"How goes your consideration?" Roberson asked when Dahlia and the other two emerged, noting the slightly conflicted expressions on their faces.
"We just discussed it. We will sell to you at a price thirty percent lower than what the Maner Principality sells their wheat for," Dahlia took a deep breath, acting as if she had made a massive concession.
Before Roberson could speak, Dahlia continued, "This price includes shipping fees. After all, traveling from Sedona City to your Deepstone Dwarf Kingdom by water takes months. This involves the cost of renting ships, manual labor for loading and unloading, and wages."
In reality, Lucas could still turn a profit at this price. After all, the Maner Principality was selling to the Deepstone Dwarf Kingdom at double the market price, so even with a thirty percent discount, there was money to be made.
"Agreed." Roberson pondered for a moment, but inwardly, he was already laughing with joy, thinking he had scored a massive bargain.
After all, compared to the Maner Principality's selling price, this was thirty percent cheaper, and it even covered shipping costs.
"By the way, your Sedona City also has Bamboo Tube Wine. I hope you can provide that to us at a discounted rate as well," Roberson suddenly said. He certainly hadn't forgotten about the liquor.
"I'm afraid that's impossible. Our wine has a unified selling price, and its annual production is extremely limited. However, we can offer priority purchasing rights to your Deepstone Dwarf Kingdom," Dahlia feigned an apologetic tone.
Unlike wheat and linen, wine production was indeed quite low, and the output of Bamboo Tube Wine was even lower.
"Understood." Roberson nodded; he could accept this outcome.
"However, if the opportunity arises, Your Majesty could personally visit Sedona City. We have other varieties of wine there that are simply not exported," Dahlia said with a light smile.
It was true; Sedona City also had newly developed flower wines, fruit wines, grape wines, and beer. These were all brewed using methods provided by Lucas, but currently, they could only be tasted on the second floor of the Drunken Night and were not exported.
"Hearing you say that really makes me want to take a trip to Sedona City. But there are too many political affairs to handle, so I truly can't step away right now," Roberson said with a hint of regret.
"Father, I can go! I'll go buy the wine for you," Daisy chimed in immediately. She hugged Roberson's arm and shook it a few times, her chubby cheeks full of pleading.
"You..." Roberson frowned and was about to refuse.
"Don't worry, Father, I'll take Alan with me. Besides, didn't Miss Dahlia say Sedona City is very safe?" Daisy hastily coaxed him.
Seeing the hesitation on her father's face, she piled on the charm, acting spoiled. "Father, let me go, please. You're the best, Father."
"Your Majesty, you can rest assured letting Princess Daisy travel with us. With our soldiers protecting her along the way, safety won't be an issue." Dahlia's eyes flickered.
"Alright then. Remember to bring wine back for your Father—the more, the better." Roberson finally agreed, though he didn't forget to remind her about his wine.
"The iron ore you need will be ready in two days. I'll have Michael deliver it to the port." Roberson wrote down the cooperative agreement on a parchment scroll, then stamped it with the exclusive seal of the King of the Deepstone Dwarf Kingdom.
"A pleasure doing business with you." Dahlia took the parchment, feeling a heavy burden lift from her shoulders, and a radiant smile bloomed on her face.
"A pleasure doing business." Roberson laughed heartily.
"We still have five hundred bottles of the second-tier Whispering Dawn on our ship, fifty bottles of the first-tier Whispering Dawn, as well as some canned food, wheat, and linen. Oh, and three bottles of Bamboo Tube Wine. We will use these as an initial payment. If it's not enough, we will transport the rest with our next shipment."
Dahlia listed off the remaining goods on the ship as if counting her family treasures. The value difference wouldn't be much anyway.
"That's fine." Roberson nodded. The difference wasn't large, and he had come to trust Dahlia quite a bit. Judging from all aspects, she didn't seem like someone who would go back on her word.
Tramp, tramp, tramp...
Suddenly, a knight stepped forward and whispered a few words into King Roberson's ear. Instantly, Roberson's expression turned ice-cold.
"Hmph! That old geezer Makro—perfect timing," Roberson smirked coldly.
"Since Your Majesty has matters to attend to, and we have already concluded our negotiations, we will not disturb you any longer." Dahlia had a smile on her face. Seeing that Roberson was busy, she tactfully took her leave.
"Alright. Feel free to come visit Daisy when you have time." Roberson didn't ask them to stay. He had Alan escort the three women out of the palace, while he himself prepared to meet Makro.
...
Meanwhile, in the reception hall, Makro had been waiting for a while. Not a single cup of tea or snacks had been served, which infuriated him greatly. However, thinking of his country's current situation, he forced himself to hold his temper.
Tramp, tramp, tramp...
Roberson, deliberately arriving late, strolled leisurely from outside. Seeing Makro's expression, he let out a cold smirk.
"Roberson, how is your consideration of my demands?" Makro said arrogantly. Having been made to wait so long, his attitude naturally wasn't going to be pleasant.
"Hmph! From this day forward, our Deepstone Dwarf Kingdom will no longer import anything from your Maner Principality. And of course, we will not export any weapons to you either," Roberson declared coldly, his voice full of absolute confidence.
"What? You better think this through. If our Maner Principality hadn't been providing you with wheat and linen, you all would have starved to death long ago!"
Makro's arrogant face instantly stiffened, and he furiously shouted, "Don't forget about your favorite Roma Wine! If you refuse, you'll never drink it again! I strongly advise you to reconsider."
He knew Roberson loved alcohol like his own life. Using wine as bait would make negotiations much easier.
"Hehe... That won't be necessary. That wine of yours is nothing more than horse piss to me now," Roberson said coldly. As if showing off, he pulled out the Bamboo Tube Wine and took a massive gulp.
He smacked his lips, "Tsk tsk tsk... Truly fine wine."
"What..."
"What... what kind of wine is that?" The sneer on Makro's face froze again. The rich, mellow aroma of the wine violently stimulated his sense of smell and his nerves.
"Bamboo Tube Wine. The absolute pinnacle of wine. It's a thousand times better than your so-called Roma Wine," Roberson boasted. Seeing the expression on Makro's face brought him immense satisfaction.
"Impossible, I don't believe it..." Makro yelled. Roma Wine was his proudest masterpiece, specifically used to keep the dwarves securely on a leash.
"You don't believe it? Then I'll make you concede defeat wholeheartedly." Roberson took a cup, poured a tiny bit of Bamboo Tube Wine into it, and handed it to Makro.
"I won't believe it..." Makro refused to believe it. But after taking the cup and drinking it down, his entire body froze.
His expression perfectly validated Roberson's words: Roma Wine was just a pile of shit.
"How... how is this possible?"
Makro stared at the wine cup in his hand in sheer disbelief. His mouth was filled with the mellow fragrance of the Bamboo Tube Wine, forcing him to face reality.
In the end, he didn't even know how he left the royal palace. All he knew was that increasing his weapon imports was now completely out of the question.
"Who is it? Who the hell made this wine?"
"Damn it, damn it all..."
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