After the merchant team had left, the Lord led his subordinates on a walk around the area where they had camped.

Looking at the two deep ruts gouged into the grass by the wagon wheels, Levi stroked his chin, lost in thought.

Generally, the goods that merchant teams trade in the Wilderness are mostly things like salt and tea—scarce commodities that are in high demand here.

But even a full carriage of those goods wouldn’t be this heavy. The wheels were practically sinking into the ground.

"Strange. Last time, I didn’t know what Miriel’s group was trading with that Elf Tribe, but it clearly wasn’t salt or anything like it. Elves don’t lack for such things." Levi patted the dirt from his hands after measuring the rut’s depth and stood up. "This time, not only is each wagon pulled by two horses, but they’re also accompanied by dozens of elite Half-Elf Archers. The number of mercenary guards has even increased to eighty."

"There must be a greater secret at play here," the Lord concluded.

"Who cares what secret they’ve got? I’ll take some men, we’ll mask up, and go hit ’em. We’ll know everything then."

Zat said viciously, making a throat-slitting gesture.

Levi shot Zat a sidelong glance.

’To call this guy stupid... well, at least he knows to wear a mask to hide his identity. But with him, a mask would be useless.’

’With builds as huge and burly as theirs, anyone could tell that only High Cliff Castle could raise them to be so big, green, and plump.’

’When I first met Zat, the guy was crude but had a subtle side. Ever since joining High Cliff Castle, though, he’s become more and more of a brute. His solution to everything is a head-on charge. I have no idea who he learned that from.’

Hog, following alongside, centered his Qi. With a single order from Levi, he could let out a wolf’s howl to summon the Jackal Wolfman Cavalry and run down the merchant team.

Levi felt it was necessary to give these two brutes a proper lesson. Walking toward the great hall, he said, "We’re civilized people. Don’t always be thinking about violence. Anyone who didn’t know better would think High Cliff Castle is some kind of criminal syndicate."

"Besides, everyone has their secrets. As long as we know that whatever the Secret Silver Merchant Team is transporting poses no threat to us, we don’t need to dig any deeper."

Zat’s face was in shadow, but he privately grimaced. ’Even our Lord doesn’t believe that,’ he thought.

’Otherwise, why rush over here to look for clues the second the caravan was gone?’

Hog, however, seemed to be lost in thought.

The great hall had been expanded and could now accommodate thirty to forty people. A long table was situated in the middle.

It could serve as a dining hall for High Cliff Castle’s leadership, or as a conference room. Inside, Sam and Baisitina were with two Wilderness Natives.

Some time ago, Sam had been sent out to find tribes with whom High Cliff Castle could establish a weapons trade. The Lord’s requirements were that the tribes had to be filthy rich and, preferably, at odds with one another.

Now, with a single glance, the Lord’s face broke into a grin that promised a bountiful harvest—like a farmer seeing his pig grown plump and ready for market.

One of the natives was a scrawny old man, a Northern Barbarian. In his gap-toothed mouth, his only two teeth were capped with Dog Head Gold, giving off the unmistakable aura of the newly rich.

He was clearly extremely proud of his two gold-capped teeth. Every time he opened his mouth, spittle flew, putting the gold on full display.

The other was a surprise to Levi—a towering Lizardman Warrior with rippling muscles and red scales, its forked tongue constantly flicking in and out.

His expression was one of utter disgust for the old man beside him. Clearly, the two were not on good terms.

"Impossible! Your prices are too high!"

Just as Levi walked in, the gold-toothed old man slammed his hand on the table, his face contorted.

Baisitina, who was leading the negotiations, simply smiled calmly as two Beastman Barbarians stepped forward, cracking their knuckles. At the sight of their flexing pectoral muscles, the old man grudgingly sat back down.

"The weapons you’re selling are indeed made of iron, but a price of two beast hides for a single long spear is too harsh," Beim protested. "Even a long spear from Debei, when converted from Gold Coins, only costs about one beast hide. And that’s not to mention your weapons can’t even compare to Debei-made goods."

He was the old Chieftain of the Wind Surge Tribe. Only at the strong recommendation of his "old friend" Sam had he, half-believing and half-doubting, brought his people to High Cliff Castle to investigate.

But when he saw the towering blast furnaces of High Cliff Castle by the river, his doubts vanished, and he had rushed over in a hurry.

The temptation of iron weapons was simply too great, making him subconsciously ignore any potential plots or schemes.

He had even left his guards at the foot of the hill to wait.

"If Debei goods are so great, why aren’t the Debei People selling weapons to you natives? Everyone knows about Debei’s strict prohibition on selling arms in the Wilderness." Levi sat down beside Baisitina, a cold sneer on his face. "If you don’t buy, plenty of others will. You need to get something straight: I’m not begging you to buy my weapons; you’re begging me to sell them to you."

"I’m risking execution to sell you these weapons. Forget being grateful, you have the audacity to complain that they’re too expensive."

"If you don’t want to buy, then get out!"

"Lord!" Beim’s lips trembled as he heard this.

What Levi said was completely true. Iron goods were scarce in the Wilderness, and Debei strictly prohibited the weapons trade. This Pioneer Lord was arguably the only person capable of selling weapons in large quantities.

His earlier complaints were just an excuse to haggle, but he hadn’t expected this Pioneer Lord to be so unyielding.

"I can accept this price. I could even add a little more. But you cannot sell the weapons to him."

The Lizardman Warrior, who had been silent until now, suddenly spoke up, pointing a long, clawed finger at Beim.

"Sell to your mother! Alexis, you son of a bitch!"

Beim was so furious he was seeing red. "I was wondering why a stinking lizard like you was here!" he roared. "So, you want to buy weapons to attack our Wind Surge Tribe, is that it!"

"I’m telling you, not a chance!"

Levi watched with a grin as the two tore into each other.

Sam had brought these two here on purpose.

Beim was the old Chieftain of the Wind Surge Tribe, and Alexis was a Warrior sent by the Yate Lizardman Tribe.

The two tribes were located in the Black Wood Forest to the northwest. Because their territories bordered each other, bloody conflicts often erupted over resources, leading to a naturally tense relationship.

"Lord, the Wind Surge Tribe is willing to accept the price you offered."

Alexis’s words were the last straw, forcing Beim to make an instant decision.

If that Lizardman managed to buy weapons from High Cliff Castle, he would absolutely use them to attack the Wind Surge Tribe. With their inferior weaponry, they would suffer a disastrous defeat.

Beim would not stand by and watch that happen.

"Heh. You didn’t agree to the price I offered you earlier. My apologies, but the price has just gone up. If you want to buy weapons from me now, you’ll have to pay an extra thirty percent."

Levi leisurely picked up his teacup, taking a small sip, a broad, triumphant smile on his face.