You're Not A Lord Of The Apocalypse Chapter 283: Robbery? Didn't You Say You Didn't Want Payment? - Novel Cool

Chapter 283: Robbery? Didn't You Say You Didn't Want Payment?

Chapter 283: Robbery? Didn't You Say You Didn't Want Payment?

"These military supplies are no less powerful than the demonic machinery and evil spirit weapons."

Wang Cheng stroked a crimson series version 3.7 pistol, his tone filled with admiration.

He had seen its effectiveness with his own eyes; otherwise, he wouldn't dare to ask for it.

"Anything produced by my master is naturally not ordinary," said Xiamian calmly. These were merely the tenth-generation tai xiao of the crimson series military supplies, which essentially meant they were stored in the warehouse and couldn't be sold. This time, they were being cleared out at a discount.

Wang Cheng didn't respond to Xiamian's words but thought to himself: 'This demonic soil world is so rich, and yet it's benefiting these barbarians. If it were in my Great You, we wouldn't have to worry about sweeping the world and remaking the heavens and earth.'

Great You was a traditional feudal society that prioritized agriculture over commerce. The originally prestigious scholars and warriors had been replaced by sorcerers, forming a unified system of sorcery, agriculture, industry, and commerce.

Commerce was considered a lowly profession in their eyes. Here, all professions were considered inferior except for the cultivation of sorcery, not the pursuit of knowledge.

However, over the years, Great You's sorcerer cultivation had become extremely conservative, with little innovation. Following the ancestral methods step by step was enough to succeed, so why bother with innovation?

This led them to subconsciously believe that Qin Muye's creations were merely legacies from their ancestors, not innovations of his own.

After all, these were not the first generation to fight alongside the Divine You Emperor. More often, internal strife was more common than external conflict.

There was even a deliberate suppression of new ideas. Otherwise, a smart AI developed by the upper echelons, similar to a mechanical empire, would have absorbed some advantages, even if it were an enemy. It would be impossible for there to be no learning at all.

Even now, the scientific consciousness of the Great You Dynasty had not sprouted, and there was no scientific thinking. Even if it existed, it would be crushed. After all, peculiar and ingenious techniques couldn't help them advance in rank. The first thing to improve was the ability to read people's expressions and intentions. Otherwise, even if they created something good, it might be taken as someone else's achievement or suppressed.

"These goods are excellent, but I wonder if your country sells grain, copper, and iron?" Wang Cheng changed the subject, not wanting to dwell on the military supplies for too long.

"???" Xiamian looked puzzled. He was planning to ask the Great You Dynasty for these items.

"Wang Daren is joking. We only sell military supplies," Xiamian replied directly.

Wang Cheng's face darkened, and he said, "What? In business, everything is about profit. Aren't merchants willing to sell even their country for a price? What's wrong with selling a little grain and copper?"

Xiamian was completely unfazed and replied, "My master only allows me to sell military supplies. The rest is not my concern. If Wang Daren has any objections, you can go to the territory and find Black Hand. He can give you a plan."

"Hmph, I will visit him personally. These military supplies will cost one million silver. Come with me to the Ministry of Revenue to collect the silver note," Wang Cheng said, knowing his attempt to pressure had failed but not wanting to rush things.

But Xiamian didn't move, instead pulling out a list. "Silver notes are unnecessary. Please prepare these resources. Our two countries trade goods for goods, not for silver or gold, and we don't accept the Great You's silver notes. There's no place in my territory to exchange them."

Wang Cheng, who was walking ahead, stopped and turned around. "You merchants are truly interesting, refusing silver notes and wanting to trade goods for goods?"

"Is it that your country uses shells as currency instead of coins?"

His tone was dripping with sarcasm and condescension.

Xiamian frowned and said, "We don't have currency, so please prepare the resources."

"I can't provide the resources. If you want a thousand silver notes, take them; if not, forget it," Wang Cheng said stubbornly.

When he heard that the demonic soil world had no currency, his heart raced. This was a great opportunity. If he could introduce the Great You's monetary system into the demonic soil world and promote it, they could interfere in the demonic soil's internal affairs.

