The imperial diplomatic delegation, led by Ormond, walked in the direction of Blackhammer Castle. The castle did not appear to be located in the center of the town, but rather to the north, near the northeast corner.
They originally thought that the Lord of the Castle would come down to greet him in person, but he didn't... According to the guards, Lord Rhodes was busy, and if you wanted to see him, you still needed to make an appointment. However, if it was a diplomatic envoy from the Empire, the Lord would be willing to put down other work.
, receive first.
Ormond's face turned blue, but there was nothing he could do. Under the leadership of the garrison captain, he walked through the arches and city walls, walked from the sun into the shadow, and then from the shadow to the sun. When he passed the waterwheel,
Ormond saw that the rapid water was driving a huge waterwheel to rotate. Inside the waterwheel room, it seemed to be a large workshop.
"What is that?"
Ormond pointed to the large house in front of him.
"Arsenal. The lord's own arsenal, forging armor and weapons driven by a water wheel."
The commander of the garrison answered politely.
"This castle needs that many weapons and armor?"
"Sorry, sir, this is beyond my knowledge."
replied the garrison commander.
Ten minutes later, Ormond and his party finally arrived at the gate of Blackhammer Castle. Compared with the town construction outside, the place looked very rustic. It can be seen that this is a building from a hundred years ago, and the stones that make up the castle have been passed through countless times.
After the battle, clear marks were left, like wounds after a person was injured.
…
"Dear Lord Rhodes, I am Ormond Morrisface, the chief diplomat from Oosterbeek City."
After entering the hall, Rhodes was already waiting inside. The Lord of Blackhammer Castle in front of him was sitting on a simple stone chair. It was so simple that it was made of an ordinary stone and was no different from the stone that made up the castle.
However, this chair is covered in a huge manticore fur.
"I know, Mr. Ormond, the diplomatic envoy. I'm sorry, there are too many facts here. I can't get away and go to the dock to greet you. Please forgive me." Sitting on the lord's throne, Rhodes said expressionlessly.
arrive.
Ormond's face was a little ugly, but he still maintained the proper etiquette - a smile on his face.
"Lord, you're welcome. I can just walk these few steps myself."
Ormond said this, but he was vaguely dissatisfied in his heart. As a diplomat of the empire, he had never encountered such an encounter. In the past, when he came to Kislev, the local officials and lords would hold the Lord in his arms.
He generally praised himself because he brought them business opportunities, money and wealth. He originally thought that Black Hammer Castle was a barbarian place, and it should be more like this. However, what he saw along the way, including everything Rhodes
Because, he didn't expect it.
"Okay, as long as you don't mind. So, distinguished diplomat, you have come all the way to visit my castle. Is there anything you want to talk about?"
Rhodes went straight to the topic. This made Ormond feel a little uncomfortable. In the past, when working in the empire, both parties would never talk about business without a polite greeting first. But it was different here. Rhodes had almost no unnecessary polite words and went straight to the point.
Theme. However, considering that this is the northern border of Kislev, a place bordering the barbaric land, it is understandable that the lord is semi-savage. Ormond thought so and reluctantly comforted himself.
"Yes, yes, important things. About trade cooperation."
Ormond said, observing Rhode's eyes and expression. He found that the other party was still indifferent, which somewhat disrupted his plan. According to the original plan, as long as he told the matter about trade cooperation, the other party would definitely attach great importance to it.
, very interested. Because it is related to money and wealth. In a remote country like Kislev, seeing money is like seeing ancestors. His eyes shine. At that time, he can take advantage of the other party's mentality to improve himself.
to lower the opponent's worth. But now it seems that Lord Rhodes seems to have no reaction to the gold matter. Did he not hear clearly, or did he not explain it clearly enough? Ormond couldn't help but wonder...
"oh."
Rhodes answered "absently" while talking to the people around him, as if arranging other work.
"Lord, what I want to say is that Osterland's Baker City is willing to discuss trade cooperation with you on the Wadling cannon."
Ormond deliberately raised his voice and spoke loudly. He did not believe that this time the Yankee sitting on the lord's throne could not hear clearly.
"Oh, cooperation? How to cooperate?"
Rhodes continued to ask casually.
