Merchant From Earth in the Magical World

Yan Xing discussed the auction of Ice Jade Porcelain dinnerware with Eden while they dined.

Eden had originally wanted to host the Ice Jade Porcelain tableware auction at his estate outside the city. However, the assassination of Priest Temple had caused panic among Nuta City's elite, and no one was willing to leave the city during such a sensitive time.

Since Eden's residence in the city was not large enough, finding a venue for the auction became a tricky problem.

Yan Xing sipped red wine and ate steak, suggesting to Eden, "Let's hold the Ice Jade Porcelain tableware auction right here. The Lord's Mansion has a wonderful environment; it's classy and upmarket...

The servants and waitstaff are already in place and are of high quality.

I've already sampled the food and drinks here. They meet high standards and are very much in keeping with the value of Ice Jade Porcelain.

We can host a reception before the auction begins, allowing those noble tycoons to see the effect of Ice Jade Porcelain filled with exquisite dishes.

It will encourage them to bid more enthusiastically at the auction."

Eden hadn't expected Yan Xing to choose the Lord's Mansion as the auction venue.

It's a good place, certainly, but it isn't your home, is it? You're a guest...

Eden suggested, "Perhaps we should seek the Lord Earl's permission for this matter first."

"The Lord Earl won't object..." Yan Xing said. I definitely took a loss giving that old fox two sets of porcelain tableware, and I'm determined to recoup it. "It's settled then. You just need to send out the invitations.

In three days, I'll invite all the wealthy and powerful people of the city to the Lord's Mansion to admire the Ice Jade Porcelain. Even if they can't buy any, they can still have a look.

HAHAHAHA..."

Yan Xing was very confident that the Ice Jade Porcelain tableware would fetch a high price.

Eden was also very confident that the Ice Jade Porcelain tableware would fetch a high price.

However, no matter how high a price the Ice Jade Porcelain tableware commands at auction, for me, it only amounts to a single Ice Jade Porcelain soup bowl. To amass a fortune, I must take advantage of Lord Yan Xing's good mood right now.

Eden said to Yan Xing, "Yes, Lord Yan Xing, I will send out the invitations when I return. Lord, I also have another business proposal to discuss with you."

"Another business?" Yan Xing's interest was piqued at the mention of new business. Money was desperately needed for the Eternal Domain's development, and gold, the more the better, was always welcome.

After ensuring that only the maid Donna was in the room, Eden whispered to Yan Xing, "I have information that the Orcs and Elves are showing signs of joining forces to attack Marquis Anderson, and the scale of this operation will be very large.

The Wildwind Highlands Legion is currently gathering vast amounts of materials in preparation for war. The price of grain has already increased by fifty percent and is still rising.

The grain merchants within the Golden Oak Chamber of Commerce are all hoarding grain, waiting for the war to start. Once it does, even the most expensive grain will sell.

Lord, using 200 kilograms of grain to trade for 1 kilogram of agarwood with the Werewolves in the Eternal Domain is such a waste. If you entrust this grain to me to manage, I can definitely bring you double or triple the profit."

This is indeed a lucrative business opportunity. I'm very interested in grain speculation. When war breaks out, those with grain are king... But would Count Theodore allow these grain merchants to inflate prices? If he knew I possessed a large quantity of grain, would he instruct me to release it and crash the market price? Should I betray my mentor to make a fortune, or obey him and lose money? I don't want either option. Therefore, profiting from grain speculation during wartime still requires prudence.

And then... war is coming. If even humble grain merchants know to hoard grain for speculation, shouldn't I be doing something more?

For the first time, Yan Xing seriously considered his own strategic position within the Wildwind Highlands. His thoughts first turned to Nuta City.

His interests were already tied to Count Theodore. As long as the Count remained secure as City Lord, Nuta City would not fall into chaos. This, in turn, would ensure the stability of the Eternal Domain's southern flank.

Across the entire Wildwind Highlands, the stability of the Eternal Domain rested on the current balance of power among humans, Orcs, and Elves.

Whichever faction gained the upper hand would be pushing the Eternal Domain toward the brink of danger.

The location of the Eternal Domain is also particularly delicate. Standing our ground, we can rely on Thunderous Swamp to make all three parties wary. But if we were to lead troops westward, we could influence the situation in the Wildwind Highlands.

However, with the Eternal Domain's current strength, we're just a minor player that any of the three major powers could easily crush.

Count Theodore is courting me precisely because war is about to break out. Without external support, he'd be powerless on his own in Nuta City, wouldn't he?

If it weren't for the impending war, how could I have a place in the Lord's Mansion, eating meat and drinking wine?

Therefore, I must achieve something while the three powers are at war!

Putting on a convincing act of being impressive is nothing compared to being genuinely powerful!

Moreover, after witnessing the power of the Angel's descent, Yan Xing had a direct and shocking impression of this world's high-end combat strength.

It was shocking.

If I were to stick to the original plan, developing the Eternal Domain step by step, we could be crushed one day, and I might not even know by whom.

The Eternal Domain must continue to expand. We must possess a force that truly cannot be ignored.

At this moment, Yan Xing remembered the third phase of the transportation network plan for Thunderous Swamp. Note from the editor: Always check MV2LEMPYR for corrections.

To the south, the Eternal Domain and Nuta City are allies; maintaining stability should be the main strategy there.

To the east are cliffs and the sea—no room for expansion.

To the west lies the main battlefield of the three powers, an arena where the Eternal Domain currently lacks the strength to get involved.

Therefore, the only direction the Eternal Domain can expand is northward.

The Swamp Tribe in Thunderous Swamp is the weakest force in the Wildwind Highlands.

The Swamp Tribe has managed to stay out of the conflict for three main reasons. First, they have no ambition. Second, their terrain offers a strong defensive advantage. Third, they are so weak that venturing out of the swamp poses no threat to the other three factions.

Thus, Thunderous Swamp becomes the only easy target I can go after.

Currently, the Eternal Domain is already allied with the Werewolf Tribe on the southern edge of Thunderous Swamp. With these werewolves to lead the way, the swamp's terrain advantage isn't as strong as it once was.

If chickens from Earth truly have a high demonization rate in this world, then once we can suppress the Poison Flies, the Swamp Tribe's strength could be cut in half.

And furthermore...

If I could incite conflict between the Swamp Werewolves and the Swamp Lizard Tribe, using the werewolves to eliminate the Swamp Lizard Tribe, we might be able to quickly initiate the third phase of the Thunderous Swamp transportation network project.

...

"Master Yan Xing, Master Yan Xing..." Seeing Yan Xing silent for a long time, Eden called out to him softly.

"Ah..." Yan Xing emerged from his spontaneous strategic planning for the Eternal Domain and asked Eden, "What were we discussing?"

Eden said, "The future of Nuta City—no... the price of grain throughout the Wildwind Highlands will soar. If you are willing to entrust me with a batch of grain, My Lord, I can definitely make a lot of money for you."

Yan Xing thought for a moment and said, "If grain prices rise, does that mean I can hire more labor with less grain?"

"Yes, that's how it is. Master, do you intend to..."

Yan Xing said, "I won't engage in such blood-sucking speculation at the expense of the common people. I intend to build a road between the Eternal Domain and Nuta City, using grain as payment for labor.

Help me calculate the workload.

I'll go see the Earl and find out if he can contribute some investment..."