Chapter 113? Buying things and selling things
Meals on the Sines Continent was somewhat different from meals on earth, before they finished eating, they definitely wouldn’t discuss business.
So after they ate to their heart’s content and the desserts were carried in, everyone had some tea before Lewis jumped into business.
“Chairman Xu, I had Hannas invite you over for a meal today was first after the Frestech Chamber of Commerce’s quick development in a year, I really wanted to see chairman Xu to see if you’ve changed from last year. Second, my friends here had something that they needed chairman Xu’s help with.”
Newman from the Rudson Kingdom immediately said with a nod and a smile, “That’s right, I specially asked Lewis to set up a meeting with chairman Xu. Otherwise, I really don’t know how to find you.”
“I’m the same. I came from this duchy this time just to see chairman Xu.” Anklo from the Stantine Duchy also said with a nod.
Xu Yi looked at Hannas with a surprised look, but he just gave a shrug, clearly he didn’t know the real intent behind this mean either. So Xu Yi turned over and looked at the two as he said with a faint smile, “The two of you are too polite. Only what can I help you with?”
The two looked at each other before Newman spoke first, “It’s like this, chairman Xu. I’ve heard that your Lampuri Kingdom started to promote your Frestech Chamber of Commerce’s agricultural magic machines last year and then they received a large harvest this year, with the grain yield being far greater than before. Did something like this happen?”
“Eh…..I don’t know the specific number, so it’s hard to say if it’s far greater than before, but I’m guessing it should be like this.” Xu Yi replied in an uncertain manner.
Of course he was lying.
Actually after the fall harvest had ended in Banta City, he had already received the good news from Count Sean. According to the statistics of the agricultural department, the total harvest output of this year’s fall harvest in the Lampuri Kingdom was actually three times higher than before!
Xu Yi had an important thing to do on his trip to Anvilmar City this time, which was to attend the special celebration banquet that the king was holding for this rich harvest.
According to information from Seveni, Xu Yi was treated as the greatest contributor to the increase in the harvest amount, so he would be receiving a special reward at the banquet.
Of course, this matter didn’t need to be disclosed to foreigners.
Without understanding their real goal, of course he would choose to answer as ambiguously as possible.
Newman didn’t really care about Xu Yi’s answer, it was clear that he had some understanding of this already.
“Chairman Xu, I think that no one can deny the powerful abilities of the agricultural magic machines, so I want to ask you, is your Frestech Chamber of Commerce planning to sell those agricultural magic machines to other countries?” Newman asked.
Xu Yi was surprised, “Mister Newman, your meaning is that…..you want to buy agricultural magic machines?”
Newman said with a nod, “That’s right. There is even more desolate farmland in our Rudson Kingdom compared to your Lampuri Kingdom, so I feel that if we can purchase enough agricultural magic machines from your company, our Rudson Kingdom’s grain yield will definitely increase.”
“Although from the perspective of a merchant, I hope that our company’s products can have better sales, mister Newman, with all due respect, the agricultural magic machines is something that our Lampuri Kingdom’s king cares about, so I can’t arbitrarily sell it to you.” Xu Yi said in a somewhat helpless voice.
Newman laughed, “I think that chairman Xu shouldn’t need to worry about this. Since mister Lewis is willing to let me see you, that means that his majesty should have already agreed to this.”
“Is that so?” Xu Yi looked at Lewis with a confused gaze.
Was this Lewis this powerful?
Lewis gave a slight nod to Xu Yi, “Chairman Xu, you don’t need to worry about this.”
It would be strange if Xu Yi wasn’t worried. This agricultural magic machine could be considered a strategic product of the Lampuri Kingdom and in a normal situation, it couldn’t be exported without the king’s approval at all.
However Lewis wasn’t willing to explain this situation, so Xu Yi could only look at Hannas who had been on the side doing nothing the entire time.
Hannas immediately gave Xu Yi a nod, “Relax, since uncle Lewis already said this, you don’t need to worry.”
