Imperial Crown

"Don't worry, sit down and talk slowly." Raven said as he sat down.

"Yes, sir." Old Gordon calmed down and said clearly: "I contacted Baron Roger through the Mercenary Guild. He replied that due to the recent surge in demand, the types of magic props will not be so complete, and the prices are much higher than before, at least doubled!"

After listening, Raven turned to Eric: "What's the situation on your side?"

"It's almost the same." Eric's face was full of shame: "Warhorse directly asks for 15.3 gold coins, which has increased by more than half! Even packhorses have increased to 2.4 gold coins!"

"As for the God-given potion, it has increased even more. An ordinary first-level potion costs 367 gold coins, and the directional awakening ones are not sold at all."

"What about the iron core?" Raven asked.

Eric was stunned: "...It has also increased. A total of 4 pieces cost 1176 gold coins."

"Well..." Raven pinched his chin, his expression as calm as a lake, and he didn't seem surprised by this.

The nobles are not fools. Now the entire Nord province is a powder keg that may explode at any time. Of course, everyone must prepare for a rainy day. It is reasonable that the prices of enchanted equipment and war horses are high.

"You are all bad news, but I have good news here." Denise said with a smile: "The grain that Raven asked me to purchase before is on the way and can be delivered in ten days at the latest."

"Compared with the current grain price at the time of purchase, it has earned at least the money of 100 flower farmers."

"So much?" Old Gordon was a little surprised.

Denise nodded gently: "Yes, before Raven said that the Nord Province would be in chaos, I didn't believe it, but now it seems to be true."

"This batch of grain was bought at the lowest price after the autumn harvest. 100 kilograms of coarse wheat flour only cost 2.19 silver coins. I bought 1.3 million kilograms in one go. Now it has risen directly to 9.68, and there is no demand for it. Maybe it will rise again."

Old Gordon swallowed his saliva: "Baron, your vision is as broad as an eagle!"

"It's nothing." Raven smiled and shook his head: "It's just that our budget needs to be readjusted, but the focus should still be on military supplies."

This time, Old Gordon did not object. The prices of food, weapons, war horses, and potions were all rising, which was enough to show that a great chaos was coming. At this time, even if it was not for attacking the Bloody Highlands, it was extremely necessary to improve one's own military strength.

"First, Eric, let's talk about your side." Raven knocked on the table: "It's about the mobility of the troops. The number of war horses cannot be reduced. The God-given potion... reduce it to 10, and your iron core cannot be given up."

Eric nodded heavily: "Yes, sir!"

"In this way, the total cost is..." Old Gordon lowered his head and calculated: "7162 gold coins, minus the price of flower farmers and formulas, the remaining available is 10395.06 gold coins!"

"Well, about the same." Raven tapped the table with his fingers: "Do you have the price list from Roger?"

"Here, sir." Old Gordon pulled out a piece of parchment and pushed it respectfully in front of Raven.

His brows frowned as he glanced over it.

The prices on it are a bit too high, and the price increase of some items is even more than doubled.

The original market price of the 1st-level enchanted plate armor was between 700-1200 gold coins, but here it was directly offered at a high price of 1867 gold coins.

The market price of the first-level enchanted chainmail is slightly lower, about 450-800 gold coins, and now the price is as high as 1335 gold coins.

As for the enchanted weapons, they are relatively cheaper, but the variety is not complete.

Looking at the price list, Raven said: "Mr. Gordon, I'll say it, you write it down."

Old Gordon hurriedly picked up the pen: "Ready, sir."

Raven said word by word: "

Primary sharp enchanted half-swords, four handles, each price is 473 gold coins;

Primary flame enchanted crossbows, five, each price is 662 gold coins.

Primary solid enchanted steel round shields, two sides, each price is 571 gold coins.

Second-level 'dragon locust wood' staff, one, each price is 2922 gold coins."

Old Gordon recorded and calculated the number, and finally looked up and said: "Sir, a total of 9266 gold coins."

