Chapter 392: Cooperation for Mutual "Gain"
How could Matthew have known what they were thinking? He was simply happy about gaining a new major client.
As the saying goes, "When the cannon fires, gold flows like a river."
In this dangerous world, battles between nations and organizations wielding the most powerful combat forces were naturally gold mines overflowing with riches.
Even though the Ail Elves had been pressured by the Cole Elf Kingdom for hundreds of years, losing land repeatedly,
They still held a substantial territory with abundant resources and various goods.
Their army also numbered in the millions—two or three million strong.
If Bay Territory could secure their military contracts...
Who knows how much profit it could bring? But at the very least, it would allow Bay Territory's production capacity to expand without any strain.
Furthermore, there were many aspects of the Ail Elves that Matthew valued—he was just waiting for them to make a move.
Just as Annie and Parry were getting excited, Steward Ralph hurried over and whispered a few words in Matthew's ear.
The joyful expression on Matthew's face changed involuntarily, which made Parry and Annie uneasy.
The two exchanged a glance, both noticing a hint of tension in the other's eyes.
"What's going on? Has something happened in Bay Territory?"
"There's no news coming in—it shouldn't be about Bay Territory."
"If that's the case, it's not too bad. Does Bay Territory really have enough supplies, though?"
"We haven't visited the military factories to see their production capacity, but estimating it, it seems likely they can meet our needs within a month..."
"That's good. These military supplies are essential. If circumstances don't allow, we can temporarily forgo the rest."
"That's all we can do, then..."
As the two felt uneasy, Matthew, after learning the news, nodded thoughtfully and instructed Steward Ralph to return to Bay Territory. He then turned back to the two elves and said:
"There's an issue at the Blood Fortress of the Carl Plains. They need support from Bay Territory's production of six-armed golems..."
It might have been better if Matthew hadn't explained; now that they understood, Annie and Parry felt a tinge of helplessness.
Their desire to buy six-armed golems was likely to be dashed.
Moreover, other military supplies might also be at risk.
Determined to focus on the matter at hand, Annie didn't want any more complications and quickly spoke up:
"This time, we need about three times the amount of military supplies as before, particularly requiring a large number of crossbows and heavy crossbows."
These weapons had limited use in the field, but they were very effective for defensive battles.
Especially since they had gained inspiration from Bay Territory.
With a few months of simple training in coordinated shooting, even soldiers with lesser skills could make a significant impact.
More importantly,
The funds and supplies they were using for this purchase had been saved from the last order.
No additional resources were being allocated.
If successful, it would essentially generate a profit of 1.5 million gold coins in one go.
Plus, they would acquire the military supplies they desperately needed.
This was yet another attempt by the Ail Elves—and their final one.
If the transaction succeeded, they would specifically assign personnel to produce various supplies urgently needed by Bay Territory.
This approach was not only more efficient but also potentially profitable!
It was far more cost-effective than venturing into the dangerous Sea of Death, spending countless resources and manpower to explore islands.
Annie's face remained calm, but her heart was anxious, fearing that the recent incident would affect their deal.
Beside her, Parry's gaze flickered as he carefully recalled Bay Territory's actions.
He began to consider what price would ensure Matthew's agreement if he outright refused.
There was no choice—war was imminent, and the more preparations, the better, especially for these much-needed supplies.
Matthew, sensing their anxiety, knew this was a golden opportunity.
Yet instead of putting on a cold face or making exorbitant demands, as they feared, he smiled and said:
"No problem. Though this is quite a large order, and the warehouses don't have everything ready just now,"
"the remaining items can be produced in just three days. Would you prefer to wait and ship everything together, or transport what's ready now?"
Annie's anxious mood lifted completely after hearing Matthew's reassuring response.
"We can really teleport them now?"
"Does Bay Territory truly stand by its word like this?"
She blinked her bright eyes, smiling as she said:
"Bay Territory's reputation is exceptional; we are completely assured."
"We'll pay the full amount at once and teleport this batch of supplies now. It should help with our immediate needs."
"Once those guys see the goods delivered, they'll be more willing to send over the supplies they've hoarded."
"By then, we might even place a larger order."
After spending considerable time traveling through the human world, Annie couldn't help but employ a bit of trickery.
Sensing her goodwill, Matthew had a clearer sense of the Cole Elf Kingdom's pressure.
He stepped forward energetically, raised his hand, and said:
"Since we both trust each other, let's hope for a fruitful cooperation."
Without hesitation, Annie shook hands with Matthew, smiling as she echoed:
"To a successful cooperation!"
They signed a magical contract.
Various supplies from Bay City's warehouses were rushed into the large teleportation array.
Fully reassured, Annie pointed curiously at the six-armed golems outside and asked casually:
"Are these peculiar golems the same as those that performed so spectacularly on the battlefield?"
Wait!
Shouldn't Ail Elves not need golems?
A slight realization struck Matthew, though his expression remained unchanged, and he straightforwardly introduced them:
"It's called the Six-Armed Golem, a mid-level golem designed by Bloodmoon City and manufactured by Bay Territory."
"It can be used in construction, agriculture, industry, and many other forms of production, greatly saving manpower and boosting efficiency."
"Of course, it also has combat versions, such as the deadly blade form used on the battlefield, the versatile sword-and-shield form, and the shield-wall form emphasizing defense—adapting to different combat needs."
"The only drawback is that the production cost is quite high, requiring a large amount of high-quality steel and many enchantment processes."
"Thus, production efficiency for the six-armed golems hasn't significantly increased."
"If you're interested, instead of the original price of 8,000 gold coins per unit, we can offer 10 units at 6,600 gold coins each, one of each model for you to examine."
Seeing Matthew's "If you want to buy, I'll sell" attitude, Annie, still skeptical, discreetly ordered 20 units.
One of each model wouldn't suffice for research!
Matthew just smiled.
This opportunity was more than the Ail Elves could handle.