Chapter 615: Threatening and Forcing
The defenses were tight inside the inn.
“Lord, Lord President.” A travel-worn Fei She saluted Zi Di, he looked excited, “It is indeed good to see you safe and sound.”
Since Zi Di summoned him, Tripleblade had mustered a group of people for Fei She to hide in. On the face of it, they were here to examine accounts, but in reality, they were there to transport the key figure Fei She.
Of course, they would also be doing the account auditing.
Zi Di smiled upon seeing Fei She again, a cordial feeling flowing through her, “Sorry, Elder Fei She, for forcing you to brave the journey to the Ice Sculpture Capital.”
Fei She immediately shook his head, “If the enemy wanted to attack, staying in Snow Bird Harbor would not be safe at all.”
“Furthermore, when me and the old president built things from scratch, I have experienced far more dangerous situations than these many times over.,”
“Lord President, you gave the right command.”
“It’s a pity that I am the only survivor to come. I have failed to live up to your trust.”
Before departing, Fei She had written a secret letter to Tripleblade to tell him to stop him from further rescue operations.
Zi Di had known about this earlier and nodded, “Tripleblade will remain over there, what else can be said? If the big guy was at Snow Bird Harbor, then it would be another matter.”
Zi Di was just about to tell Fei She about Yuan Ci, Jiu Jin, and Wisteria Cache.
After all, Fei She also possessed a level zero Wisteria Secret Order, this business might need his participation in the future.
Then at that moment, a visitor came calling.
“An Alchemy Guild envoy?” Zi Di raised an eyebrow, soon after her surprise vanished completely.
“It’s about that time.” Zi Di whispered.
Fei She immediately felt nervous, “Lord President, they come with ill intent.”
As an elder of the Wisteria Merchant Alliance, Fei She knew quietly clearly that if Zi Di wanted to establish herself in the ice Sculpture Kingdom’s alchemy market, her biggest enemy was Ice Sculpture Kingdom’s Alchemy Guild!
The latter was massive and was entirely worthy of the title hegemon. They held market share in almost every alchemy market sector in the kingdom.
Although Zi Di had opened a new market with mount potions, the Alchemy Guild would not stand by idly and look on helplessly as the Dragon Lion Mercenary Corps raked in profits.
Therefore, regardless of whether it was Zi Di, Fei She, the other survivors, or even the Li Jian Clan, they had all come to the same consensus. Sooner or later, they had to bump against the Alchemy Guild.
There would be a contest, or even several contests between them.
It was only a matter of time.
Zi Di let out a breath, then ordered an attendant to prepare. She wanted to be on good terms with the Alchemy Guild envoy.
Fei She promptly said, “Lord President, let me join you.”
Zi Di nodded, consenting to this request.
A short while later at the parlor, Zi Di gave Magician Jiu Jin a weird look.
She didn’t think that she would be able to see the other in such a short time span.
Jiu Jin didn’t see Zi Di’s and Fei She’s true features; the survivors had Deceptive Disguise and the Anti-prophecy and Investigation spell on them.
Right now, Fei She looked quite different from when he was meeting secretly with Zi Di.
“Magician Yao Ma, I am Elder Jiu Jin of the kingdom’s Alchemy Guild. I am very happy to see you and believe that you are happy to see me. Because this time, I brought you an opportunity that can change your life!”
Jiu Jin wore a smile and spoke pretentiously, rather than speaking cordially, he instead released his aura and tried to suppress Zi Di.
Zi Di dealt with it, “What is this wonderful opportunity?”
Jiu Jin directly stated his purpose in coming, the Alchemy Guild’s higher-ups admired the dragon rider potion recipe and wanted to recruit the Dragon Lion Mercenary Corps.
Zi Di showed astonishment and feigned puzzlement, “Aren’t the Alchemy Guild and mercenary corps in different lanes of business?”
Jiu Jin replied, “Our Alchemy Guild has plenty of money, and hires many mercenary corps all year round. Among them, there are three five star mercenary corps.”
Five star mercenary corps had at least a gold level cultivator.
Zi Di continued to ask, “May I know what we will get if we accept the guild’s offer?”
Jiu Jin’s smile grew, and he offered an opening price.
Zi Di suddenly laughed, “This price…Elder Jiu Jin, don’t make jokes.”
Jiu Jin pretended not to understand, “How can that be? This reward is clearly marked. Do you think a grand Alchemy Guild elder would swindle you?”
Zi Di’s complexion turned cold, “Don’t speak in circles, state it directly Elder Jiu Jin. Your Alchemy Guild wants to recruit my corps not for some mercenary missions, rather you are seeking the dragon rider potion, is that so?”
Jiu Jin coldly snorted, “Since you’ve uncovered that, then let’s have a straightforward discussion.”
“As outsiders, don’t you think you’re overextending?”
