Chapter 104: Entering the Trap

After obtaining information from Flor, the steward of the Silver Coin Chamber of Commerce sprang into action, striving to gather the supplies Kairon required. After all, most of what Kairon asked for was fairly easy to procure, except for the corpses, which required some funds and effort. As for the Whisper of the Dead, these grew abundantly in cemeteries, so plentiful that no one bothered to harvest them.

If this deal succeeded, the Silver Coin Chamber of Commerce stood to make at least forty gold coins in profit. With such tempting gains within reach, how could the steward remain unmoved? The Chamber of Commerce mobilized its resources, sending people to clear out the cemeteries near Silver Sand City while also purchasing corpses through underground channels.

Both operations proceeded smoothly. The Whisper of the Dead was something only Kairon needed; others never spared it a glance. Decades, even centuries, had passed without anyone bothering to clear them, making the collection effortless. As long as they avoided the ancient graves where the dead had become undead, there were scarcely any difficulties.

The corpses posed more of a challenge than the Whisper, but fortunately Kairon was not picky—any specimen of second rank or higher would suffice, regardless of species or the time since death. With such flexibility, the Chamber had plenty of room to maneuver. To save time, they spent a bit of money to purchase one hundred second-rank corpses and ten third-rank ones, all of the same type: Azure Demon Wolves.

These Azure Demon Wolves were not wild beasts, but rather a common breed raised by the Silver Hand to transport goods. They could pull carts and possessed some combat ability. Though their meat was unpalatable, their pelts had value, making them an economic magical beast unique to the Silver Hand. Although second and third-rank Azure Demon Wolves fetched a high price, years of breeding had produced an abundance of corpses, and the Chamber could acquire them easily and cheaply.

To cut costs further, the Chamber deliberately bought first-rank wolves that had died long ago, even digging up those reduced to mere bones. With this ruthless cost-cutting, the steward calculated that the total expenditure amounted to less than four gold coins.

With four gold coins in supplies, they could exchange for fifty gold coins worth of ore—the steward nearly broke into laughter. Yet what truly delighted him was not the dozens of gold coins earned, but the profit margin. If their partnership with Kairon was established, every future transaction would yield similar gains. Flor had effectively traded two-thirds of the Chamber's assets for a hen that laid golden eggs; their previous losses no longer counted as losses and the deal was nothing short of perfect.

Thus, the steward was in excellent spirits and valued this fifty-gold project highly. To ensure nothing went awry, he decided to oversee the transaction personally and meet the necromancer. Naturally, if he could drive costs lower, all the better.

Once everything was prepared, the steward brought the supplies and traveled with Flor to Goblin Forest. Almost as soon as the steward departed with the goods, Wenger received the news.

This shrewd goblin also learned of the Chamber's preparations: ten thousand Whisper of the Dead and one hundred and ten Azure Demon Wolf corpses. Though he lacked concrete proof, Wenger could surmise that these supplies were intended to exchange for ore with Kairon; after all, the only thing in Goblin Forest worth such effort was the ore under Kairon's control.

What intrigued Wenger was how much ore could be obtained for such supplies, for the Chamber to act so vigorously, the profits must not be small. Another point captured Wenger's interest: would the Chamber's steward return at all?

Not that Wenger suspected anything in particular; he simply had a hunch that things would not be straightforward. Yet he had no intention of interfering. At this moment, Wenger focused on two tasks: continuing to take over the Chamber's assets, and sending people to buy large quantities of Whisper of the Dead.

He did not know their purpose, but his keen business sense told him that hoarding a supply would surely yield a handsome profit.

Goblin Forest lay not far from Silver Sand City, a dozen or so miles away, and even from Kairon's domain, it was no more than fifty or sixty miles. With a carriage, the journey could be completed in half a day.

As soon as they entered Kairon's territory, he was already aware of the incoming party's general details. Whether it was the steward's cautious nature or a desire to display the Chamber's strength, they had dispatched a formidable team, despite only transporting one hundred and ten corpses and ten thousand Whisper of the Dead. Besides the steward, a fourth-rank figure, there were twenty third-rank, and a hundred second-rank guards—a total escort of one hundred and twenty.

Kairon made no comment on this. He remained aloof throughout, stepping forward and sweeping his gaze over the supplies before nodding. "Everything is correct. The batch of ore is now yours. I'll send you the next order form next month."

With that, Kairon turned to leave, showing no intention of engaging with the steward, who eagerly tried to approach him, leaving the steward awkwardly stranded. At that moment, Flor, who had obediently stood by the steward's side, suddenly spoke.

"Please wait, esteemed necromancer."

"What is it?" Kairon stopped, his expression impatient as he turned.

Witnessing this, the steward thought Flor had spoken on his behalf and promptly cast her a look of approval. Yet Flor's next words caught him off guard, sending cold sweat trickling down his back.

"I heard that necromancers can commune with the dead. May I ask if you could let me see my father? I miss him dearly."