Chapter 1057: Trap

Earl Canmond was staring at Count Siegfried with a grim expression.

"So Earl Canmond would like me to purchase your wool?" Count Siegfried looked at the documents in his hand. "And the amount of the purchase is not small either. You should know that it's hard for me to raise this much money to purchase the wool, right?"

Earl Canmond bit his lips. "I'm aware of how much money you need to fork out. However, please remember that this is beneficial for you as well."

"Beneficial for me? How come?"

"The wool's price will return to normal soon."

"I don't think so. It has been a few weeks since the wool's price dropped. I'm also aware that this happens because you're imposing a trade ban against Marquis Ardagan. If I buy this wool from you, I might inquire about the wrath of Marquis Ardagan." Count Siegfried frowned. "Let alone that the wool price has been dropping continuously as no nobles want to buy it because of the same reason or because the price doesn't rise anymore."

Earl Canmond took a deep breath. He was angry, but there was nothing he could do. He had to make Count Siegfried buy his product.

"I'm aware that you are trying to maintain your neutrality. However, you should see the future, Count Siegfried. Once the Ardagan family is crushed, the rune technology will spread. You don't have to even beg for rune technology to acquire it. The Marquis is having a hard time right now, and if we can last to winter, there will be a lot of deaths in Lounstein. And I'm sure you can imagine what will happen after that."

Count Siegfried glanced at the document again and said, "But I still have to pay the price... The price of the wool has dropped from 100 silvers per 10 kilograms to only 55 to 60 silvers in the current market.

"And you're asking me to buy a hundred tons. Don't you think it's too excessive? If I'm not wrong, it's your entire stock right now."

"..." Earl Canmond was aware of the amount. Even if the price had been reduced, he still had to fork out more than five thousand golds.

Five thousand gold might not be that much compared to the entire budget, but as a noble, he had to consider the other costs as well. Asking for five thousand gold coins was similar to asking for six months of revenue from the entire territory. This money could be used to train their elites or buy good things for the territory. In fact, he could use this amount of money for rune technology from Noel.

Count Siegfried turned to Earl Canmond while raising his finger. "And do you think that I'm unaware that you are visiting other territories first? What is their answer?"

Earl Canmond couldn't reply to that question, but the answer was rather obvious. He wouldn't have gone to this place if he had sold his products.

Hence, Earl Canmond said, "If you buy all this, I can promise you a lot of other things in the future."

Count Siegfried shook his head. "But that's only if you manage to crush Marquis Ardagan."

"I will... We will. I promise!"

"I can't risk my territory's stability on a promise, Earl Canmond."

Earl Canmond clenched his fists. "Then, what do you suggest, Count Siegfried?"

Count Siegfried looked troubled, contemplating the problem seriously. He said, "I can buy all your wool, but you have to lower it even further. Maybe 40 silvers per 10 kilograms."

"That's too low." Earl Canmond shook his head.

"This..." Count Siegfried pinched the bridge of his nose as if he was going to reject him.

Earl Canmond had lost hope and thought about visiting another noble. He had been thoroughly humiliated during the whole trip.

However, Count Siegfried changed his mind and added, "In that case, I will buy it for 50 silvers per 10 kilograms. However, you have to throw at least 1,000 sheep for me."

Earl Canmond shuddered. A thousand sheep was not a small number. It would definitely harm his production a little bit. But when he thought about what was going to happen to his territory's economy, it might not be a big deal.

After all, the production would have to be restored gradually. During that time, he could breed more sheep and reach his peak again. In fact, the rune technology would provide him more money than the sheep.

5,000 gold coins might not be much, but they should last for a while if he uses them sparingly. This should provide enough food for the populace.

"However, I can only buy the raw materials from you. I can't afford the clothes you're offering me."

"Yes. That's enough." Earl Canmond nodded furiously. Since the wool had been cleaned up, he could get another 5,000 to 10,000 gold coins for the already made clothes. This should be enough to last until winter.

"Alright." Count Siegfried sighed. "And I also want an additional condition. I want this wool to be transported to me right away."

"Of course. I can promise you that everything will be delivered within one week."

Count Siegfried nodded, agreeing to this arrangement.

Earl Canmond was satisfied.

What he didn't know was the reason why Count Siegfried bought those materials from him.

Count Siegfried was looking at the leaving Earl Canmond from his window while thinking, 'What a fool. I guess everything is going according to Marquis Ardagan. I'm supposed to be buying the wool while another lord purchases the clothes so as not to make Earl Canmond too suspicious.

'The road leading to Countess Christina is about to be completed, so we can start sending the materials to Marquis Ardagan, who offers 125 silver coins per 10 kilograms. From that alone, I've got 7,500 gold coins. It's a shame that it can't go any higher, but that doesn't matter because of other benefits.

'I can get the cooperation of Countess Christina and Marquis Ardagan along with a seat inside the Rune Academy. Is there any deal better than this?'

Count Siegfried closed his eyes. Earl Canmond didn't realize that he was just a sacrificial lamb for Count Siegfried.

As predicted, another lord bought the clothes from Earl Canmond, giving him a lot of money.

At first glance, it looked like Earl Canmond had gotten enough money to last for a while. However, he didn't realize the second layer of trap Noel had created for him.

The same applied to the other nobles who sold their goods at a cheap price.

...

When Countess Christina heard the news from Count Siegfried, she couldn't help but smile.

"To think that the son is much more terrifying than the father," Countess Christina muttered as she remembered Anna coming directly to her mansion. She thought they would be too busy for a long negotiation, but Anna simply swept in and took care of everything.

"But I don't think the defeat of these four nobles is the only thing he has in mind. There must be another reason why he wants to defeat them so badly." Countess Christina looked down, contemplating.

...

On the other side, the Stargaze family had also received news about other nobles near their territory.

Dylan was looking at the report with his mother.

"This is good, right, Mother?" Dylan asked.

"Why do you think it's good?" She asked.

"Now that we've purchased their goods, we can send them to Marquis Ardagan. After that, we will crush them simultaneously.

"Besides, we've reached an agreement with other lords, so the road is about to be completed. By the time they realize it, it will be too late."

She nodded, satisfied. "Then, what do you think we should do from now on?"

Dylan contemplated it for a minute before writing it down on the paper. "Something like this?"

"That's good enough." The one who answered it was not his mother, but a voice coming from the opposite side.

"!!!" Dylan hurriedly stood up and positioned himself between the voice and his mother to protect her, only to find Kevin appearing out of thin air. "Father?"

Kevin nodded with a smile. "I'm back."

"Dear, you..." She took a deep breath while rubbing her forehead. "Can you not appear all of a sudden? Why do you even use your power to enter the mansion?"

"I want to surprise you both since it's rare for me to get the time to visit home and meet both of you together." Kevin smirked before turning serious as he patted his son's shoulder. "And I also want to apologize to Dylan..."

"You don't have to, Father. I understand the circumstances of our family." Dylan shook his head. "Besides, this is for my little sister."

Kevin felt gratified to have such an understanding son. He had owed him a lot, so he said, "While we're at it, what do you think about a little family trip?"

"A family trip?" Dylan raised his eyebrows.

"Yep." Kevin took out a letter and said, "We're already one week away from the marriage, so let's visit her first. I've got permission from Noel to visit their main city."