Chapter 528 — Another Deal

Belk shifted his body with some awkwardness. Much as he wished to master his expression, he was plainly not as accomplished at it as Victoria. "You received the envoys sent from the capital at your manor, yet you have us hide among the merchants. Is this... an expression of your stance?"

Gao Yang could not help laughing. He looked at the young man before him—Belk was a decent fellow, courteous, gifted, clever, but plainly too impulsive and too green. He had not yet mastered the art of negotiating with people; still, given his age, there was no way to compare him with the Northern Duchess. "Frankly, the so-called royal army and the eastern army look the same to me. When juniors squabble there is no need to summon the elders to judge right and wrong. But considering geography, the South has far stronger ties to the Spirit Plain than to the East—and their visit was announced long ago."

He paused there before going on: "As for you... I retain only limited trust in you, and that solely for the sake of Anthony Loren."

"Forgive my presumption, but in time you will see it: we are the ones who truly wish to save this kingdom," Belk said, his face solemn. "The royal nobles, steeped in peace on the Spirit Plain, are utterly blind to the crisis. They cannot see the change in Typhon, nor the change in the world. All they know is to feast through the night and scrape the last copper from the common folk's homes. But we know—

"Typhon is reforming its land system, spreading education, developing technology, reorganizing its army, opening new lands. Their commoners already eat meat once a week, while our people do not have enough black bread for winter. Even if Anseth gave chase with all its might now, it could scarcely catch Typhon. Our only way out is to swiftly concentrate Anseth's power in the hands of a strong new king, so that Typhon will fear him—even if only for ten years, even for five, we still have a chance..."

Gao Yang cut off the young man brimming with zeal. "And Edmund is the 'strong new king' you speak of?"

"Prince Edmund has vision and the power to rally people," Belk Loren said with great seriousness, no small admiration in his tone. "The rewards-for-farming-and-war law, the road-building act, the commerce act, and the homestead-reclamation system he has piloted in the East have all borne fruit. If only the Spirit Plain would send one nobleman with open eyes to look, they too would realize who is fit to be king—but plainly they dare not."

It seemed this young marquis had no notion at all of Prince Edmund's ties to the Congregation of All Things' End, nor of the truth behind the death of Francis II—or perhaps he was a superb actor, and was feigning ignorance on purpose?

Gao Yang did not care precisely what Belk knew or did not know. He waited patiently for the other man to finish, then nodded. "I have some idea of it myself—and it is precisely because I know these things that I am willing to try to give you a measure of trust, that I allow the duchy's merchants to open trade routes into the Eastern Region. You must understand, I lay in my grave for seven hundred years. Nearly everyone I knew and trusted is gone. Toward any person or power of this age—even the descendants of old friends—I must come to know them anew."

Belk sat on the sofa, unconsciously rubbing the knuckle of his index finger, a habitual gesture that seemed to accompany his search for words. "Yes, my father and I both understand that… Mr. Kord made a deep impression on us, and the potions he brought were exactly what we urgently needed. It was precisely to discuss this matter with you that my father sent me here…"

"We have been discussing it these past two days," Gao Yan nodded. "I know what you mean. You have an exceptionally vast shortfall in potions, so you wish not only to order alchemical potions in enormous quantities, but also to purchase a complete set of factory equipment, and to have Cecil train a batch of men to operate the machines… Frankly, you are asking for a great deal."

"We have no other choice," said Belk Loren.

The young marquis knew that what he sought was the sensitive "root of technology," something Duke Cecil could scarcely be expected to grant. Yet before his departure, Prince Edmund had explained to him the necessity of it all—alchemical potions were a matter of the army's very survival, and such things could not forever remain at others' mercy. Only if the Eastern Region also possessed the capacity to produce them could it be assured that, should the Southern Region one day abruptly cut off the supply, it would not fall into too passive a position.

The negotiations two days ago had deadlocked on precisely this question, but today Duke Cecil had come again—which meant the matter was likely still open to discussion.

Gao Yang pondered in silence, looking much torn and hesitant, while Amber beside him could not restrain herself. "Our machines were developed at enormous cost—that is knowledge, and knowledge cannot be bought with money…"

Gao Yang secretly gave Amber a thumbs-up, his face utterly grave. "But the Eastern Region is, after all, still part of Ansu."

"But if we help them build the factories, what if they turn around, learn the techniques outright, not only produce for themselves but forbid our potions from entering their borders?"

Belk said at once, "By the blood of my family I swear, the Eastern Region will not do anything so contrary to the spirit of chivalry. Before I set out, Prince Edmund instructed me: we build our own factories only to provide against the hour of need. We still require the Southern Region's alchemical potions."

Gao Yang did not believe Edmund's promise in the slightest, but he nodded with a face full of trust. "I am willing to believe you."

Then his tone shifted. "But I must protect the interests of the Southern Region, and the interests of the merchants loyal to me—so if a potion factory is to be built in the Eastern Region, I have one condition: the factory must be built jointly with merchants of my choosing."

"A joint factory?"

"Yes. Each side bears half the cost, we build it together and manage it together, and the profits are split evenly. The Southern Region's commercial representative will safeguard the core techniques from leaking out during the process, and will also provide you with technical guidance. That is the greatest concession I can accept."

Belk considered for a moment, then rose and conferred in low, rapid voices with the men beside him.

A short while later he returned to his seat. "…I agree. In this matter I can speak for my father's will and Prince Edmund's."

Gao Yi smiled. "Excellent. Then we must recalculate the price…"

When the final figure was reckoned up, the young marquis was struck dumb with astonishment.

"So much?!"

"Is that not perfectly normal?" Gao Yang spread his hands. "If building an alchemical factory were easy, I would not have hesitated over this matter until today. And it is not one factory I am to help you build, but several. The first batch of alchemical potions you wish to purchase is equivalent to the total output of traditional alchemical potions across all Ansu over the past three years. Think of the price of traditional alchemical potions, and you will see that the present figure is nothing at all."

"That… that is indeed so," Belk rubbed his knuckle again, his face once more showing a troubled expression. "But… frankly speaking, this price somewhat exceeds our expectations."

Gao Ji said coolly, "That is because you have made demands beyond the plan."

He then proposed the method he had discussed with Victoria before: goods to offset half the cash.

This time, however, Belk still wore a most troubled look.