"The Imperial Border Guard, the trade plan of the Osterland Military Affairs Office, will purchase the engineering technology of the Wadlin Repeater Cannon from you. At the same time, we will provide a large amount of economic assistance. Including livelihood supplies, various light industrial products, etc. Who
Everyone knows that in the northern battle that just passed, the Wadlin battery of artillery was extremely powerful. As an ally of Kislev, we hope to purchase this technology to assist the imperial army in resisting the northern barbarians."
Ormond couldn't help but reveal all the essential matters. This was not his plan originally. He wanted the other party to take the initiative to ask, and then hide it in various ways to promote himself and ask for a high price. However, the reality was the opposite.
When I came here, the Lord of Blackhammer Castle seemed to have no concern for this trade. This was contrary to common sense and illogical! Ormond couldn’t figure out why for a moment, but the negotiations were still going on, and he brought a shipload of goods with him.
He came with Jinzi and couldn't return empty-handed. Facing the northern lord who was as cold as stone, he could only bite the bullet and tell the purpose of his visit.
"Huh? Wait, I don't seem to hear clearly. Do you want to buy the technology of the continuous fire cannon, or do you want to buy the continuous fire cannon machine itself?"
Rhodes asked with a frown.
"Technology. The empire has always only purchased technology. We will provide a kind price."
Ormond replied decisively.
"How many?"
"Twenty thousand high-purity gold crowns."
Ormond said proudly. This was his last trump card. He even raised the price, so there was no way out. With twenty thousand gold crowns, Ormond knew that this fund would be valuable to any lord.
This is a huge sum of money. An ordinary local lord in the empire can only earn 20,000 gold crowns a year. For the lord of Kislev, 20,000 gold crowns are equivalent to three to four years of income.
No one will turn a blind eye to such benefits, and normal people will have their eyes lit up.
However, this time, he was wrong again. It seemed that the Lord of Blackhammer Castle in front of him still had no reaction. His cold face, his expressionless face... Ormond had the urge to rush forward and beat Rhodes violently. However,
He can't. After all, he is a diplomat, and Blackhammer Castle is someone else's territory.
"Twenty thousand gold crowns?"
"Well, yes. If there is a chance, we can increase our cooperation. There are other cooperations we can discuss in the future, right?"
"Well, yes. But I won't sell the technology to you."
Rhodes suddenly answered. This not only stunned Ormond, but also the entire imperial trade group. They had been traveling to various countries for decades, and they had never seen a lord who didn't talk about business. Even the proud guys in Bretonnia
None of the knights would be like this. How could Kislev, a small and poor country located in the northern Xinjiang, have such an alternative lord?
"Sir? Are you sure you don't want to talk about cooperation?"
Ormond was a little incoherent. His eyes were wide open. No one would be troubled by money, but this was him.
"Well, technology is not for sale."
Rhodes answered in a calm tone again.
"What about the cannon? Just the machine."
Ormond did not give up and continued to ask questions. Before setting off, he promised the mayor himself that he would bring back all the technology and people, but now, he was rejected by Rhodes.
"The machines are not for sale either."
Rhodes continued to answer in a calm tone.
There was an expression of extreme surprise on Ormond's face. He didn't even mention the price of the machine itself. He was rejected by the alternative lord in front of him. It was simply incomprehensible, just like what he saw and heard along the way, it was simply beyond comprehension.
His knowledge subverted his three views. Ormond even couldn't figure out how such a person could defeat the northern barbarian coalition? Is it because he is the God's Chosen One? But no matter how powerful the God's Chosen One is, it is impossible
One person fought against tens of thousands of people. Moreover, judging from the rumors, Rhodes did not personally participate in that battle at all... He easily won with the power of his soldiers and artillery... But if the intelligence is true, why is this?
?Is the continuous fire cannon really so powerful?
Standing in front of Rhodes, Ormond was speechless.
"Is there anything else you would like to discuss?"
Rhodes continued to ask calmly.
"I……"
Ormond, on the other hand, was speechless for a moment. The purpose of his trip was to send money to buy weapons and technology. However, the other party didn't even want money, so what else could we talk about? He hesitated, and his diplomat's posture was completely lost.
"I think that in addition to continuous fire cannons, we can talk about other things, such as what you just mentioned, light industrial products. Or other aspects of knowledge and technology, we can all exchange and learn."