Scanning the contents of the list again, Raven asked: "How long does it take Baron Roger to accept the business of enchanting ordinary equipment? ? "

Old Gordon thought for a moment and said, "If it's just the primary enchantment, it only takes 3-5 days..."

"Then send my crossbow along with the purchase list this time." Raven's hand touched his belt and put the crossbow on the table: "Powerful and penetrating double enchantments, the price is 747 gold coins, and 5 enchanted crossbow arrows are added by the way."

Old Gordon recorded the price and swallowed his saliva: "Sir, in this way, if you count this month's expenses, there will be less than 60 gold coins left by next month."

"Enough." Raven said calmly: "By then, the battle of Bloody Highlands will also be decided."

When it comes to Bloody Highlands, the mood of several people present is a little heavy.

Eric paused for a moment and said, "... Baron, isn't it too biased to spend all the gold coins on weapons? Considering the rate of armor worn by the Bloody Highland bandits, at least all the new recruits should wear chain mail to have the strength to fight."

"I knew you would ask that." Raven smiled slightly and looked at Old Gordon and Denise in turn: "Anything else?"

They both shook their heads.

"Okay, then the meeting will end here." Raven stood up and walked out: "Eric, come with me."

Eric followed Raven all the way to the dungeon without knowing what was going on.

After this period of renovation, the dungeon has been completely renovated. All the cages have been dismantled, the straw on the ground has been cleared, and it has been turned into a spacious laboratory.

There is an alchemy equipment in the corner opposite the door. To the left is a hardwood table with a wooden box on it, which contains dozens of magic cores of different colors. There are also three chairs next to it. .

On the right hand side is a weapons rack, including crossbows, half-hand swords, long swords, scimitars, shields, spears and other common weapons.

At the end of the dungeon, there stood two wooden dummies, which were actually human-shaped wooden stakes commonly seen on military camp training grounds. Each was slopingly clad in a set of leather armor.

The leather armor on the left is completely yellow-brown, smooth and shiny, and it looks like the kind purchased in bulk before; the leather armor on the right is gray-black, looks dull and rough, and even the light of the torch is difficult to reflect.

"Lord Baron, what are your orders?" Eric asked.

Raven did not answer immediately. Instead, he took a crossbow from the wall and handed it to Eric. He pouted at the two dummies and said, "Try it."

Eric immediately understood that Raven wanted him to personally test the protective capabilities of these two different leather armors.

The dungeon is not very big, only about twenty meters from one end to the other, which is indeed the distance range where the power of the crossbow can be best utilized.

As expected of a veteran, Eric's movements were extremely smooth and smooth. He took the crossbow, knelt down on one knee, aimed at the dummy on the left, raised the crossbow body straight and pulled the crossbow, and fired in a standard kneeling position.

Whoosh, whoosh.

The crossbow arrow passed through the dull air, pierced the tawny leather, raised a large amount of dust and was nailed to the wooden stake. The tail fin was still trembling slightly.

"Try another one." Raven said as he handed over a crossbow arrow.

Taking the crossbow, Eric aimed at the stake on the right, expertly cocked it and fired.

"Huh?" There was a hint of surprise on Eric's face.

Because this time, although the crossbow arrow also penetrated the leather armor and was nailed to the wooden stake, the sound it made was minimal.

A proud smile appeared on Raven's lips: "Go forward ten meters and try again!"

Without waiting for Raven's prompting, Eric took the initiative to pick up the crossbow and loaded it, then fired flatly from a distance of ten meters, hitting two more targets, one arrow at each.

This time the difference is even more obvious.

The leather armor on the left could not protect the crossbow from being shot at this distance. The crossbow arrows were hammered into the wooden stakes, and the tail barely trembled.

The wooden stake on the right, protected by the gray leather armor, only made a slight muffled sound. Then, the crossbow arrow fell from the wooden stake, and only the arrowhead was still hanging on the leather armor.

Eric's eyes lit up.

Like an alcoholic seeing fine wine, Eric immediately stepped forward, but stopped in front of the wooden stake on the right, turned around and asked, "My lord, can I verify it carefully?"

