I Became the Progenitor Vampire

"No, Laurent, maybe we still have a chance to cooperate."

Laurent looked at Lide in confusion. How could they have a chance to cooperate when he was bankrupt?

Suddenly, as if realizing something, his face lit up with excitement: "Lord Lide, do I have a mage's talent?

Goddess above, isn't it said that the older one gets, the weaker the casting talent becomes?

Could I be the magic genius sung by the bards? Lord Lide, I am willing, I am willing to become your apprentice."

Lide's face darkened. With that appearance, you think you have mage talent.

Your current begging talent is definitely the strongest, just wait until you're bankrupt.

"No, Laurent, forget about being a mage. The Magic Goddess isn't a generous deity."

"Compared to magic, I'd prefer to hand over the Golden Wheat Commerce to you."

Laurent was obviously disappointed again. Did he really not have magic talent?

Lide's words left him momentarily stunned. Hand over the Golden Wheat Commerce to him again?

"Lord Lide, are you saying that you want to invest in our Golden Wheat Commerce?

Goddess above, your insight would astonish the Goddess of Wealth..."

Laurent felt a sense of happiness as if chosen by the Goddess of Wealth. A mage, respected even in Green City, wanted to invest in his commerce.

This was even more exciting than having magic talent.

"No, Laurent, you're overthinking."

Lide's leisurely words sent Laurent's spirits plummeting, as if the last straw of hope had been snapped.

"Lord Lide, you, you..."

Seeing the mix of despair and hope on Laurent's face, Lide shook his head.

"I'm not interested in investing in the Golden Wheat Commerce."

It was over.

Lide's words extinguished the last bit of hope in Laurent's heart. He was still a businessman on the brink of bankruptcy.

"However, I am interested in acquiring the Golden Wheat Commerce.

I'll help you repay all the debts, and the Golden Wheat Commerce will belong to me. Be it your premises or the slaves of the commerce, they will all be my private property.

And you, Laurent, can still continue to manage the Golden Wheat Commerce, and I will pay you a salary of 10 Gold Pucks every month."

"No, Lord Lide, our commerce's premises and slaves, along with our sales channels, are worth more than two hundred Gold Pucks. Even if the Green City Commerce repossessed everything, I wouldn't owe them much Gold Pucks."

"Haha, do you think that after you fail to repay the debts, these things will still be worth that much? You should know the ways of the nobles, they will drain you dry."

After draining his cup of hot milk, Lide stared piercingly at the silent Laurent.

"Sir Laurent, there's only one chance. If it weren't for our familiarity, you wouldn't have my favor.

You must understand, a high-level mage with a seat in the Green City Mage Association need only say the word and countless people will offer their commerce."

Lide completely dominated this asymmetric negotiation. Laurent had no right to say no in front of him.

To choose between bankruptcy and becoming a debtor worse than a beggar, or clinging to a powerful ally and becoming a commerce steward.

A smart person would know how to choose.

Though Lide's acquisition of the Golden Wheat Commerce was on a whim, he had considered deeper issues.

As the castle developed, a large number of humans would undoubtedly live there in the future.

By then, a substantial amount of living materials would need to be purchased from outside.

Without his own commerce, consistently purchasing from outside would not only leave him exposed in the long run, but also incur significant extra costs, given that commerce needs to make a profit.

If he had a fully controlled commerce, these problems would not exist.

The Golden Wheat Commerce happened to be timely—a commerce on the verge of bankruptcy due to lack of funds, untouched in its trade routes, was an excellent choice.

Crucially, in the memory of the Blood Clan Ancestor, Laurent was a businessman with no background but not lacking acumen in the business field, actually very shrewd.

Were it not for having no backing and being exploited by various forces in the city every time, his scale would undoubtedly be greater now.

Establishing a new commerce now would be extremely time-consuming. Personnel, territory, and even trade routes would all start from zero, not aligning with his interests now.

The fixed assets of the Golden Wheat Commerce were enough to match those two hundred Gold Pucks... only he couldn't convince the nobles to acknowledge it.

This investment couldn't lose.

With proper control, it might become a strong asset in the future—a risky investment for the future.

This investment of just over 200 Gold Pucks, even if it failed, was insignificant. He could afford the loss.

Laurent didn't think for long; he had no bargaining power with Lide.

The title of Advanced Mage alone was enough to swallow many bargaining thoughts.

"I am willing, Lord Lide, as long as you help repay the Gold Pucks I owe. The Golden Wheat Commerce will be yours."

Laurent spoke with a hint of bitterness but still gritted his teeth to say it.

Though it pained him to see the commerce he built up over a lifetime become someone else's, he felt a weight lift off his shoulders, no longer burdened with the 200 Gold Pucks debt to the Green City Commerce.

The Green City Commerce was established by the nobles. He could foresee the consequences if he couldn't repay the money.

Commerce, house, wife—all would be taken by those detestable nobles.

"A wise decision. Come to my Mage Tower to sign the contract after returning to the city, and you will have an Advanced Mage as your backer.

From today, those underground forces will no longer trouble you, nor will those troublesome nobles bother the Golden Wheat Commerce.

This is your reward for being wise."

Laurent suddenly felt that it wasn't so bad to sell the commerce.

Dealing with the numerous underground forces in Green City was a headache for a commerce without background like the Golden Wheat Commerce. At least sixty percent of the Gold Pucks he earned each year were extorted by these underground forces.

Many underground forces were backed by nobles, making it impossible for merchants to resist.

"Lord Lide, this is your grace. I, Laurent Orlando, swear my loyalty to you."

Laurent was also one who could adapt quickly. After confirming his position, he knelt on one knee and swore allegiance to Lide.

Ding~ Laurent Orlando swears loyalty to you. Do you accept?

Lide was momentarily stunned at hearing the system prompt beside his ear. Was this even possible?

Accept.

He helped Laurent up and opened his attribute panel with a thought.

Name: Laurent Orlando

Profession: Merchant [Level: 12]

Talent Specialization: Business

Skills: Observe Words and Expressions, Negotiation, Intimidation, Bargaining, Inquiry

Explanation: This is an excellent merchant who may be capable of managing a large-scale commerce.

Affiliation: Crimson Mage Tower (Lide Kachar)

Lide was astonished after reading Laurent's attributes, not expecting him to be a professional merchant with a level as high as 12, even two levels higher than himself.

A feeling as if he'd struck gold washed over him.