“This fellow isn’t reliable…..” Xu Yi muttered in his heart. He looked back to Newman and said after thinking about it, “Mister Newman, as long as his majesty agrees, I would be very happy to carry out this transaction with you. But before this, I want to ask, how many agricultural magic machines are you planning to buy?”
Newman stretched out a finger, “I’m planning to buy ten thousand units of each kind of agricultural magic machine. If the effects are good, perhaps I might even order more in the future.”
“Ten thousand units of each kind?” Xu Yi was shocked.
Currently the Frestech Chamber of Commerce produced six kinds of agricultural magic machines. If this Newman wanted to buy ten thousand of each kind, according to the price of them, this order would be over four million gold coins!
With the terrifying profit margins of the agricultural magic machines, just based on this order, the Frestech Chamber of Commerce would receive terrifying profits of close to three million gold coins! 𝑏𝑒𝘥𝑛𝘰𝑣𝑒𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮
“What? Does chairman Xu have a problem with this?” Seeing Xu Yi’s expression change, Newman asked this.
Xu Yi took a sip from the teacup on the table and calmed his excited mood before saying, “Mister Newman, I’m very curious of your identity.”
Newman and Lewis looked at each other before he said with a smile, “It seems like chairman Xu is doubting whether I can afford this order?”
Xu Yi shook his head, “No, since you were invited by mister Lewis, of course I don’t doubt your ability to pay. I just feel that it is very strange, if mister Newman is a normal merchant, why would you want to buy this many agricultural magic machines? Even if you bring them back to the Rudson Kingdom to sell, I feel that you wouldn’t earn much profit with the issue of the transport costs.”
Newman suddenly broke out in laughter, “Chairman Xu, would you believe me if I said I’m not doing this to earn money at all?”
Xu Yi looked at him, clearly not believing this.
“Alright, it seems like if I don’t explain, it would be hard to obtain chairman Xu’s trust. Un…...My identity, to others it is the chairman of the Rudson Chamber of Commerce from the Rudson Kingdom, but in reality, I’m a special manager that does business for the royal family, which is similar to what mister Lewis does. Now does chairman Xu understand my meaning?”
Xu Yi immediately noted that Newman said that his status was the same as Lewis.
This meant that Lewis was actually a comprador for the Lampuri Kingdom’s royal family?
No wonder Lewis and Hannas told Xu Yi not to worry that the king wouldn’t agree to him selling agricultural magic machines. Perhaps this meeting today was set up by Lewis under the king’s instructions.
Xu Yi couldn’t help shaking his head. Since it was like this, why didn’t anyone tell him ahead of time to let himself prepare his heart?
“Chairman Xu, actually if there isn’t a need, I don’t want to disclose my identity, so I hope you don’t mind.” Lewis gave a slight bow to Xu Yi, speaking in an apologetic voice.
Xu Yi quickly waved his hand, “No, no, mister Lewis does not need to apologize. But since I know of you and mister Newman’s identities, that is much easier. Alright, I can represent the Frestech Chamber of Commerce in accepting this order.”
Newman immediately poured a full cup of wine for him and Xu Yi, which the two of them raised and gently clinked together.
“Chairman Xu, I hope we have a happy cooperation.”
“To a happy cooperation.”
After Newman and Xu Yi reached an initial agreement, naturally it was Anklo’s turn next.
Xu Yi wiped the wine from the corners of his mouth before looking over at Anklo to ask, “Mister Anklo, are you the same as mister Newman, are you also interested in buying agricultural magic machines from our company?”
Anklo shook his head, “No, I’m different from him. He is here to buy things and I’m here to sell things.”
“Sell things?” Xu Yi was surprised, “What do you want to sell to me?”
“Chairman Xu, you should be asking what the Stantine Duchy wants to sell to you.”
Hearing the meaning in Anklo’s words, Xu Yi’s heart skipped a beat. He quickly asked, “Then I wish to ask mister Anklo, what does the Stantine Duchy want to sell to me?”
Anklo revealed a faint smile, “I’ve heard that chairman Xu has always been interested in buying mines, so how about we sell two iron mines and one copper mine to you for now?”
