Merchant From Earth in the Magical World

After Yan Xing and Chen Shi set the price for the "Earl" red wine, Yan Xing returned to Nuta City. He bought several large barrels of wine from Count Theodore's private vineyard to bring back to the real world and then ordered a batch of high-end wine bottles to bottle it himself.

Chen Shi contacted the celebrities who had tasted the red wine. He informed them that the owner of the private vineyard producing "Earl" red wine was willing to supply a small batch externally.

The quantity was extremely limited: only one thousand bottles!

The price was 600,000 per bottle.

The taste of "Earl" red wine, combined with its history, greatly appealed to the celebrities.

Once it suited their taste, the price became a secondary matter.

Yan Xing's "Earl" red wine was a hot seller, becoming one of the two major sources of funds for Eternal Commerce and Trade, alongside agarwood.

Now flush with cash, Yan Xing spared no expense.

He personally made a trip to the grasslands and directly acquired a horse farm, demanding the establishment of a large horse breeding base. His directive: "Breed more horses, breed good horses."

Breed vigorously; don't worry about not being able to sell them.

Then he purchased timber, stone, iron ore, coke, and limestone from various places.

Eternal Domain had reached a stage in its development where it could no longer be stingy.

The lumber and stone needed in many areas could not be substituted with anything else.

The woodworking workshops would have to start training their own carpenters.

The blacksmith shops, too, would need to fire up their furnaces and smelt their own steel.

The territory's future construction would undoubtedly require many artisans, whose skills would need to be honed with substantial resources.

While Yan Xing was busy making large purchases everywhere, he also kept an eye on the changes in Nuta City and Eternal Domain.

Ever since the assassination case at the Temple was resolved, all factions within Nuta City had remained very stable.

Lady Karol and Grand Priest Lancelot had taken the Ice Jade Porcelain to the capital of the Principality. Meanwhile, Count Theodore focused all his attention on managing logistics and transportation.

The Eternal Domain road repair team was mending the road between Nuta City and Storm City.

According to the road repair team's reports, traffic between Nuta City and Storm City was unceasing.

This scale of material transport suggested the impending war on the Wildwind Highlands could far exceed everyone's expectations.

Marquis Anderson's increasing demand for supplies made Count Theodore acutely aware of the pressure on the front lines.

To stabilize Nuta City's soaring grain and commodity prices and address the various urban problems caused by inflation, Count Theodore expedited the approval of the collaborative project with Yan Xing. They then issued a joint statement:

Eternal Domain and Nuta City would jointly fund the construction of the road between the two cities. All materials and labor compensation needed for road construction would be settled with grain.

Eternal Domain would invest in cultivating the grasslands north of Nuta City as farmland to alleviate the city's grain shortage. All compensation for hired labor would be paid in grain.

Eternal Domain announced it would establish a commerce guild in Nuta City. Anyone willing to work for Eternal Domain could register with the Eternal Commerce Guild. Furthermore, Eternal Domain would pay workers in grain and provide monthly grain discount coupons, allowing them to purchase more low-priced grain.

The entire statement was effectively about one thing: grain, grain, grain.

Although the grain supplies from Eternal Domain had not yet arrived, the announcement alone caused Nuta City's surging grain prices to fall that very day.

A stunned silence fell over Nuta City, shocked as it was by these announcements from the Lord's Mansion.

Then, various influential figures flocked to the Lord's Mansion to meet Count Theodore, one by one offering tearful counsel.

This was inviting the wolf into the house!

Yan Xing, though human, represented Thunderous Swamp. Cooperating with Eternal Domain to build roads, leasing farmland to them, and even allowing them to establish a commerce guild and hire workers within the city—this was effectively allowing Thunderous Swamp's influence to expand southwards.

Based on Yan Xing's actions in Nuta City, it was clear that Thunderous Swamp was not content to be confined to the swamp; it harbored greater ambitions.

Now, facing the imminent attacks from Orcs and Elves, Nuta City should not allow Thunderous Swamp to expand south.

If Thunderous Swamp truly sent troops southward, Count Theodore would be deemed the greatest sinner for the Silvermane Principality's loss of the Wildwind Highlands.

Lady Karol's assessment of Thunderous Swamp and Yan Xing became a tool for the nobles and wealthy merchants to pressure Count Theodore.

Now that Thunderous Swamp was considered a power equal to the Silvermane Principality, anything related to it was open to malicious speculation and misinterpretation.

They reasoned that if Count Theodore couldn't withstand the pressure from all sides, feared accusations of collusion, and canceled the cooperation with Eternal Domain, then Nuta City's grain prices would continue to soar. Other commodity prices would follow.

As long as the elite could rake in profits, why would they care about the commoners' survival or whether Nuta City descended into chaos?

For them, chaos... chaos would be even better.

Count Theodore was under tremendous pressure. It was a case of 'three men make a tiger'; with so many advising him, he too began to wonder: Were my decisions wrong?

After all, if Thunderous Swamp really did seize this opportunity to invade the south, I would be undeniably to blame.

And even if Yan Xing cooperates in good faith, once the war is over, these statements of mine will surely become ammunition for my political enemies.

But if I don't bring in Eternal Domain's grain, these people will surely bleed Nuta City dry!

"Atreli…" alone in his study, Count Theodore asked his loyal servant, "Do you think Yan Xing could become my enemy?"

Atreli responded in a low, concerned voice, "Master, after this war, let's go home. In our old domain, you have no enemies…"

"Humph!" Count Theodore snorted. "Whenever I ask you such questions, you either feign ignorance or change the subject. No wonder you'll be a steward for life."

"Serving by your side is my greatest honor."

"Alright… I won't press you further. You know what I'm thinking. I can't control this situation, nor can I do much about it. Naturally, one must treat the illness where it's found, correct?

Right now, the war is paramount. Nuta City must not fall into chaos, and we cannot allow those elites to act unscrupulously.

The price of grain must absolutely not rise!

Whoever can help me stabilize the price of grain is who I will cooperate with.

As for the future… who knows if I'll even live to see it!"

Atreli quickly said, "Master, you will surely live a long and healthy life. By the way, regarding Marquis Anderson's repeated request for Miss Hibel to go to Storm City, how do you plan to respond?

Miss Hibel is the Champion Knight of the principality's Knight Tournament, and her presence in Storm City would definitely boost the morale of the Wildwind Highlands Legion."

Count Theodore said, "Anderson wants Hibel in Storm City now. He's clearly considering sending her into battle.

He wouldn't keep the Champion Knight in the rear.

Reply to Anderson. Tell him Hibel is training troops in Nuta City and cannot go anywhere!"

"Yes, Master. Please take care of yourself and don't overwork. Nuta City needs you, and Miss Hibel needs you too."

Count Theodore waved his hand. "Leave me. I need to think alone for a while."