"Alves, oh...what are you doing here? Shouldn't you be at Black Hammer Castle, by Rhodes' side, and continue to advise him? That was really a great game, with everyone participating, Lord Rhodes' team
A great victory, isn’t it?”
In the quiet afternoon, Alves's visit was not welcomed. As soon as he walked in, he was met with cynicism from Laheim. A smart person will know the meaning when he hears it. The game here does not just refer to the game a few weeks ago.
, also alludes to the battle between him and the three nobles from Kislev; at the same time, the team here does not only refer to the Norsca team that represented Rhodes on the court, but also alludes to the surrounding
The group of people around Rhodes who helped him, and Alves was one of them.
The little dwarf heard the malice in the other person's words, but he was calm and calm. He didn't even bring a guard and came alone.
"That's right, but it's also a very difficult fight. Lord Rhodes asked his team members to be merciful, otherwise, his opponent would really be beaten to a bloody head."
Alves replied with a smile. He just smiled, but the meaning behind his words was very obvious. Both of them had something to say, and at the same time, both of them knew exactly what the other was talking about. The game is just a metaphor. Everyone knows that the real meaning is
The battlefield is underground, in a life-and-death commercial war.
Alves was neither humble nor arrogant, which made Laheim look livid. He didn't want to be defeated by a dwarf. Yes, in his eyes, Alves had never been a normal person. He was not even qualified to be a human being, a deformed person.
, it was supposed to be thrown into the forest and mixed with wild beasts.
"Yes, it was a bloody blow. I really have to thank Lord Rhodes for being merciful in the end and barely saving the lives of those people."
Rahim returned with a sullen face.
"Well... you should save your life. After all, we have to continue fighting next time. Without an opponent, the game will not be exciting." Alves said, walked to the chair and climbed up with difficulty.
"Is there any wine? Alcohol can keep me excited. Ah, have a drink. In this warm afternoon, a glass of red wine is the most beautiful enjoyment."
Alves smiled at Laheim, but Laheim's face was as long as a century-old tree, gloomy, full of resentment and murderous intent. However, he still asked the servant to pour Alves a glass of red wine.
"Thanks."
After the servant poured the wine, Alves thanked him.
"Dwarf, you've had your drink and said your words, shouldn't it be time for you to leave? This is not a place for you to sit around and entertain yourself."
Looking at Alves' ugly face, Rahim was filled with resentment.
"Ignore the insult you just insulted me, I must explain something to you first." Alves put down the glass, "I'm not here to please you, and at the same time, I'm not your enemy."
"Not my enemy? Can't you still be my ally?"
Laheim laughed. He knew, he knew everything. In the past few months, if this little dwarf hadn't been involved, he would not have lost to Quareara and the others. At least, he would not have lost so quickly.
.It was because of Alves’ secret support that Quareara, Skargard, and Clive, who were unfamiliar with the place, gained the upper hand. Who is his biggest enemy in Black Hammer Castle, except Rhodes?
It was this dwarf who was less than one meter tall.
"Ah? What's wrong? Sir Laheim, if I really regarded you as my enemy, would you still be alive today?" As soon as Alves finished speaking, Laheim was about to call the servants and bring this
The arrogant little dwarf rushed out. But Alves quickly made a gesture——
"Listen to what I have to say."
he said.
"Black Hammer Castle belongs to Rhodes, and you also know that I am his assistant. If we really want to target you, we have a hundred ways, and we will not wait until now. You know, since that day Rhodes returned to Black Hammer Castle
, when you hand over the armed forces, you actually lose. However, we don’t want you to lose so completely.”
Alves whispered, his expression becoming serious and deep.
"Why?"
Rahim was doubtful.
"Why...it's very simple. Those in power pay attention to the balance of forces. You and I both know that it is impossible for any lord or king to run a country independently. There will always be various forces in a territory, some strong, some weak,
The strong devours the weak and becomes stronger. It becomes stronger and stronger. One day, it will threaten the ruler itself. Therefore, every king and every lord will always suppress the stronger party. And
The best way to suppress is to cultivate an opponent, an opponent who is strong enough to compete with this strong one. The ruler will mediate and let the two sides fight each other, thereby maintaining a balanced relationship."
Alves sat with his legs curled up and talked. His words were so true and sincere that Rahim almost believed him for a moment, but with the help of many years of experience between black and white,
Despite his experience, the little dwarf in front of him still made him feel slightly uneasy.