“Two iron mines? One copper mine?” Xu Yi looked at Anklo in disbelief, “Mister Anklo, you wouldn’t be joking, right?”
“Of course I’m not joking.” Anklo shook his head, “Chairman Xu, I specially asked mister Lewis to set up this meeting, it wasn’t just to joke with you. How about it? I’m currently representing Duke Stantine to ask if your Frestech Chamber of Commerce will mine the two iron mines and one copper mine that the duke has personally picked, what do you think?”
Xu Yi swallowed a mouthful of saliva with difficulty, “Mister Anklo, is this really the thoughts of Duke Stantine? I can understand two iron mines, but why is Duke Stantine choosing to sell me a copper mine?”
“It’s very simple, it’s no use leaving it there, so the duke decided that we should use it to exchange for something that we need.” Anklo replied.
Xu Yi immediately heard some hidden meaning in Anklo’s words.
“That means that…..Duke Stantine doesn’t want me to pay with gold coins? But what does the duke need?”
“Chairman Xu, can we not discuss that here?” Anklo looked over at Lewis, Newman, and Hannas on the side before asking Xu Yi with a serious face, “I just want to ask chairman Xu, the duke wants to sell, do you want to buy?”
Xu Yi sat straight up as his face became serious and he gave a slow nod.
“Yes! Very much!”
Chapter 114 You know high grade magic
After Still was finished with the Sarank Chamber of Commerce’s banquet and came back to the residence, she found that Xu Yi was piled on a table, seriously examining a map.
“What are you doing?” Still asked in a curious voice.
“Ah? You’re back?” Xu Yi looked up to reply before pointing at the map and saying, “I’m currently studying the terrain of the Stantine Duchy.”
“Stantine Duchy?” Still tilted her head to think. She remembered when she had learned continental politics as an elective back at school and she had learned a bit about the duchy near the Lampuri Kingdom, “Oh, it’s that duchy in that crevie. Why are you suddenly studying their terrain?”
“Because in a while, I might have to take a trip there, so I’m studying first to prepare myself.” Xu Yi replied.
“You’re going to the Stantine Duchy?” Still was even more surprised, “Why?”
Xu Yi roughly explained what happened at his lunch meeting. Still thought for a bit after hearing this and the first thing she talked about surprised Xu Yi.
“Un, the Stantine Duchy’s people are really pitiful. I heard the teacher in continental politics mention that the average lifespan of people in the Stantine Duchy is only forty years, it’s much worse than our Lampuri Kingdom. Now they’re even selling their copper mines, it seems like Duke Stantine really can’t hold on.”
Xu Yi’s expression became a bit strange, “I say, Still, why does it sound like I’m a shameless person coming in to take advantage of them?”
Still pursed her lips into a smile, “If it was another merchant, they would be taking advantage of someone. But you Xu Yi as a good person wouldn’t do this, am I right?”
“Don’t give me a good guy card……” Xu Yi couldn’t help muttering as he rubbed his nose. He then said with a serious face, “You’re right that I wouldn’t take advantage of others. Actually, according to what Anklo said, the Stantine Duchy is always in danger, so I’ll be taking advantage of them whenever I go. But this time they came to find me, so I can’t be considered shameless. It can only be considered…..everyone taking what they need.”
“Then what does the Stantine Duchy plan on taking from you?” Still asked in a curious voice.
“I haven’t discussed this with Anklo yet, but Anklo said that they aren’t in need of gold coins, so it should be something that is difficult to buy with gold coins. I’m guessing it’s some kind of technology.” Xu Yi said.
“Technology?” Still said in a surprised voice, “What technology do they need from you? They can’t use the magic machine technology even if you give it to them, right? I feel that they might as well do the same as the Rudson Kingdom. They should first buy some agricultural magic machines back to let their people eat their fill.”
