Chapter 53: A critical moment, turning the corner into safety
"Don't be anxious, sit down and talk slowly." Raven said as he sat on his seat.
"Yes, sir." Old Gordon calmed down and said clearly: "I contacted Baron Roger through the Mercenary Guild, and he wrote back saying that due to the recent surge in demand, magic The types of props will not be as complete, and the prices will be much higher than before, at least double! ”
After hearing this, Raven turned to Eric: "What's the situation over there?"
"It's almost the same." Eric's face was full of shame: "The war horse is directly The asking price is 15.3 gold coins, which has increased by more than half! Even the packhorse has increased to 2.4 gold coins!”
"As for the God-given potion, the price is even crazy. The ordinary first-level potion costs 367 gold coins, and the directional awakening potion is not sold at all."
"Where is the iron essence core?" Raven asked.
Eric was stunned: "...it has also gone up. The total of 4 pills is 1176 gold coins."
"Well..." Raven held his chin, his expression as calm as a lake, as if Not surprised by this.
Nobles are not fools. Now the entire Nord province is a powder keg that could explode at any time. Of course, everyone must prepare for a rainy day. It is reasonable for materials such as enchanted equipment and war horses to be expensive.
"You all have bad news, but I have good news here." Denise said with a smile: "The grain that Raven asked me to buy is already on the way, and it will be delivered in ten days at the latest."
< br>"Compared with the current grain prices at the time of purchase, at least 100 flower farmers have earned money."
"So much?" Old Gordon was a little surprised.
Denise nodded slightly: "Yes, before Raven said that the Nord province was going to be in chaos, I couldn't believe it, but now it seems that it is indeed the case."
"This batch The grain was bought at the lowest price after the autumn harvest. 100 kilograms of couscous cost only 2.19 silver coins. I bought 1.3 million kilograms in one go, and now it has risen to 9.68. And the price is not available, and it may go up. "< br>
Old Gordon swallowed: "Lord Baron, your gaze is as far-reaching as an eagle!"
"It's nothing." Raven smiled and shook his head: "It's just our budget. It needs to be readjusted, but the focus still needs to be spent on military supplies. "
Old Gordon did not object this time. The prices of food, weapons, war horses, and medicines were all rising, which was enough to show that a great chaos was coming. At this time, even if it was not to attack the bloody highlands and improve himself, Force is also extremely necessary.
"First of all, Eric." Raven knocked on the table: "It is related to the mobility of the troops. The number of war horses cannot be less. The god-given potions... should be reduced to 10. I can’t give up even if I have your iron core.”
Eric nodded heavily: “Yes, sir!”
"In this way, the total cost is..." Old Gordon lowered his head and calculated: "7162 gold coins, excluding the price of the flower farmer and the formula, the remaining 10395.06 gold coins can be used!"
"Well, almost." Raven He tapped his fingers on the table: "Do you have the price list from Roger?"
"Here it is, sir." Old Gordon pulled out a piece of parchment and respectfully pushed it in front of Raven.
Looking over, his brows suddenly wrinkled.
The prices above are a bit too high, and some props have even increased more than double.
The original market price of level 1 primary enchanted plate armor was between 700 and 1,200 gold coins, but here it was directly offered at a high price of 1,867 gold coins.
The market price of level 1 primary enchanted chain armor is slightly lower, about 450-800 gold coins, and now the price is as high as 1335 gold coins.
As for enchanted weapons, they are relatively cheaper, but the types are not complete enough.
Looking at the price list, Raven said: "Mr. Gordon, I said, you remember."
Old Gordon quickly picked up the pen: "Ready, sir."< br>
Lei Wen said word by word: "
Elementary sharp enchanted hand half sword, four handles, unit price 473 gold coins;
Elementary flame enchanted crossbow, five pieces, unit price 662 gold coins .
Elementary solid enchanted steel buckler, two sides, unit price is 571 gold coins.
Second-level ‘Dragon Locust Wood’ staff, one piece, unit price is 2922 gold coins.”
Old Gordon recorded and calculated the number, and finally raised his head and said: "Sir, the total is 9266 gold coins."
