Max looked calmly at the count.He would be a fool if he couldn't guess that this greedy man and his family wanted to swallow his business.
"Thank you count but I am not ready for marriage, I just want you to introduce me to other noble houses and help provide protection and I'll give you 10 percent of all my profits".
"No that won't do, do you really think they'll stay still and allow a commoner to enjoy that business alone ? I am trying to help you" the count didn't give up and kept on insisting.
"I will take care of that count Tiberius don't worry" max was really getting annoyed and frustrated.
"Hey commoner what my father wants to say is know your place and hand over the business and source you are not even worthy of my sister"Julius intervened again.
" count Tiberius fifteen percent and that's as much as I can give" max gave his answer .
"How about you give me sixty percent plus the way of making sugar and the sword?".
"Hahaha count Tiberius it seems we cannot do business together, I will be taking my leave" hearing him max laughed and had a cold smile on his face.
What a joke !!! asking for sixty percent and the way of making sugar and the sword, wasn't this another way of saying hand over your business?.
Max had had enough of this family who treated him in contempt and kept insulting him.
"Did I give you permission to leave" the count had a vicious look on his face as he shouted and immediately 3 Tier 1 knight unsheathed their swords and looked at max.
Richard who was a Tier 1 advanced knight was amongst them.
"The reason I allowed you in my house in the first place is because Richard said you were a young wandering knight and you possessed a strange powerful weapon otherwise commoner trash like you would have no place in my house" the count and his family continued to look at max with contempt.
Max really was at breaking point, he couldn't attack the count with his Tier 2 strength otherwise he would not be able to stay in this city but they kept pushing him.
Max took the shotgun and held it his hands whiles looking around with a cold face.
When Richard saw the weapon his expression changed and he said something into the ear of the count.
The count hearing that this was the weapon he wanted was suddenly a little afraid and had an ugly look on his face.He had Richard check when max first entered and at that time he had no weapon on him, but now he was pulling one at him.Wasn't this a silent threatening?.
"Commoner what is the meaning of this!!" the count asked but this time with caution because according to Richard this weapon could hurt and kill Tier 1 knight.
"Nothing count am just holding on to it for a while till I leave" max also calmly responded with a cold look on his face.
"Fine leave, go I don't want to see you here again" the count hesitated for a second before deciding to let max leave after all his family was also here. If max really attacked non of them could survive.
Max got up and left the room still with the weapon in hand.He met grace outside the door and took her with him whiles leaving.
About four guards including a mid stage Tier 1 guard keep following them at a distance.
Max too was vigilant and hand his finger on the trigger ready to attack at any moment.
He got outside took a carriage and left with grace.
"Master what happened ?" after keeping quiet for a while grace couldn't help but ask.She had observed max for a while and knew he was rather friendly and not as cold as he looked.
"Count Tiberius wants to swallow me thinking am a little fish but he doesn't know he is trying to swallowing a dragon" max said with a sneer on lips.
Grace wisely decided not to talk again.
'Looks like I can only depend on myself' max thought to himself.
Seeing the behavior of the count he didn't have to be told that almost all the nobles will behave like that when he tries to get their help.
He get the address of Pedro's house to the carriage driver to send them there and then alighted.Luckily for him pedro was at home so he told him what happened at the count's house whiles asking for his help.
"Come with me my friend let me show you something" after a while Luigi invited max out for a walk in the streets.
"My friend max it seems you do not understand things well. I do not know if you lived in a reclusive knight family with great inheritance or something but it seems you do not understand this continent well.
Look at the streets what do you see ? I'll tell you poverty. The city is rich but that only refers to the merchants,the foreign traders, the craftsmen including those alchemist, the nobles and finally the most important of all the mercenaries.
The nobles fight amongst themselves often that is why the land is poor.This is because there are heavy taxation, if you want support make contact with the merchants and mercenaries.
Others might be afraid to do business with you but the merchants will always sell your goods if it pays well and the mercenaries will buy your weapons if they are good enough.
Some merchants have noble backings and some mercenaries have Tier 3 powerhouses as commanders almost on par with the nobles the stronger ones in the capital may even have half step Tier 3 experts".
After thinking for a while max felt Pedro was right so he asked Pedro to first arrange a meeting for him with a reputable merchant if he could.
Pedro promised to pull some strings and make it happen. He thanked Pedro before. saying goodbye and leaving to the inn.
He had good money and it was time he bought a shop and a house that belonged to himself.
