Black Hearted Mage

Chapter 356 Negotiating a Transaction

Fatty Dog was a master treasure hunter. After spending so many years with Caesars, he had developed a keen eye for treasure. When Caesars opened his storage ring, he was stunned by the contents—tens of thousands of fire crystals neatly stacked, each one gleaming a crimson glow. These were all Fatty Dog's own hidden treasures, completely different from the ones Caesars had given him.

Scrolling down further, over a thousand fire flowers exuded an alluring aroma—Fat Dog's favorite snack. Even more outrageous, they contained two intact fire salamander carcasses, with a dozen more piled nearby. At the very bottom lay a small pile of multicolored gems, gleaming in the firelight. These were treasures Fat Dog had dug up during his free time by the lava river.

"You damned dog!" Caesars was so angry that he jumped up and down. "A dozen fire lizards would be fine, but you actually hid two fire salamanders!" He grabbed the fat dog's ears and scolded him, "You can't even skin it, let alone cut up the meat. Are you hiding these to lay eggs?"

The fat dog immediately put on his best innocent expression, gesturing awkwardly with his two little paws, and his big round eyes were full of grievance, which clearly meant: I just accidentally forgot to take it out.

"Forgot?" Kaisas sneered, poking the fat dog's round belly with his finger, "You remember clearly which pastry shop in Huofeng City has the most fragrant osmanthus cake and which candied fruit is the sweetest!" As he said that, he pinched the soft flesh on the back of the fat dog's neck, and with the other hand he skillfully tickled its armpits. The fat dog immediately twisted into a ball, and its four short legs kicked in the air.

Caesars casually dropped the plump dog, which rolled twice in the carriage before steadying itself. He deftly captured the two struggling salamanders, their fiery scales gleaming in the sunlight. He then dug out two bulging animal hide bags from his bag and roughly stuffed them into the storage ring hanging around the fat dog's neck.

"Here, I'll give you twenty cheese cakes. Eat them sparingly!" Caesars deliberately put on a stern face, but the corners of his mouth couldn't help but rise.

As expected, with just this little treat, the fat dog immediately forgot the pain of being thrown. It couldn't wait to paw at the storage ring, growling happily, rubbing its furry head against Caesar's trouser leg, and wagging its tail like a windmill.

"You idiot, when we get to Fire Maple City, remember to remind me to buy more herbs." Kaisas bent down and rubbed the fat dog's ears vigorously. "We're almost out of seasonings and spices. Without them, the salamander stew we're going to make will just smell fishy!"

The puppy responded with a light hum from its nose. Its memory was much better than Caesars's - it would never forget anything related to food.

"Kaisas, it's a super monster. How can you treat it like this?"

Joanna was stunned, her beautiful eyebrows raised high. She really couldn't understand why this super monster that could eat high-level fire magic could be as docile as a pet in front of Caesar.

"Ma'am, what's the big deal?" Caesars shrugged nonchalantly and tugged at the fat dog's stubby tail. "When it was cold a while ago, I used it as a pillow! It's soft and warm, much better than my own pillow."

When the fat dog heard this, he raised his head proudly and stuck out his tongue at Joanna, as if to show off how competent he was as a "living pillow".

The luxurious, carved carriage stopped and started along the way, slowly traveling for half a month before finally glimpsing the towering, blue-gray walls of Fire Maple City. The carriage didn't enter the city gates, but simply paused before the moat before turning west onto the official road and sailing away. Joanna gazed out the window at the familiar battlements, remembering the maple leaves falling from Old Joey's grave and Cecilia's rosy skirt as she departed. There was truly nothing left in Fire Maple City worth stopping for.

"You idiot, follow me!" Caesars turned back and shouted impatiently, "With your head like that, anyone passing by could step on you!" The fat dog, who had been nestling in the backpack, had emerged from nowhere and was now sauntering along on its four short legs, its round head swiveling back and forth, occasionally sniffing the wildflowers by the roadside. Hearing the scolding, it simply snorted in disdain—ever since accidentally overturning a grain cart in a small town, this furry ball had developed some understanding of its own brute strength.

Caesars hailed a cab, figuring he'd first visit the Cavill family: the dusty bedroom needed a maid's thorough sweep, and he also needed to order some sweet almond pastries. The carriage, adorned with fleur-de-lis emblems, sped briskly forward, the familiar streetscape of the commercial district streaming past the window.