Scanning the contents on the list again, Raven asked: "What does Baron Roger accept as How long does the ordinary equipment enchanting business take?"
Old Gordon thought for a while and said: "If it is just a basic enchanting, it only takes 3-5 days..."
" That Just send my hand crossbow along with this purchase list." Raven put his hand on the belt and placed the hand crossbow on the table: "Powerful and penetrating double enchantment, the price is 747 gold coins, by the way. 5 enchanted crossbow arrows. "
Lao Ge registered the price and swallowed: "Sir, if you include this month's expenses, there will be less than 60 gold coins left by next month. ”
"That's enough." Raven said calmly: "At that time, the outcome of the Battle of Bloody Highlands will be known."
When it came to Bloody Highlands, several people present felt a little heavy.
Eric pondered for a moment and said: "...Baron, is it too biased to spend all the gold coins on weapons? Judging from the armor wearing rate of the bloody Highland bandits, at least the new recruits must We all put on chain armor to be able to fight."
"I knew you were going to ask that." Raven smiled slightly and looked at Old Gordon and Denise one after another: "Anything else. "
The two shook their heads.
"Okay, then the meeting will end here." Raven stood up and walked out: "Eric, you come with me."
Eric followed Raven with some confusion. Came to the dungeon.
After this period of renovation, the dungeon has been completely renovated. All the cages have been dismantled, and the straw on the ground has been cleaned up, turning it into a spacious laboratory.
In the corner opposite the door is an alchemy equipment. To the left is a hardwood table with a wooden box on it, which contains dozens of magic cores of different colors. There are also three chairs.
On the right side is a weapons rack, including crossbows, half-hand swords, long swords, scimitars, shields, spears and other common weapons.
At the end of the dungeon, there stood two wooden dummies, which were actually human-shaped wooden stakes commonly seen on military camp training grounds. Each was slopingly clad in a set of leather armor.
The leather armor on the left is completely yellow-brown, smooth and shiny, and it looks like the kind purchased in bulk before; the leather armor on the right is gray-black, looks dull and rough, and even the light of the torch is difficult to reflect.
"Lord Baron, what are your orders?" Eric asked.
Raven did not answer immediately. Instead, he took a crossbow from the wall and handed it to Eric. He pouted at the two dummies and said, "Try it."
Eric immediately understood that Raven wanted him to personally test the protective capabilities of these two different leather armors.
The dungeon is not very big, only about twenty meters from one end to the other, which is indeed the distance range where the power of the crossbow can be best utilized.
As expected of a veteran, Eric's movements were extremely smooth and smooth. He took the crossbow, knelt down on one knee, aimed at the dummy on the left, raised the crossbow body straight and pulled the crossbow trigger. It was a standard shooting from a kneeling position.
Whoosh, whoosh.
The crossbow arrow passed through the dull air, pierced the tawny leather, raised a large amount of dust and was nailed to the wooden stake. The tail fin was still trembling slightly.
"Try another one." Raven said as he handed over a crossbow arrow.
Taking the crossbow, Eric aimed at the stake on the right, expertly cocked it and fired.
"Huh?" A trace of surprise appeared on Eric's face.
Because this time, although the crossbow arrow also penetrated the leather armor and was nailed to the wooden stake, the sound it made was minimal.
A proud smile appeared on the corner of Raven's mouth: "Go forward ten meters and try again!"
Without waiting for Raven to urge, Eric took the initiative to pick up the crossbow and loaded it. , shot flatly from a distance of ten meters, there were two targets, one arrow each.
This time the difference is even more obvious.
The leather armor on the left was unable to protect the crossbow from being shot at this distance. The crossbow arrows were hammered into the wooden stakes, and the tail barely trembled.
The wooden stake on the right, protected by the gray leather armor, only made a slight muffled sound. Then, the previous crossbow arrow actually fell from the wooden stake, and only the arrowhead was still hanging on the leather armor. superior.
Eric's eyes lit up.
Like an alcoholic seeing fine wine, Eric immediately stepped forward, but stopped in front of the wooden pile on the right, turned around and asked: "Sir, can I verify it carefully? ”
"Of course, otherwise why would you come here?" Raven said with a smile.
