"Protest! On behalf of the Business Alliance, I would like to express my strong protest to your Norton family! You have violated your commitment to respect private property, plundered the wealth of our chamber of commerce families in disguise, and restricted their freedom..." Earl Kate was furious, staring at Fatty Shi with his eyes. , his voice was a little hoarse because of the excitement.
Fatty Shi dug his ears with his fingers, and the old god replied: "Lord Earl Kate, please don't get excited, we accept your protest. Then should we discuss about transporting the family members you paid the ransom to? What is the transportation problem between the Faliqiu Plain and the border of Maweforin Province? If you send a horse-drawn carriage to transport, the toll of a horse-drawn carriage back and forth is one goldford. If you entrust us to help you transport these personnel, then even the food, drink and carriage The cost is only two Jinfords in total. This is because we have given you a 50% discount because you are our old friend. If others come to contact you, the minimum is three Jinfords. Not yet Including eating and drinking…”
Earl Kate slumped on the chair in frustration, as if he had punched the empty space with a punch that had been stored for a long time, and instead of hitting the enemy, he dodged himself. He covered his haggard face and lamented in his heart, who is a businessman? Didn't he say that nobles want face and businessmen pay attention to profit? Why is the Norton family doing the opposite? They don't care about face at all. It's all about Kingford, Kingford, Kingford! More like a businessman than a businessman...
At the beginning of the negotiation, Earl Kate thought it was normal. Two million goldfords were packaged for all the great swordsmen, gold swordsmen, high-level chamber of commerce and alliance nobles and their families, attendants, and nearly 2,000 personal guards who surrendered. free. But a bill that was submitted afterwards made Earl Kate furious.
"If you beat me to death, I can't believe that these two thousand people spent 800,000 Jinford on food in more than 50 days! 80,000 is about the same! Bring me the food menu! I want to see what they eat every day. What is it!" Earl Kate was very angry.
"I'm sorry, Earl Kate, you should know the current situation in Morente City. In fact, we have spent a lot of energy in providing food for these distinguished guests and organizing banquets and dances for them, so the cost of ingredients and services is somewhat Expensive, I believe this is what you should be able to understand. In addition to this bill, there are more than a dozen IOUs here, which are all bills that the great swordsmen have credited after they have lost all. It’s just over two million kimfords. If you don’t pay off these IOUs, we won’t let them go back. Anyway, your Chamber of Commerce pays them an annuity every year, and you can use their annuity to repay these IOUs first... " Fatty Shi suggested politely.
Earl Kate was furious: "It's unreasonable! Your family still runs a casino!"
"It doesn't seem like a big deal, does it?" Fatty Shi replied disapprovingly: "Lord Kate, you have to understand how sad it is for a person to lose his freedom. So many great sword masters and golden swordsmen are all because of your business alliance. I became a captive of our family. Losing freedom will lead to mental decadence, loss of appetite, and loss of health. Therefore, we tried every means to keep everyone happy physically and mentally even if they are captives, so that we can better serve your business after gaining freedom. League play. Also a small gamble is a better way to pass the time...”
"Stop! Stop talking..." Earl Kate flipped through the IOUs, and quickly discovered something strange: "Baron Shredder, can you tell me why these IOUs belong to the great swordsman? Other gold swordsmen, high-ranking officials of the chamber of commerce No IOUs with the alliance nobles?"
Shi Fatzi shrugged his shoulders: "It's very simple, we don't allow them to issue IOUs. We believe that you will hold your nose to pay for the IOUs issued by the great swordsmen. But those golden swordsmen, high-level chamber of commerce and alliance nobles have lost all their money. If you pay on credit, you will definitely ignore it, and maybe you will leave them here. So we don’t allow those who have lost all their wealth to borrow money with IOUs to make up for it... "
Although the truth was harsh, Earl Kate had to admit that Fatty Shi made a lot of sense. The business alliance is eager to redeem these captured high-end combat power to strengthen the combat power of the chamber of commerce. So Earl Kate finally paid for these great sword masters pinching his nose. The two million ransom that was originally negotiated was finally paid five million gold fords.
Although there were twists and turns in the negotiation process, one thing was finally resolved. Earl Kate hopes to strike while the iron is hot and redeem the more than 100,000 surrendered residents living in the inner city. Most of these residents are the family members of the chamber of commerce and the mid-level managers of the chamber of commerce. Redeeming them back will also help maintain the morale of the armed forces of the chamber of commerce. At the same time, it will also make those middle-level managers of the chamber of commerce more loyal to the chamber of commerce. the best way.