When the carriage stopped in front of Cavill's pastry shop, Caesars noticed that the frosted cakes displayed in the window were still as exquisite as before, but the shop was so deserted that he could hear the reflection of the silver tray - these luxury goods made of honey and spices were not something ordinary people dared to buy.

Passing through the elegantly decorated shop, Caesars walked down the narrow cobblestone path into the backyard. Sunlight shone through the vine-covered pergola, casting dappled shadows. He spotted Vera pruning roses and stopped to say, "Vera, clean my room thoroughly. I'll be staying here for two weeks this time." He paused, then added, "Also, notify Rom immediately and have him prepare an order for 2,000 kilograms of each of the three types of almond pastry."

Vera put down her gardening shears and turned to salute, her skirt swaying gracefully. This woman, several years older than Caesars, had once been his personal maid. Although now head maid, she still had the gentle smile she wore when she served him.

Caesars pulled out two bottles of shimmering potions, the crystal bottles casting a hazy glow in the sunlight. "These are intermediate vitality potions for you. I'm sorry to have worked so hard on you during this time."

"I will follow your orders, Lord Marquis Caesar!" Vera took the potion with both hands, the lace cuffs of her black maid's robe swaying slightly with her movements. She turned and whispered a few words to two young maids who were wiping the columns, then led Caesar through a corridor covered in wisteria. "Refreshments are ready. Please rest in the living room."

Next to the velvet-covered armchair, a gilded coffee table held freshly brewed black tea and a three-tiered dessert stand. After Caesars took his seat, he gently stroked his space ring with his fingertips, and a magical communication stone engraved with intricate runes appeared in his palm.

He activated the communication channels with the Northland Trading Company and Duke Solomon, the magical patterns flowing on the communication stone reflecting in his deep eyes. The goods list for this transaction included several strategic materials with controlled levels. Rather than flaunting it at the market, it would be safer to complete this transaction directly with the Roland Empire officials.

The Northern Trading Company is a wealthy family. Baturu has ordered a lot of leather from Kaisas. He also needs to buy magic crystals from the North and a large amount of barbarian beef.

By the time Caesars had contacted both parties, he discovered that the delicious snacks that had once been placed on the coffee table had been swept away by the greedy fat dog, leaving only a few empty silver snack plates. The furry culprit was now slumped outside the living room, his legs spread out in the air, his white belly turned up, comfortably enjoying the soothing spring sun, a few snack crumbs still clinging to the corners of his mouth.

Though it was early spring, Fire Maple City was still shrouded in a chill. In this slightly chilly air, Duke Solomon entered, looking dusty and worn. The elderly noble still wore his signature salamander leather robe, but now the precious fur was wrinkled like a piece of parchment that had been crumpled and then unfolded. While salamander leather was indeed soft and comfortable, it wrinkled too easily, making the otherwise elegant Duke look like an old academic fresh out of a laboratory.

"Caesars, you have to wait a moment, Carlos is preparing the magic crystal!" The old duke said, pulling at his wrinkled collar uncomfortably.

Caesars sized up the venerable elder and couldn't help but jokingly remark, "Your Excellency the Duke, you should have at least two sets of salamander fur robes, right? Why didn't you change into something neat before going out? You don't look like a powerful Grand Duke at all!"

"Actually, there are three sets," Duke Solomon spread his hands helplessly, "This robe is good in every way, but it can't withstand sitting. I can't live without it all winter. If it weren't for these fire salamander fur robes, my old bones might not be able to survive the cold wave." As he spoke, he rubbed his hands subconsciously, as if recalling the biting cold outside the fireplace.

A sly glint flashed in Caesar's eyes: "Actually, you can make it less prone to wrinkling. Just soak it in an intermediate vitality potion, and it will keep the leather robe smooth and crisp for half a month." His tone was understated, but it made the old duke's eyes widen suddenly.

"Caesar! Why didn't you tell me earlier?" Duke Solomon tugged at his wrinkled coat in frustration. "I've spent the entire winter wandering around Parliament like a wrinkled potato!"

