Chapter 188 Bargaining
(Additional update for the boss [Sun Liansheng] who gave the reward)
Riverside workshop, the gray dwarf’s blacksmith workshop.
More than half a year has passed, and the place has been completely transformed by the gray dwarves, turning it into a layout that they like and are comfortable with.
As soon as you enter, you can see a huge furnace, occupying almost one-third of the 100 square meters of space.
Its shape is very unique. It looks more like a millstone than a furnace. In the center is an inverted jar-shaped blast furnace. Next to it is a high platform made of granite. It is carved with patterns unique to dwarves. I don’t know if it is because of the high temperature. Roast, the whole stove shows a fiery red color.
The furnace body itself has two outlets on the left and one on the right. The flame under the furnace continuously supplies heat, allowing the viscous molten iron to continuously flow out of the two outlets, flowing in the peripheral annular ditch, and then flowing through the two filter holes. into the clay mold below.
Whenever a casting mold is filled, someone will immediately replace it with a new one, and someone will watch in real time and fish out the slag from the filter holes.
This is the "earth core furnace" cast by the gray dwarves using a unique process, which is far more efficient than the current smelting process of the human race.
As long as there are enough raw materials, at least five thousand pounds of iron ingots, which is approximately 2,260 kilograms, can be produced every day.
Not pig iron, but wrought iron.
Even in a town like Iron Furnace Leader with hundreds of years of accumulated iron smelting technology, it would take at least six times as long to obtain the same amount of wrought iron!
After all, the gray dwarves' accumulation of iron-smelting technology can be measured in thousands of years, not to mention that it also contains the blessing of the master of the forge.
“This is nothing.” Bowell puffed out his chest and said with undisguised pride: “The space here is too small. If we really have to wait until the factory is built, we must build a building that is no better than the one in the mountains. A giant melting pot with bad intentions! ”
The heart of the mountains is the close relative and mortal enemy of the gray dwarves. The wonder created by the dwarf kingdom is said to be able to handle hundreds of thousands of pounds of molten iron every day. Its temperature is so high that even seventh-level material essence Gold can be easily melted.
Raven said: "Then I have to look forward to it, but before that, I have one thing for you to do now."
"Lord Baron, as long as it has to do with forging, I guarantee that You are satisfied!" Suo Hei was full of confidence.
Leaven took out a box from his belt and opened it gently: "Can you handle this thing?"
For a moment, the dwarves' breathing stagnated, and Suo Heina The messy beard stood up: "Mithril!?"
Mithril is a fifth-level material, which means that the weapons and equipment forged from it can withstand fifth-level enchantments and become fifth-level enchantments. equipment!
You know, the "Molten Fire Ember" heirloomed by the Fox family is only a fourth-level equipment!
Forging a piece of mithril means becoming a master blacksmith who will leave his name in history!
Sohei swallowed: "Lord Baron, please give it to me to cast. I will definitely be able to use it to make the strongest weapon!"
"Oh oh oh. "Don't be excited." Raven said: "I took it out and gave it to you to cast, but I didn't use it to smelt weapons."
As he said that, Raven took out a handle from his belt. crossbow.
"I hope you can use mithril ore to strengthen it."
This hand crossbow has been with Raven for a long time. It was once his most powerful weapon before Raven became a magician. Being able to kill Donald, this hand crossbow made a great contribution.
Unfortunately, as Raven's strength has increased, this hand crossbow, even after being enchanted once, can no longer keep up with his needs.
"This..." Suo Hei was a little embarrassed: "Lord Baron, can I take a closer look at it?"
"Of course." Raven took two steps forward and put the crossbow in his hand. On the table.
Sohei immediately moved forward, and Buvel followed suit.
The two of them looked left and right around the crossbow, and from time to time they called a few gray dwarves over to discuss together. It was not until nearly half an hour passed that Suo Hei raised his head: "Sir, I have a clue!"
Leaven nodded and motioned for him to continue.
Suohei continued: "Lord Baron, this crossbow is designed around the characteristics of star iron in terms of overall size, output intensity and center of gravity. If you want to use mithril to strengthen it, then the overall The design will need to be significantly changed, and the enchantments on it must be removed in advance."
Raven nodded slowly: "Then, what will be the effect after using mithril to strengthen it?"
