Published at 4th of December 2024 6:02 am

Chapter 266: – Lord Zi, Stingy to a Fault, You May Earn a Lot, But I Never Lose! 2

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With disdain for the ignorant bunch, Lord Zi slapped a hand on the blood-red treasure chest and flipped the lid open.

Suddenly, a blood-colored light soared into the sky, and the entire room was bathed in a crimson hue.

All those inside the room seemed to witness an endless starry sky and vast universe at once, as well as a chain phantom flickering in and out of sight.

But in the blink of an eye, everything vanished, and the whole room took on a hazy, dreamlike quality.

The next moment, a diamond-shaped crystal emitting a faint golden glow floated where the blood-red treasure chest had just been.

[Lord’s Heart (Gold): A rule crystal condensed from the primal source of the dungeon. Once in the Sea of Realms, it can be used to activate and open the second page of the lord template for professionals.]

“Not bad, kiddo, your luck attribute is pretty strong,” the Old General Huang said, his eyes filled with mirth.

“If you provide the treasure chest, how about we split the profits fifty-fifty?” Zi Liyuan suggested, toying with the floating Lord’s Heart.

“You little brat, what do you take me for, eating with such an ugly face, careful not to choke,” Old Huang retorted irritably before continuing.

“What are the odds of a Lord’s Heart appearing? Did they exceed eighty percent?”

Luck is such an elusive thing; some people are unlucky their whole lives, yet there are plenty of instances where opening a lousy treasure chest turned someone’s fortune around overnight.

The military had collected many items and equipment that could increase luck and even sought out professionals with very good fortune to open primal source treasure chests, but the chance of obtaining a Lord’s Heart was less than one percent.

“You should drink more wolfberry tea, stay strong as you grow old, and maybe you’ll even add a few more sons to your family,” Zi Liyuan retorted with an eye roll, not stupid enough to disclose the real situation.

“Still daring to make fun of me, you’re just asking for a beating,” Old Huang responded, “Eighty-twenty division, eight for the military, two for you, and out of every hundred treasure chests, you must ensure to hand over 25 Lord’s Hearts to the military.”

To make an extravagant demand just to bargain on the spot, with this kid’s personality of hiding and hoarding cards up his sleeve, how could he possibly play it straight?

“You should find someone more capable.”

After pocketing the floating Lord’s Heart, Zi Liyuan lay back down, relishing the rare feeling of being a salted fish.

“Didn’t you just easily produce a Lord’s Heart? Shouldn’t be too hard to get 24 more, right?” Old General Huang remarked, looking at the kid lying down again with a sense of helplessness.

Without knowing the kid’s full capabilities, they could only speculate based on the information collected so far and take it step by step.

But this slippery brat played dumb and wouldn’t respond.

“How about this? You provide me with the coordinates of wild dungeons and monster dens, and I’ll tackle them myself. Then, I’ll hand over thirty percent of the loot as a consulting fee. How does that sound?”

For a high-level professional to farm low-level wild dungeons, chances of the primal source treasure chest dropping good loot are reduced.

But for someone like Zi Liyuan, who always clung to the lucky goddess’s long, black silk-clad legs, as long as the chance wasn’t zero, having the means was enough.

“Wild dungeon coordinates can be traded, but the military wants fifty percent of the loot, including subsequent income from the dungeon. Monster dens are non-negotiable,” Old Huang said.

Monster dens, with their high difficulty and massive rewards, were something the military wasn’t willing to give up.

However, if there was a really tough nut to crack, the military didn’t mind hiring outsiders to tackle it, though such situations were rare.

In the Great Xia Empire, with its hundreds of millions of soldiers and countless mighty forces, except for those monster dens deep in the ocean, there were no others that could withstand a full-on assault by the military forces of the Great Xia Empire.

“I bust my ass conquering dungeons, and you guys just offer coordinates and take half the loot. Is there no justice left? No rule of law?”

“In the Great Xia Empire, aren’t justice and the law held in the hands of the officials?”

Why do those Ancient Noble Families, along with the four royal lineages, obediently stay in the Great Xia Empire?

Isn’t it because the official power of the Great Xia Empire is mighty, and its military force is the first under the Blue Star, keeping everyone in line?

Seeing Old Huang looking completely unperturbed, Zi was at a loss for words, momentarily speechless.