The breakthrough would naturally be this merchant, who held a high position in the demonic soil world. If he suffered a loss, he would have to make it up, and he would definitely help promote the Great You's currency to his own detriment.

As the chief minister, he knew the value of money, even if commerce was considered a lowly profession.

"Since that's the case, this transaction is off."

Xiamian was no fool. He was primarily engaged in commerce on the Magic Continent, and now he was in a seller's market. If Wang Cheng didn't want the goods, he wouldn't force it; after all, the loss wouldn't be his to bear.

"Call it off? Why should I call it off? It was you who said you didn't want the payment. What does it have to do with me?" Wang Cheng pretended to be surprised.

At this moment, Xiamian understood that this old fox was planning to get the goods for free. He was puzzled, though—was he willing to ruin the cooperation between the two countries just for these goods? That seemed too foolish.

These items, while valuable, were just taking up space in the warehouse. If they had no value, they would have been destroyed long ago.

"It seems that Lord Wang wants to rob me. In that case, I won't take this batch of military supplies. I'll take my leave now." Xiamian knew that the other party had some grand scheme, so he needed to extricate himself first.

Although he had combat capabilities, he wasn't a dedicated fighter. His expertise lay in commerce and finance. It was unreasonable to expect a merchant to be as capable in combat as a special forces soldier. Even Qin Muye was only proficient in learning and research; he was clueless about management and diplomacy.

"Why the rush, Lord Xiamian? Our great nation would never resort to robbery. Stay a few days in our Great You; there's no need to rush back." Wang Cheng said with a smile.

In his eyes, Xiamian was just a merchant. How could the demonic soil world dare to break ties with the Great You over a mere merchant from a lowly profession? This person was the perfect pawn.

Xiamian's heart sank. The other party was targeting him. He contacted Black Hand through the magic network, asking him to be prepared.

As for himself, he decided to play along with the Chief Minister to see what he was up to. From the beginning, Wang Cheng had looked down on him, even showing disdain.

"Someone, escort Lord Xiamian to rest and have the Ministry of Revenue bring over the ten million silver notes. We don't want Lord Xiamian to say we're robbing him."

Wang Cheng saw Xiamian's silence and assumed he had resigned himself to his fate. He couldn't help but smile to himself: 'These barbarians are indeed helpless when faced with the might of the heavens.'

Soon, a group of soldiers took Xiamian away and imprisoned him. Wang Cheng felt a surge of satisfaction.

He planned to use coercion and inducements. First, he would promise to share the secrets of grain production and iron smelting, and offer Xiamian a chance to join the Great You and escape his lowly status as a merchant. Then, he would threaten that the loss of these military supplies would result in severe punishment, leaving Xiamian with no choice but to comply.

To Wang Cheng, Xiamian was just a merchant, easily manipulated.

"Prime Minister, His Majesty once said to proceed cautiously. Our actions today might be—"

The Minister of Revenue's voice was hesitant. Wang Cheng's actions were indeed underhanded.

"Merchants are nothing. Would the ruler of the demonic soil world really break ties with us over a mere merchant? As long as we have this merchant in our hands, we can use him as leverage to gain something. We can offer more benefits to the ruler of the demonic soil world later to resolve the issue." Wang Cheng was unconcerned.

The Minister of Revenue still felt uneasy. It wasn't about the merchant but the future concessions. The burden would fall on the Ministry of Revenue, not Wang Cheng.

He had already felt a pinch when he had to pay ten million silver for the military supplies. If more was required in the future, it would be a significant drain, and he would face criticism from the court.

Conceding to foreigners was like bleeding the court officials. He would rather keep the silver in his own pocket than let it flow to a group of barbarians.

"I will report this matter to His Majesty and provide a detailed account of today's events." The Minister of Revenue knew that the benefits would go to Wang Cheng, while the consequences would fall on him. He needed to prepare the Emperor.

Wang Cheng's expression changed. The surprise was the key. If the matter was reported beforehand, his credit would be halved.

He gave a subtle signal to his personal guard. Since the Minister of Revenue wasn't cooperating, he would have to make him 'ill' for a while until his plan was complete.

As for the Minister of Revenue taking the blame? That was none of his concern. They were not from the same faction.

(End of Chapter)

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