"Of course, otherwise why would you come here?" Raven said with a smile.

Eric rubbed his hands, reached out and grabbed the tail of the crossbow to pull it out, but was stunned as soon as he put his hand on it.

He thought he would have to use some force this time, but he didn't expect that with just a light touch, the crossbow arrow fell into his hand. The crossbow arrow didn't go deep enough at all, and the arrowhead became entangled in the leather.

Looking at the crossbow arrow in his hand, Eric couldn't believe it. He swallowed, walked to the wooden stake wrapped in yellow-brown leather armor, and also took down the crossbow arrow.

But this time he had to use much more force, especially the second crossbow arrow. He even twisted the arrow shaft before pulling it out.

After untying the two sets of leather armor, the scars on the wooden stakes intuitively reflect the gap in protection between the two.

There are two scars on the wooden stake on the left, one deep and one shallow. The shallower one is half an inch thick, and the deeper one is as much as an inch thick. If it fell on a person, he would definitely be dead or disabled.

There is only one scar on the wooden stake on the right, and it is very shallow. It is only as thin as half a fingernail. If it were a physical wound, it would be a skin injury.

"This is just a wooden stake." Eric sighed: "If it were on the battlefield, this would be the difference between life and death."

He stretched out his hand to touch the gray leather armor, as if stroking his lover's skin: "Twenty meters away can completely resist crossbow shooting, while ten meters away will only cause skin trauma. What a strong protective ability!"

"Sir, this is Warcraft leather armor, right? Have you already started buying it in advance?"

Raven nodded, then shook his head: "It was prepared in advance, yes, but it was not bought, but produced in our workshop."

"Produced by yourself? Then, where do the raw materials come from?" Eric couldn't help but ask.

"That's the secret." Raven smiled mysteriously: "You just need to know that we have a stable supply channel."

Eric grinned with joy and said sincerely: "Sir... you are really, really resourceful!"

Warcraft are rare in Nord Province, and most of them cannot be raised artificially. Therefore, Warcraft leather is a very scarce commodity, and even the mercenary guild does not have stable inventory.

"Haha." Raven shook his head noncommittally and asked, "What do you think of replacing the new soldiers with this kind of leather armor?"

Eric was stunned for a moment, and his small soybean eyes burst out with fiery passion: "That's great, sir! This kind of Warcraft leather armor is not much weaker than chain armor in terms of protective capabilities, but it only weighs as much as chain armor." One-tenth, they are much more flexible and convenient. You can wear them on a quick march without having to drag the armor alone on the carriage. "

"If it is really installed on new soldiers, the combat effectiveness will be at least doubled!"

As he said that, he hesitated: "It's just...in terms of production capacity, can you keep up?"

Facing Eric's question, Raven raised a confident smile: "Currently, excluding this sample, we have 63 finished products. Within seventeen days at the latest, all recruits will be equipped with this kind of leather armor." ”

This immediately surprised Eric.

Warcraft leather armor, all members are equipped!

This has exceeded the equipment level of most of the empire's standing armies!

"Lord Raven." Eric said from the bottom of his heart: "Now I am more and more confident in our counterattack on the Bloody Highlands."

"I will not fight an unprepared battle." Raven hit his shoulder: "It's too early to be surprised now, this has just begun!"

Griffith's side was having a great time, but the Wharton family, which was only a dozen kilometers apart, was not so relaxed.

"Look at what you did!"

With a bang, a crystal cup rubbed Judra's ear and shattered on the wall made of black stone.

The fragment cut open Judra's left temple, and sticky, hot blood flowed out, staining half of his cheek red.

Mark, who was sitting opposite Judra, shivered and shrank his neck with a look of gloating on his face.

As soon as Judra raised his arm, Angel shouted again: "Don't rub it!"

The former could only lower his arms stiffly.

Angel, who was panting heavily, was like an angry lion: "I asked you to go to the press conference to inquire about information, but what did you find out? You just hung around that bitch Denise, right!? "

Judra was in a terrible mood.

