Wouldn’t that be just sticking his neck out to be chopped?

"Wow... This is truly a rare delicacy in the world. As a merchant, I have visited many places and tasted many red wines, but few have left a lasting impression. Your red wine, Lord... is absolutely top-notch."

Hearing Eden praise the red wine made Yan Xing extremely happy.

Duan’er had also tasted this wine before. But Yan Xing knew Duan’er’s palate all too well. Even if Yan Xing diluted the wine with water, Duan’er would still praise it as good wine.

But when Eden said it was good, that evaluation was different. As a merchant, what fine wines hadn’t he tasted? If he said it was good, it truly was good!

Besides, a red wine costing several hundred Gold a bottle was undoubtedly good wine... As for those costing thousands or even tens of thousands, they were just scams to cheat fools out of their money. Anyway, this Lord doesn’t waste money like that.

"Hahaha..." Yan Xing laughed. "Mr. Eden, you truly are experienced and have good taste! This wine of mine is not something just anyone can drink casually. I’ve taken quite a liking to you. Now tell me, what brings you to the Eternal Domain?"

"Yes, yes, yes... Thank you, Lord Yan Xing, for your generous hospitality." Eden wiped the sweat from his forehead, relieved to have passed one hurdle. But the next one wouldn’t be easy.

This Lord Yan Xing was clearly a formidable figure. His use of the wine as a metaphor was obviously intended to make him reconsider and retreat.

But the position he had striven so hard to obtain in the Golden Oak Chamber of Commerce, using agarwood, would undoubtedly be lost if his supply chain was severed. Without this status, without wealth, how could the families of the merchants he had victimized in Thunderous Swamp possibly let him off easily?

With his life and fortune on the line, Eden braced himself and said, "Lord Yan Xing. I’ve heard that you intend to exchange grain for agarwood from the Thunderous Swamp werewolves at a ratio of 200 to 1."

Finally, it’s time to get down to business.

Yan Xing elegantly swirled the red wine in his glass and said, "Exactly! The agarwood from Thunderous Swamp is of excellent quality, and I like it very much. I’m not a stingy or unscrupulous merchant. My offer is 200 kilograms of grain for one kilogram of agarwood; as long as I make some profit, I’m content."

Eden said, "Lord Yan Xing, being of noble birth, you may not realize what a fortune 200 kilograms of grain represents. An adult commoner’s annual ration is about 200 kilograms of grain, while he might earn about 400 to 500 kilograms of grain from a year’s labor. Grain is something everyone needs daily, whereas spices are a luxury only affordable to wealthy nobles and merchants. The 10-to-1 ratio of grain for agarwood that I offer is very fair. If you truly exchange at a 200-to-1 ratio for agarwood, the shipments from the werewolves will soon overwhelm your domain. You’ll find that the agarwood you’ve acquired sells very slowly, if at all. I suggest you lower your purchase price for agarwood. An exchange rate of 20 to 1 would already be extremely beneficial for the werewolves of Thunderous Swamp."

"Hahaha..."

Yan Xing laughed heartily. He pulled out a cigar, placed it in his mouth, then took out a lighter and, with a SNAP, ignited a flame.

He lit the cigar, took a deep drag, and then deliberately exhaled a thick cloud of smoke towards Eden.

"Men!" he commanded. "Tell our guest: what is your Lord’s family creed?"

The humans and werewolves of the Eternal Domain shouted in unison, "Lord Yan Xing, a man of his word!"

Puffing on his cigar with a swagger, Yan Xing waited for his subordinates to finish their chant before turning to Eden. "Did you hear that? 200 kilograms of grain for 1 kilogram of agarwood. This Lord has already promised the Swamp Tribe werewolves an unlimited purchase. This Lord means what he says. If they dare to deliver it, I dare to buy it, even at a loss. Even if it bankrupts me, as long as the werewolves keep bringing it, I’ll keep taking it."

All the subjects of the domain roared, "Lord Yan Xing, a man of his word! Lord Yan Xing, generous and benevolent!"