Merchant From Earth in the Magical World

Count Theodore approved the request to borrow the Lord's Mansion for the Ice Jade Porcelain tableware auction and the banquet to build momentum.

Seizing the old fox's good mood, Yan Xing brought up the idea of building a road between Nuta City and Eternal Domain.

"The entire journey from Eternal Domain here was across grasslands, so constructing a road wouldn't be very difficult. If we have a smooth road between us, goods from Thunderous Swamp and Nuta City can be exchanged rapidly.

"We have many specialties in Thunderous Swamp, not just limited to Ice Jade Porcelain, flying goggles, and watches. We also need supplies from Nuta City… Stone, lumber, wine, vegetables, furniture.

"Additionally, I plan to cultivate the land I've rented, so as to sow wheat when the planting season arrives.

"All of this requires a flat road."

Count Theodore was very supportive of building a road to Eternal Domain. Trade would facilitate the exchange of goods to cover each side's needs and would also increase the city's tax revenue.

But considering the current situation in Nuta City, he cautioned Yan Xing, "Now is not a good time to build a road. The situation in Wildwind Highlands is very tense of late. Marquis Anderson has asked me to reduce the city's food supply to meet the needs of the war.

The price of grain in Nuta City has risen quickly, and it's driving up the price of everything else.

Road construction now would cost many times more than before."

During the conversation, Count Theodore invited Yan Xing to sit at the reading stand beside the Magic Fountain, then brought over three books from the shelves and set them before him.

"A Brief History of Magic," "Magic Symbols and Language," and "Elemental Studies."

Yan Xing picked up "A Brief History of Magic" and began to flip through it. Its content covered the historical development of magic and basic magical theory.

Yan Xing flipped through the pages quickly, yet he was still able to converse with Count Theodore. "I don't have gold, but I do have a batch of grain. I was thinking of using this grain as capital to invest in constructing this road…"

Before Yan Xing could finish, Count Theodore interrupted to ask, "You have grain? How much?"

With Nuta City facing crises both internally and externally, grain was the foundation for maintaining stability. With the Lord's Mansion's grain reserves earmarked for war preparations, Count Theodore could only watch helplessly as the city's grain merchants drove up prices.

If the price of grain were allowed to soar uncontrollably, it would only exacerbate the internal unrest in Nuta City.

Civilians without enough food were liable to riot. This content originates from M1VLEMPYR, My Virtual Library Empire.

Therefore, Count Theodore was very sensitive to the word "grain." Hearing Yan Xing mention he had grain on hand, Count Theodore became excited.

"Not much…" Yan Xing set aside "A Brief History of Magic" after finishing it, picked up "Magic Symbols and Language," and continued to flip through it quickly while responding to Count Theodore, "But it's enough to help you, Mentor, bring the grain prices in Nuta City down to an appropriate range.

However, I won't be selling my grain directly. I'll only dispense it as wages or payment for goods."

"How did you come by so much grain? Of course, that's your business…" Count Theodore didn't pry into the source of the grain. It wouldn't do to ask too many questions and potentially reduce the amount of grain Yan Xing might offer. After all, as long as he had grain to counteract the grain merchants, its origin didn't matter. The old Earl spoke to Yan Xing, "These are extraordinary times. It's quite normal for grain prices to rise. I think a doubling of grain prices is tolerable for the common folk. A bit of hardship won't lead to starvation, but any higher and there would be trouble.

"At such a time, using your grain to build the road, cultivate land, and offer work to those who can't afford food would be very beneficial.

"It would suppress the price of grain and allow the road to be built at a lower cost.

"Very good, very good.

"I support it..."

Seeing that the old fox was only expressing support without addressing practical issues, Yan Xing pointedly asked, "Mentor… The road from Eternal Domain to Nuta City doesn't just benefit me alone. You cannot expect me to bear all the costs of the construction.

You should at least cover the cost for the section from the border to Nuta City, right?"

When it came to money, Count Theodore's face immediately clouded over.

"Yan Xing, I truly have no money right now. This year's rainy season brought exceptionally heavy rainfall, and the road from Nuta City to Storm City has been severely damaged. To ensure the supply of war materials, we must repair this stretch of road as soon as possible.

The Golden Oak Chamber of Commerce quoted me a repair cost of 5 gold per hundred meters. For the 150 kilometers of road from Nuta City to Storm City, just the repair costs alone amount to 7,500 Gold Coins.

If it were normally, Nuta City could easily afford that sum. But now... with preparations for war, the city's treasury is nearly emptied."

The old fox was pleading poverty to Yan Xing, unwilling to pay for the road repairs.

All Yan Xing could think about were the shiny gold coins and exchange rate formulas. One Gold Coin is equivalent to 9,000 RMB; therefore, 7,500 Gold Coins would be more than 60 million! Goodness!

Most roads outside the cities in this world were just compacted earth. The Golden Oak Chamber of Commerce dared to charge 5 gold per hundred meters just for laying some dirt and patching up holes. They really are treating the old fox like a fat sheep ready for slaughter! No... I absolutely can't let these swindlers cheat my mentor. If anyone is going to cheat him, it'll be me. Keep the spoils in the family.

Yan Xing closed "Magic Symbols and Language," and said to the Earl, "Mentor, let me take over the project to repair the road from Nuta City to Storm City."

Count Theodore replied, "That's out of the question... The repair of this road must be completed within two months. The only construction crew capable of repairing the road that quickly belongs to the Golden Oak Chamber of Commerce.

That is also why they dare to charge me such a high price."

Yan Xing, holding the last book "Elemental Studies," which was thicker than the other two, said to Count Theodore, "Now, Nuta City has an additional construction crew that can repair roads quickly.

Mentor, as for whose construction crew is better—mine or the Golden Oak Chamber of Commerce's—a simple competition will tell."

Seeing Yan Xing speak with such confidence, Count Theodore truly considered switching to another road crew.

The Golden Oak Chamber of Commerce's tactic of kicking someone when they're down was indeed distasteful.

He also recalled the surveillance footage of Eternal Domain—Yan Xing's territory was indeed constructing a road.

Why not let him try? Even if he loses to the Golden Oak Chamber of Commerce, at least it would let Gale know... he's not the only option. He could also try to negotiate a better price.

"Since you are so confident, I will arrange for your construction crew to compete against the Golden Oak Chamber of Commerce's. How long do you need to prepare?"

Yan Xing thought for a moment.

Last night, he had taken a quick trip back to his original world and received a shipment of vehicles and machinery. If he trained the drivers today and got the road roller operational, they should be ready by tomorrow. Eden mentioned he had a manor outside the city, right? I should get the vehicles there first and practice in his courtyard.

Yan Xing said to Count Theodore, "Tomorrow... my construction crew will be ready by tomorrow."

Count Theodore nodded, "We can't delay the road construction for too long. I was planning to approve the Golden Oak Chamber of Commerce's proposal today so they could start immediately.

But now that you also want to compete...

I'll notify Gale right away to get ready for the road-building competition tomorrow."