Chapter 308 - 287 Deirdre Rocket Upgrade
At this moment, Da Fei’s heart surged with emotions! This deep-sea specialty was truly extraordinary!
Roland was right, it was quite easy for players to become officials, but for Vice Heroes to secure an official position, it was fraught with great dangers. If he could arrange for a Vice Hero to secure a Lieutenant position, it would not only add 100 Command Power, critically implying that they could also accumulate merits and be eligible for promotions!
First Vice Hero in the China Region with an epic level status had 1000 Command Power -- what a high rank that was! And it wasn’t obtained post-hire; it was a rank they started with. Hiring a high-ranking Vice Hero was super difficult, not to mention training a Vice Hero to reach such a rank, which was nigh impossible!
Da Fei’s heart was suddenly stirred.
However, there was still a troubling matter: just how much was this deep-sea specialty worth? These products were ahead of their time and must be incredibly valuable, right? Isn’t trading them for a few mere Lieutenant positions too big a loss?
No no no, that’s not the right way to think. Marx once said, "Value is created through exchange!" What about coal-mine owners who have to transport their wealth by trains? They lack a sense of security, and would rather have their sons drive a luxury car to work as a low-level civil servant at the yamen for a salary of a few thousand a month. What is it for?
Thus, if money can’t buy what’s truly needed, no amount of it holds any value! Actually, if at this time, all his Vice Heroes could become officials, that too would be a product of a time ahead! Trading something advanced for another advanced thing, that wouldn’t be a loss, right?
Roland chuckled, "Mr. Da Fei, what do you think?"
Just then, Deirdre spoke, "Master, please consider carefully!"
Da Fei was startled!
Roland frowned, "Madam, what seems to be the issue?"
Deirdre chuckled, "Master initially had me handle this transaction, so naturally, it’s my duty to express the concerns I have."
Roland, "Oh?"
Da Fei quickly asked, "What concerns?"
Roland chuckled too, "Madam, please speak freely."
Deirdre smiled, "First issue, let’s not discuss how much the batch of deep-sea merchandise is worth, but why did the manager emphasize so much on the specialties? Are the ores not valuable?"
Da Fei thought to himself, seeing Deirdre’s point that the value of the specialty must far exceed the ores.
Roland chuckled, "If I’m not mistaken, you are an Enchanting Demon, yes? It’s not tiring to explain this: though ores are valuable, their prices are clear and fixed, leaving no room for manipulation. But deep-sea goods are different; they have a market but no set price, providing a large room for operation and leaving no traces."
Da Fei suddenly realized, this was the knack for being a corrupt official! That was not giving anyone a handle to work with! Even if everyone knew there was an issue, but as long as the accounts are clear, you can’t do anything to him.
Deirdre smiled, "Actually, even with ores there is room for maneuver!"
Roland furrowed his brows, "What do you mean, madam?"
Deirdre smiled, "Even though I don’t possess the essential skill of Bargaining Skill, I know Basic Negotiation Skill reduces purchase costs by 5% and increases sale prices by 5%; Master-level Negotiation Skill could increase the sales price by 25%. Thus, these ores should be sold for 71.25 million! What does the manager think?"
Da Fei was suddenly shaken. Was Deirdre playing hardball without the Bargaining Skill, acting like a master-level haggler? Is she aiming to soar high?
Roland also shuddered all over and coughed slightly, saying, "However, it is true that ladies usually don’t possess Bargaining Skill, isn’t it? And the Master-level Negotiation Skill ’maximally’ increases by 25%, not necessarily by 25%. In fact, reaching over 10% with Master-level Negotiation Skill is considered a good deal."
Deirdre smiled and said, "Even if it increases to 25%, that would still be within the manager’s operational range, right? If the manager himself can’t fully operate within his own jurisdiction, how can I believe that you can secure several positions? After all, in my eyes, you are just a exchange manager!"
Roland was immediately stunned, "You!"
Da Fei was suddenly shocked! Indeed! Luckily it’s just a game! If this happened in real life, meeting such a big talker could very well mean encountering a scammer!