Baron Angel, who had been practicing for more than ten days but failed to break through to the fourth level, vented all his anger on his eldest son indiscriminately.

Taking a deep breath, Judra clenched her fists and looked down at the ground.

He didn't like being scolded by Angel, especially when Mark was sitting across from him, but things wouldn't happen just because he didn't want to.

He could only endure.

According to past experience, as long as Angel scolds enough, the matter will be revealed.

But Angel was particularly irritable today: "I'm asking you a question. Are you deaf or hoarse?!"

Enduring the sting on her cheek, Judra defended in a low voice: "It's not that I don't ask, it's just...it's just that since the last incident, the nobles are unwilling to communicate with me!"

"They are unwilling to communicate with you, so there is nothing you can do?" Angel laughed strangely: "Is your Mr. Judra's self-esteem so precious that it compares to the entire Wharton family?"

"No way?"

As he spoke, he pointed at Mark sitting beside him: "Your brother is also a member of the Wharton family. How could he stay at the venue for six days and only come back after asking for enough information?"

When Mark heard this, he puffed up his chest proudly: "I just respect my father from the bottom of my heart."

In fact, during these six days, he spent most of the time drinking and enjoying the show, but the nobles were not so strict, and a little rumor was enough for him to report to Angel.

"Learn from your brother!" Angel breathed heavily and continued to question Judra: "You can talk and laugh with that bitch of the Griffith family, but you don't have the courage to face the fact that it has no stake in our family. Noble, do you believe this?"

Judra whispered: "Denise is different."

"You actually learned to talk back?!" Angel raised his voice: "Don't you feel aggrieved? It's all because of me that you have such a bad reputation today. Do you think that not only am I inconsiderate of you, but I also make things difficult for you everywhere. You don’t deserve to be a father, right?”

Yes, absolutely right!

Judra was roaring crazily in her heart, but there was no expression on her face: "No, Lord Baron."

"No? That's what I think!" Angel leaned over the table, leaning forward and staring at his eldest son: "That's why you hooked up with the widow of the Griffith family and used her You use money to buy people’s hearts in order to overthrow my rule and take my position, right?”

The moment she heard these words, Judra's face turned pale!

Could it be that father discovered the secret agreement between Raven and I! ?

He has evidence in hand! ?

His eyes widened, and his peripheral vision glanced at Angel and Mark.

The former's face was full of anger, his fists clenched tightly, and his eyes seemed to penetrate his heart.

The latter's expression was plain, but there was an irrepressible smile on the corner of his mouth, and his eyes were full of teasing and pride when he looked at him.

No, you can’t admit it, you absolutely can’t admit it!

If I let go now, I will definitely be deprived of my inheritance rights, and Mark, this "good brother", will never let me go!

He swallowed his saliva, moistened his throat that was dry due to nervousness and fear, and suppressed his beating heart and said: "Lord Baron, I dare to swear to the Lord of Light, I have never had such disrespectful thoughts towards you. !”

"You dare to do rubbish that you don't deserve!" Angel laughed angrily: "If you dare to admit it, you still have some courage. Will you be willing to plead guilty only if I put all the evidence in front of you?"

Judra's face tightened: "I haven't done it!"

"That's really weird." Mark stared at his fingertips and said nonchalantly: "Did I make a mistake when you toasted Raven at the press conference?"

Under the lowered head, Judra's pupils suddenly shrank, and she felt that the blood all over her body was cold!

He never expected that Mark, who usually only knew how to eat, drink and have fun, would show such deadly fangs!

This knife almost stabbed him in the heart!

For a moment, regret surged into his heart, making him want to slap himself twice.

How could I do such a stupid thing! ?

Angel asked coldly: "Tell me, why don't you say anything anymore? Don't you even have the strength to speak harshly?"

Judra gritted her teeth, her mind racing.

What should we do?

That he raised the glass to Raven was an irrefutable fact, and there was no room for argument in this regard.

At this point... I can only grit my teeth and carry on!

