Chapter 951: Greatest Merchant Union

Proofreader : Papatonks

Goldbough City, a name that implied wealth and riches, all gathered in one place.

There was some truth to the saying 'money makes the world go round'. Most of the central area was under the imperial family and the officials' control, with one exception. Goldbough City. The largest merchant union in the lands, Serene Shores Trading, held its main office in this very city, where even the imperial family wouldn't get involved.

Couldn't they, really?

Of course, it couldn't be farther than the truth. This empire held so much power that it shocked the other four lands, let alone a tiny trading company. It didn't matter how many ties you had across the world, or how much wealth, since with great power came greater wealth. Just how commoners didn't fight with nobles, neither did they fight with high officials.

As to why a trading company controlled a city was all due to the empire's permission. Even with the Sword Star Empire standing against the four other areas, it still relied on trade with them to exchange resources and local products with each other. In order to facilitate these trades, a neutral party was needed, the Serene Shores Trading in this case.

The empire gave it supreme power in linking the five lands, so it set up relations between all of them and played a pivotal role in any land.

Millennia later, through its subdued lust for power, never stepping into any land's power struggle, it had earned the trust of every faction in the lands, opening their doors for its business. It led to a boom in revenue, growing larger and larger, becoming the main trade hub between the lands.

These last few hundred years in particular showed great expansion. It was all due to Baili Jingwei coming to governance. With his brilliant mind, he urged the trading with the rest of the lands to get bigger and faster, giving the Serene Shores Trading more power by building their own teleportation array within the lands to facilitate this.

Only the bold would take such a risk.

The minute the five lands teleportation array fell in another's hands, they would lose control and could invade the empire's heart from thousands of miles away. It also worked as a perfect retreat too, giving them an easy way to withdraw without losses.

That was why out of the central area, no other land had a teleportation array in the hands of another, even a trader. Only the higher ups of every land could activate a teleportation array to another land, so order could be maintained.

This showed just how bold Baili Jingwei was in giving so much power to a trading union.

It wasn't done out of impulsiveness either, backed up by real power. The Sword Star Empire didn't fear other lands' spies, nor any kind of trouble they might stir here.

The central area had the Invincible Sword and only his defeat would crumble the central area. Which was impossible since he was way stronger than anyone else. You couldn't kill him even with human wave tactics. Adding to that, the Nine Sword Kings stationed in their domain, and the central area became a connected hell. Even the best clan in eastern lands was feeling tense spending even one more day in this place. They were so close to getting shredded too.

Because of such indomitable backing, Baili Jingwei had an even easier time with politics, displaying his talent without fear or repercussions.

Be that as it may, the commercial teleportation array had its restriction. First, one had to wear the Serene Shores Trading's badge and the other was to gain Goldbough City's nominal lord's approval, Baili Jingyu, a member of the imperial family. Lest the enemy took action while they were oblivious and taking this place for themselves.

As in any system, leaks always sprouted, even with this double safety net. Maybe the people were too confident in their empire, or they just didn't care how the commercial line was used and trusting Serene Shores Trading completely, or maybe their contempt of the other lands had grown unchecked, regardless of the reason, the second safety net, Baili Jingyu, was so insipid and useless, he barely made for a good figurehead, always indulging himself and not to mention he had a lousy cultivation.

With the central area teeming with talent, the only reason the three century old Radiant Stage bag of bones got this job was thanks to being part of the imperial family.

I.e. he has the Patriarch watching his back.

It thus led to the Serene Shores Trading holding the real power in the Goldbough City.

Zhuo Fan did his homework on this city and was now standing before the grand and ostentatious gates with a weary Gu Santong on his back.

Gu Santong might have had his wound healed and some time to replenish his blood would've got him back on his feet, it just didn't happen. He was still very weak and his energy just wouldn't recover.

The countless pills Zhuo Fan gave him showed no effect either. It was like anything the child ate would be washed away without any result.

Zhuo Fan did not understand this condition, nor know how to fix it. So he stuck to the old plan, in taking him back to the two monsters in western lands.

They were the same type as Qilin, having been alive since antiquity, and should know what this ailment was.

To make this trip as smooth as possible, Zhuo Fan chose to use this five lands teleportation array and get young Sanzi home. At the very least, young Sanzi's life wasn't at risk.

On the bustling street filled with riders and carriages, a lone father blended with the crowd, looking all over the place as he went.

Zhuo Fan's eyes shone at some point and grinned as he fixed his gaze on a lofty courtyard. Before it were two Soul Harmony experts standing guard, totally devoted to their duties like stone cold machines.

Above them was a most dazzling, flamboyant, and utter money-wasting sign he saw, with Serene Shores Trading written in big fancy, golden letters..

"To use the commercial line, one first must get this clan's approval, ha-ha-ha..."

Zhuo Fan stepped lively for the entrance, but the guards barred his path.

Zhuo Fan felt it awfully familiar.

[Didn't the same happen back at the Veiled Dragon Pavilion? Ha-ha, guess lap dogs can be found everywhere.]

The guards, however, were off script this time around, not having the least bit of scorn, even bowing, "Sir, what might have brought you here?"

"Business!"

"What kind?"

"Why would I tell you? I want to see your manager!" Zhuo Fan demanded.

[These watchdogs want to use their master to intimidate me.]

The guards did not mind it one bit, "Ha-ha-ha, sir, we're not questioning you. We're here to receive guests. But as there are all kinds of people, business can be big or small. We largely deal in big deals which makes every visitor an important customer. I advise that sir visits our shops for small buys, only half a mile down the street. We welcome any and all cooperation, thank you."

Zhuo Fan raised an eyebrow.

[The best merchant union sure is something else. They even trained their guards to be nice. No wonder they exploded in size. ]

He found no reason to make the situation worse, so he revealed a bottle with glittering rocks, "Tell me, is this deal big or small?"

"Sacred stones!"

The two gave Zhuo Fan a long look and advised, "Sacred stones are under tight control throughout the lands. Not just anyone can have them. Just who are you... sir?"

Zhuo Fan looked elsewhere and scoffed.

The two winced, knowing they made a serious blunder, "Forgive me, sir. It was a slip of the tongue."

"Trust is crucial in any business. I heard when Serene Shores Trading makes a deal, it never asks the other party's history, thus dealing with every aspect of society. But your actions today, if the head knew of it... "

"Forgive us, please, I forgot myself, sir." The guard bowed deeply in fear.

Their training comprised of being robotic, to give short replies and not eavesdrop. Most importantly, to treat guests with utmost humility and respect. They could never go after anyone unless ordered to.

But because of shock, all the wrong words came out, looking into the guest.

It was plain to see that Zhuo Fan with a child on his back looked like a househusband, not someone important enough to have sacred stones.

The sacred stones were so important in the central area as well that only the really important figures had them, and they never came through here.

That was why it baffled the two guards to no end.

[He can't be from the imperial family, can he? One word to the manager and we'll go bye-bye.]

[What rotten luck! What was I thinking blabbering so much to such a mystery guest?]

The two looked nervous and grimaced on either side of Zhuo Fan.

He had no intention to whip a guard dog, not when he was so nice, but he had to show off his style, to intimidate and swing the negotiations in his favor. These were guidelines Zhuo Fan always adhered to when doing high-profile negotiations.

A bark came out of nowhere, "Who's making a ruckus at the Serene Shores Trading door?"