Just then, a familiar burst of laughter came from outside the door: "I heard someone was planning to clear out the city’s exchange, may I come in and take a look?"
Da Fei exclaimed, "The Mayor?"
Roland immediately scrambled to open the door and bowed; it was indeed the long-missing Mayor Auseliman!
Da Fei also followed in bowing, saying, "Lord Mayor, greetings! I am just a humble man, sorry for disturbing Your Honor."
Auseliman laughed heartily, "The President comes back and heads straight to the exchange, truly you leave me feeling quite lonely. Since you didn’t come to find me, I had no choice but to come to you!"
Da Fei hurriedly waved his hands, "Not at all, Lord Mayor, you are busy with important affairs, I dare not disturb you."
Auseliman chuckled and said, "Alright, we are all friends here, let’s drop the formalities. To show sincerity, I will personally vouch for this; now the lady should believe, right?"
Da Fei suddenly realized! So this Roland was just the Mayor’s pawn! Yes, how could such an important position be obtained by just anyone? Although he holds a minor position, his influence reaches the heavens! And how could such a matter be directly addressed by the Mayor himself? Of course, it had to be managed by his confidant. After all, the Mayor was interested in my goods. Now that I’ve lured out the boss behind the curtain, no more Mr. Nice Guy!
Da Fei quickly said, "Since the Lord Mayor says so, I have no more doubts."
Auseliman smiled, "Mr. President indeed has exceptional capabilities. Let’s not talk about these deep-sea specialties; just these ores alone are extraordinary. In reality, these ores are strategic materials from the Dwarf King on Fire Dragon Island, possibly several years’ output, normally not for sale. Managing to bring this batch back is a huge contribution to our city! So, we’ll follow Miss Instructor’s request, 71.25 million Gold Coin, to be paid in installments."
Roland said respectfully, "As you command, my lord."
He had been eavesdropping outside the door all this time? Damn! But he still remembers Deirdre is Miss Instructor? Fine then, back to business—
Da Fei then asked, "Lord Mayor, what about the debt of the Banshee Camp?"
Auseliman nodded solemnly, "I think, Mr. President’s goods are priceless in the market and have a huge potential for appreciation. Whether due to market expectations or my personal sentimental investment, or for the long-term contribution to the city and the Kingdom, it should all offset together!"
Da Fei was suddenly startled, "Does that mean, Lord Mayor, that I can offset a hundred million in debt with these special deep-sea goods?" I mow the lawn, is it that these sea goods are incredibly valuable, or is it your debts that are ridiculously bad? I think it’s the latter!
Auseliman smiled, "However, the Banshee Camp still spent 20 million Gold Coin in material costs, and we cannot let those who financed, the Grand Mages, suffer loss at all, so you can only offset 80 million in debts. How about that?"
Oh, crap! I get it! This camp actually costs just 20 million; the rest are all paying for labor and your trickery fees! Now, debt-free, what more is there to say!
Da Fei excitedly said, "Thank you, Lord Mayor!"
Auseliman then took out five military rank medals and declared solemnly, "You successfully completed the Duke’s task, indicating hope for the revival of the Dragon Cavalry Chamber of Commerce. These five Lieutenant ranks were once the escort squadron of the Dragon Cavalry Chamber of Commerce, and now I officially gift these ranks to you!"
—— Ah pu! Da Fei spat out a mouthful of blood in shock! Talking about trading a specialty for a Lieutenant Military Rank, it turns out it was already mine to begin with! What a hypocritically virtuous big corrupt official, truly leaving no trace behind!
The mayor chuckled, "Mr. President, are you satisfied with this trade?"
Satisfied! It offset the annoying barracks debt, and I even earned 50 million and 5 Lieutenant Military Ranks. As long as I don’t let my brother find out how much this batch of goods is really worth, to save him a lifetime of worry, I’m very satisfied! Anyway, let these goods be the stepping stone for me to curry favor with the powerful. It’s many times better than those coal bosses sending their sons to start as minor civil servants!