“No, they can’t use the agricultural magic machines right now.” Xu Yi shook his head and pointed at the Stantine Duchy on the map, “Look, the Stantine Duchy’s terrain is different from the other countries of the continent. Over half their territory is by the ocean, so it is frequently hit with hurricanes and tsunamis and half of the kingdom’s grain yield is very unstable. It could make their entire year’s worth of crops disappear into thin air because of a random hurricane or tsunami.”
Still looked at the map for a while before giving a slight nod and a look of sympathy.
“The people of this duchy really are pitiful, they can’t even grow crops. It’s a good thing that they can depend on the sea for fish, otherwise I really don’t know how they could keep living.”
Xu Yi revealed a faint smile, “Actually although they encounter frequent hurricanes and tsunamis from half their territory being by the sea, this also gives them a natural advantage, but they haven’t found how to use it yet.”
“Natural advantage?” Still looked at the map in a confused manner for a bit, but she couldn’t find anything, “What is this advantage?”
“The long coastline is their natural advantage.” Xu Yi replied, “Of course, not mentioning the Stantine Duchy, there isn’t a single country on the Sines Continent that understands how important this is.”
“What advantage does the coastline give?” Still was even more confused.
“It’s too early to talk about this now, but as long as we develop the engines, we can make full use of this advantage.”
Seeing the mysterious smile on Xu Yi’s face, Still couldn’t help rolling her eyes at him.
According to her understanding of Xu Yi, Xu Yi was someone with long term plans. Because he didn’t have confidence in them right now, no matter how she asked him, Xu Yi wouldn’t give a clear response.
Still didn’t keep asking him about this like a normal girl. After being with Xu Yi for this long, when she met this kind of situation, if she kept asking about it each time, it would make Xu Yi rather unhappy.
Still was a smart girl, she wouldn’t do something dumb like that.
After the two went on to talk about the Rudson Kingdom, Great Magician Camilla had come back from the lunch banquet at the Magicians Guild.
Seeing that Xu Yi was here, Great Magician Camilla asked him without any politeness, “Hey, kid, you’ll be participating in the certification exam tomorrow, have you prepared yourself?”
Xu Yi gave a shrug and replied with a relaxed expression, “What is there to prepare for, I just need to demonstrate my abilities.”
When Great Magician Camilla looked over, Xu Yi’s smile disappeared and he asked in a mysterious voice, “Your excellency Great Magician, you are responsible for the exam tomorrow, can you tell me about the topics ahead of time?”
Great Magician Camilla knew that Xu Yi was joking, but he couldn’t help glaring at him as he snappily waved his hand, “Scram!” After pausing for a bit, he added, “The exam of a high grade magician is the same as the exam of a low grade magician, but they just added a high grade magic test. There isn’t much of a difference, you don’t need to worry.”
“High grade magic?” Xu Yi couldn’t help knitting his brows.
The so-called high grade magic was the higher grade variant of the four basic elemental magic of wind, water, fire, and earth.
For example, the high grade magic of wind magic was thunder magic, the high grade magic of water magic was ice magic…..
Properly speaking, after a magician reached the Sixth Grade, they would start grasping high grade magic. But for Xu Yi who thought that high grade magic didn’t have much meaning when it came to magic machines, he rarely studied them. Although his magic power was at the same level as a Seventh Grade Magician, he had a weak grasp of high grade magic.
To put it simply, he was quite biased in his magic research. He wasn’t weaker than Eighth Grade or even Ninth Grade Magicians when it came to Magic Arrays, but his destructive magic was at most on par with a Sixth Grade Magician.
Seeing Xu Yi’s expression, Great Magician Camilla and Still were a bit surprised. Still quickly asked, “It can’t be that you don’t have a grasp of high grade magic, right?”
Xu Yi revealed an awkward smile, “This…..I’m not that good…...Alright, strictly speaking, I still haven’t completely grasped a single high grade spell.”
Great Magician Camilla and Still’s eyes popped out. Great Magician Camilla angrily said, “Kid, didn’t you tell me that you had the strength of a Seventh Grade Magician? What Seventh Grade Magician are you if you don’t know high grade magic!”
