"Business?"
The smile on Cohen's face froze for a moment before being replaced by an even more fervent business instinct. He bowed slightly, made an inviting gesture, and adopted the most humble posture possible.
"It is the Golden Sail Commerce Association's honor to do business with you, a creator of miracles."
Velin ignored the empty flattery and turned, leading Cohen toward a completed two-story vine building that he was temporarily using as a warehouse and office.
The moment they stepped inside, a cool, fresh wave of air washed over them, sealing out the unique, humid heat of the Swamp.
The corner of Cohen's eye twitched uncontrollably. The building's interior walls were not rough, flat surfaces, but were covered in spiral patterns. The floor was level and solid, clattering underfoot with the distinct feel of stone.
Although he had already confirmed it, he still found it hard to believe all this had grown from plants in just over ten days.
Velin dispensed with the pleasantries and directly signaled Barrett.
The guard captain understood and had his men carry in a huge, complete hide, tossing it onto the empty space in the center of the room.
The hide was dark green, covered in hard, bowl-sized scale plates. A thick layer of fat was visible at the edges, and even after preliminary tanning, it still reeked of blood.
Cohen's gaze was immediately drawn to it, a display of his high professional standards. He strode forward, not touching it at first, but sniffing the air. Then, he crouched and knocked on the scale plates with his knuckles, producing a dull KNOCK KNOCK sound.
"What is this?"
"The hide of a Gray Swamp Giant Crocodile," Velin explained.
Cohen's voice was filled with excitement. "Judging by the size and the thickness of the scale plates, this is an adult Level 3 Magical Beast. It's relatively intact—worth a fortune. The oilcloth next to it... Are those the venom gland and water sac? Heavens, they're completely intact!"
Velin watched him calmly, as if he were selling cabbages. "There's another one, slightly smaller."
Before he finished speaking, another crocodile hide was carried in.
Cohen's breathing grew heavier.
'Two of them! This means it wasn't an accidental encounter, but a planned hunt!'
Before he could make an offer, Velin shot Barrett another glance.
This time, Barrett and another guard worked together to carry in a ferocious head—it belonged to the rhinoceros that had been exhausted and killed by the Gray Swamp Giant Crocodile.
Cohen's hand, poised to calculate a price, froze in mid-air. He stared intently at the head, his Adam's apple bobbing. He subconsciously took half a step back before realizing his loss of composure.
"A Rock-Breaking Rhinoceros?" He cleared his throat, trying to make his voice sound less dry. "A single one is enough to wipe out an entire squad of Mercenaries..."
'Three Level 3 Magical Beasts! The power behind this Velin is far beyond what a mere Pioneer Knight should possess!'
"The Golden Sail Commerce Association is willing to purchase everything." Cohen took a deep breath, suppressing his inner panic. "For the two Gray Swamp Giant Crocodiles, all materials combined, our offer is one hundred and twenty Golden Sun. This Rock-Breaking Rhinoceros is more valuable; we're willing to offer one hundred and fifty Golden Sun. The total... is two hundred and seventy Golden Sun. This is the most amicable price the Golden Sail Commerce Association can offer."
Having said his piece, he looked to Velin, awaiting his response.
However, Velin simply gave a faint smile, his long fingers tapping lightly on the tabletop.
"Manager Cohen, this friendship of yours doesn't seem very strong."
Cohen's heart skipped a beat.
"I may be a Pioneer Knight, but I also spent a few years in Green Vein City dealing... in the black market."
Velin's words were like pearls. "A rare Magical Beast like the Gray Swamp Giant Crocodile not having a circulating market price is one thing. But this Rock-Breaking Rhinoceros... just the horn on its head, in such perfect condition, could easily fetch a king's ransom of one hundred Golden Sun at auction in the Royal Capital. And you think you can buy the whole rhinoceros for one hundred and fifty Golden Sun? Surely, you jest, Manager Cohen."
All the while, Velin's knuckles continued their rhythmic tapping.
Each tap landed like a hammer blow on Cohen's heart. He could feel cold sweat soaking his clothes from behind.
'How does he know all this in such detail?! This is definitely not the kind of knowledge an ordinary Pioneer Knight should have!'
'Overwhelming martial prowess, extraordinary knowledge, and a pragmatic personality... How could that old fox from Flower Province bear to just let a talent like this go!'
'That's it! It must be! Count Laine must be secretly backing him!'
Cohen didn't dare to think any further, terrified of being swept into the maelstrom of aristocratic power struggles. With his status, he had no right to be involved.
"My... my lord, you've misunderstood!" Cohen forced a smile that looked worse than a grimace and scrambled to recover. "You know, shipping goods out of the Swamp involves significant losses, and we have to assume the risk... But of course! To show our absolute support for Newly Town, I am willing to raise the total price to three hundred and fifty Golden Sun! And, from this day on, the Golden Sail Commerce Association will waive all shipping fees for goods delivered to this location!"
Velin's tapping stopped.
"I only need one hundred and fifty Golden Sun."
Cohen froze.
Velin changed his tune. "I need nutrient-rich soil, at least ten thousand pounds of it. I also need three hundred sets of decent-quality burlap clothes, fifty pairs of sturdy leather boots, fifty sets of basic iron farming tools, and fifty sets of artisan tools."
Cohen's mind raced. He had expected Velin to order weapons and armor, but he never imagined the man would want these mundane production supplies instead.
He quickly calculated: 'Three hundred sets of clothes go for thirty to sixty Copper Leaves a set on the market, so that's around thirty-eight Golden Sun. Fifty pairs of sturdy leather boots, another twenty-something Golden Sun. Plus the tools... and that damned soil! The cost of hauling soil into the Swamp is frighteningly high!'
'The total market value of these goods would likely exceed one hundred and eighty Golden Sun! And he expects to cover it with two hundred Golden Sun?'
'The Association would make almost no profit on this deal; we'd even be losing money on labor and shipping!'
He looked into Velin's wine-red eyes and felt he understood!
"No problem!" Cohen agreed at once, his voice decisive. "We'll settle these supplies against two hundred Golden Sun! As for the remaining one hundred and fifty, we will have them delivered to you as soon as possible."
Barrett, standing by the door, had remained as stoic as a statue the entire time.
But at this moment, a flicker of genuine emotion crossed his one good eye. 'The lord is willing to spend so much money on supplies for the common folk!'
His large, calloused hands unconsciously clenched into fists, and as he looked at Velin, he stood even taller.
Velin nodded, fairly satisfied with the outcome. He had acquired the means of production while also lining his pockets a bit.
With the deal preliminarily struck, the atmosphere relaxed considerably.
Cohen wiped away his sweat, his business acumen flaring back to life. He rose respectfully and, as if by chance, stroked the wall beside him.
"Lord Klein, forgive my presumption, but this office... no, this Stone Skin Soft Vine that you use to build your city is a creation beyond all imagination."
Cohen chose his words with care. "Our association's research institute is dedicated to studying new materials, and we would be honored to acquire a small... say, a one-meter-long sample of the vine for study. Of course, we are willing to pay a considerable sum. Please, name your price."
'Here it comes.' Velin had been expecting this.
As a former researcher who had navigated the modern "industry-academia-research" system, he knew this playbook by heart.
'Knowledge cannot be shared so easily, not until a technological barrier is in place.'
'The Stone Skin Soft Vine can be sold, but not now. If they really want it, they can pay for a complete buyout.'
Velin held up three fingers.
Cohen asked tentatively, "Three hundred Golden Sun?"
Velin stated a number.
"Three thousand Golden Sun."