The Norton family did not object to letting these more than 100,000 inner-city residents be free. Fatty Shi made a price for a long time. For example, the ransom for children and the elderly is one Goldford, two for women, and three for young and strong men. Jinford, I plan to send someone to the prisoner-of-war camp to count first, to see how many men, women, old and children there are, and then make a detailed list of personnel to count how much it is worth...
"Don't bother, I'll pack all of your one million goldfords, so you won't waste time." At this moment, Earl Kate showed the wealth of the business alliance, and he was very happy to see Fatty Shi's face being slapped by Jinford.
"Deal!" Fatty Shi was also elated, he didn't care about being slapped in the face by Jinford.
It's just that after Earl Kate saw the so-called first batch of more than 3,000 residents in the inner city outside the east gate, he felt as if he had been struck by lightning suddenly, and his whole head was dizzy. This, this is not so much a resident of the inner city, but rather a refugee, with no clothes, no body, bare hands and bare feet. The only difference between them and the refugees is that their flesh is very white and tender, and their skin Delicate, it can be seen that they used to live a good life of pampering.
After a little inquiring about Earl Kate, they knew everything that happened in the prisoner-of-war camp. The 3,000 released residents of the inner city embraced Earl Kate as if they had seen their biological parents, and began to sue Earl Kate. Some accused the Norton family of deliberately selling food at high prices, some asked Earl Kate to return the property that was robbed by his companions in the POW camp, and some asked Earl Kate to pay for everyone to have a delicious meal first...
Earl Kate was dizzy and managed to squeeze out of the crowd with the help of the guards. Then he found that his clothes and trousers had been torn. Not only the gold coins and silver coins on his body were gone, but even the wedding ring on his finger was gone. I don't know who got it. Earl Kate couldn't care less about being angry anymore, his whole body was almost numb. However, Earl Kate still kept his responsibilities in mind, and he immediately asked the guards of the Norton family who were guarding him to see Lorist.
I have to explain here that after Earl Kate arrived in Morente City, except for the first time he met Lorist, he was then placed in the former grain warehouse base outside the east gate. There was a bluestone courtyard with two entrances, and the courtyard wall It is taller than the house inside, and it is estimated that it should be the place where Jinwu, the former grain warehouse manager, hides his beauty. So this courtyard became the residence for entertaining Earl Kate and his eight guards. Fatty Shi arranged for a hundred guards to surround the bluestone courtyard with tents, effectively isolating Earl Kate from the city of Morente.
The first time Earl Kate protested to the Norton family was because he felt as if he was under house arrest in this bluestone courtyard. The guards at the gate did not allow him and his guards to step out of the gate. If you have any requests, you can ask them. What, even a woman can be satisfied, anyway, there are many brothels in Morente City, the worst is to call dozens of butchers to place meat screens for Earl Kate, and he can pay the bill himself.
Anyway, Earl Kate is not allowed to step out of the yard. The reason Fatty Shi gave was for Earl Kate's safety, so Fatty Shi rushed to this bluestone yard for every negotiation. From the news revealed by the frowning Fatty Shi and Baron Kate's imagination, he can easily conclude that the people of Morente City are in turmoil, and the Norton family armed forces are busy suppressing the rioting citizens of Morente City However, the main reason for not letting him enter the city was because he was afraid of being exposed.
Even the released great swordsmen, high-level chamber of commerce, and alliance nobles said that they often saw fires igniting in the city of Moronette on the berth in the middle of the Golden Bay. The Norton family organized a lot of The fishing boats went out to catch fish, and it was clear that the food supply in Morente City was insufficient. Moreover, there seems to be a problem with law and order. For example, this time they won their freedom and did not disembark at the dock area. Instead, they took a boat around the White Milky Way and arrived at the grain warehouse base outside the East City Gate. Along the way, they saw the Norton family The armed forces were heavily guarded, and there were still many bloodstains on the river bank. Many wounded Norton family soldiers were sitting on the ground, their bodies had just been bandaged and so on...
