Work Prophet
Chapter 148 - 64: Pleasant Cooperation

Chapter 148: Chapter 64: Pleasant Cooperation

"To think that you’d try to dismiss me with only twenty-four gold coins as the purchase price, that’s seriously lacking sincerity," Miss Rabbit played with a gold coin between her fingers as she spoke.

"But thanks to you, you’ve reminded me that I can also sell the giant dragon blood to the Royal Capital."

"Sell it in the Royal Capital? Have you ever even been there?" the Dwarf Deputy grumbled, "Do you really think doing business in the Royal Capital is that easy?

"I mean no disrespect to your Arias family, but do you have any connections with those power figures in the Royal Capital? The potion is indeed miraculous, but it can’t be sold openly. It would be best to figure out which Nobles have such needs first, then approach them discreetly. Once you can prove its effectiveness, they won’t be able to do without you."

"I have an uncle in the Royal Capital’s Second Knight Corps," the girl said. "I could send the potion to him and let him sell it for me."

"The Second Knight Corps?" Frodo frowned. "Hmm, there are indeed many Nobles’ children there, but are you sure you want your uncle to help? As far as I know, in the Royal Capital, Nobles who handle their businesses personally aren’t respected.

"In the Royal Capital, Nobles can buy and sell land, invest in business, or find agents to manage their family business affairs. But if they personally get down to bargaining and haggling, they will be laughed at and it might even affect their future prospects."

"Really?" Miss Rabbit was skeptical.

"I wouldn’t lie about something like this, plus you can just ask your uncle and find out," he added.

After a pause, the Dwarf Deputy added, "Besides, even if your uncle doesn’t care about his future and reputation to help you sell the potion, do you think he could fetch a good price for it?"

Miss Rabbit fell silent.

"So, you might as well sell directly to me, and let our Golden Fleece Commerce handle the sale," The Dwarf Deputy picked up a glass of wine offered by the Maid, took a couple of sips to moisten his throat, and continued, "How about this, I’ll raise the price. Thirty gold coins each."

"One hundred gold coins each," the girl said.

"..."

"Who haggles like that?!" Frodo almost jumped out of his chair upon hearing the number.

The Squire Knight beside Ireya also reached for his sword hilt seeing the Dwarf’s enraged demeanor, it looked like any second he might charge forward to have a real fight with the girl.

Fortunately, the latter managed to control his temper. Combat was not the Dwarf’s strong suit, and besides, this was Arias family territory. If a fight did break out, he would be at a disadvantage.

Frodo snorted coldly and stopped conversing with the greedy Half-orc Lord in front of him, turning to walk outside the house.

His gaze was firm, his strides large, and with a thud, thud, thud, he reached the door.

Just as one foot had stepped out, he stopped the next moment, looking back to see the new Family Head of the Arias family watching him with a smirk.

The Dwarf Deputy sighed and turned back, "One hundred gold coins each is absolutely impossible, and I won’t hide from you that the highest purchase price I have in mind is thirty-seven gold coins each. The Nobles in the Royal Capital may be rich, but they’re no fools.

"I also have to consider the shipping costs to Lion Heart Castle, the expenses to break into the market initially, and there are quite a few palms to grease when doing business in the Royal Capital. I’m guessing I’d break even at best with the first batch of potions, anything above that price, and the Golden Fleece Commerce doesn’t plan to take on the deal. So, it’s up to you to decide," the Dwarf Deputy finished in one breath.

After pondering for a moment, the girl spoke again, "I can’t let you make no profit, so let’s set the purchase price at thirty-five gold coins each."

Frodo could hardly believe his ears; he never expected the Vampire Lord across from him to concede voluntarily, lowering the asking price by two gold coins.

The Dwarf Deputy first blinked in astonishment, then burst into joy, quickly saying, "Then let’s sign the contract right away."

"Sign what contract?"

"The Golden Fleece Commerce has the right of first refusal for acquiring giant dragon blood, and the purchase price will be as you mentioned—thirty-five Gold Coins per piece,"

"When did I say that price also included the right of first refusal?" Miss Rabbit asked, digging in her ear.

Frodo, who managed to become the Deputy of Golden Fleece Commerce because of his excellent memory, recalled the conversation he had with the young lady before; indeed, she hadn’t mentioned anything about the right of first refusal.

"But then... what exactly were we arguing about just now?" The Dwarf Deputy looked bewildered as he posed this soul-searching question.

"The price for the remaining giant dragon blood you’re going to purchase," Ireya kindly reminded him, "Giant dragon blood is a Divine Medicine of the Double Rest Sect. The Arias family is entrusted with its sales, and I can only decide how to sell this batch of Divine Medicine. Whether to continue selling, and how, will depend on the Double Rest Sect."

"So even if I did sign a contract with you for the right of first refusal, it wouldn’t really mean much," she added.

"Then why wouldn’t I just spend twenty Gold Coins to buy all the remaining giant dragon blood?" Frodo felt he had been made a fool of.

It turned out to be a straightforward deal after circling around and spending nearly eighty percent more money.

The worst part was that this Lady in front of him had figured out his bottom line—was she a demon?

"Because I forgot some people could just resell this medicine in the Royal Capital. I think it’s necessary to persuade Prophet Merlin to raise the selling price of the giant dragon blood."

"......"

The Dwarf Deputy was still reluctant, but Miss Rabbit’s next comment proved to be the straw that broke the camel’s back.

"Golden Fleece isn’t the only company that wants to sell giant dragon blood to the Royal Capital, right? I heard that seizing the initiative is the most important thing in business. If other commerces sell the giant dragon blood first, it will be... tough to win back the customers later," she said.

"Thirty-five Gold Coins it is then—how much do you have left? I’ll take all of it!" Frodo’s face went through several changes before he finally gritted his teeth and spoke.

"There are eighty-six pieces left, which makes a total of three thousand and ten Gold Coins. Pleasure doing business with you," the young lady said with a smile.

"Heh, I don’t find this cooperation particularly pleasing," the Dwarf Deputy snorted coldly, "The money will be delivered by someone tomorrow, and you’d better not sell any of that giant dragon blood to anyone else."

After saying this, he intended to leave, but he hadn’t taken many steps before Ireya called him back.

"Wait, I have a few business deals I’d like to discuss with Deputy Frodo."

"Hmm?" The Dwarf turned back, puzzled.

"If I’m not mistaken, your Golden Fleece Commerce also deals with Dwarves. Conveniently, Prophet Merlin wants to purchase a batch of high-quality iron ore, so let’s directly convert a thousand Gold Coins into iron ore.

"Moreover, he needs some ebony wood, and I also want to buy a batch of armor and weapons—well, they don’t necessarily have to be made by Dwarves, but they should be of decent quality. Let’s allocate a budget of five hundred Gold Coins for that," she said.

Business, especially a big one, was not something the Dwarf would reject. His mood visibly lightened upon hearing this.

"How strange, the Arias family is actually willing to spend a lot on weapons and armor..."

Frodo’s offhand murmur made the Lady’s face redden. Unfortunately, her family had been poor for too long. When Ireya first took over, they were almost unable to make ends meet. It wasn’t until she had allied with Li Yu, this significant pillar, that the situation began to improve.

With both Black Gold and giant dragon blood, Arias family was led out of poverty towards wealth. Had it not been for a few crises in between, they would probably have soared by now.

But every time she thought of the dragon in the swamp, Miss Rabbit’s mood darkened once again.