Steel, Explosives, and Spellcasters-Chapter 884 - 10 The Fastest Way to Gain 3 Levels

Chapter 884: Chapter 10 The Fastest Way to Gain 3 Levels Chapter 884: Chapter 10 The Fastest Way to Gain 3 Levels “Iron Peak County gets flour, Vineta Army gets warhorses, and Paratu People get money and armaments,” Winters, carrying Antonio’s final reply, bluntly challenged Leo: “As an intermediary, what do you want to get?”

“A stable supply of raw materials,” Leo, who had his speech prepared, added nonchalantly: “And stable trade channels.”

Winters frowned, already tired of Leo’s diplomatic platitudes.

No matter what he asked, the plump partner of Navarre Commerce always parried with faultless, meaningless talk. Every punch he threw seemed to hit thin air.

Staring at Leo’s submissive smile, Winters angrily realized—he was not good at this kind of situation.

A restrained politician might have the patience to slowly figure out Leo’s bottom card, but Winters at that moment really wanted to flip the table and land a solid punch on that smiling face in front of him.

That familiar rage surged from the deepest part of his chest, only to be quickly suppressed.

...

After a deep breath, Winters spoke again: “Mr. Leo.”

Leo nodded slightly.

“If it were a year ago, you would probably have been taken to the dungeons for interrogation by now,” Winters said with a mixture of nostalgia and sincerity: “Those were the good times.”

“Indeed,” Leo’s smile remained respectful: “The past is always glorious.”

“Do you think I’m threatening you?” Winters continued to ask.

“What I think is not important,” Leo replied, neither humbly nor haughtily: “What matters is how you think.”

“This is the far-flung territory of Paratu, a corner of the Alliance, and one might even say the edge of the civilized world. In Sea Blue, speaking indirectly is regarded as a form of linguistic art. But in Iron Peak County, that kind of artful language is meaningless,” Winters said, his gaze moving from the window back to Leo: “I just wanted to let you know that.”

This chapter is updat𝙚d by freeweɓnovel.cøm.

Leo tilted his head slightly, waiting for the young man of complex identity to continue.

“What you want, what you can offer, just say it straight out, and I will reply to you directly,” Winters’s tone turned colder: “There’s no need to waste time on meaningless things.”

Leo kept his smile but shook his head inwardly. Negotiations always favored the patient, and setting a final deadline was a strategy, just not suitable for the present.

But if he was honest with himself, Leo felt the other side had a point—this wasn’t Sea Blue, nor was this a negotiation, and he certainly wasn’t here to make things difficult.

“Please believe we are on your side,” Leo leaned forward, spreading his palms, explaining: “Iron Peak County urgently needs food, the army urgently needs warhorses. To solve these problems quickly, a third party is needed to provide the turnover.”

Leo’s strategy, simply put, was simple.

He saw the local government of Paratu as a “reservoir.”

One end of the reservoir connected to Iron Peak County, the other to Vineta. With one end filling, the other side dispensed simultaneously.

Iron Peak County would give warhorses and money to the Paratu People, and Vineta would supply arms and food to the Paratu People.

The Paratu side would then distribute food to Iron Peak County and warhorses to the Vineta Army nearby.

“Very bold,” after hearing Leo’s “grand plan,” Winters commented expressionlessly: “And very imaginative.”

“Very bold, meaning taking a huge risk,” Leo immediately understood the subtext of Winters’s words, smiling: “And very imaginative, meaning impossible to achieve.”

Winters grunted lightly, his thought being hit on the mark.

Leo’s plan sounded simple, but it was practically a fantasy.

From Iron Peak County to Vineta, one would have to cross three provinces, passing through countless counties and towns.

A trade caravan could perhaps disguise itself as a Paratu caravan, moving unnoticed. Yet, how many military and government personnel would be involved in movements as large as Leo described?

“I believe you can bribe a Paratu person, I even believe you can bribe ten Paratu People,” Winters asked somewhat inexplicably: “But can you bribe all Paratu People?”

Mr. Leo laughed and shrugged his shoulders: “You needn’t worry about that.”

Winters’s brows tightened bit by bit, and his expression became serious as he scrutinized Leo’s eyes, asking in a deep voice: “You couldn’t have… really bribed all the Paratu People, could you?”

“If you trust me,” Leo rose to his feet, bowing slightly but not deeply: “I am willing to represent you and negotiate with the Paratu individuals involved in the plan.”

“What would I need to provide?” Winters asked.

“Warhorses, money,” Leo answered: “And sincerity.”

“Sincerity?”

Leo explained calmly: “On Paratu’s side, some time is needed to confirm the goods and clear the channels.”

“You mean,” Winters wasn’t asking but sneering: “I give away the goods first, and then whether or not the food comes in depends on the Paratu People’s mood?”

“No, no, no, once the army’s supply is provided to Paratu, they will immediately hand over to you. It’s just that confirmation from both sides is needed, and the coming and going of messengers will also cause delays.”

“That’s still the same thing!” Winters also suddenly stood up: “How do I know they won’t default on the agreement?”

“If you really don’t feel reassured,” Mr. Leo’s plump face shone with twelvefold sincerity: “Navarre Commerce is willing to provide a guarantee.”

Winters was about to rebut but felt a flicker of something unusual. He sat down slowly, and Mr. Leo’s gaze followed him.