"It will be lighter. While the crossbow has greater power, the triggering mechanism will also be more sensitive." Suohe showed extremely rigorous professionalism: "According to the current design idea, its power will be greatly enhanced. Even without enchantment, its power will be greatly enhanced. The penetrating power will not be weaker than the full blow of a second-level warrior within twenty meters!"
Leiwen said decisively: "Then do it."
But. Suohei did not agree immediately.
Leaven asked: "Any more questions?"
"It's just... modifying your hand crossbow, you won't need so much mithril." Suohe glanced at Raven , asked cautiously: "Lord Baron, for the rest, I want to build another piece of equipment for you..."
Raven thought for a moment: "As long as the transformation of the hand crossbow is not delayed, you can do anything."
Suohei breathed a sigh of relief, and his eyes lit up with anticipation: "Understood, ten days at the latest , I will definitely hand in an answer that satisfies you!”
“Don’t worry, quality comes first,” Lei Wen urged.
Due to the tradition of the gray dwarves, outsiders are not allowed to visit when casting. Of course, Raven is an exception.
However, Raven did not intend to destroy this tradition. He was not interested in forging, nor did he want to stay in the stuffy casting room. As long as the result was good, he didn't care about the process.
After returning to Eagle Castle, Raven opened Deep Blue and immediately started selling his foggy iron.
The purchase price of the Deep Blue Platform itself, that is, the Mages Guild, was one pound and sixty-two gold coins, while the selling price was one pound and eighty-three point five gold coins. They made enough of the difference. .
Lei Wen also looked at the prices of individual sellers. The prices are generally between seventy-five and eighty-one. But depending on the time, the latest one has been on the shelves for more than half a month, and the earlier one has enough Half a year later, it became clear that sales in small quantities were not that good.
After thinking for a moment, Raven hung up the mist heavy iron at a price of 83.4 gold coins per pound, or 184 gold coins per kilogram.
Others sell it for one pound or two pounds, and more for more than a dozen pounds. But this time, Raven sold 800 pounds!
It is equivalent to the output of thirteen or four days in the mine.
Few ordinary mages would demand so much foggy iron, so Raven's price tag itself was not intended to be sold to retail investors.
I had just made myself a cup of coffee, but before it was ready to drink, someone contacted Raven through Deep Blue.
This man looks to be in his sixties. Unlike many mages who like to grow beards, his chin is extremely smooth, his face is lined with wrinkles, and there is a very eye-catching mole at the corner of his mouth, which is still hanging on his chest. A label representing a third-level magician: "Is it you who hung up eight hundred pounds of foggy heavy iron?"
"That's right." Raven blinked innocently: "Is there any problem?"
"I am the supervisor of the Mages Guild responsible for maintaining Deep Blue. You can call me Monroe!" The magician said in a serious tone: "I have to remind you, Baron Raven, if you provide a false supply quantity, according to "Deep Blue Platform" "Article 6, Paragraph 9 of the Law, you need to pay triple compensation!" "Eight hundred pounds of foggy iron, the price is 83.4 gold coins, the total price is 66,720 gold coins, you The compensation is 200,160 gold coins!”
Lei Wen nodded: “I know, what’s the problem?”
"It seems that you don't know the seriousness of this." Monroe frowned, his eyes turned red: "This is not only the financial impact, but more importantly..."
Speaking of this, He paused.
Originally, he thought Raven was just messing around. After all, it had been a long time since anyone had sold foggy heavy iron in such large quantities.
But now, he saw that Raven's expression was so calm and confident, and he was even drinking coffee. It didn't look like he was joking at all!
"...Wait a minute, can you really provide that much foggy iron!?"
Raven nodded: "Of course."
Monroe frowned : "Then you should sell it to us. You should know that no one on the market can eat that much foggy iron in one go. You have left almost no profit for the second-hand dealer!"
The price given by the Mages Guild was like cutting leeks, but Raven did not directly confront him, but said: "Okay, it will only take a month."
Monroe asked: " Why?”
Leaven smiled softly: “Because I need time to mine. Ah."
"What did you say!?" Monroe's face suddenly stiffened: "You discovered a mist mine?"
The monthly production capacity of Raven's mist mine is Eight hundred pounds, and the mineral veins controlled by the Mages Guild itself only produce more than 1,070 pounds per month!