Eric rubbed his hands and reached out to grab the tail of the crossbow to pull it off. He was stunned as soon as he put his hand on it.
He thought he would have to use some force this time, but he didn’t expect that with just a light touch, the crossbow arrow fell into his hand. The crossbow arrow didn’t go deep enough at all, and the arrow was wrapped in leather. Lived.
Looking at the crossbow arrow in his hand, Eric couldn't believe it. He swallowed, walked to the wooden stake wrapped in yellow-brown leather armor, and also took down the crossbow arrow.
But this time he had to use much more force, especially the second crossbow arrow. He even twisted the arrow shaft before pulling it out.
After untying the two sets of leather armor, the scars on the wooden stakes intuitively reflect the gap in protection between the two.
The wooden stake on the left has two scars, one deep and one shallow. The shallower one is half an inch thick, and the deeper one is as much as an inch thick. If it fell on a person, he would definitely be dead or disabled.
There is only one scar on the wooden stake on the right, and it is very shallow, only half the size of a fingernail. If it were a physical wound, it would be a skin injury.
"This is just a wooden stake." Eric sighed: "If it were on the battlefield, this would be the difference between life and death."
He reached out and touched the gray leather armor. As if caressing the lover's skin: "A distance of twenty meters can completely resist crossbow shooting, and a distance of ten meters will only cause skin trauma. What a strong protective ability!"
"Sir, this is Warcraft leather armor, right? Have you already started buying it in advance?"
Raven nodded, then shook his head: "It was prepared in advance, but it was not bought. It’s produced in our workshop.”
“Produced by ourselves? Where do the raw materials come from?” Eric couldn’t help but ask.
"That's the secret." Raven smiled mysteriously: "You just need to know that we have a stable supply channel."
Eric grinned and became happy. , said sincerely: "Sir... you are so resourceful!"
Warcraft are rare in Nord Province, and most of them cannot be raised artificially. Therefore, Warcraft leather is a very scarce commodity, and even the mercenary guild does not have stable inventory.
"Haha." Raven shook his head noncommittally and asked, "What do you think about replacing the new recruits with this kind of leather armor?"
Eric was stunned. For a moment, the small eyes as big as soybeans burst out with fiery passion: "That's great, sir! This kind of Warcraft leather armor has a protective capability not much weaker than chain armor, but its weight is only ten times that of chain armor." One, they are much more flexible and convenient. You can wear them on a quick march without having to drag the armor on a carriage alone."
"If they are installed on recruits, their combat effectiveness will be great. At least it can be doubled!"
As he said, he hesitated: "It's just...in terms of production capacity, can it keep up?"
Facing Eric's question, Raven raised a confident smile: "Currently, excluding this sample, we have 63 finished products. Within seventeen days at the latest, all recruits will be equipped with this kind of leather armor." .”
This suddenly surprised Eric.
Warcraft Leather Armor, all members are equipped!
This has exceeded the equipment level of most of the empire's standing armies!
"Lord Raven." Eric said from the bottom of his heart: "Now I am more and more confident in our counterattack on the Bloody Highlands."
"I will not fight an unprepared battle." Raven hit him on the shoulder: "It's too early to be surprised now, this has just begun!"
Griffith's side is full of joy. , but the Wharton family, who are only a dozen kilometers apart, is not so relaxed.
“Look at the good thing you did!”
With a snap, a crystal cup rubbed Judra’s ear and shattered on the wall made of black stone.
The fragments cut open Judra's left temple, and thick, wet and hot blood flowed out, staining half of his cheeks red.
Mark, who was sitting opposite Judra, shivered and shrank his neck, with a look of gloating on his face.
As soon as Judra raised his arm, Angel shouted again: "Don't rub it!"
The former could only put down his arm stiffly.
The panting Angel was like an angry lion: "I asked you to go to the press conference to inquire about information. What happened? What did you find out? All you know is that bitch surrounding Denise "Zi Zhuanyu, right?"
Judra was in a terrible mood.
