Chapter 368: Kant’s Decision-Making Process
“Well, it’s good that you’re back.”
Kant nodded. He glanced at the happy-looking Joycelin and asked with a smile, “From the looks of it, you seem to have encountered something worth being happy about.”
“That’s right.” Joycelin nodded. “We can maintain long-term trade with the tree people of the Fangorn Forest!” Without waiting for Kant to ask, he continued to report, “The elemental gemstones we had back then were those crystal clear blue and yellow gemstones. I think you know that, Lord Kant.”
“The gemstones obtained after killing the elemental giant, of course I know.” Kant nodded.
“That’s right!”
Joycelin smiled and said, “Those treemen need these elemental gemstones!”
“Huh?” Kant raised his eyebrows slightly. “This is indeed good news.” But he still asked, “How do you calculate the specific value? If I remember correctly, those treemen actually don’t care about gold, silver, and other currencies, or do they have the concept of trade at all?”
“This is not a problem, as long as the most primitive barter is fine.”
The corner of Joycelin’s mouth curled up.
He was very confident about this trade and the future trade. “The Ents in Fangorn forest have all kinds of wild spices that can be exchanged. For example, cinnamon, black pepper, c.u.min, and other expensive spices exist!”
“Spices, very good.” Kant nodded. This was indeed an expensive luxury item.
This could indeed be used as an exchange item.
It was even cheaper for Kant. After all, he did not have many thoughts about those elemental gemstones.
Although they could be sold.
Just like Pande and Caradia.
Those n.o.bles who were pa.s.sionate about luxury would buy some elemental gemstones and treat them as pure and flawless sapphires and topaz.
There wasn’t too much denar that could be exchanged. If Kant could exchange ten elemental gemstones for a small bag of spices and sell them to the merchants of the Dukedom of Leo in exchange for a large number of golden eagles, it would be a guaranteed profit!
Elemental Gems in Fangorn forest could be exchanged for spices, golden eagles, and denar.
And after this exchange…
The value directly increased by several times!
The value of spices was even higher than salt, because this represented ident.i.ty.
If there were no spices at the banquet of a n.o.ble, it would be equivalent to a miser. He would be unable to be accepted by the mainstream n.o.ble circle and would even be ridiculed, because that was the social atmosphere.
As a high-ranking n.o.ble, one had to have the foundation of a n.o.ble.
Fine white salt represented this.
Spices that could produce a wonderful chemical reaction in the mouth represented this!
It could be said that in the hands of the Dukedom of Leo, the human countries, and even the foreign tribes and kingdoms further away, it could be considered a hard currency comparable to gold. It could be directly purchased by a golden eagle!
The value of spices was extremely high!
“Lord.”
Joycelin spoke, “The exchange price is indeed generous.”
He paused and continued reporting, “In the eyes of these treemen, the earth and water elemental gems can bring them a different kind of enjoyment. Just like how we eat, we can obtain a supplement that is beneficial to our bodies.”
“They are equivalent to half an elemental creature. This is very normal.” Kant nodded. He was not surprised by this.
“Of course.”
Joycelin nodded. “So their trading price is one elemental gem, which can be exchanged for a small bag of spices.”
“So much?” Kant raised his eyebrows, slightly surprised.
“Mm-hmm.”
Jocelyn said helplessly, “Of course, this is really a small bag of spices.” As he spoke, he took out the spices that he obtained from the trade, which were the size of a fist, there was a pungent fragrance. “This is a small bag of black pepper that those treemen picked. In fact, they are not stupid.”
One elemental gem for one small bag of spices. This transaction was indeed not a huge profit.
But Kant did not care.
The elemental gem did not have much effect on him.
But even if it was just this small bag of spices, just like this black pepper, the price in the Dukedom of Leo was definitely worth 10 golden eagles, which was 1,000 great silver coins. It was even more expensive than the white salt trade!
“It’s just that it can’t last.”
Kant frowned slightly.
At present, the source of his elemental gemstones was obtained by relying on those two pages of rare items.
Every week, he could summon around seven earth and water elemental giants. After killing these elemental creatures, he would be able to obtain elemental gemstones. Occasionally, because the sharpshooters were slightly stronger, the elemental gemstones would shatter severely.
This was not unprecedented.
Elemental gemstones were also gemstones. They were hard enough, but they were not as strong.
If the sharp and hard cone arrows were deeper, the arrowheads would be able to easily pierce through the elemental gemstones.
Although they would not shatter into pieces, they would definitely affect the stability of the internal elements. This was something that even without treemen informing Kant, no one wanted damaged materials.
But even so, there were only about 15 elemental gemstones that could be produced every week.
The exchange rate for gold eagles was 150.
The exchange rate for denar was 15,000!
After changing hands, the price of 15 elemental gemstones directly increased by several times!
