Episode 321: 1 Gold Is Enough (2)
Exclusive Distribution Rights to the World Tree Leaf.
Because this was an item Lord Azonne had his eyes on, no one had yet dared raise a bid to claim the right of first negotiation.
If things continued as they were, the deal likely wouldn't go through until Dark Sales ended.
I needed a small catalyst to shift the balance in this deal.
"The condition for the 1 gold is simple."
It was to add 1 gold to the bidding for exclusive rights, using the name of the Lenon Workshop.
I chose the Lenon Workshop as my catalyst.
“...Ugh…”
As soon as he heard the condition, Italus let out a groan and held his forehead.
"What’s wrong? Is 1 gold too expensive?"
"I don’t even have the strength for word games anymore, let’s stop that..."
He instantly grasped Alex’s intent.
"You're trying to lure in competitors to raise the value..."
And whoever entered the competition would become an enemy of Azonne.
This wasn’t merely about 1 gold—it was a decision that could determine the fate of a family.
He wanted to refuse, but the card offered earlier by the World Tree Union was too powerful.
Lochter Felice.
A person who could be brought over for the most expensive 1 gold in one’s life.
If he could become the shield of the family, even Azonne wouldn't be able to act carelessly.
That’s how powerful a card Lochter was—enough to persuade even the bloodline elders.
"Don’t tell me you baited this whole deal from the beginning?"
If he had offered Lochter Felice as a shield in advance to secure this very outcome, then this man was not someone to become enemies with.
A person who could wield both carrot and stick on the same negotiation—
Even Azonne wouldn’t be able to manipulate him this thoroughly.
"Have I ever been so completely outmaneuvered in a negotiation before?"
It felt like every card the family had prepared had been laid bare,
Perfectly.
‘At least the result isn’t the worst possible one.’
Attaching Lochter Felice to the family was a silent signal that the World Tree Union wouldn’t just use the Lenon Workshop, But also protect it.
Italus let out a sigh and rose from his seat.
This was a decision that would place him at odds with Azonne.
It wasn’t something he could answer right away. He needed time to speak with the bloodline and persuade them.
"I'll consider it and give you an answer."
"By tomorrow."
“...Tomorrow?"
"Until exactly noon, before I receive the next volume of the Dark Sales catalog. If the bid for the item I proposed doesn’t list 1 gold, I’ll consider the negotiation void."
"That’s too tight. Give me more time."
I looked at Italus and shook my head.
"It’s not such a heavy decision. One day should be enough."
"...You're saying it’s not a heavy decision?"
"Isn’t it simple? Azonne will eventually bare his fangs at the Lenon Workshop. So will you wait and deal with the aftermath, or strike first and move preemptively? What more is there to think about?"
"Give it some thought and reply tomorrow."
I turned my gaze and quietly sipped my tea.
Italus stared at me in silence, then bit his lip, turned, and left the reception room.
He looked like he was staggering a bit—should I have supported him?
“You had a rough day, huh.”
Even if it was just verbal negotiation, being the representative of a major power came with enormous psychological pressure.
In my case, I already knew all of his cards, so there was no burden.
From Italus’s perspective, he’d just been driven into a corner and beaten senseless.
A day should be enough to regain his composure.
"Lochter, would you like to have dinner?"
"...I won’t refuse."
Lochter looked over the mess of the table and shook his head.
Ah. Was it too dirty?
When I asked for water to wash hands, the attendants brought out a small basin.
As I washed, I asked Lochter,
“But doesn’t it bother you?”
“What does?”
“That you’re protecting this place for just 1 gold.”
“I checked the training grounds earlier. They’re decent. That’s enough.”
“You really have no interest in money, huh. I wish Fenry was more like you.”
“There’s no need to worry about money when I’m with you.”
...Did he think of me as a walking purse?
Since I’d been paying with Fenry’s coin pouch, I supposed that wasn’t a crazy assumption.
"I plan to rest in my room."
"Then I’ll drop by the training grounds for a bit."
Lochter’s “a bit” wasn’t literal—he would probably stay there all night.
After parting with Lochter on the first floor, I returned to my room.
I threw myself on the bed.
The softness was truly comforting.
I opened the catalog that listed the slave merchant groups.
Scanning the ones marked with red lines, I paused in thought.
‘If I can bring the Lenon Workshop to our side, some of these red-marked groups will follow.’
My plan was to use the Lenon Workshop as the public face to persuade the major slave trading groups.
If I could sway more than half of the influential slave groups, extracting other races from Aintrier wouldn’t be that difficult.
"If all goes well, this might go smoother than expected."
As I closed the catalog, I thought of Notura.
An old man who’d drifted in among the vagrants, but he’d proven to be a great help to the plan.
He’d marked which groups to focus on in red, and his advice had been insightful.
‘I might have just the position for Notura.’
I smiled and stood, looking out the window.
Night had fallen, and one by one, the lights in the mansion were going out.
The two places that stayed lit past dawn were Lochter’s private training ground and the study where the Lenon Workshop's patriarch stayed.