Baron Angel, who had been practicing for more than ten days but failed to break through to the fourth level, vented all his anger on his eldest son indiscriminately.
Taking a deep breath, Judra clenched her fists and looked down at the ground.
He didn't like being scolded by Angel, especially when Mark was sitting across from him, but things wouldn't happen just because he didn't want to.
He could only endure.
According to past experience, as long as Angel scolds enough, the matter will be over. But Angel was particularly irritable today: "I'm asking you something. Are you deaf or dumb?!"
Enduring the sting on her cheek, Judra defended in a low voice: "It's not that I don't ask, it's just...it's just that since the last incident, the nobles are not willing to communicate with me! "
"If they don't want to communicate with you, what can you do?" Angel laughed strangely: "Sir, Judra. Self-esteem is so precious that it puts the entire Wharton family down?"
"Isn't it?"
As he said this, he pointed at Mark sitting beside him: "You My younger brother is also a member of the Wharton family. How could he stay at the venue for six days and only come back after asking for enough information?”
When Mark heard this, he puffed up his chest proudly: "I just respect my father from the bottom of my heart."
In fact, during these six days, he spent most of the time drinking and enjoying the show, but The nobles were not so strict, and a few rumors were enough for him to report to Angel.
“Learn from your brother!” Angel took a deep breath and continued to question Judra: “You can talk and laugh with that bitch from the Griffith family, but you don’t have the courage to face it. A nobleman who has no interest in our family, do you believe this?"
Judra whispered: " Denise is different.”
“You actually learned to talk back?” Angel raised his voice: “Don’t you feel wronged? It’s all because of me that you have such a bad reputation. . Do you think that not only am I inconsiderate of you, but I also make things difficult for you, and that I am not worthy of being a father, right?”
Yes, absolutely right!
Judra was roaring crazily in her heart, but there was no expression on her face: "No, Lord Baron."
"No? That's what I think!" Ange You leaned over the table, leaning forward and staring at your eldest son: " That’s why you hooked up with the widow of the Griffith family and used her money to buy people’s hearts in order to overthrow my rule and take my position, right?”
The moment he heard these words, Judra's face turned pale!
Did father discover the secret agreement between Raven and I? ?
He has evidence in hand! ?
His eyes widened, and his peripheral vision glanced at Angel and Mark.
The former was full of anger, clenching his fists, and a pair of eyes that seemed to penetrate his heart.
The latter's expression was dull, but there was an irrepressible smile on the corner of his mouth, and his eyes were full of teasing and pride when he looked at him.
No, you can’t admit it, you absolutely can’t admit it!
If I let go now, I will definitely be deprived of my inheritance rights, and Mark, this "good brother", will never let me go!
He swallowed his saliva, moistened his throat that was dry due to nervousness and fear, suppressed his beating heart and said: "Lord Baron, I dare to swear to the Lord of Light, I have never felt this way. What a disrespectful thought to you!”
“You dare to do something you dare not do!” Angel laughed angrily: “If you dare to admit it, you are somewhat brave. Angry, do you have to plead guilty if I put all the evidence in front of you?"
Judra's face tightened: "I didn't do it!"
"That's it! It's really weird." Mark stared at his fingertips and said nonchalantly: "Did I make a mistake when you toasted Raven at the press conference?"
Under the lowered head, Judra's pupils suddenly shrank, and she felt that the blood all over her body was cold!
He never expected that Mark, who usually only knew how to eat, drink and have fun, would show such deadly fangs!
This knife almost stabbed him in the heart!
For a moment, regret surged into his heart, making him want to slap himself twice.
How could I do such a stupid thing! ?
Angel asked coldly: "Tell me, why don't you say anything? Don't you even have the strength to speak harshly?"
Judra gritted her teeth, her mind spinning rapidly.
What should I do?
It is an irrefutable fact that he toasted Raven, and there is no room for argument in this regard.
At this point... I can only grit my teeth and carry on!
Thinking about Angel's temper, Judra took a deep breath and gave an excuse that she didn't even believe: "Baron, I... really didn't collude with the Griffith family. The reason why I gave it to that little bee Toast, because I want him to know that he cannot bully the men of the Wharton family!"
