Chapter 1755 Expenses

The convoy moved slowly.

The night outside Sika Territory is very dangerous.

Not only are there all kinds of ferocious beasts, but it is also the favorite time for bandits to hang out. Even if the viscount constantly sends patrol teams to clean up, it can only maintain the safety of a few main roads.

After the 'Black Disaster' occurred, the situation became even worse.

Except for the main road connecting Etantino, which can still ensure a certain degree of safety because the royal patrol team is responsible for it, the main roads in the other towns in the Sika Territory have already become extremely dangerous at night.

Most people choose to travel during the day and stay in towns at night, relying on more people to resist danger.

If possible, few people would choose to travel at night on the main road connecting Sika City to Etantinoburg.

Because it's not 100% safe here.

Had it not been for the large number of people gathered this time, no one would have risked their journey.

However, even so, groups of guards from large caravans were still patrolling back and forth.

Through the window, Bol looked at the guards riding past with no emotion in his heart.

Danger?

Bol wasn't worried at all.

Looking at Kieran sitting opposite, Boer felt very at ease.

Maybe the road at night is dangerous, but as long as you follow the 'Demon of Fire', what do those so-called dangers mean?

Totally worth mentioning.

Therefore, at this time, Boer still had time to add charcoal to the clay furnace.

As soon as the charcoal was filled into the clay stove, sparks immediately started to rise. Just when the sparks were about to float in the carriage, a teapot filled with water was placed on the clay stove.

Boll picked up the silver tea knife placed on the silk scarf from the tray aside, and carefully cut a small tea brick from the large piece of tea cake next to it. When the water was hot and about to boil, , Bol put the small tea brick in.

After the water boiled twice, the small tea bricks turned into pieces of tea leaves. After a dozen breaths, when the water in the pot boiled, the tea leaves rolled directly with the water.

The aroma of tea fills the air.

Bol picked up the teapot.

"There is a dedicated tea maker in Etantinople."

"I just don't know how it tastes."

"I heard from several businessmen on the border that the tea makers there like to put mustard in the tea. According to what they said, it seems to be using spiciness to bring out the fragrance of the tea."

"There are also a lot of fish foods in Etantinople. The most famous one is fish in potato pancakes. Moreover, the fish must be upright, and it is best to look at the sky with its eyes. The straighter it stands, the bigger the eyes will open, which proves this The more successful the dish is.”

Bol poured tea for Kieran while telling interesting things about Etantinoburg.

Of course, Bol did not forget to introduce the business at hand.

"It takes about two days and one night to get from Sika City to Etantino. We set off at night, which requires two nights and one day. However, the road is difficult to travel at night, so we may need to spend a little more time."

"Unlike the border area from Morsa to Sika City, which is all plains, most of the area from Sika City to Etantino is mountainous. Among them, only one post in the Sika Territory and the border post in Etantino can provide services. We truly rest.”

"Among them, there is a military camp at the border post in Etantinoburg. It is also an important guarantee for us to be able to advance on this main road at night."

Kieran held the tea cup and listened to Bol's story.

His eyes looked out the dark window.

Qin Ran had learned a lot about Etantinoburg in the past two days.

Etantino is the capital of the Etantine Kingdom. With a population of over one million, Etantino is not only the economic, political, and cultural center of the Hokuriku, but also the largest city in the entire Hokuriku. Even if it occupies Cheka Bay in the south, which has the advantage of the bay, is still inferior to Etantino.

However, compared to this city revered by the aboriginal people, Qin Ran paid more attention to Atantin VI.

This monarch faced the turmoil under the attack of the 'Black Disaster'.

When the 'Black Disaster' occurred, the talented and powerful Etandine V was celebrating his achievements. He had no idea what kind of disaster this expedition would bring to his kingdom.

And when the monarch came to his senses, the situation was inevitable.

Even the monarch himself was struck down by the disease.

What's more important is that the monarch's only descendant is only seven years old, and some people in the royal family have begun to look at him with eager eyes.

Everyone can meet it, and if you are not careful, the entire Kingdom of Atantine will fall into civil war or even collapse.

At this time, the teacher, the only descendant of the monarch, stood up.

This court teacher, who was famous for his erudition, hosted a banquet for all the qualified people of the royal family, in the name of 'inheriting the kingdom', and then... no one who came that time got out alive, including those people's personal guards. , died in the banquet hall one after another. Then, the other party took control of the royal guard with lightning speed, and began to purge the royal family in the name of "finding the source of the black disaster." For a whole week, more than 1,500 people Killed.

The blood dyed the court of Etantinople red.

‘A bloody week’!