If Raven accidentally obtained a batch of foggy iron, Monro could also use the power of the Mages Guild to suppress it, buy it at a low price, or let Raven sell it in small quantities multiple times, so as not to affect the market price.
The current situation means that Raven has become the strongest competitor of the Mages Guild in terms of selling foggy iron. It can even be said that it can directly affect the price trend of foggy iron!
Raven and the Mage Guild are qualified to fight!
"Baron Raven, please set a price." Monroe thought again and again: "As much mist and heavy iron as you have, our Mage Guild can charge as much as you want!"
Leaven shrugged Shrugging: "My price has already been marked."
There was a trace of anger on Monroe's eyebrows: "Baron Raven, I am talking to you very sincerely!"
"I am also very sincere." Raven said lightly: "The Mage Guild sells eight Thirteen point five gold coins, I'll sell it for eighty-three point four. Isn't this reasonable?"
"You...!" Monroe's brows were raised, and the wrinkles on his lips were starting to turn red.
He wanted to cut off communication with Raven immediately, but he couldn't.
The demand for foggy iron is relatively fixed. Previously, the Mages Guild was able to guarantee a monopoly because there were too few bulk goods on the market to pose a threat.
Now, if Raven is allowed to sell foggy iron on the Deep Blue platform, it means completely giving up on this market.
As for the price war - Raven only needs to be responsible for himself, but the Mages Guild depends on profits!
The Mage Guild has a great cause, but the magicians inside are different. The Mage Guild can afford it, but Monro, who is in charge of this, can't afford it!
Raven saw through this, so he dared to bargain with Monroe like this.
Looking at Lei Wen's calm face, Monroe felt a sense of frustration in his heart. He knew that he could not take any advantage in front of Lei Wen, so he had to sigh and negotiate: "Lei Wen Baron Wen, I know you also want to make a profit, but your price is really unacceptable to the guild. If the confrontation continues, it will be thankless for both of us.”
"So, in this way, we each take a step back. You take out the goods first and sell them all to our Mage Guild at a lower price. And I can also give you a long-term 9.5% discount based on my own authority. Right!”
From the beginning, Raven never thought about selling this batch of foggy iron. He needed to find a stable sales channel for himself, and the Mages Guild was undoubtedly the best choice.
Now that he has achieved his goal, Raven doesn’t want to offend the Mages Guild too much. After all, the 95% discount may not seem like much, but if you really want to buy something in large quantities, it’s hundreds and thousands of gold coins. What a province!
"Look what you said, I am also a member of the Mages Guild, and the interests of the Mages Guild are my interests! The previous price was just a joke to you!"
Monroe Eyelids Jumping around, secretly cursing Raven for being shameless.
Why didn't you tell me earlier that you were joking? ?
"In this case, seventy-five gold coins per pound." Raven said with a smile on his face: "But the freight has to be paid by the Mages Guild, and I require payment in advance before delivery. The first batch of payment will be received in one month. After that, I will ship it immediately."
Monroe mused.
Seventy-five gold coins, there is still some profit margin, but the original output of the Mage Guild will be a bit backlogged.
But it doesn’t matter, the Mist Guild’s Mist Iron Ore Vein has been mined for more than forty years, and it can still be mined for another thirty years. This is already a very rich vein of mineral reserves.
No matter how lucky Raven is, it will only take five or ten years to dig this mine, and he can always get through it!
Monroe nodded: "Okay, it's a deal, then I will raise funds now, and then I will send someone to deliver it to you together with the supply contract!"
Finished , immediately cut off the communication, obviously not wanting to talk to Raven any more.
Eight days later, a griffon came to Eagle Castle and delivered the first batch of payment for Raven, a total of 60,000 gold coins!
Nine days passed, and the modified hand crossbow was finally delivered to Lei Wen by Suo Hei himself.
"I told you, don't worry." Raven stroked the wooden box with his fingers: "Are you sure it has been transformed?"
Suohei, with bloodshot eyes, nodded heavily: "Lord Baron, it has been completely transformed. "
"I guarantee that you will fall in love with this beauty once you take one look!"
" Oh?" Raven raised his eyebrows and pressed his fingers on the box cover. Use slight force.
The silver light blooms quietly.
……
(End of this chapter)