Chapter 695: Chapter 431 Lord of Tilamei (5.2k Combined)
The colorful morning glow gradually faded, revealing a faint crescent moon.
It was already nightfall, but the team from Merredith City was still on the move.
This was a three-person squad, consisting of a Fourth Rank Great Councilman, Lair, and two Third Rank regular Councilmen.
However, the two regular Councilmen were not ordinary either—one was Ryden, the most talented wizard in Merredith City, and the other was Rosa, a witch from the Kael Family.
The Kael Family, simply put, held a status in Merredith City’s food supply akin to the Roon Family at their peak, perhaps even surpassing them.
The three had just traveled from Merredith City via the Transmission Array to Neustadt, and were now heading toward the Tilaimei Plain.
"Ryden, you are most familiar with Councilman Colin, so you will primarily handle the negotiations..."
The night wind howled, and Ryden, recalling his mentor’s instructions, couldn’t help but curve his lips slightly.
This peer, a genius wizard just like himself, was more interesting than he had anticipated—could he really solve the farm pollution issue?
Just a few days ago, he had reminded him to prepare for the possible grain requisition actions from Neustadt; but now, it seemed he might have worried needlessly.
As long as the farmlands could be restored, why worry about the lack of grain?
The time for autumn planting had not yet passed!
They travelled through the night, and by the time the moon was high overhead, they had successfully reached the Golden Barley of the Roon Kingdom.
"Ryden, remember Merredith’s bottom line, huh? You’ll be primarily responsible for the negotiations," Lair turned and asked.
He and Ryden were not very familiar, but he was not completely ignorant of this distinctive genius.
Lair recognized his strength in combat and cultivation, but in negotiations... he was still somewhat uneasy about this young wizard.
Unfortunately, Chairman Test had specifically appointed Ryden to primarily handle the negotiations with Colin, reasoning that the two knew each other, were both geniuses, and could likely get along well...
"I remember," Ryden said calmly.
Seeing his composed and steady demeanor, Lair felt somewhat relieved.
"If it goes beyond some bottom lines, it doesn’t matter, the Keg Family can make up for it additionally," Rosa from the Keg Family added.
"Mm," Ryden nodded.
The group continued flying toward the Wizard Tower District.
The night was deep; indeed, it was not a good time for visiting, but the matter of farm pollution could not be delayed, so they could only hope that Colin had not yet gone to sleep.
Indeed, Colin had not slept; sensing the trio’s presence, he walked out of the Wizard Tower.
—To avoid misunderstandings, Lair and his company did not deliberately conceal their forms, but rather slightly released their aura.
"Lord Ryden..." Colin greeted with a smile as he addressed Ryden, who was leading the way, then looked toward the other two and asked, "And who are these two?"
"Great Councilman Lair and Rosa Kael," Ryden introduced calmly, and straightforwardly pulled out a silver Storage Ring and handed it over, "A gift for our meeting, it contains ten million Magic Stones."
Behind him, Lair’s expression stiffened; although the Magic Stones were indeed intended as a greeting gift, Ryden’s approach was quite direct.
Colin raised an eyebrow, surprised by Merredith’s generosity, but he was used to this genius wizard’s style.
Taking the Storage Ring matter-of-factly, he greeted Lair and the others and said with a smile, "I’m aware of the purpose of your visit. It’s a serious matter, let’s go inside to talk."
Ryden and his companions had no objections and followed him inside.
Colin anticipated that Merredith City would come at the first opportunity, so he had already prepared the guest room; as they walked in, Renee timely had steaming red tea and some snacks ready.
"Please, take a seat," Colin said, taking a seat on a soft sofa.
He expected that the Great Councilman named Lair would take the seat opposite him in the middle, but it was Ryden who actually sat in the middle.
Without any pleasantries, amidst Lair and Rosa’s slightly stiff expressions, he got straight to the point:
"Councilman Colin, I suppose neither of us likes to beat around the bush, so let’s be direct about what you want.
Merredith and the Kael Family are willing to pay the necessary price for a solution to the farm pollution, be it knowledge of witchcraft, Magic Stones, or something else—as long as it’s reasonable, we can try to satisfy it."
"There’s no need to hold back, your research into farm pollution must have taken a tremendous amount of effort, and you deserve this."
Ryden spoke in a calm tone, succinctly finished speaking, and then watched Colin.
Rather than nickle-and-diming over benefits, he preferred using this to gauge the character of the fellow genius wizard before him.
This was what he thought, and also what Test thought.
But unaware of these intentions, Lair and Rosa exchanged glances, both seeing helplessness in each other’s eyes.
With Ryden speaking like this, they had completely fallen into a passive position...
But Colin, slightly taken aback, responded earnestly, "I fully acknowledge Merredith City’s sincerity. Saving the farmlands is for the benefit of all wizards, and I won’t withhold anything. As for the compensation, I’ll only take what I deserve..."
He was not like those short-sighted Pureblood Wizards, solely after profit. Ryden treated him openly, and he responded in kind.
"Good, I like your attitude!" Ryden laughed.
The four continued to discuss the details.
...
Neustadt.
Councilman Johnson had not yet slept; at Fourth Rank, if there wasn’t intense exertion, sleep was practically optional.
He was reviewing grain purchase intents sent in advance from various forces within the city.