“Miss Sasha is right.
Royce took a handkerchief from his pocket, wiping the sticky sweat from his brow as he continued with a bitter expression.
“But a ninety-ten split is just too difficult. After deducting the cost of raw materials, our merchant guild still has to pay for labor and so on. With such a small profit, we might not even make back the cost of materials and labor.”
But if we just…
“Mr. Royce, you should understand—if we sell this secret medicine recipe to the Castelli Emerald Chamber of Commerce, your Belgrade Association—”
Darlian’s words trailed off midway.
“But…”
“Eighty-twenty. This is our greatest compromise.”
“Thank you, thank you. Eighty-twenty is enough.”
Seeing the look of gratitude on Mr. Royce’s face at the end, Finihiya’s crystal-clear eyes shone with disbelief.
At that moment, as she looked at Darlian, there was a hint of admiration in her gaze.
If she had been the one to negotiate these terms, she definitely wouldn’t have secured so much.
***
By the time they left the Belgrade Association, the sky was already a beautiful golden yellow, like ripe wheat.
Though it was already six in the afternoon on a summer day, the sky was still bright.
Riding in the carriage back to the estate, Finihiya gazed into the distance at the city bathed in dusk.
She had negotiated with Royce Crawford over the secret medicine for quite a while; in the end, Royce agreed to sell the secret medicine at the price of one large copper coin.
At first, Royce Crawford wanted to set the price at one gold coin and sell only to the wealthy nobles in the territory.
Finihiya’s thoughts wandered aimlessly.
It wasn’t until the old clock tower in the distance, steeped in history, rang out with chimes that she returned from her faintly pleasant and relaxed mood.
Shifting her gaze, she looked to the side at Darlian, and just as she was about to thank her properly, she oddly noticed Darlian glancing, seemingly inadvertently, toward the back of the carriage.
Though Darlian’s face appeared nonchalant, her own curiosity was piqued, and she followed Darlian’s gaze behind them.
On the wide road, several lanes were painted, and carriages laden with various goods raced straight along the path.
Perhaps because the festival was drawing near, the streets were filled with more and more strange holiday decorations.
Seeing nothing out of the ordinary, she turned her head back to Darlian.
“Darlian, what are you looking at?”
“There are a few rats tailing us.” Darlian’s beautifully shaped lips curled with amusement.
Maybe it was seeing Darlian’s smile, but Finihiya didn’t feel much fear.
“When did this start?”
“When we left the Belgrade Association.”
Upon hearing this, Finihiya’s slender brows furrowed, and her tone carried a trace of worry.
“Could it be Mr. Royce?”
“They’re not from the Belgrade Association.”
“They’re not?”
“Mhm!”
With that, Darlian shifted her gaze to the front and instructed the carriage driver, “Change the route for now, take us somewhere secluded.”
“Yes, Lady Darlian.”
“Darlian?”
Perhaps noticing the doubt in Finihiya’s eyes, Darlian smiled and replied, “Isn’t this kind of thing fun?”
Gazing at Darlian’s childlike playfulness, Finihiya sighed softly and said nothing to stop her.
With Darlian’s strength, there were very, very few people in this world who could threaten her.
So even if they deliberately walked into the enemy’s trap like this, they would come out unharmed.
After traveling some distance along the main street, the carriage turned onto a more secluded road.
The scenery outside grew increasingly desolate.
Just as she was seriously pondering who might have sent their pursuers, she felt a soft, warm hand suddenly cover her own, which was folded atop her lap.
“Finihiya, are you perhaps afraid?”
Darlian’s words made her raise her eyebrows slightly.
She immediately withdrew her right hand, gently lifting Darlian’s palm from her left hand and returning it to Darlian’s thigh, answering in a calm and steady voice.
“With a Great Demon King like Darlian around, how could I possibly be afraid?”
“Is that so? I didn’t expect Finihiya to trust me that much.”
Faced with Darlian’s obviously teasing words, she wanted to retort, but then felt that soft, warm hand settle on the back of her left hand once again.
So she lowered her eyes for a moment, and then, as if helpless, didn’t push it away this time.
However, the warmth passing from that palm seemed to dispel the little bit of unease in her heart.
As the world outside grew even more desolate, only the sound of wheels echoed inside the carriage.
“Are those people after you?”
“Definitely not,” Darlian replied confidently. “If they were after me, their skill level would be way too low.”
“They’re probably here for your secret medicine recipe.”
“But didn’t you just say it couldn’t be Mr. Royce who sent them?”
“Besides the Belgrade Association, Finihiya, have you considered that a rival merchant guild might have sent people?”
“That seems unlikel—”
Upon hearing this, she wanted to say it was unlikely.
After all, it had only been two or three hours since she and Royce finalized their cooperation, and the secret medicine hadn’t even been officially sold yet—how could a rival guild possibly know?
Unless there was a spy from a rival guild within the Belgrade Association…
As this thought struck her, she suddenly recalled the man who had silently left the room during her negotiations with Mr. Royce.
Hiss—
With the shrill neigh of horses, the carriage came to an abrupt halt.
The sudden force threw Finihiya forward.
Just as her head was about to strike the opposite seat, a pair of slender hands quickly caught her.
“Are you alright?”
“I’m fine, thank you~”
Grateful for Darlian’s help, a sincere smile appeared on Finihiya’s lips.
While helping Finihiya back to her seat, Darlian’s face turned cold as she questioned the young carriage driver, “What are you doing driving like that?”
“I’m really sorry, Lady Darlian.”
Noticing the thick tree trunk that had suddenly fallen just four or five meters ahead of the carriage, Darlian realized it wasn’t the driver’s fault.
There was no way to stop the carriage gently in such a short distance.
From both sides of the rural road came the rustling sound of leaves.
Then, more than a dozen figures emerged from the dense shrubs and behind thick tree trunks, encircling the carriage.
Most of them were demi-humans.
They wore rough linen clothes, with swords and other weapons hanging from their waists.