They were probably holding an all-night meeting over the day’s negotiation.
"Looks like someone’s not sleeping tonight."
Having many heads to think is an advantage, but aligning opinions takes serious mental effort.
Perhaps it was because the family’s future was on the line—
The patriarch’s window stayed lit until morning.
I closed my eyes and leaned back against the bed.
I didn’t need to sleep, but I needed to cool my head.
While resting in a daze, Reto spoke.
[The Curse of Petrification has been fully decoded.]
At that, I furrowed my brows.
So that’s why Reto had been so quiet—it had still been analyzing the curse?
"Now? I didn’t feel any major issues physically, though?"
[That’s because you weren’t in a battle. Your recovery efficiency had dropped significantly. Didn’t I warn you? The more you use the gauntlet’s power, the more the curse accumulates. What I’ve decoded is the petrification curse that built up over the past three days.]
"Ah..."
The accumulated curse from those three days of training with Lochter while wearing the Iron Fist of Parthe.
So that lingering effect had lasted until now?
If I kept using it carelessly, I’d be in trouble later.
[But it’s a necessary power for you. Now, you just need one more thing.]
“One more? What is it?”
[A vessel.]
A vessel?
Was he referring to physical training?
[A human body has its limits.]
More likely, he meant expanding my list of Divine Names.
‘A Divine Name, huh.’
I closed my eyes again.
While everyone else slept, I didn’t. I visualized what needed to be done, playing through the novel’s events in my head.
It was a habit I’d developed recently—ever since getting involved with Aintrier and Prime Root, it had proven increasingly necessary.
My unique ability.
Were the main novel chapters currently all revolving around Aintrier?
Chapter 2 was Demtor, Chapter 3 was Aintrier, and Chapter 4 focused on Prime Root.
And I’d realized something while experiencing Aintrier.
Each chapter took place in different locations, But their timelines were all synchronized.
‘In other words, all the events are organically connected by cause and effect…’
The current actions of the villains were setting up the main events of future chapters.
And I was witnessing it in real time.
‘The major villains of each chapter have already appeared.’
Chapter 3: Azonne Vistas.
Chapter 4: Spider Queen Azolett.
The only one yet to appear was the true leader of Prime Root—the Sword Demon.
I was focused on up to Chapter 4.
‘If Chapter 5 starts, it’ll be too late to stop the destruction.’
Before that, I had to deal with Hell Grime.
How should I proceed?
I hadn’t found the answer yet.
How much time had passed?
Click—
At the sound of the door opening, I slowly opened my eyes.
Peeking through the door was a cute little girl.
It was Märchen, the granddaughter of the Lenon patriarch.
“What brings you here, little lady?”
“...This.”
On the plate Märchen brought was a sandwich set, like a hotel breakfast.
Huh? Morning already?
Looking out the window, the sun had already risen over the horizon.
Time had flown by while I’d been deep in thought.
“Did your father ask you to bring this?”
When she nodded, I let out a quiet laugh.
I had a feeling why she’d been sent.
It was an obvious tactic, but to a parent, using their daughter might be a desperate measure.
"I’ll enjoy it. Here’s a tip."
I slipped a single leaf between two fingers into her pocket.
Checking it, Märchen smiled brightly and bowed her head.
“How’s your condition?”
“I’ve been sleeping well lately.”
“Any pain?”
“Hmm... Sometimes I feel a cold chill deep in my bones, but it’s much better now.”
“May I check your hands?”
I took her small hands for a moment.
‘Cold as stone…’
They didn’t feel like a child’s hands—if I’d closed my eyes, I’d think I was touching a corpse.
Though she’d been healed with Sacred Power, the curse clearly hadn’t been fully lifted.
She’d need consistent treatment.
I watched as Märchen gave a polite bow and hurried out the door.
"Reto."
[That is indeed the energy of the Frost Lord.]
"But Lyon Martrein, the owner of the heart, definitely died in the Ordor Forest."
Come to think of it, I hadn’t checked the Frost Lord’s heart that had been engraved on Lyon’s body.
Leaving it to the witches to handle had been a mistake.
‘I’ll need to go back and check it myself.’
With that task firmly etched in my mind, I stood from my seat.
Looking outside, the sun was at its zenith.
It was nearly time for the promised meeting with Italus.
Ding—
I rang the bell, and the attendants approached politely.
"Could you deliver a letter for me?"
Through the attendant, I sent a letter to the estate.
Exactly at noon, a carriage from the Lenon Workshop arrived.
The new guest stepped out and immediately came to my room.
"Lord Alex, I’ve been waiting for your summons."
"May I see the catalog?"
The golden-masked man nodded and politely handed me the book.
The Dark Sales catalog had undergone many changes.
I flipped through it without hesitation, looking for one listing in particular.
Exclusive Distribution Rights to the World Tree Leaf — [1G]
The world’s most expensive 1 gold had officially been placed as the auction price.
Thankfully, the first step had been taken smoothly.