Chapter 66: Negotiating The Contract
“I don’t know, how much Blazing Sun Nature raw material do you need?” Xilutiya held a folding fan in one hand, imitating Madam Fran by gently tapping her palm, looking like someone not easily fooled.
“Of course, the more the better.”
The other party didn’t pretend to be reserved and directly made a bold demand, saying they could take it all.
The maiden shook her head slightly; there was no way to negotiate like this—she hadn’t even stated the conditions and rewards yet.
“Teacher has indeed cultivated quite a few sunflowers of Blazing Sun Nature, but this took a lot of effort, and some of the products have already been pre-ordered by friends, so they cannot be entirely given to you.” Xilutiya politely refused.
“I understand, so I specially prepared a gift for you this time.” It seemed the other party had planned this in advance.
This capable merchant produced a small box from his sleeve like a magic trick. The octagonal prism-shaped box was placed on the table, and when the button was pressed, it opened layer by layer like a lotus, revealing a jade stone inside that emitted a strange glow.
【Fluorescent Prehnite】（First Order·Emerald Honey）: An extremely rare emerald fluorescent gem that occasionally occurs with stalactite, highly heat-resistant, suitable for extending Emerald Honey Nature abilities.
Although it was only First Order Nature, considering the rarity of this gem, its value was probably more than ten times that of an ordinary First Order extraordinary item.
At least one hundred gold flower coins, the maiden estimated silently.
“This prehnite is special; it can contain Emerald Honey Nature power and assist related abilities.” If made into a ring, it could enhance Xilutiya’s Dew Prayer Method and Flower Blooming Technique by about thirty percent.
“Such a gem is indeed very precious, but it is far from matching the transaction we’re discussing.” The maiden opened her folding fan, half-covering her face, revealing only her bright blue eyes like gems.
“No rush, Miss Anluo’er. I have also prepared something for you.” This merchant had done his homework thoroughly, no wonder he was so confident.
He produced a jar of amber liquid from somewhere again and placed it on the table. The liquid inside was viscous like honey, with tiny bubbles, but it was not honey.
“Miss Anluo’er, this is rare resin I obtained from Lake De Duchy. It can be used in making many rare items and can also be paired with the prehnite just now to make 【Tree Jade Spirit Sword】, this kind of special weapon.”
【Chiffon Pine Resin】（First Order·Emerald Honey）: Resin from the extraordinary plant chiffon pine, with low yield and wide uses, often applied to clarifying lenses, emerald glass, precision instrument parts, etc.
Another rare item, but what he mentioned as 【Tree Jade Spirit Sword】 was something Xilutiya had never heard of before.
As if aware that Xilutiya didn’t know, Lining stepped forward and said: “Please, sir, introduce the 【Tree Jade Spirit Sword】.”
“Naturally. Actually, I have a blueprint here for the crafting method of the 【Tree Jade Spirit Sword】, which can be given as a gift along with it.” The other party took out a folded paper page and handed it to the maid.
【Tree Jade Spirit Sword】（Emerald Honey）: A weapon crafted by combining prehnite and resin with Emerald Honey Nature using special secret arts. After infusing Emerald Honey Nature power, it can automatically repair nicks, sharpen its edge, and has excellent toughness.
Ordinary steel weapons inevitably develop nicks when colliding with hard objects, but sword blades made from resin can instantly harden and soften under Emerald Honey Nature control, possessing both hardness and sharpness as well as flexibility and resistance. Even if nicks occur, they can be repaired through self-adhesion and flow.
Purely crafting a sword blade from resin would lack sufficient hardness and sharpness, and it wouldn’t be heat-resistant, but the properties of prehnite excellently overcome these two points, making the two a perfect match with wonderful complementarity.
Such a weapon was exactly what Xilutiya, who lacked combat means, urgently needed. She didn’t know how the other party knew, or perhaps it was just a guess, since most gardeners at low orders lacked means to cope with combat.
Her sleeve-covered fingers lightly touched her chin as Xilutiya tilted her head, looking at the items on the table, pondering in her mind.
“Can you say how much sunflower seed oil you expect to obtain from Teacher?”
Seeing the maiden relent, the man pinched his mustache, thought briefly, and answered: “We hope to obtain at least 500 bottles of sunflower seed oil this time.”
Five hundred bottles… Xilutiya closed her folding fan and tapped her palm.
“Too many; at most, we can give you three hundred bottles.”
Actually, there were about seven hundred bottles of sunflower seed oil in the underground storage room, but these were Madam Fran’s years of stock, and Xilutiya couldn’t sell off Teacher’s things all at once.
“Three hundred bottles is fine. We will acquire them at about 3 gold coins per bottle. I wonder if Miss Anluo’er can accept this.” This price could only be described as average.
Considering the extra time and effort to sell elsewhere, selling at this price was not a loss, but wouldn’t make much profit either.
“Three gold coins per bottle, I can’t account for that to Teacher.” Anluo’er shook her head.
“At least four gold coins per bottle.” She extended four slender fingers.
“Acceptable.”
The other party agreed too quickly, making Xilutiya regret whether she was cut out for business. At least haggle with her a bit to confirm if this price was appropriate.