He had heard about a place which dealt in business like that from Pedro earlier so made his way there.
It was called the Tree housing merchant guild.Entering the two story guild house he saw the receptionist and headed for him.
"Hello sir this is tree house guild what can I do for you" the receptionist was polite and welcoming.
"Hello I would like to buy a house and a shop" max didn't want to waste time so he went straight to the point.
"Right this way please follow me" the receptionist was even more polite and led the way.
After climbing the stairs upwards he was directed to entered a small office. Behind the desk sat a plump man in a robe with a with a small mustache.
He had an air shrewdness around him. Max simple asked for a house to live in and a large shop for business.
"Well Sir max we can rent you some but if you want to buy then it will go for a high price. "the fat man known as John drew added.
"If you have some let me know the price is not an issue" said max.He still had some platinum coins from selling the demonic beast so he could fork out some money.
"We have a shop that suits your taste at the Preston street.It is a large three story high shop located at a safe street and does not lack customers.Preston street is a busy merchant street with lots of potential customers".
"How much does does it cause to buy this shop" max went straight to the point once again.
"Well it goes for 200 gold coins, you should know a lot of people are eyeing it with the intention of buying" John added worried that max wouldn't understand the high price.
After all 70 gold coins is really a large sum. Most citizens don't even earn a gold coin in a year.So it is difficult to fork out 70 gold coins.
"Sure make a contract I want the shop and how about the house?". max thought the price was alright so he did not bargain.
"Well you are in luck we have a mansion that you might wanna buy.
It is a four story high mansion that belonged to a viscount but he had to sell it due to debts he owned.There are more than 50 rooms available including servant quarters and a guard post. There is a a large garden, stables and an underground armory.
So do you want it? it costs about 4 platinum coins or 400 gold coins if you prefer.
But I promise you will be satisfied plus it will boost your reputation and also attract the curiosity of the nobles".
"Alright I'll take it but I cannot pay you the total sum you prepare the contract and deeds I'll come back in a few days" max thought for a moment before saying to John.He was out of money but had a lot of goods to sell. So first he would sell, earn money then buy the house.
He signed the contract for the shop and payed for it before they concluded their talks.
"Alright sir max pleasure doing business with you". John stood up and gave max a polite bow.
"max stood up to reciprocate " max stood up to reciprocate.
"I'll have one of my men lead you to the shop" John led max out and commanded one of his servants to lead him to the shop on Preston street.
After some hours they got there.Overall max was satisfied with the the shop.It was large enough to start the business he wanted and most of all it was at a popular street which increased the chances of meeting potential buyers.
After inspecting the shop max gave grace 30 gold coins and asked her to hire craftsmen to repair any damage to the shop and hire about five helpers to assist in trade he himself left for the inn going back to rest.
It was late so max had decided to walk whiles enjoying the night. He soon passed by a secluded street and stopped.
In front of him were four armed men with swords drawn and another two immediately came from his back.
Judging from the pressure they excluded two were early stage Tier 1, three were intermediary Tier 1 and the last was a peak stage Tier 1 knight.
They had their faces covered but they were armed to the teeth and didn't cover up their hostility towards max.
As soon as max saw the killing intent they had against him he was immediately on guard and drew his own sword. He was a long range fighter but had no option here as they were to near for him to use a crossbow.
"Who are you? Why are you targeting me?" max looked at them coldly and asked whiles keeping his eyes on them.
"Who we are is of no concern to a dead man. Hand over sources of the sugar and spice trade" the peak Tier 1 knight demanded whiles looking at max with a playful smile.
As soon as he mentioned the sugar and spices max felt his heart go cold and thought about count Tiberius.
Only he knew about the sugar and spice trade apart from Pedro. And besides Pedro was an associate he had no power no reason to make a move against him.
'Count Tiberius you really must have a death wish,I've not even settled accounts with you over how you treated me at your house and now you're sending people after my secrets and life'. when thought of this he laughed in anger.
It seems because he didn't retaliate the count and his family thought he was easy to bully.
"Hand it over now or don't blame us for giving you a painful death" one of the men had a vicious look on his face as he threatened max.
"You trashes think you can take my life? good come take it if you are capable enough" max also didn't back down and responded back.
" Good very good!! it seems like you want to tortured to death before you talk, cripple him don't kill him" the leader ordered the others before charging at max.
"Since you wanna die I'll oblige you "max met them head on and exploded with speed, whiles exposing his Tier 2 strength.