This sentence made Angel look surprised: "Oh, you are really like that! "Think about it?"
A glimmer of light flashed in Judra's eyes.
I still have room to continue to defend myself!
“It’s absolutely true, Lord Baron!”
Judra's mind raced, and he immediately brought up another fact: "The so-called 'press conference' was held for six whole days. If I really colluded with the Griffith family, I would never show up on the first night. Come back!”
“Father, Don't let him put money on his face!" Seeing Angel's attitude wavering, Mark immediately added to the fire: "It's not that my brother didn't want to stay, he was hanging around Denise at the time. I almost stopped wagging my tail!”
“The result was Raven. As soon as I arrived, I told him to get lost. He didn’t even dare to say a word. He really ran back like a dog. He was simply embarrassing our Wharton family!”
“That’s not the case!” Judra hissed: "Lord Baron, I am not a coward. Small, but cautious! At that time, all the nobles were looking at me. No matter what I said, they would be scolded like a flood!"
Mark sneered: "In the end, it's not about what you call it. Reputation'?"
"My reputation is irrelevant!" The moment he said these words, Judra felt that her heart was bleeding, as if her self-esteem had been torn to pieces with her own hands.
Once the bottom line is exceeded, many things that cannot be said will no longer be a problem.
"I, Judra, am a member of the Wharton family after all! It doesn't matter if I am personally abused. What's important is that it will implicate the Wharton family and the Baron, and you will also be humiliated!"
< br>Mark didn’t expect that Judra would suddenly learn to ask for help. The essence of a good father, he said without hesitation: "Brother, do you want to tie your reputation to that of your father again!?"
"Stop arguing!" An Geer punched the table with his fist and glanced at his two sons with cold eyes.
Although he didn't like his eldest son, Angel also knew that Judra was not a fool.
It was impossible for him to discuss any secret deal with Denise in public.
And if there is really collusion with the Griffith family, as the most suitable occasion for contact, Raven has no reason to expel Judra from the press conference.
And he had to admit that in that situation, it was indeed the best way for Judra to do nothing and endure it.
Thinking of this, Angel gradually made a decision on how to deal with Judra.
When he first heard Mark's report, he really thought that Judra was cheating and wanted to immediately abolish the inheritance rights of his eldest son.
But now, since this suspicion has been eliminated, there is no need to deal with it this way.
After all, Mark is still too young, and Angel himself has to spend time and energy to attack the fourth level. Many matters in the territory must be left to Judra to handle on his behalf.
If Judra's inheritance rights are really abolished, there may be big problems in the operation of Ironforge.
"Judera, I am very disappointed in you." Angel sighed and said: "As the eldest son, you should have set an example, but in this press conference, it was Mark who took the responsibility again. The responsibility that should be on your shoulders!”
"Originally, I should have fined you one year's remuneration, but since you are still thinking about the family and have not escalated the situation, I will instead suspend your remuneration for half a year. Do you have any opinion?"
< br>Half a year’s remuneration!
Judra sneered in her heart. His brother Mark didn't have to do anything, so he had an enviable amount of pocket money; but he himself received a second-level extraordinary reward, which was only 300 gold coins per year.
It is said that the way to manage people is a stick or a carrot.
In your case, if the big stick is drawn shallower, it can be used as a carrot.
How generous!
But in the end, this crisis passed.
Judra hit his left chest hard with his right hand: "Your punishment is extremely fair. I have no complaints at all, Lord Baron!"
Seeing his performance, Angel shook his head. , stood up and walked out: "Huh, there is no manliness at all."
This scene made Mark stunned. He didn't understand why his father suddenly changed his mind about Judra and raised his hand high , put it down gently.
Didn't he agree that his inheritance rights should be revoked?
But Mark has always adhered to one principle: everything his father did was right.
Since he cannot continue to suppress Judra, he must increase his impression on Angel.
He grabbed the gloves he put aside and chased after him: "Father, I have something else to report to you!"
When he reached the door, he turned back to provoke Judra. As if blinking.