Thinking about Angel's temper, Judra took a deep breath and gave an excuse that she didn't even believe: "Lord Baron, I... really didn't collude with the Griffith family. The reason why I gave it to that little bee The toast is because I want him to know that he cannot bully the men of the Wharton family!”

This sentence made Angel reveal a hint of surprise: "Oh, do you really think so?"

Judra's eyes flashed.

I still have room to continue to defend myself!

"It's absolutely true, Lord Baron!"

Judra's mind raced, and he immediately brought up another fact: "The so-called 'press conference' was held for six whole days. If I really colluded with the Griffith family, I would never show up on the first night. Come back!"

"Father, don't listen to him trying to put money on his face!" Seeing Angel's attitude wavering, Mark immediately added fuel to the fire: "It's not that my brother didn't want to stay, he was surrounding Denise at the time. It’s spinning, just barely wagging its tail!”

"But when Raven arrived, he told him to get lost. He didn't even dare to say a word. He really ran back like a dog. He was simply embarrassing our Wharton family!"

"That's not the case!" Judra hissed: "Lord Baron, I am not timid, but cautious! All the nobles were looking at me at that time, and no matter what I said, they would be scolded like a flood!"

Mark sneered: "After all, you don't care about your so-called 'reputation'?"

"My reputation is irrelevant!" The moment he said these words, Judra felt that her heart was bleeding, as if her self-esteem was being torn to pieces with her own hands.

Once the bottom line is exceeded, many things that cannot be said will no longer be a problem.

"I, Judra, am a member of the Wharton family after all! It doesn't matter if I am personally abused. The important thing is that it will bring humiliation to the Wharton family and the Baron, and you will be humiliated as well!"

Mark did not expect that Judra would suddenly learn the essence of pleasing his father, and said without hesitation: "Brother, do you want to tie your reputation to that of your father again!?"

"Stop arguing!" Angel punched the table with his fist and glanced at his two sons with cold eyes.

Although he didn't like his eldest son, Angel also knew that Judra was not a fool.

It was impossible for him to discuss any secret deal with Denise in public.

And if there is really collusion with the Griffith family, Raven would have no reason to kick Judra out of the press conference as the most suitable occasion for contact.

And he also had to admit that in that situation, Judra doing nothing and being patient was indeed the best way to deal with it.

Thinking of this, Angel gradually made a decision on how to deal with Judra.

When he first heard Mark's report, he really thought that Judra was cheating and wanted to immediately abolish the inheritance rights of his eldest son.

But now, since this suspicion has been eliminated, there is no need to deal with it in this way.

After all, Mark is still too young, and Angel himself has to spend time and energy to attack the fourth level. Many matters in the territory must be left to Judra to handle on his behalf.

If Judra's inheritance rights were really abolished, there might be big problems in the operation of Ironforge.

"Judera, I'm very disappointed in you." Angel sighed and said: "As the eldest son, you should have set an example, but in this press conference, it was Mark who shouldered the responsibility that should have been on your shoulders. responsibility!”

"Originally, I should have fined you one year's remuneration, but since you are still thinking about the family and have not escalated the situation, I will instead suspend your remuneration for half a year. Do you have any opinion?"

Half a year’s pay!

Judra sneered in her heart. His brother Mark didn't have to do anything, so he had an enviable amount of pocket money; but he himself received a second-level extraordinary reward, which was only 300 gold coins per year.

They say that the way to govern is a stick or a carrot.

In your case, the big stick is drawn shallower and used as a carrot.

How generous!

But in the end, the crisis passed.

Judra hit her left chest hard with her right hand: "Your punishment is extremely fair, and I have no complaints at all, Lord Baron!"

Seeing his performance, Angel shook his head, stood up and walked out: "Humph, there is no manliness at all."

Mark was stunned by this scene. He didn't understand why his father suddenly changed his mind about Judra, raised her high and put her down gently.

Didn't they agree to abolish his inheritance rights?

But Mark always adhered to a principle: everything his father did was right.

Since he couldn't continue to suppress Judra, he had to strengthen his impression in Angel's heart.

He grabbed the gloves on the side and chased after her: "Father, I have something to report to you!"