This is the memory of the people of Etantinople.

When the killing stopped, the descendant, who was only seven years old, became the new monarch.

With the help of the palace teacher, the seven-year-old opponent quickly stabilized the situation in the entire kingdom and began to clean up the root causes of cholera left in the south.

After discussing with the Temple of War, a team of Temple Knights was sent to assist the kingdom's army.

An agreement was made with the Lady of Calamity to build the first and only temple in Etantinople.

No one thought this was something a child could do.

Everyone thought it was the palace teacher's contribution.

Then……

When the monarch was sixteen years old, the court tutor died.

Some people say he died of illness.

Some people say he died of illness.

No matter how he died, all the majesty that belonged to the court teacher was replaced by the young monarch.

People also began to call each other Etandine VI.

Now thirty years have passed, and the other party is even more majestic.

The Kingdom of Atantin even unified the north and south. Only remote islands have not yet been shrouded in the glory of the kingdom, but this has not affected the glory of this monarch in the slightest.

People even compare him with Atantin I.

Because the other party did what Atantine I and even the next four monarchs wanted to do but failed to do: unify the south.

Of course, for such a legendary monarch, there will naturally be many legends.

Many of them simply said that the other party was the ‘Son of God’!

As for who this god is?

But no one can tell clearly.

Qin Ran was noncommittal about this.

He was more concerned about the palace teacher.

Because the other party's appearance, magic, and disappearance all gave him an inexplicable sense of familiarity: Player!

Of course, Kieran couldn't be 100% sure.

But I am more than 50% sure that there is something wrong with the other party!

perhaps……

Is that the work of a ‘broker’?

Qin Ran pondered, looking slightly sideways at the front of the motorcade.

At some point, the entire convoy stopped.

Several young people holding torches were running back quickly, stopping every few steps and shouting to the convoy around them: "Leader, go to the front! Have a meeting!"

Soon, these people ran to the carriage where Qin Ran was riding.

Looking at Boll's carriage, which was not even considered low-end in Etantinople, these young men holding torches, who were not ignorant, did not shout rudely as before, but knocked on the door.

Boom, boom, boom.

"Hello, Your Excellency."

"Our caravan captain invites you to come for a meeting."

Such words rang out with a knock on the door.

"Okay, I know."

Bol glanced at Kieran and said immediately after Kieran showed no objection.

The few people who got the affirmative answer turned back again, and the shouts rang out again.

Listening to the shouting again, Bol shook his head helplessly.

"Someone is trying to make up for the damage again."

Bol said this.

Then, without waiting for Kieran to ask, he took the initiative to speak.

"Every caravan will suffer losses to some extent during the few days of delay in Sika City."

"Some guys are not happy with the loss."

"So, they hope to 'pass on' such losses."

"'Pass on'?"

Kieran's interest was aroused.

"Um."

"Large caravans charge a certain amount of 'protection fees' from small caravans. Some temporarily formed caravans often do this, especially the guys from the border Morsa. They regard this as a 'rule' and also So some assholes changed their main business and decided that collecting full 'protection money' was a more promising career."

"And I've dealt with them before, with unpleasant results."

"They used my goods as protection money."

"I used their heads to pay for the compensation."

Bol nodded and explained. Then, Bol smiled and pointed behind him, in front of the motorcade.

"However, this time is different."

"This way of calling people is too crude. It should be a temporary move by the caravan from Etantinoburg."

"Otherwise, the guards of these large caravans should surround the entire convoy before notifying them."

As Bol finished speaking, Kieran saw someone in the convoy suddenly leaving the team.

These breakaways were fast and well organized.

Almost instantly, the horses pulling the cart rushed into the forest next to the main road together with the people.

"These guys should be from the border Morsa."

Bol said with certainty.

After speaking, Bol looked at Kieran.

"Sir Colin, what should we do?"

Bol asked.

"Go and have a look."

Kieran pointed to the front of the motorcade.

Bol was stunned.

According to Bol's understanding of Kieran, it was impossible for Kieran to be interested in such a thing.

unless……

Suddenly, Bol thought of something.

But before Bol could ask, Kieran had already opened the door and stepped out of the carriage.

"Watch the car."

Bol said something to Ashcano and quickly chased after him.

At this time, at the front of the convoy, in an open space where carriages were temporarily gathered, a bonfire had been set up, and an accompanying young man was adding firewood to it.

A dozen people who arrived early stood on one side, frowning and looking at the three people opposite the bonfire, their eyes full of evil, while the three people opposite were smiling.

"Are you trying to take advantage of the situation?"

A man among a dozen people wearing a cloth hat and cotton coat shouted loudly.