Judra's eyebrows twitched, seeming to turn a blind eye to this.
The room quickly fell into silence.
Recalling everything that happened on the day of the press conference, and thinking about all the things that happened today, Judra's emotions changed rapidly in her eyes, her anger slowly subsided, her rationality returned to the upper hand, and her breathing became calmer.
When I entered the press conference, my mentality was not right. Because there was no pressure from Raven as a creditor, I was too relaxed, so much so that I made a toast.
"Leaven...did you discover this hidden danger at that time?"
No wonder Raven ignored him at that time. If he really showed kindness at that time, he wouldn't be able to cover it up today no matter what!
A cold sweat of fear instantly soaked Judra's underwear.
His emotions ranged from anger to confusion, from confusion to shock, and from shock to surprise.
“That’s why Raven deliberately provoked me and asked me to leave, just to put on a show for Mark and clear my suspicion!?”
“He is only twenty years old. How is it possible..."
Was it Denise's idea?
But when he entered the venue, she was not in the hall.
For a while, Judra had a hint of admiration for Raven.
But I still hate it more.
Leaven, Raven, since you have seen it, you could have sent someone to tell me or hint me, but you chose to insult me instead!
What do you think of me, a servant you call around, or a chess piece?
Thinking of this, Judra's fist suddenly fell on the table:
"Raven, you are from a pariah!"
Just as Judra was being Raven, who was chanting, suddenly sneezed in the dungeon: "Sneeze!"
The corpses of two half-monster-turned-domestic pigs were carried out, and a plump body that was not inferior at all was ambushed. Raph pushed in. .
Looking at the two pig carcasses with ferocious features, Vesdon swallowed. With the sound of the dungeon door being closed, his knees softened and he knelt on the ground: "...Baron, spare your life!"
Cold sweat trickled down his forehead, and his heavy breathing echoed in the dungeon.
Ever since he came back from Men'en City, he has been feeling a little uneasy in his heart.
After several months of reflection, Vesdon clearly realized how much of a bastard he was in what he did back then. He was in a different place, and even if he were Raven, he would never let him go.
But Raven's attitude towards him was really strange.
Not a single harsh word or insult was used, and he even asked him to stay!
He intuitively felt that Raven had no good intentions, so he had been cautious, fearing that Raven would catch him and find an excuse to punish him.
Since then, he has always kept his head down and behaved honestly. Not to mention going to the military camp to cause trouble as before, he did not even dare to tease the maid, and even gave up the habit of going to the kitchen to steal food.
Seeing that Raven didn't focus on himself, he gradually relaxed and discovered unexpectedly that as long as he didn't go against Raven, he, as a young master, was doing pretty well.
Drink Angel's Tears as you like, eat all kinds of delicacies as you like, and you won't be forced to learn this or that.
Until the press conference, he was having a great time, and Raven's defense of Denise made him quite fond of it.
Now that a month has passed, Vesdon thought that Raven was indeed planning to let him go.
Unexpectedly, that guy Volav suddenly appeared at the door of his bedroom and took him to the dungeon without any explanation!
Could it be that... I have done something wrong recently?
His eyes were rolling around, and he suddenly remembered the recent rumors, and his breathing stopped:
"Lord Baron...I was wrong! I will never pester Nancy again!"
"Ah?" Raven's hand that was sorting things stopped: "What nonsense are you talking about?"< br>
Visidon thought Raven was pretending to be stupid: "I was wrong, I was really wrong! Nan Only you are worthy of a lady like Qian from the Earl's family!"
"I will never speak ill of you behind your back again!"
"Let it go! I, I promise, will stay in the bedroom from today on and never go out again.”
"Oh, oh, oh, don't get excited." Raven took out his ears that were itchy from the noise and patted the chair: "Sit down."
"Huh?" Vesdon was stunned for a moment.
"Sit!" Raven raised his voice.
"Yes! I'll sit!" Vesdon stood up and stuffed his body into the chair.
Leaven smiled slightly and looked at Vesdon on the chair, looking up and down.
In the latter's eyes, this smile looked extremely evil.
……
(End of this chapter)