Chapter 3 - Ch 0.03: Dining with Guests

Well, this is the end of Flashback."Then we shall settle in, my lord," Maya Lou, the Elder of the Temple of Bliss, reply respectfully."Vice-Commander, You can take a seat as well," I offer."Yes, my lord," the vice commander responds.After we settle in the seat the Vice head of the Divine Baek Family starts complimenting me for some reason."Your Grace, we've heard whispers about your benevolence and beauty, but seeing it in person, the rumors don't do justice to your magnificence,"The reason why he is praising me will be revealed soon enough so I don't try to ponder much about it.After all, there is just no way a person of his standing would like to meet me without any purpose, who is adorned as a divine child. People like him just do not want to bow down to anyone after all, especially when the person who they need to bow down to is a junior in martial arts.And above all he has a name. Mind you. He is not nameless."Continue on, I like you. You understand by greatness."'I knew it, He is just a kid. We just needed to give him gifts and praise him a lot.' The Vice Head of the Divine Baek family thinks in his mind possibly. His face gives away his thoughts.The door shuts down and the Incense starts burning out. The room becomes completely lit with candles and formations. The mood is completely set just as they want.So The only problem for them now is the presence of the Provincial leader who is assisting me."Your grace, you're breed apart from others. Throughout Jiangu, You alone are honored. You're the benevolence given form."I can't help but smirk hearing this.I already had heard many people praising me and saying good things about me. It was nothing new but a familiar tune.In fact, I already had predicted word to word what he would say after seeing him in person in one glance. Nonetheless, His sycophant tongue still displeases me because It isn't hard to see his hidden desire.After 15 minutes of the Vice head's insincere praise, I finally intrude."I really like your talk but why don't we eat first before continuing our discussion? It displeases me to talk when I'm empty-stomached."Hearing my demand, the attendant starts serving the food.The meal is presented to me first and then to the guests just as I wanted and once, we complete what they say in here some ritual before eating the meal.I take the first bite of Meatball.mmmm.It has a nice texture. It is Perfectly cooked. It is real, rustic, wholesome.Then I try a nicely steamed halibut. It also has such a nice vibrance to it, which I had not experienced. If I need to define it, it is a smart reinterpretation of a classic dish with Lemon coconut broth. The fish is also soaking up the flavor of coconut so remarkably.After filling My tummy with meat and soup. I reach out my hand for a dessert dish.'hmm'The dessert is also absolutely delicious. It is a lemon curd pie tart with a chocolate ganache incorporated with bacon fat and topped with meringue. It has a lot of finesse. It is layer upon layer. This is the type of food I could get only at a 5-star restaurant."What a great flavor."There were many more dishes to try but there was not a bit of space in my stomach.Surprisingly, I'm not at all disappointed that so many dishes were on the table that I couldn't try. If someone asked me why, I would answer: I am rather glad that I can get 5-star restaurant-quality food every day.We should be content with whatever we have after all but then again everything that exists is created for my pleasure. Therefore, everyone in this realm is encroaching in my domain like cockroaches........Finally, I complete my talk with my heart, and then I surprisingly notice that all the attendants and officials are watching me with wide eyes, surprised to see me enjoying the meal.One reason for their surprise can be that it is already an honor for them to serve their lord, but seeing their lord enjoy food for the first time makes them completely captivated and enhances their loyalty even further toward me.__________________________________[Ding!][Strong Positive emotion toward host detected: - Extra Stat point would be awarded][0.1 bonus stat awarded] x3[0.1 bonus stat awarded] x3....x3__________________________________'I can also gain stats like this?' I ponder.What a helpful system.But not everything is helpful. Fate is a bitch.Just as I am engrossed in my inner pondering, Elder Maya Lou reaches her hand to pick up a juice glass from the table while putting on a gorgeous smile."Don't smile so brightly, It bothers me and this juice will be mine".I quickly say it to her, and she shows her surprise.Well, I don't like being petty, but because I want to perfectly blend into my character of a slightly cold but cute and childish lord, I need to be a bit petty."Wh... I mean, yes, my lord," Elder Maya Lou says swiftly, perhaps recalling my juvenile status despite my royal position.What a great granny! Understanding my reaction, she responded respectfully. How great"My lord, how about we talk about business if you are comfortable? We have already eaten, and we are getting a bit late," says the Vice Head of the Divine Baek Family.His patience must have run out now.After all, even his greed and hidden desires are now visible to me. Well, they could be clearly seen by even an amateur if they weren't a fool."What was your name again, old man?""Byun Baek, my lord," he corrected. Not going to lie but I held my smile observing his face. It just looked very funny to look at when he was called an old man.Needless to say, I poked a joke on him, and he was helpless since he had less authority than me."It seems you're not enjoying my company.""No, I mean absolutely not, My lord." Byun Baek spoke nervously."Ok then, go ahead and speak what you wish to communicate with me. I shall hear you at least."321…"Temple of Bliss and Divine Baek family have decided to cooperate with each other and wish to establish the best smithy workshops in your Gandara Jianghu.""We wish to obtain some minute trade rights and get the mining rights for the Iron ore mine for the 10-year lease.""We'll establish an Iron Kingdom in Gandara Jianghu, offering all our products in Jianghu at 20% below the market price."Elder Maya exclaimed 'We'd pay higher Mining tax than local players and sell the fine and excellent quality of Cold iron ore to the Royal court at the lowest of lowest prices possible.'Ji Yan had already realized that their main goal was to create a monopoly in the market and drive out local players. Even after being ready to sustain these losses, they were actually overall in more profit.Their approach is based on an elegant combination of production efficiency and market supremacy. As they produce more iron ore and smithy products, they would reap the benefits of economies of scale, skilfully pushing down production costs while maintaining consistent profitability.Securing a ten-year mining rights lease would strengthen their bases, allowing them to implement consistent pricing and marketing initiatives. The ability to manipulate pricing is at the basis of their monopoly. Despite generously proposing a 20% discount to their customers, they can skillfully fix pricing above manufacturing costs, ensuring a solid profit margin.After ten years they'll surely drive out all the business competition from the market.Temple of Bliss and the Divine Baek family, as astute strategists can also broaden their reach by expanding into nearby regions and distant marketplaces, where the attractiveness of their unique items attracts even more generous pricing.There were other factors involved too but I knew their puny intelligence would not be able to think so far."I see, but why should I include the Divine Baek family in this transaction? I can tell this offer of yours to the local players and they'd reduce it too.""In fact, I understand giving mining rights to the Temple of Bliss since it belongs to a kingdom belonging to my Gandara Jianghu but the Baek family is an outside party, isn't it? Since you came with the Divine Baek Family, it means the Temple of Bliss has gotten some benefit in the Han kingdom."Elder Maya was shocked and nervous because despite how cute his face was, His eyes were like the depth of an abyss and his face was no longer smiling but turned into cold indifference."The Provincial Leader would look into the matter. I don't have much interest or experience in these types of affairs."But Ji Yan then approached Elder Maya and whispered in her ear a proposal in a light tone just so Byun Baek could not hear the proposal."If you really wish to increase your chances of obtaining mining rights and open Workshops in Gandara Jianghu then you'd need to do a job."There was no way Ji Yan's proposal could have been refused.His voice as Ji Yan exuded a powerful aura of "authority" and "eroticness."His charm and voice now had the power to persuade people to believe what he was saying, even if his reasoning or points of view were invalid or illogical. Not only that, but if he ever wanted, his charm could also drive people into a state of insanity.