However, since she had agreed, she wasn’t the type to back out temporarily.
“Then let’s continue discussing transportation and delivery issues.” Xilutiya knew she couldn’t handle this alone; she raised her hand, signaling Lining to come closer.
“Go invite Madam Cali from the Gardener Guild. Tell her I have some business matters I don’t understand and need her help.”
“Understood, Miss.” Lining acknowledged and left the living room.
Not long after, the maid returned, making Xilutiya think the other party hadn’t gone out.
“I have already notified Madam Cali; she should be here soon.” Lining didn’t explain how she notified her, and Xilutiya didn’t ask in front of the guest, just nodding as if she understood.
Regarding Xilutiya’s sudden call for someone, the merchant didn’t get angry and just quietly drank tea, as if everything was expected.
About ten minutes later, a horse carriage arrived in front of the mansion. Soon after, Madam Cali, dressed in a deep green gown, entered with two retainers.
“Long time no see, Anluo’er~” She first came to Xilutiya’s side to greet her, then sat down, her gaze sizing up the man opposite.
“Hello, Madam Cali.” The man seemed to have heard of her name.
“Hello, but I think we haven’t met before.” Cali was certain this was their first meeting.
“Yes, I’m Albayou from Fengqiao City, representative of the Bronze Halberd Merchant Guild, commissioned by the local guild and city lord to procure key raw materials.”
“Bronze Halberd Merchant Guild, and Fengqiao City… So you’re procuring for the military.” Cali recalled something.
The Bronze Halberd Merchant Guild specialized in producing military equipment. They had many blacksmiths and armorers, and many great nobles procured weapons and equipment for their guards from them. Because of unified raw material procurement and crafting, the Bronze Halberd Merchant Guild could keep costs down and maintain stable quality, earning praise from many customers.
“This time, you’re even involved in healing potion business; looks like you’re cooperating with the local Apothecary Guild.”
Currently, apothecaries in Regas Kingdom mostly belonged to the Apothecary Guild alliance. Their qualification certification and training methods were controlled by the Apothecary Guild, making it hard for other merchant guilds to encroach.
“I’m Sister Fran’s friend. She’s not home today, and Anluo’er is handling many things, but as an elder, I feel it’s necessary to help look after. Please don’t mind, Mister Albayou.” Mind or not, it wouldn’t change anything; Cali’s words were just polite notice.
At this point, Cali inquired about the previously negotiated price and quantity conditions, tapped her fingers thoughtfully, then spoke.
“Four gold coins is too little; at least five gold coins per bottle.”
“No, no, Madam Cali, this price is already quite fair and shows sincerity. In fact, I’m giving such a favorable price entirely on Miss Anluo’er’s account.” Albayou shook his head.
“The market price for a bottle of basic healing potion is about 20 silver coins, with effects including stopping bleeding and initial wound healing.”
“One bottle of sunflower seed oil as raw material, mixed with other herbs and refined, can make 24 bottles of basic healing potion, which is 480 silver coins, equivalent to about 4.8 gold coins.”
“At this price, we won’t have much profit left. You also have to consider storage and the apothecary’s share.” Far from profit, it would even be a loss.
“That’s not quite right.” Cali also shook her head in denial.
“You only mentioned basic healing potion.”
“If one bottle of sunflower seed oil is used as raw material for intermediate healing potion production, it can make 8 bottles, and each bottle of intermediate healing potion sells for 1 gold coin, which is 8 gold coins.” This did seem profitable.
“You know 1 gold coin per bottle is the retail price. The orders we hand to the military won’t be that high, or we couldn’t close the deal.” Albayou argued logically.
The two continued to haggle afterward, but Albayou seemed to change tactics, stubbornly sticking to 4 gold coins per bottle, which greatly annoyed Cali.
Seeing the negotiation at a stalemate, Xilutiya had to interrupt temporarily.
“Let’s not discuss price first; let’s talk about delivery and transportation.”
“Due to lack of manpower at the mansion, we can’t help transport it to Fengqiao City, so you must send people to pick it up.”
“No problem.” Albayou also wouldn’t trust others to transport such valuable goods.
“Then, regarding inspection at delivery, please inspect on site before taking it away from the mansion. Damage after leaving is not our responsibility.”
“That’s acceptable, but we also need to consider road losses, so please, Miss Anluo’er, agree to gift two bottles for every 100 bottles purchased, to cover losses.”
On this point, Xilutiya thought about it. If she didn’t agree, selling purely by herself and Madam would also be troublesome, and such losses were indeed unavoidable.
“Acceptable.” She tapped her palm with the folding fan, agreeing.
Seeing Xilutiya agree, Cali said no more. Actually, as Albayou said, this price was indeed good. For other Nature raw materials, a bottle might be worth 1 gold coin, and for the rare Blazing Sun Nature, four times that was already premium.
“Then let’s sign the contract.” With that, the merchant produced a special contract paper, made by the Candle Fort School, attached with Secret Word Nature to prevent forgery. Once signed, it would separate into two identical copies, and the text on the paper would be covered by regenerated patterns to prevent tampering.
Just this contract paper alone was worth several gold coins; ordinary contracts wouldn’t use it.
