Don't Burn Them! Even Witches Have Value!

”Forget it, three lamps... ah no, two will be enough.”

”I swear on my grandfather’s name, I will not lose!”

As more lights turned on, Lynn, who was about to shed tears of blood, increased the speed of his hand several times over.

”To actually go this far? Lord Lynn, you are truly an interesting man.”

Under the slightly more ample light, Daina’s eyes narrowed again, revealing a slightly mocking smile:

”Speaking of which, Frost is a special producer of high-quality lamp oil. The whale oil from the Ice Sea is very good, you know.”

‘Whale oil?’

Lynn’s pen tip paused slightly, but then he quickly accelerated again.

No, he could not show his interest.

Whale oil was a high-quality mechanical lubricant and a raw material for various high-value products; it was by no means only for use as lamp oil.

In fact, before the technology for petroleum refining matured, it was undoubtedly industrial gold.

But he could not reveal that he knew this.

Because a fox was staring at him. Once his inner fluctuations were caught, she would immediately hike up the prices.

”Is that so? Then let’s discuss the trade of marine products on the side. It’s indeed a bit troublesome for us to eat fish here.”

”Oh my, but Lord Lynn, don’t you think that’s a bit too much?

We’ve already agreed to sell ore, timber, and furs to Blackstone Fief. Are we now to add a major category like marine products?”

Daina smiled, wagging the index finger of her right hand:

”Relying on charcoal alone, I don’t think you can consume so many resources.

Men shouldn’t be too greedy.”

Lynn smiled:

”Indeed, although I can guarantee that the future Blackstone Fief can supply half of Frost’s heat source, the trade deficit is indeed a bit too large.

However, who said I can only digest Frost’s goods myself? I believe the markets of Milan will all be interested in your country’s commodities.”

”Pfft...”

Daina couldn’t help but laugh:

”Lord Lynn, is your head muddled because you feel heartache over the lamp oil?

According to your country’s regulations, if Frost’s goods circulate only within your territory, it can be decided by you yourself.

But if they are to circulate to other regions, then you will need to negotiate with the supreme lord of the circulation area, otherwise it’s smuggling.”

Because there had been a war between the Frost Kingdom and the Milan Empire that lasted for decades, plus various complex historical origins, large-scale trade between the two countries had never been developed.

Although Frost had specific trade agreements with individual Milanese lords for some urgently needed goods, this kind of trade was extremely limited.

And it was under this state of almost no interaction that Milan had still managed to do things like enslaving demi-humans through gray industries.

”Lord Lynn, I believe you should be very clear that Frost has no intention of having friendly exchanges with the great nobles of Milan like today.

The premise of our trade is also that you are willing to assist Frost, so please restrain any thoughts of being a middleman.”

For some reason, Iyanna felt that the smell of gunpowder had become even more intense, so she shrank her head back under the table.

Feeling the pressure from behind Daina’s squinted eyes, which was similar to Ai’na’s but completely different, the corners of Lynn’s mouth curled up slightly.

‘Very good, just like this.’

‘Anger is the best anesthetic, capable of offsetting an opponent’s calm thinking.’

”Hahaha, oh my, I’ve been found out. I am truly sorry, Miss Daina.

But I am just an incorrigibly greedy fellow.

Furthermore, I think you and Ai’na have always had a misunderstanding.”

As the last stroke fell on the parchment, Lynn slowly pushed the document in front of him out again.

Daina subconsciously wanted to take it, but found that Lynn was holding down the other side.

”Hmm?”

She raised her head with slight confusion, and then saw a smile.

A smile so pure that it contained not a single trace of impurity besides desire.

”I am not a lord, nor a noble, but a merchant, a pure merchant!

What I love is only wealth itself! What I pursue is only wealth itself!

For this, I can sell anything, at any risk!”

The next moment, he took out a handful of things from his pocket and gently scattered them in front of himself.

Under the sparse light, Daina saw them clearly—

A pile of fine, crushed stones emitting a red halo?

No, it was by no means that simple.

Through her slightly opened eyelids, Lynn caught a glimpse of those beautiful green eyes, which were slightly shocked.

”Magic minerals... no, it’s different from ordinary magic minerals.

Such tiny magic minerals couldn’t possibly have such pure fire magic.”

Daina looked at Lynn, her charming brows and eyes becoming completely serious:

”Lord Lynn, what exactly is this?”

”This is a Magic Stone, a magic mineral that can be mass-produced. Although the magic level it contains is very low, its strength lies in its purity.

There is only one thing I can tell you now, and that is that Blackstone Fief can continuously supply Magic Stones.”

He slowly stood up and released the trade document with the brand new terms written on it.

Then he picked up a few grains of Magic Stone and scattered them in front of Daina’s table:

”Miss Daina, this is the final offer I am giving. I hope you will consider it carefully.”

Without giving the other party a chance to entangle him, Lynn turned and left the place:

”Iyanna, turn off all the lamps. You wait here. When big sister Daina tells you to come find me, then come over.”

”Awoo! Okay!”

”Hey, wait... wait a moment.”

As if not hearing Daina’s voice at all, Lynn walked out of the room.

After walking out the door, he could no longer hold it in and burst out laughing.

”Hehehe...”

In fact, the initial game was all his groundwork.

Lynn was very clear that Frost’s so-called trade negotiations were carried out with a high and mighty arrogance.

This was not because of race, but because of an absolute advantage in volume, in short, the Party A effect.

Under these circumstances, it would be very difficult for him to achieve his goals no matter what.

Then, the only way was to bring out a product that the other party absolutely could not resist the temptation of, and to do it by surprise, not giving the other party a chance to think, disrupting her thoughts and rhythm.

And everything was proceeding according to plan.

”The moment I heard that laugh, I knew your demonic contract had succeeded again.”

At the same time, Elysia, who had returned to the castle for dinner after dark, happened to run into the wildly laughing Lynn.

Looking at the witch holding a candle with a helpless face, Lynn said self-righteously:

”What do you mean ’demonic contract’? Everything was consensual, alright?”

”Oh, right, right, right.”

”Speaking of which, I was wondering why the candle in the middle of the fifteenth candlestick on the left of the third-floor corridor was missing. So you were the one who took it.

You’ve lived here for so long, have you not memorized the route? Or why not just use your own magic for lighting?”

”I’m not like a certain fellow who relies on falling down in the dark to develop muscle memory!

And what if I carelessly used magic and lit the house on fire!

Speaking of which, why is your memory so good in strange places... but I didn’t take it from there. This is a candle from downstairs.”

”Then was it Theodore who took it?”

”I don’t think so. He’s been in his room researching all day and hasn’t come out at all.”

Hearing this, Lynn’s breathing hitched.

So, it wasn’t an employee misusing his private property?

Could it be?

”Not good, strange stuff has spawned in the house again!”

”Huh?”