Chapter 56: Exploring Trade Routes (1) Duke
"Please tell me." The words that were about to reach his lips were put back again. Verin looked at Wesker blankly and said.
Wesker said apologetically: "I want you to introduce my second son Duke."
"Oh."
Verin looked at the young man behind Wesker who puffed out his chest and looked up and down.
"The strength of the intermediate bronze level is quite satisfactory."
When Duke heard Weilin's words, he felt a little disappointed, but he didn't show it and still stood motionless behind his father.
"If that's the case, then..."
Wesker didn't have much hope for this, and was ready to change the topic to business.
The next moment, Weilin waved his hand to interrupt the other party's speech: "However, I can give your second son a chance. As long as he can pass my test, I can accept him and train him."
"I wonder what the test is?"
Seeing that things were turning around, Wesker looked hopeful and asked impatiently.
"Fight a fight with my caravan guard and I will give you the answer."
Seeing this, Wesker hurriedly agreed and enthusiastically took Welin to the training ground in the center of the castle.
With his host leading the way, Weilin took Raimondo to a training ground covering an area of more than 60 square meters. Various weapons were placed on the weapons racks nearby.
"Remember to suppress the strength to the same level as the opponent." Verin turned his head and looked at Raimundo and gave him instructions.
"Yes, my lord."
Raimundo nodded in response, then took out a suitable wooden sword from the weapon rack, then took off his linen jacket, revealing the white cloth shirt worn on the inside.
After receiving Wesker's approval, Duke also took off his coat, took the wooden sword handed over by the servant, and came to the center of the training ground.
"Use all your strength and don't lose in one move. This will embarrass your father." Raimundo suppressed his strength to the middle level of bronze, looked at Duke up and down, and kindly reminded him.
"Thank you."
After Duke thanked him, his eyes became sharp, he held the wooden sword tightly with both hands, and began to slowly mobilize the fighting spirit in his body.
Raimundo, on the other hand, looked at Duke very casually and did not make any unnecessary moves, waiting for the opponent to attack first.
The next moment, Duke took the lead and attacked Raimondo, but was easily blocked.
Standing outside the training ground, Wesker looked at the two fighting men with a serious look.
He knew very well about the strength of his second son. He was stronger than some high-level bronze knights in his territory, but he was easily manipulated by a caravan guard who was suppressed by the opponent in the same realm.
Verin noticed the change in Wesker's expression and said with a smile: "Lord Baron, your second son is very strong. Compared with the average Bronze Knight, he is already considered to be first-rate."
After hearing this, Wesker shook his head and said, "Weilin, he can't even defeat one of your caravan guards. It's really..."
"No, it can't be calculated that way." Verin said to Wesker, "As the leader of the caravan, I carefully selected Raimondo. In addition, he has received complete knight training from his family, so he is naturally better than the lesser nobles. Cultivated…I’m sorry to judge you like this.”
"It's okay, please continue."
Wesker didn't feel any contempt. The level was there, and it didn't mean that such a name didn't exist if others didn't say it.
"The heirs trained by minor nobles may not be as good as our family's knight training. Duke has achieved this level, which is considered good, but he lacks some necessary training."
When Wesker heard Weilin's words, he felt a lot more at ease. At least the other party would not refuse to accept his second son. He then complimented: "As a family based on the knight profession, I'm very aware of how powerful you are. Thank you for your recognition of Duke."
After hearing this, Weilin nodded and said nothing, quietly watching the battle between the two.
As time passed, Duke's energy was running low. He panted and looked at his opponent, feeling a little shaken in his heart. His efforts over the years seemed to be worthless.
From the short battle, he clearly felt that the opponent was letting go.
Based on his judgment, if the opponent went all out from the beginning, he would definitely lose within three moves.
"Zheng"
The sword in Duke's hand was knocked away, and he knelt on the ground weakly, saying with difficulty: "Sir, thank you for your mercy."
"Your foundation is very poor, but your perseverance is good, you just lack some guidance."
Seeing the fighting stopped, Wesker and Verin stepped forward. When Duke saw his father coming over, he forced himself to stand up and said with shame, "Father, I lost."
"It's okay, you've tried your best." He thought his father would show an embarrassed expression when he lost, but unexpectedly it turned out to be a face full of love. He hadn't seen his father show such an expression in many years.
"Duke, are you willing to follow me?" Verin came to Duke and said gently.
After hearing this, Duke was stunned.
Wesker looked at his dull son and immediately kicked him in the knee, causing him to kneel on the ground.
After reacting, Duke bowed to the ground and said loudly: "Greetings to the Lord."
Weilin saw this and helped him up: "Say goodbye to your father and come find me at my station tomorrow morning. You should know the place."
"Yes, my lord."
Duke quickly changed his tune and leaned forward to salute.
Subsequently, Raimundo, as the leader of the caravan, further discussed the mineral salt with Wesker's steward and decided on the acquisition.
After lunch, Verin said goodbye to Wesker, left the castle with Raimundo and two caravan guards, and planned to go shopping in the commercial district of this small city to see if there was anything he was interested in.
"My lord, the purchase price offered by the other party is much higher than before." After leaving the castle, Raimundo told the story while following Verin.
"Well, tell me." Weilin was a little surprised and asked.
Raimondo took out a business contract from his pocket and handed it to Verin for inspection. At the same time, he explained beside him: "The price you negotiated with Baron Grosvenor before was twenty-five copper coins per pound of refined mineral salt. Roughly processed mineral salt costs ten copper coins per pound.
Afterwards, the prices I negotiated with the housekeeper were 30 copper coins per catty for finely processed mineral salt and 12 copper coins per catty for rough-processed mineral salt, which was an overall increase of one-fifth of the purchase price.
This time the other party purchased one ton of finely processed mineral salt and three tons of roughly processed mineral salt. And it is agreed to trade according to this contract every three months. "
"interesting."
Verin looked at Wesker's signature on the contract, and a smile appeared on his face.
According to the previous price, the other party had to pay 110 gold coins. According to this contract, he had to pay 132 gold coins, which was a full gold coins more.
However, the other party has additional conditions, that is, no more mineral salt transactions can be conducted with other nobles in Grosvenor and surrounding territories.