According to these descriptions, Earl Kate was very proud to know that although the Norton family occupied Morente City, they did not get any benefits. They fell into the big pit of Morente City just as the business alliance executives expected. This can be seen from the fact that they took the initiative to prepare the carriage, arrange board and lodging, and send the freed Great Swordsman Chamber of Commerce executives and other 2,000 people to Mawei Fulin Province. Although the Norton family owns Lorist, the Blood Sword Saint, But I am also very worried that the high-end combat power of these free business alliances and the rioting people in the city will combine to cause greater damage and losses to the Norton family's armed forces.
It's just that Earl Kate didn't expect that when the Norton family released the more than 100,000 residents in the inner city, they started to play tricks, playing with the belongings that those residents carried with them. You must know that each of these residents in the inner city can carry more than 30 catties of property. The sum of 100,000 people is a huge amount. Earl Kate will never allow this huge amount of wealth to fall into the hands of the Norton family.
As soon as he heard that the Norton family had opened taverns, brothels, casinos, and pledge shops in the prisoner-of-war camp, Earl Kate knew what the Norton family was up to, but his request to see Lorist was rejected by the guards who watched them. And Fatty Shi, who usually comes here every day, only came late after three days.
Earl Kate vented all his anger on Fatty Shi, but Fatty Shi argued that the Norton family did not break Lorist's promise, and opened taverns, brothels, casinos and mortgage shops to better serve those 100,000 inner city residents. The Norton family fully respected the private property rights of these captives, did not plunder them, and provided them with life safety protection. And has been providing them with free food. As for the high prices they dislike buying and selling goods, the Norton family also fully respects their choice, and they don't have to buy it if they think it's too expensive...
"Hehe, are two bowls of water rice porridge considered free food?" Earl Kate sneered.
"Of course!" Fatty Shi replied without blushing: "Lord Kate, you must not know how happy it is to be able to drink two bowls of clear water rice porridge now. The skin is almost peeled... oops, sorry, almost forgot the most important thing, I am here to discuss the transportation of these free inner city residents. If they continue to stay here, we are not going to free Provide them with food, because they have already gained freedom. This requires the adults to pay for the food themselves. The current price of food is one hundred catties of potatoes for one kinford, so the adults quickly decide whether to let us deliver it for you or you pay. Carry the toll by yourself?"
Earl Kate took a deep breath and forcibly suppressed the renewed anger in his heart: "May I ask you a question? Lord Baron Schrader, why did you take the initiative to deliver it for us for free for the first time? I thought these costs were included in the ransom of… "
The first time Earl Kate said was that the Norton family took the initiative to transport the freed great swordsman, golden swordsman, high-level chamber of commerce and alliance nobles, as well as their family members, guards, attendants, and 2,000 people to Mana Hill Plain and The border of Mawi Forint Province.
Fatty Shi looked at Earl Kate with contempt: "You think I'm stupid, the first time there were only 2,000 people, and the next one is 100,000, if we let us ship it for free, then we will lose money, so it's better not to release them .”
"But I've already paid a million ransom..."
"One yard is one yard. You also said that it was a ransom, and you paid it voluntarily. Now we are discussing the cost of transporting these 100,000 people, and it has nothing to do with the ransom."
"You, you are so shameless, I, I protest..."
"I accept your protest. I'm sorry. Alright, have you made up your mind now, my lord? Are you going to entrust us to help you transport it, or your business alliance will send a carriage to pick it up?" Fatty Shi said impatiently.
"..." Earl Kate was powerless to get angry.
"I, I want to see your Royal Highness, and I want to protest to him. Is this the sincerity of your Norton family's hope for peace? I didn't see it. All the bad consequences caused by this are all yours. The family bears!" Earl Kate roared, blushing and thick neck.
Fatty Shi shrugged helplessly, and spread his hands: "You're welcome, Lord Earl Kate, the last time our Highness met you was because we had dealt with you Peterson before, which gave you a little face to meet you Good morning. Don't forget that you are just a small earl, and you are not qualified to ask to see our highness. Please remember that our highness is not only a duke, but also the sword of the kingdom of Antinac St. So, you better discuss with me to solve these troublesome problems.
As for the consequences, you can send troops. Our family has long said that we will return Morente City to you. To be honest, we don’t want to occupy Morente City. This city is too numb and troublesome. People die every day. I Sometimes I wish I could set the city on fire. Oh, it's crooked again. Lord Kate, why don't you write a letter back and let the business alliance send troops to fight with our Norton family's armed forces? As long as you defeat our family's armed forces, you can recover the Mana Hill Plain and Morant City... "
After speaking, Fatty Shi realized that Earl Kate kept shaking his head with his mouth shut...
…