When he reached the door, he turned back and winked at Judra provocatively.

Judra's eyebrows twitched, as if he turned a blind eye to it.

The room soon fell into silence.

Recalling everything that happened on the day of the press conference, and thinking about what happened today, Judra's emotions changed rapidly in his eyes, his anger slowly subsided, his reason regained the upper hand, and his breathing became steady.

When he entered the press conference, his mentality was not right, because without the pressure of Raven, the creditor, he was too relaxed, so much so that he did things like toasting.

"Raven... Did he find this hidden danger at that time?"

No wonder Raven ignored me at that time. If he really showed goodwill at that time, he couldn't cover it up today no matter what!

A cold sweat of fear instantly soaked Judra's inner clothes.

His emotions changed from anger to doubt, from doubt to astonishment, and from astonishment to sudden realization.

"So, Raven deliberately angered me and asked me to leave, just to show Mark and clear my suspicion!?"

"He is only twenty years old, how could he..."

Is it Denise's idea?

But when I entered the venue, she was not in the hall.

For a moment, Judra had a little admiration for Raven.

But more of it was hatred.

Raven, Raven, since you have already seen it, you can send someone to tell me and hint to me, but you chose to insult me!

What do you think of me, a servant who lets you call and shout, or your chess piece?

Thinking of this, Judra's fist suddenly fell on the table:

"Raven, you are born a pariah!"

Raven, who was being scolded by Judra, sneezed suddenly in the dungeon: "A-choo!"

The bodies of two half-demonized domestic pigs were carried out, and a fat body that was no less inferior was pushed in by Volaf. .

Looking at the two pig corpses with hideous features, Weisdong swallowed his saliva, and with the sound of the dungeon door being closed with a bang, his knees softened and he knelt on the ground: "... Baron, spare my life!"

Cold sweat flowed down his forehead, and heavy breathing echoed in the dungeon.

Since returning from Mon'en City, he has always felt a little uneasy in his heart.

After a few months of settling down, Weisdong clearly realized how bastard he was when he did it. In a different position, even if he was Raven, he would never let him go.

But Raven's attitude towards him was really weird.

There was not a single harsh word or insult, and he even asked him to stay!

He intuitively thought that Raven had no good intentions, so he was always cautious, fearing that Raven would catch him and find an excuse to punish him.

Since then, he has been honest and humble, not to mention going to the barracks to make trouble like before, he didn't even dare to tease the maids, and even gave up the habit of stealing food in the kitchen.

Seeing that Raven didn't focus on him, his mind gradually relaxed, and he unexpectedly found that as long as he didn't go against Raven, he, the young master, was living a pretty good life.

He could drink Angel's Tears and eat all kinds of delicacies at will, and he wouldn't be forced to learn this or that.

Until the press conference, he had a lot of fun, and Raven's protection of Denise made him quite fond of him.

Now a month has passed, and Weisdong thought that Raven really intended to let him go.

Unexpectedly, Volaf suddenly appeared at the door of his bedroom and took him to the dungeon without saying anything!

Could it be... I did something wrong recently?

His eyes rolled around, and suddenly he remembered the recent rumors, and his breathing stopped:

"Baron... I was wrong! I will never bother Nancy again!"

"Ah?" Raven stopped tidying up his things: "What nonsense are you talking about?"

Wesdon thought Raven was playing dumb: "I was wrong, I was really wrong! Only you are worthy of a lady from the Earl's family like Nancy!"

"I will never gossip about you behind your back again!"

"Let me go, I promise, from today on, I will stay in the bedroom and never go out again!"

"Oh, don't get excited." Raven scratched his ears that were a little itchy from the noise, and patted the chair: "Sit down."

"Ah?" Wesdon was stunned for a moment.

"Sit down!" Raven raised his voice.

"Yes! I'll sit!" Weisdong rolled and crawled to his feet, and stuffed his body into the chair.

Raven smiled slightly, looking at Weisdong on the chair, and looked him up and down.

In the latter's eyes, this smile seemed extremely evil.

…