“The mount potions have too many benefits, a minor mercenary corps like yourselves cannot swallow it. If you have a backer behind you, bring them to come speak with us personally.”
Jiu Jin believed that the Dragon Lion Mercenary Corps’ backer was an international arms smuggler.
Deliberately having Zi Di bring forth her big boss was actually a type of coercion.
As everyone knew the chances of an arms smuggler leader appearing in the flesh, it was too risky.
Zi Di then asked, “Isn’t the Alchemy Guild being too overbearing?”
“The Ice Sculpture Kingdom is an open marketplace; every year your distinguished country has vast exports and imports.”
“If the alchemy marketplace here is your Alchemy Guild’s exclusive property, then please show your country’s legislation and we’ll comply with it earnestly.”
“Humph!” Jiu Jin banged his teacup into the table and continued to pressure, “Magician Yao Ma, do you think I have come here with a request?”
“Us recruiting you is showing you benevolence.”
“When our guild acts, do you think you can sustain yourself? Your current business is quite prosperous, but it was only established under the prerequisite that our guild remains inactive.”
“Come look at this.”
Jiu Jin took out some information and placed it on the table.
Zi Di took it and looked at it, her pupils suddenly contracting.
This potion recipe was the dragon rider recipe, personally reverse engineered by Hua Ni.
“Now do you understand?” Jiu Jin arrogantly replied, “We are completely able to strike hard at the dragon rider Potion, but we haven’t done that yet.”
“Savor it carefully, and you can taste our sincerity and goodwill.”
“As a senior master alchemist, I still want to give you youngsters some words of advice. I want you to treasure this opportunity, as such an opportunity is very rare to see in your life.”
Jiu Jin’s attitude was quite high, putting himself as a senior.
Fei She stood behind Zi Di, playing the role of an attendant.
He didn’t recognize Jiu Jin and wasn’t aware that this Alchemy Guild elder was once a member of the Wisteria Merchant Alliance and also possessed a level zero Wisteria Secret Order.
Right now, Fei She wished he could slap Jiu Jin across the face a couple of times.
“This old fool says the words sincerity and benevolence, but the price he offered is low, and he also used a deciphered recipe to threaten us.”
“The Ice Sculpture Kingdom’s Alchemy Guild has been a monopoly for too long, this overbearing style is something that people despise.”
“The problem is that Jiu Jin is right. The Alchemy Guild is too powerful, and although the Li Jian Clan is a top clan within the kingdom, they cannot compete with the Alchemy Guild in terms of alchemy.”
“When the Alchemy Guild acts and makes large amounts of potions before dumping onto the market, our potion business will be heavily damaged and take a devastating dive.”
Fei She was a Wisteria Merchant Alliance elder and had been involved in commerce for many years, he knew there were two reasons Zi Di had succeeded.
The first was using Commander Long Fu’s reputation to mold a public reputation during the initial stages.
The second was Zi Di capturing an opportunity. After she threw herself into the mount potion market, she made an all out effort, and with the help of the Li Jian Clan’s channels, quickly seized it. Before others could react, she had gained a foothold and seized a crucial position.
But on the market, price was the main, and even the deciding factor.
When the Alchemy Guild disregarded costs to dump product, the cheap price would win over the customers compared to their feelings for the dragonman youngster. The survivors’ early control and “territory” would also be quickly lost.
What about being recruited into the Alchemy Guild?
That was also out of the question.
According to Jiu Jin’s conditions, he undoubtedly wanted the survivors to hand over the business foundation they laid without resistance.
Not only that, but after the survivors joined the Alchemy Guild, they also had to work for high level members like Elder Jiu Jin like cattle.
That simply was intolerable bullying!
Zi Di appeared embarrassed, “This matter is too important, and I am not the master. I need time to ask for instructions.”
Jiu Jin coldly snorted and shook his head, “Youngster, my time is very valuable, you can’t squander it like that.”
“Today I will get an answer.”
“You can communicate immediately; I will wait here for it.”
“Remember, you only have ten minutes.”
Zi Di grew unsightly, and after throwing out some polite words, left the parlor with Fei She, leaving Jiu Jin inside.
Fei She felt doubtful, “This Elder Jiu Jin has a terrible attitude. He doesn’t want us to join the guild. Lord President, what should we do?”
Nevertheless, Zi Di smiled, her expression and tone just now were all just a pretense.
“If it were another, I might not be able to do anything about it. But of all people, why is it him?”
“Huh?” Fei She was curious, “Lord, you already have something?”
“I’ll tell you the specifics after this matter. Meeting me is also his misfortunate. Wait a moment, then it will be my turn to threaten him.” Zi Di chuckled.
Fei She felt even more curious, thinking, “What does the Lord President have against him? It seems this information is not simple.”
Fei She didn’t know the leverage he was so curious about was actually Zi Di herself.