“You supply the primal source treasure chests, it’s still a fifty-fifty split, but out of every hundred chests, you get 10 Lord’s Hearts,” Zi proposed.

Freeloading for the moment may be great, but freeloading continuously is even better. Doing nothing and still being able to open treasure chests with the lion’s share ending up in his own pocket—who wouldn’t love that?

“Seven to three, I take seven, you take three; you don’t have to do anything but crack open a treasure chest. For three tenths of the profits, you’re already getting a big advantage. As for the Lord’s Heart, there are at least 20 in a hundred chests.”

“You might as well rob me! Three tenths of the profits wouldn’t even cover the cost of a single Lord’s Heart. Six four, you get six; at most ten Lord’s Hearts.”

“Fine, forty-six it is, but that’s far too few Lord’s Hearts; at least nineteen!”

“You crafty old man, ten at most! Otherwise, I’d have to pay out of my own profits.”

“Then let’s make it eighteen; we’re both giving up two. Don’t be so stingy, you little brat.”

“No way, only ten. You surely can’t expect me to operate at a loss and essentially work for the military for free?”

“I’ve taken such good care of you, wiping your ass twice now, can’t you let go of a little profit? How about seventeen?”

“I said ten, and not one more!”

Lord Zi stubbornly refused to budge, determined not to let anyone find out that he could get his hands on a large number of Lord’s Hearts, otherwise endless trouble would come his way.

“You’re really not going to part with a single hair, are you? Don’t you still want the props for the fourth-tier mission?”

If soft tactics failed, it was time for the hard approach. Facing Lord Zi, who was impervious to persuasion, General Huang’s frustration began to show as his face flushed red.

“Damn, I’ve made contributions to the military, and now I can still bring you so much benefit, and this is how you threaten me?

It’s so disheartening, I might as well not bother with this deal at all. I’d be better off heading to the Adventurer’s Guild and posting my own reward for the quest.”

Although it might be slower and somewhat riskier,

I’m not afraid. In the worst case, I’ll die, but I won’t be alone, right?”

Lord Zi was acting like he was unbothered by the ordeal, tilting his head in a defiant manner, resembling a pig not fearing the scalding water.

“…”

General Huang was left speechless, especially by the last thing the young scamp said; it was an outright threat.

Wasn’t it clear that if he died, Shen Yurou would have to join him in death?

“I’m afraid of you, alright? Let’s stick to forty-six; ten Lord’s Hearts it is.”

With no more juice to squeeze, he had no choice but to agree!

Despite putting on a face as if he’d swallowed a bitter pill, deep down, General Huang was elated.

The military had already tested and found that if you could get one Lord’s Heart from a hundred treasure chests using various luck-enhancing items, that was already quite remarkable.

Now, to gain nine additional Lord’s Hearts for free, their value was far more than simply nine times greater.

“Let’s talk about setting up the munitions company. What’s your plan?”

After settling the matter of the treasure chests, naturally, the conversation shifted to another topic.

“Uncle Wang Fu must’ve submitted the paperwork; you’ve all seen it, I expect. I plan to split the munitions company into two segments.

The military of the Great Xia Empire will set the standards and there will be two versions: one for official and military use, and one for regular professionals.

As for the channels to sell these arms, we’ll go straight through the official stores.

The profit distribution will be forty-three-three; Shen Yurou and I will take forty percent.

We’ll be responsible for research and development, production, and material procurement.

The military takes thirty percent, providing some research materials and blueprints, as well as protection and convoy services.

The officials also take thirty percent, responsible for channel sales, providing material procurement channels, and supporting the establishment.”

Giving up a major share of the profits would accelerate the establishment of the munitions company. With the military and officials at the forefront, it would also fend off various troubles.

Zi Liyuan was destined to journey through the Sea of Realms, and the same went for Shen Yurou.

But they needed to cultivate followers who could help them rise swiftly within the Sea of Realms and be loyal and faithful.

To ensure these subordinates would wholeheartedly assist them, their potential worries back home had to be addressed.

The vast profits from the munitions company would allow their families to live comfortably, sufficiently solving this issue.

Besides, having leverage over their families would better ensure their loyalty; after all, the Sea of Realms was full of temptations, including the lure of the Evil God and other influences. For the sake of their families, at least they’d have an extra line of defense in their hearts.

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