BXBX NOVEL Chapter 41: Negotiations in Progress
Roland stared deeply at the messenger and shook his head. "We want one million star coins and a hundred battle horses."
"Patriarch, the most we can give you is 20 battle horses. I'm sure you are already aware of the value of our horses. Each one of them is in the Foundation Establishment realm. Even if we sell them for an-"
"Two million star coins and 90 battle horses."
"Patriarch, how could you be so unreasonable? We can't-"
"Three million star coins and 80 battle horses."
"Patriarch Roland, our horses are-"
"Ten million star coins and fifty battle horses! That is my final offer. If you are still not satisfied, then you can only say goodbye to Raphael."
"This…" The messenger looked at Agatha and asked for her opinion.
Seeing this, Roland patiently waited. He wouldn't lose anything from this deal. He had so much to gain so he didn't mind waiting for them to make up their mind.
"Patriarch Roland, we will accept your trade request, but I would like to see if my brother is safe and unharmed." Agatha finally spoke after a few minutes of discussion with the messenger and Owen.
Roland nodded. "Alright, but only you can visit him. The two of them can't go with you." Among the three of them, Agatha has the lowest cultivation. He couldn't allow Owen or the messenger to follow since there was a big chance that they would do something unexpected.
Owen was the first one to disagree. "No way! I disagree! We can't let-"
Agatha stopped him from speaking further. "I will be alright, Sir Owen. I don't think the Firecrown Household would do something foolish when we are in the middle of an exchange."
Hearing that, Roland furrowed his eyebrows. 'Did that girl intentionally say those words for me to hear?'
At this moment, a small spark could blow out the conflict between the Firecrown Household and the Blackcrow Household.
'Did that bastard Reynard send his daughter here as bait?' Roland's expression darkened when he thought of this. If something happened to Agatha, this would give the Blackcrow Household a legitimate excuse to attack them.
Raphael's case was different. He was captured after failing to assassinate Fredrinn. There was no legitimate reason for the Blackcrow Household to attack them since Raphael was at fault.
Roland gritted his teeth. 'That man didn't even hesitate to send his daughter to act as the bait! I won't fall for your tricks!'
"I guarantee that Miss Agatha will not be harmed." He muttered with a cold look.
Owen frowned when he saw the look in his eyes. 'Did he see through our plan?'
"Fine. Please be careful, Miss Agatha. Call me immediately if something happens." Owen relented.
"I will." Agatha nodded her head. She then turned her gaze to Roland and said. "Patriarch, please lead the way."
Roland nodded and stood up from his seat. "Follow me."
***
Meanwhile, inside a private training chamber.
"My lord, I heard that someone from the Blackcrow Household is here to negotiate for the release of their third heir," Olivia reported.
Fredrinn who was busy browsing through the Fate Shop stopped what he was doing and asked while looking at her. "Where did you hear it from?"
"I heard it from the servants cleaning the hallway," Olivia answered.
"I see. I wonder how much they are willing to cough up in exchange for Raphael." Fredrinn's lips curved upwards. He could already imagine his father's ecstatic look once the deal was completed.
"I'm sure you will get some rewards after the exchange, my lord. After all, it was our group that managed to capture Raphael."
Hearing this, Fredrinn nodded. "Knowing my father, I bet he would ask for the Blackcrow Household's war horses."
His guards unit still lacked suitable mounts. If each of them gets a mount from the Blackcrow Household, their fighting prowess will significantly improve.
"Let's head to the open field. I'd like to see the progress of everyone's training." Fredrinn stood up and walked out of the training chamber.
Olivia and Cain followed a few steps behind him.
They headed to the open field behind the main mansion. When they arrived, they saw a crowd of servants and martial practitioners.
"Aren't they Lord Fredrinn's guards unit?"
"They look cool in their new battle gear!"
"You're right, but why are they training so rigorously?"
"Look! It's Lord Fredrinn!" Someone finally noticed them approaching.
"Greeting, Lord Fredrinn!" The servants and the martial practitioners greeted him respectfully.
"Hello, everyone!" Fredrinn smiled as he waved at them. There was no harm in letting these people spectate the training.
Gunnar who was overseeing the training instructed the guards unit to rest temporarily when he sensed Fredrinn's arrival.
He asked Aurelius to come with him to greet their lord.
"Greetings, my lord." Gunnar and Aurelius bowed as they greeted him.
"You two look good in your uniforms," Fredrinn remarked with a smile. "By the way, how is everyone's training?" He quickly changed the topic when he saw Aurelius looking at him awkwardly.
"Our men don't have any experience in fighting as a group so I incorporated some of my experience from the elite team into their training. They struggled yesterday to perform the right formations, but they are slowly adapting to it. With more training and real combat experience, they would only get better." Gunnar responded.
"I see. That's good." Fredrinn was pleased with Gunnar's efficient performance. This man didn't disappoint him. He was truly fit to become the captain of his guards unit.
At this moment, 'scree' sounds suddenly echoed from above.
Everyone raised their heads and saw two brown-feathered birds circling beneath the clouds before descending to the ground.
With a wingspan of over ten feet, the two birds looked incredibly majestic.
"You two broke through?" Fredrinn was pleasantly surprised.
When he bought these eagles from the Fate Shop, they were only at the 10th Layer of the Body Refining stage. A few days passed since he got them and they had already advanced to the 1st Layer of the Qi Gathering stage! This was largely attributed to the beast pills he provided them, a pill that promotes the growth of magical beasts.