The other party was very excited, and his cheeks turned red as he roared.

The dozen or so caravan representatives standing behind the opponent stared with the same hatred.

If looks could kill, the three people opposite would have died countless times.

However, the three people who were smiling all the time didn't care.

They looked at each other first, and then one of the older men came out.

The hat of gray rabbit skin and the coat of the same leather brought considerable warmth to this man, so that when the other party came out, he did not need to use his rickety body to gain warmth.

The other party's face was also extremely clean, without any trace of wind or frost, and the beard on his chin was neatly combed. The gentleman's cane in his hand lightly tapped the ground, and then the other party spoke.

"Everyone."

"We are all businessmen, and businessmen pursue profit. This is our nature and our duty, but we also hope for fairness from the bottom of our hearts."

"So, I don't have any intention of forcing everyone."

"Someone just left the team, did we stop him?"

"No."

"I won't stop you from leaving. Of course, you are welcome to join us. The price of 20 Kimpton is not an amount that everyone can't afford."

The other party spoke clearly and logically.

Just after the other party finished speaking, the representative on the other side of the seat spoke simply.

"Who knows if you're not ready?"

"Or is it because you have no experience?"

The other party's doubts were supported by the businessmen behind him.

"Do not make jokes."

"As the caravan representative of Kate Trading Company, I have been running on this road from Etantinoburg to the border with Morsa for 10 years. I know exactly what is happening here."

"for example……"

"Didn't you once charge corresponding and similar fees to some poor guys?"

The middle-aged man said, pointing the gentleman's cane at the other party.

The person whose nose was pointed at subconsciously shrank his neck.

Apart from instinct, the other party was completely shocked by the other party's identity.

Kate Trading Company, one of the many trading firms in Etantine.

Its headquarters is in Etantino, its main business scope is mining, and its side businesses include but not limited to newspapers, car dealerships, etc.

For businessmen like them, it is not an exaggeration to say that Kate Trading Company is a giant.

However, what really frightened the business representative was how the other party knew that he had done such a thing.

Looking at the other party who was smiling but not smiling, and feeling the distrust of his colleagues in the same camp behind him, the business representative immediately said: "The price of 20 Kimpton is nothing to Kate Trading Company, but to businessmen like us It’s not a small number!”

"Yeah, 20 Kimpton, it's too expensive."

"My profit this time is only 30 Kimpton."

…

Hearing the shouts of the businessmen behind him, the business representative breathed a sigh of relief.

He knew that these people were temporarily supportive of him due to their sensitivity to numbers and interests.

Even if I have other ideas in my heart, I won't bring them up at this time.

And that's enough!

Enough for him to use as negotiation capital!

Thinking of this, the business representative wanted to speak.

However, the representative from Kate Trading Company spoke faster.

"So, for everyone's consideration, I have provided a backup plan——"

“The first person who is willing to pay me, I only charge half, which is 10 Kimpton, and the second person I charge 11, all the way up to 20 Kimpton.”

"What do you think?"

“What we’re proposing is not excessive.”

The representative of Kate Trading Company spread his hands and scanned the person in front of him.

When I saw these people looking at each other with a look of caution in their eyes, I couldn't help but laugh in my heart.

Especially the guy who so called represented other people, looking at the other person's dull look, he was really afraid to laugh out loud.

Want to rely on a group of ragtag people to negotiate prices with him?

He made this rabble rebel.

However, the representative of the disadvantaged side reacted extremely quickly.

"I'm the first!"

Because he was standing in front of all the merchants, relying on the distance advantage, the other party rushed in front of the representative of Kate Trading Company in one step. His previous expression of indignation had long since turned into a flattering smile.

The 10 Kimptons were just handed out.

The people behind the other party were stunned.

Then came the crowds.

Soon, the preferential quota will be gone.

The remaining few runners who were running slowly felt very regretful and had to take out 20 Kimptons.

At this time, no one objected to the price.

Instead, they looked at those who reacted slowly with schadenfreude, with proud smiles on their faces.

When Kieran and Boer came over, they were immediately faced with such mocking and malicious looks.

“There is no discount, you need to pay 20 Kimpton!”

Originally the representative of the disadvantaged party, this time he stood next to the representative of Kate Trading Company and said directly.

Kieran glanced at the other person, and then landed on the representative of Kate Trading Company.

"You want me to pay 20 Kimpton?"

Qin Ran asked.

"Everyone paid it in."

"now you."

The other party said very politely.

Qin Ran nodded, and the other party smiled and stretched out his hand, ready to collect the fee. Then, Qin Ran raised his foot and kicked the other party in the face——

boom!