Still slightly knit her brows as she said in a worried voice, “Grandfather is right. If you don’t know high grade magic, the Magicians Guild will not accept you as a high grade magician. Not to mention the Seventh Grade exam, you might even pass the Sixth Grade exam.”
“This damn kid, I already told you to spend some time researching magic, but you just wouldn’t listen!” Great Magician Camilla angrily said, “What do we do now? You’re participating in the high grade magician exam tomorrow, you can’t just tell people that you don’t know any high grade magic, right? That would be a great joke!”
Xu Yi didn’t react as intensely as the two of them. His expression was more relaxed as he said with a smile, “This isn’t that bad, right? I can just take the exam next year if I don’t pass. I’ll properly study high grade magic during this year and I think I’ll definitely meet the requirements.”
“You say it so simply!” Great Magician Camilla’s spit almost splattered on Xu Yi’s face, “Kid, at the lunch banquet today, I kept praising you in front of everyone. I said that with your talent, you would definitely pass the exam. Now you’re telling me that you’re planning to give me? You’re not afraid of me losing face in front of others! Let me tell you, if you run away this time, do you believe I won’t tell Still to stop associating herself with you?”
“Ah?” Xu Yi and Still were stunned at the same time.
Still stomped her foot, “Grandfather, what nonsense are you saying? How is this related to our relationship?”
“Humph! I’m saying it like this. Kid, what are you planning to do?”
Xu Yi knit his brows and helplessly said, “But even if I don’t give up and go to the exam, I really don’t know a single high grade spell, so I won’t be able to pass the exam.”
“You really don’t know a single one?” Great Magician Camilla’s expression was a bit ugly, “Kid, I know there’s no use in threatening you, but do you know that your performance in this exam will very likely affect the guild’s attitude towards magic machines? If you perform well, the guild might pass the patent idea faster than you expected, but if you perform badly…..Even if this patent act passes, it wouldn’t be as good as you imagined.”
Xu Yi was stunned, “Your excellency Great Magician, why didn’t you say this earlier? If I knew how serious this matter was, I definitely would have studied high grade magic.”
Great Magician Camilla glared at him and angrily said, “How did I know that you didn’t study high grade magic at all!”
Hearing what Great Magician Camilla said, Still was also a bit anxious.
Xu Yi had mentioned in front of her many times that if the patent act passes, how important it would be to the development of the magic machine industry, so he always hoped that a perfect patent act would be passed by the Magicians Guild.
Now based on what Great Magician Camilla said, Xu Yi’s performance would affect the patent act, so this was a very important matter for Xu Yi.
“Grandfather, can’t you think of a way? How about you properly teach him and see if he can grasp a high grade spell in a day?”
Great Magician Camilla looked at Still and said with a cold snort, “With this kid’s talent, that isn’t impossible. But do you think that in a single afternoon and night, he would be able to properly learn a high grade spell? If he goes to the exam tomorrow, he would just embarrass himself.”
Still was already a Fifth Grade Magician and began having contact with high grade magic, so of course she knew that Great Magician Camilla was completely right.
“Then what do we do?” Still anxiously said.
Seeing Great Magician Camilla’s tightly knit brows and Still’s worried face, Xu Yi’s thoughts kept turning.
Actually he wasn’t that worried.
Even if the patent act passed by the Magicians Guild this time wasn’t perfect, with the development of the magic machine industry, the Magicians Guild would realize how important this patent act was and would eventually change it in the direction that Xu Yi wanted.
Moreover, Xu Yi could use the Frestech Chamber of Commerce’s special position in the industry to set some rules, so this patent act wasn’t that important.
But since Great Magician Camilla and Still worried about him this much, he couldn’t just seem like he didn’t care at all and had to work hard for this.
Countless thoughts passed in his mind and suddenly, there was a flash of brilliance that appeared in Xu Yi’s mind.
Xu Yi revealed a confident smile to Great Magician Camilla and Still, “I thought of something. Actually I already grasped a high grade spell and I’m quite skilled with it.”