Roland bowed as he said, "So, Mr. Da Fei, shall we formalize the trade now?"
Da Fei nodded, then said to Deirdre, "You handle the takeover!"
Deirdre excitedly responded, "Thank you, Master!"
—— System Prompt: Deirdre completes the installment payment trade signing, obtaining a trade amount of 71.25 million Gold Coins. Deirdre completes a single huge trade, gaining 154 million Experience!
—— System Prompt: Deirdre has grasped the Basic Negotiation Skill!
Then, Deirdre’s head started buzzing with continuous golden flashes!
—— System Prompt: Congratulations! Your Vice Hero Deirdre has leveled up to 21!
—— System Prompt: Congratulations! Your Vice Hero Deirdre has leveled up to 22!
......
—— System Prompt: Congratulations! Your Vice Hero Deirdre has leveled up to 41!
Finally, the golden light settled!
Level 41! Holy shit! All by herself, she gobbled up over 150 million Experience, jumping straight from level 20 to 41! She truly surpassed all of us! This is the power of favoritism!
At this moment, Deirdre’s status is as follows:
—— Deirdre: The enigmatic Banshee pursuing the Hero’s Road.
Level: 41.
Occupation: Master-level Gunner, increases Crossbow damage by 100%, each hero level increase adds 1 point to Attack and one free attribute point.
Hero Special Ability: Banshee Leader. For every 2 levels the hero gains, the Banshee Army’s Attack and Defense each increase by 1 point. Also, the hero has the ability to train Banshees.
Professional Skills: Iron Maiden, Ballistics, Rapid Fire Skill, Smoke Bomb, Incendiary Bomb, Poison Gas Bomb.
—— Iron Maiden: The hero’s crossbows gain an explosive effect, capable of inflicting a total of 5 + 5×Magic Power magical damage to the area near the target point.
—— Ballistics: Master Gunner increases Crossbow range by 25%.
—— Rapid Fire Skill: Gunner can increase the Crossbow’s Attack Speed by 50%, during which the durability of the crossbow continuously decreases.
—— Smoke Bomb: Gunner can produce and release a smoke bomb, confusing the enemy’s sight.
—— Incendiary Bomb: Gunner can produce and release incendiary bombs, causing chaos among enemies.
—— Poison Gas Bomb: Gunner can produce and release poison gas bombs, causing chaos among enemies.
Hero Skills: Master War Machine Science (Crossbow Master), Advanced Dark Magic, Basic Negotiation Skill.
Command Power: 100
Attack: 61 (Base 17, from treasure +3, upgrade points +41)
Defense: 42 (Base 13, from treasure +29)
Magic Power: 10
Knowledge: 10
Damage: 25-39
Life: 452 (from treasure +102, upgrade +82)
Magic Resistance: 50%
Fire Resistance: 75%
Attack Speed: 11
Hero Special Skills: Flying Creature, Charm Master, Chain Shooting, Transformation Skill, Banshee Training Master
Hero’s Treasures (Note, these treasures are personal items of the hero, unauthorized usage by players will decrease the hero’s loyalty):
—— Dwarf King Armor: B-grade strategic treasure, Defense +10, troop’s magic resistance probability +15%
—— Dwarf King Helmet: B-grade strategic treasure, Defense +5, troop’s Immunity to Blinding Magic.
—— Dwarf King Rune Shield: B-grade strategic treasure, Defense +8, troop’s magic resistance probability +20%
—— Dwarf King Iron Fist: B-grade strategic treasure, Attack +3, Defense +3, troop’s attack speed increased by 5%.
—— Dwarf King Leggings: B-grade strategic treasure, Defense +3, troop’s immunity to Delay Magic.
Dwarf King Set additional bonus: Troop’s life +2, hero’s life +100.
Remaining attribute points: 21 points, remaining skill points, 21 points. (To be continued. If you like this work, please vote for it and donate monthly tickets at qidian.com. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com to read.)