Chapter 586 - 75: The Deal
On the first night on the island, guided by the guesthouse staff, Kilian learned how to switch the lights on and off and spent a long night on the hardwood bed in the bedroom.
At his age, with the wealth accumulated over half a lifetime, he felt secure and slept soundly wherever he was.
But here, he tossed and turned until near dawn before finally falling asleep.
Kilian didn’t know how to present himself to the island’s ruler, nor what valuable goods he could offer—
Though the island lacked resources, most islanders lived in wooden houses, using crude pottery or rattan furniture.
Yet the ruler’s residence and living standards were evidently superior to those of the Spanish Royal Family.
Since the other party had no demands, he found it difficult to take initiative in negotiations to obtain island specialties, such as those wooden two-wheeled carts, advanced firearms, or the Sailless Ship.
After much thought, Kilian could only think of two things that might captivate the ruler.
Gold and beauties.
Since the ruler had seized the treasures he had hidden on the small island and accepted the gifts he brought, it showed that such treasures still held allure for him.
As for beauties, Kilian arrived at this conclusion through careful observation.
During his hasty meeting with the island’s ruler, he noticed that most of the people around Chen Zhou were men, and there were very few female attendants serving tea.
Especially during the conversation with the ruler, in the large reception hall, aside from the native woman responsible for translation, not a single other woman could be found.
What does this indicate?
Does it indicate that the ruler dislikes women?
Kilian didn’t think so; he believed the appearances of the local women did not meet the ruler’s standards.
After all, they were all natives, their looks and figures disparate from the ruler’s expectations.
In Kilian’s view, someone capable of matching the ruler’s temperament should at least be a girl from a noble or royal background, educated in etiquette from a young age, and possessing outstanding appearance, perhaps able to win the favor of the ruler.
Conveniently, Kilian’s noble mistress knew many noble girls from declining families, and if enough tempting incentives were offered, convincing them to travel across the seas was not impossible.
Moreover, coming to the island might not be entirely a bad thing; if they truly became the ruler’s spouse, they could rule over hundreds of islanders and potentially become the "queen" of this maritime domain, gaining enviable wealth effortlessly.
Apart from these two things, Kilian couldn’t think of any other items that could serve as bargaining chips.
However, as long as he could find something the ruler was interested in, he’d have some confidence—
Merchants fear items without a price, not priceless treasures.
...
Kilian thought a lot, even about how to keep composure tomorrow and find the right moment to propose a trade.
The only thing he hadn’t expected was that the ruler, whom he considered "having no demands," was the first to propose a trade.
...
Chen Zhou knew very well that the initiative in the trade always lay in his hands, and he could maintain an absolute advantage in this transaction.
He didn’t like haggling with these "cunning fellows," so he laid out his demands directly—
"First, the island, in principle, does not sell technology, especially technology that can be applied in military aspects.
However, the island can sell finished firearms. This new type of firearm has a range and accuracy that far surpasses the matchlock gun and is unaffected by adverse weather conditions."
"Besides, the island can also export some ’advanced crops’ that have higher yields, are more drought-resistant, and have stronger disease resistance.
As for more efficient looms, grain processing machines, and agricultural machinery, all can be exported, as long as the price is right."
Of course, most of the tradable items listed by Chen Zhou were modified versions.
For example, the firearms he could sell used island-made iron barrels instead of seamless steel barrels with rifling.
This type of firearm indeed outperformed the matchlock gun but was still completely suppressed when facing the Chen Family rifle, the "fire sticks."
Merchants are willing to sell the rope to hang themselves for profit, but Chen Zhou was not a merchant.
Regarding major technology, no matter how high a stake Kilian proposed, Chen Zhou remained unmoved.
Even if Kilian was willing to trade half a lifetime’s wealth and two plantations in Brazil for a Sailless Ship, Chen Zhou did not agree.
...
After a discussion that wasn’t overly complex, Kilian finally obtained the high-profile goods he had longed for—
The design and manufacturing plans of the bicycle.
Chen Zhou even promised him that as long as their business transaction could proceed smoothly, there would be improved bicycle plans in the future—ones that could travel without foot pedaling and would become a high-class society phenomenon.
...
With the promises of the island’s ruler, Kilian returned to his ship, leaving under the escort of three steel ships.
The deal was sealed; he needed to arrange everything as soon as possible and bring back the goods the ruler needed.
Contrary to his initial plans, the goods Kilian needed to provide the ruler with did not include vast treasures, nor fair maidens or black slaves.
The ruler required vast quantities of coal and ore; refined metal ingots could substitute for ore if available.