"What do you want to say?" Laheim frowned, "Are you trying to say - you used to cultivate Quareara and let them deal with me. But now, I am too weak and they are too strong. So.
, you are worried again and want to support me again to deal with them?"
Laheim said bluntly that many people knew about the art of emperor balancing, but it was the first time Laheim had seen it brought to the table so openly. Only this dwarf could do such a thing... He was originally
A strange thing.
"Yes! That's what I mean. Your Excellency is very smart, but I like to go straight and don't like to make detours."
Alves suddenly laughed loudly and said.
"Hmph...then how are you going to support me?"
On the surface, Rahim believed what Alves said, but in his heart he remained vigilant. The little dwarf's words did make some sense, but there was no such thing as a free dinner, and Rahim still knew this.
"I have a friend in the empire. Well, to put it simply, when I was the financial controller of the Iron Ring Castle, I always had to deal with all kinds of people, including the noble businessmen of Kislev, as well as those from the empire.
I've known this friend before, and he happens to have a list now, a big one. It's about drinks and furniture." Alves raised a slight smile at the corner of his mouth, "By the way, you also know this person.
."
"who?"
Laheim asked alertly.
"Luxia."
Alves returned. He barely looked at Laheim, but looked indifferent. And the more he looked like this, the more Laheim began to doubt his judgment. Do Alves and Rhodes really want to
Support yourself again? Otherwise there is no reason.
"Two years ago, when I was the financial controller of Iron Ring Castle, I had dealings with him. You have to know that in the early days of Blackhammer Castle, except for the ore trade, trade in other industries was almost non-existent. Therefore,
I have known Luxia for a long time, maybe even before you. He probably heard about the situation here, and also knew that you were in trouble, and things are different from the past, so he prepared a big order with Qualea
Get them to do it. It was I who stopped him and persuaded him to give this business to you. As I said just now, the Blackhammer Castle market is like a scale, and Rhodes will not let anyone be too powerful. You point.
Yes, you understand, and you should understand earlier..."
Alves picked up the glass and continued to take a sip of the red wine in the glass. He shook the red wine evenly, as if he was observing the prey in his hands.
"What does he need?"
Rahim asked with a straight face.
"There are all kinds of drinks in the empire, including wine, beer, and ale. The only thing missing is vodka, which is almost a specialty of Kislev. Yes, he needs this exactly. The quantity is-two thousand barrels
." Alves deliberately slowed down his speech, "There are also furniture, pine and fir, he needs these raw materials. The purchase price of logs is not high, and the profit is very small. But the quantity is huge, and it adds up to a good value."
After hearing this, Rahim still looked bad. In the past year or so, he was like riding a pirate ship, climbing from the lowest point to the highest point in his life, and then from the highest point to the lowest point. And these were all caused by Byrod and
Given by this dwarf.
"Hmph." He sneered. "With such a good list, why would you give it to me? Doesn't Rhodes want to swallow it himself?"
"Can he swallow it?"
Alves replied casually without thinking.
"You didn't hear what I just said. The main items traded on this list are wine, vodka, and high-strength vodka. More than half of the winery in Blackhammer Castle belongs to you. The old man in Luxia wants two thousand barrels.
, not two hundred barrels. Do you think Rhodes can afford this order? In the entire Black Hammer Castle, I am afraid that your wine cellar is the only one with thousands of barrels of finished product, and the rest can be brewed in stages. Of course, you are half right.
, if Rhodes could eat it, he would have eaten it all by himself, and would not let you get the benefit at all. In fact, I handled this matter privately and did not let him know."
"Why?"
Rahim asked.
"Why? Rhodes wants me to have full authority to handle the daily affairs of Blackhammer Castle. I can't bother him with everything. Then, what else does he want me as an assistant to do?" Alves smiled, "Of course, I'll tell you this.
I won’t help you voluntarily, I also have requirements.”
"Tell me."
Rahim leaned back in his chair and looked sideways at Alves.
"That is, after the matter is completed, you must give me 130% of the profit. You know, this is fair. I provide information and you are responsible for production. I take the small part and you take the big part."
Alves said as he drank the last bit of red wine in the glass, showing a satisfied look.
After a conversation, the balance of doubt and trust in Laheim's heart gradually tilted towards trust. Everyone is eager to get money and wealth. Although Alves is disabled, he is also a human being.
Everyone has selfish desires, this is normal... At the same time, that Luxia, I have done business with him many times, and he is a person who speaks his truth. This matter seems to be normal...