Kaisas added slowly, "The method is very simple. Mix two bottles of intermediate vitality potion in a basin of warm water and soak for an hour. This is the secret recipe of the elves for maintaining leather goods. If you use advanced vitality potion, the effect will be more lasting..."

Just as the two were discussing the maintenance of their fur coats, steady footsteps echoed down the corridor. The spy chief, dressed in pitch black, appeared silently at the door, his hawk-like eyes gleaming sharply in the shadows.

"Lord Carlos, your magical exploration is still so unrestrained!"

Marquis Caesars tapped the armrest of the sofa with his slender fingers, a faint smile playing on his lips. The lazy little fat dog suddenly opened its scarlet eyes and bared its gleaming fangs at the spy chief. "You are no match for me anymore. I'm afraid even my fat dog can't stand up to you!"

Carlos maintained his standard stance, his black leather boots silently rubbing against the carpet. As the helmsman of the Roland Empire's Eagle Eye, the exploratory magic he habitually unleashed seemed to hit an invisible wall. The veteran magic assassin's pupils narrowed imperceptibly—the magical fluctuations lingering around Caesars had reached a frightening concentration.

"Your Excellency the Marquis is joking. I have no ill intentions. It's just a routine greeting from an old friend!"

The spy chief stroked his belt, a magic item sold in limited quantities this year by the Thorn Flower Trading Company. He could smell the lingering toxin on his cuffs—the deadly venom of the Golden-Eyed Black Demon Snake, also sourced from the Thorn Flower Trading Company.

Caesars chuckled suddenly, the light from the crystal chandelier flickering in his dark eyes. He casually tossed out a piece of parchment, and the scroll traced a perfect arc in the air. "This is the list of transactions." Just before it fell to the ground, the parchment suddenly paused and slowly unfolded before the two visitors.

Duke Solomon, who had remained silent until then, suddenly stood up, his gold-rimmed monocle sliding down his nose. At the end of the list were twenty sets of holy vessels from the Church of Saint Laurent. These relics, supposedly sealed in the church's treasury, were now listed on the trade list like ordinary commodities. The old duke's graying beard trembled violently, and he exchanged a horrified glance with Carlos.

"It seems... I was too presumptuous just now!" Carlos slowly sat down on the velvet sofa, his knuckles unconsciously tapping on the gold-plated thorn flower emblem on the list.

The spy chief spoke casually, but his heart was already surging. In just a short time, Caesars had reached a level that he needed to look up to.

"Lord Carlos, you came all the way here specifically to deliver this batch of magic crystals. Why would I mind?" Kaisas smiled and stroked the space ring. "I plan to sell half of the fire lizard leather and some white crocodile leather to the Northland Trading Company!"

"Wait a minute!" Duke Solomon suddenly raised his hand to interrupt, his brow furrowed. "Kaesus, giving the northerners half the salamander hide is too much. In my opinion, we should only give them 20% at most." He stood up and walked to the window, gazing at the gloomy sky to the north. "During last year's severe cold snap that lasted five months, those starving and freezing northern barbarians nearly attacked the border fortress. Even the beacon smoke they lit could be seen on the walls of Fire Maple City. If it weren't for the border guards' desperate resistance..."

Caesar's face darkened upon hearing this, and he slammed the armrest of the sofa behind him. "Your Excellency, Duke, you're right. Then... I'll only sell them 10%. As long as you don't bargain down, I'll sell the rest to you!"

The people of the North have never been a docile and kindly race. Violence runs deep in their veins, and their temperaments are as capricious and unpredictable as the cold winds of the Far North. The most terrifying thing about these barbarians is their inhumane brutality. During the Third Great Cold Wave, the northern tribes took advantage of the Roland Empire's sparse border defenses and marched southward, leaving nothing bare in their path. Riding frost-maned bulls and wielding steel axes, they plundered and burned their way from the borderlands until they reached the gates of Fire Maple City. The scorched earth left by that war still bears witness to the brutality of the northerners.

"That's it. Choose some inferior salamander hides and trade them with the northerners!" Duke Solomon slapped the oak coffee table with a sneer of contempt. "Those barbarians can't tell good from bad anyway."

"You pick first, and the rest will belong to the people of the North!" Kaisas leaned on the sofa, playing with the red magic core in his hand and added, with a cunning light in his eyes.