Chapter 291: The Silverleaf Family
Under Leon's guidance, Paris and his group arrived at the lord's mansion.
Seeing Ralph's slightly pointed ears, Paris felt an unexpected sense of familiarity.
Gesturing for him to sit, Ralph asked curiously:
"You specifically asked to see me? Do you have a big deal in mind?"
"If it's just a regular transaction, you can go to our fixed sales shops."
Understanding Ralph's implication, Paris quickly replied:
"Yes, I wanted to make a big deal with the Bay Territory. We need to purchase a batch of bows and longswords. What's the price?"
Purchasing weapons?
That was indeed a big deal!
Ralph's demeanor warmed significantly as he skillfully took out a price list, handing it over:
"Our iron-reinforced bows are of excellent quality. Each one retails for 8 gold coins."
"If you purchase over 1,000 at once, the price drops to 6.6 gold coins each."
As he spoke, Ralph took two iron-reinforced bows from his storage space and handed them to Leon, who was standing beside him.
Paris watched as Leon drew the bow, nocked an arrow, and fired at a target set up in the side hall.
Swoosh!
Bang!
The bowstring vibrated, and the arrow hit the bullseye.
Paris took the bow and examined it carefully.
He found that although the craftsmanship wasn't overly refined, the materials were solid, and the quality was surprisingly good.
He picked up an arrow and inspected it closely, feeling satisfied with its quality.
"Arrows are 1 silver coin each. The quality speaks for itself. If you buy 10,000, the price drops to 88 copper coins."
With a hint of excitement in his eyes, Paris did a quick calculation and found the price quite reasonable.
Besides the fair price, the quality was better than what they usually bought from pirates and smugglers.
Although Paris was tempted, he restrained his urge to buy immediately and probed further:
"How about longswords? Is there a discount for bulk purchases?"
Ralph skillfully pulled out a longsword and handed it over, catching Paris by surprise:
"Try it yourself. Each of these longswords sells for 3 gold coins."
"If you're satisfied with the quality and buy 1,000, we can customize them according to your specifications…"
Paris instinctively accepted the longsword, feeling its hefty weight, and was unexpectedly moved.
Not only was the quality excellent.
It could also be customized?
This unprecedented purchasing experience made Paris eager to finalize the deal.
Meeting Ralph's smiling face and thinking of potential future collaborations.
Paris beamed, "We'd like to purchase 1,000 iron-reinforced bows."
"We'd also like to buy 1,000 longswords, with some modifications."
"Make them a bit lighter, with stronger piercing power at the tip…"
Ralph noted down these requirements and skillfully pulled out a few simple blueprints, asking Paris:
"Modified like this…"
Ten minutes later.
After paying the deposit and learning he could collect the goods by noon the next day, Paris let out a long sigh of relief.
Unable to hold back…
But he had to restrain himself!
Paris chose to remain cautious, still not daring to take a gamble. Instead, he tentatively asked:
"We have another batch of goods. Could you help us process them, Mr. Ralph? Here's the item list."
Keeping a friendly attitude toward customers, Ralph accepted the list, glanced at it, and calmly responded:
"No problem. After quality inspection, we can proceed with the transaction directly."
"These goods are what the Bay Territory needs, and we'll purchase them at 10% above market price."
Ralph was patient; he sensed something unusual about Paris, but it seemed to be a good thing.
So, he did his best to leave a good impression.
The lord had once said:
"Good things come to those who wait."
"Nothing happens overnight."
"Both sides need to build mutual trust. The more they understand each other, the more natural future collaborations will become."
Watching Paris leave, Ralph had a vague inkling and headed toward the lord's study.
He was both excited and wary.
Paris discreetly explored, carefully observing the Bay Territory to learn more about the city from various angles.
By listening to the voices of ordinary citizens, he could gauge the local lord's policies and mindset.
The sentiments of the lower class cannot be hidden!
The more Paris observed, the more shocked he was by the Bay Territory.
The more he saw, the more he realized that everything he'd heard was not only true but incredibly real.
This gave Paris a surreal feeling.
Even the Elven Kingdom, known for its prosperity, didn't seem to have the vibrancy of Bay City.
Everyone here worked hard and lived comfortably.
Paris also witnessed the highly respected patrol soldiers and the vigilant golems standing guard at street corners.
What shocked Paris the most.
Was that ordinary citizens didn't fear them; instead, they admired them deeply.
This clearly showed that Lord Matthew had created a wonderful city, providing a secure and prosperous life, winning the unanimous love of the people.
If this were happening in the Elven Kingdom, Paris would be eager to promote and implement it.
But this was the Netheril Empire, a place often seen as the obedient lapdog of the Kol Elf Kingdom.
Paris hesitated for a long time before deciding to return and discuss with his lady.
Regardless, discovering Bay City was a significant surprise.
If a collaboration could be reached, it would greatly benefit them.
What Paris didn't realize was that all his actions were being watched by Matthew.
Matthew was holding the coin Paris had used to pay for lunch—"Silverleaf Family Mint."
The coin's quality was excellent and held its value in trade, but for Matthew, it confirmed what he suspected:
"I didn't expect it to be the Silverleaf Family, and to even see Annie Silverleaf, who was said to have died in an accident. It seems we're truly fated!"
Matthew was very familiar with the Silverleaf Family.
They hailed from the Aer Elf Kingdom and were a core force resisting the invasion of the Kol Elf Kingdom.
In fact, without encountering the Silverleaf Family, who traveled across the western continent seeking trade.
Players wouldn't have known that the so-called "Beacon of Civilization," the Kol Elf Kingdom, engaged in underhanded, thieving activities.
Generous in dealings and providing numerous quests, the Silverleaf Family naturally earned the goodwill of the players.
Unfortunately, Matthew recalled that they were eventually destroyed by the Kol Elf Kingdom.
Would their current future change now?