It should be known that if it was sold as a luxury item used for decoration, like gemstones, the price offered by the n.o.bles of Caradia and Pande was only 250 denar for a crystal clear top-grade elemental gemstone.
And this crystal clear top-grade elemental gemstone was not something that could be found every time.
“15,000 denar per week.”
Kant’s fingers knocked on the table.
After pondering for a moment, he said to Joycelin, “Continue to maintain good trade exchanges with the treemen of Fangorn forest. Although this money is a little less, the most important thing is to maintain good relations with them.”
“Understood.”
Joycelin nodded.
Kant obviously didn’t care about 15,000 denar per week at the moment.
If it was just the table salt trade, then his monthly income would reach 150,000 + denar. This was over 100,000. Even if it was completely filled into the construction of the town, it would still be able to build up half of the city.
For example, the investment in Aaron City back then was only 350,000 denar.
Although it was small.
It could indeed be considered a city.
Of course, if he could build a good relations.h.i.+p with the tree people, it would be best if he could hire these tree people. Even if he couldn’t hire them, it would be good to obtain the precious spring of nature that these tree people had.
Oasis Lookout had suffered a serious injury. The vegetation had been trampled clean, and even the date palm tree had been damaged.
If they weren’t taken care of, they would definitely wither.
However, adding the spring of nature could revive the withered plants.
One had to admit that this was the magical aspect of the consumption of strange items. It was comparable to the power of regulation.
“It’ll be fine as long as we stabilize it for now.”
Kant came to a conclusion.
What they needed now was indeed stability. They needed to digest the fruits of victory as soon as possible, and at the same time, they needed to speed up the means to enter the Dukedom of Leo. The most crucial thing was the ancient pa.s.sageway beneath Aaron City. It was time to put it to use.
They could head directly to the RIver of Renesiston and head straight for the important land of the Dukedom of Leo!
It was also close to the Silver Platter Kingdom.
Moreover, this river also communicated with the other human countries.
It was extremely strategic!
Kant obviously had thoughts about this river, especially after defeating the undead troops that were invading from the south. His thoughts about the Dukedom of Leo and the human countries became even deeper.
It was not because of the occupation of the estate, but because of the denar.
This was Kant’s goal.
The land was nothing to him. In fact, there was a system. He did not need the land.
Even the output of the land, the wealth of the n.o.ble, was only a concept to Kant. Only the denar was real, because only this currency could be recognized by the system.
The enlistment of the troop cla.s.s and the purchase of supplies required the denar.
So Kant needed the denar.
In this world, what could be exchanged for the denar on a large scale was gold.
So he needed trade, just like the colonies that appeared in modern times on earth in his previous life, plundering all the economies of the colonies, and obtaining a large amount of gold for the main force, that is, Kant, to exchange for the denar.
Only the denar could strengthen Kant’s strength.
The so-called soldiers.
The so-called resources.
In fact, they could all be obtained by using denar to ride and hack the world!
This caused Kant to not care about the supplies of this world. He really treated this world as a colony that could be plundered at will, especially the plundered economy, which was also gold!
“Right, since you are back, let Manide quickly organize the preparations for the table salt trade.”
Kant ordered, “Tomorrow, I’ll set off with him to the central posthouse.”
“That’s what I should do.” Joycelin shrugged. “Those merchants from the Dukedom of Leo are probably waiting anxiously.”
The undead had sealed off Drondheim Castle for two weeks.
That was equivalent to the table salt trade being cut off for two weeks.
But for those merchants who relied on Kant for a living, it was equivalent to their income being cut off for two weeks. If it continued for too long, those merchants who were already used to high profits would probably be furious!
They had come all the way to the Nahrin Desert to earn money.
But now…
The table salt camel caravan that was supposed to appear every week had disappeared.
If they wanted to go deeper into the desert, Rolf, the commander of the local garrison, would definitely not allow them to enter.
If they were not in a hurry, it was absolutely impossible. Those merchants would probably still join forces and attempt to negotiate with Rolf. After all, they did not rely solely on themselves, but also represented the n.o.ble families behind them!
Oasis Lookout had already calmed down.
At present, the “Drondheim” castle only needed to remain vigilant.
Kant would not bring too many troops to the central posthouse.
But he still had to have a high-end troop cla.s.s.
Because going to the central posthouse was not his goal, he still had to go to the pa.s.s of hard stones. He had to meet Fatis, who had been stationed there for more than two months, and also send a signal to let those n.o.ble families who wanted to advance further know the benefits of cooperation.
Planning for the Dukedom of Leo had to be put on the agenda.
Kant had enough troops now.
He also had enough strength.
Annexing the Dukedom of Leo, or supporting agents, and completely taking control of the Dukedom’s business, turning it into a source of continuous production of golden eagles, was still very simple for Kant.
Especially the spy he had planted beforehand, Borg of the eastern county, he also planned to make contact with.
He was going to use the mole.
Now.
It was time.