TFA2 1.5 - Delicious Offer

Lt. Colonel Slane's Office

08:30, 28 Sept 2025

Count Weizz, Viscount Olrig, and Viscount Yelk. The three leaders of Northern Coalition came to meet Lt. Colonel Slane to convey a complaint.

Count Weizz carefully opened the talk, "Sir Slane, if Amethyst Merchant opens an official trade relationship with other Regions around Desolate Land's entrance, they would buy the commodities to Amethyst Merchant directly, along with the sales of Nouel."

With a tone as careful as Count Weizz, Viscount Olrig added, "Therefore, Northern Coalition will lose a massive income. It was unfair for us after we helped market and promote Amethyst Merchant's commodities."

Viscount Yelk also stated his opinion, "Actually, we don't mind if the purchase is done on a small scale by Nobles who were visiting Magwurt City. However, we oppose large purchase. Moreover, Sir Slane asks us not to charge any taxes for nobles and commodities that pass through our territory."

"I understand your objection." Lt. Colonel Slane slightly nodded as he smiled.

It could be said Amethyst Merchant was more than capable in suppressing Northern Coalition. Moreover, their role in marketing Amethyst Merchant's commodities was not as big as they thought. But in the long-term, maintaining good relations with Northern Coalition would also useful for Amethyst Merchant and TF Amethyst.

"I'll be frank," Lt. Colonel Slane said casually, "I want to rid your role as a middle party because I need to suppress the price so the volume of transaction would increase."

"""Sir Slane!"""

In a flash, despair filled the face of Northern Coalition's leaders, but Lt. Col. Slane ignored it.

"In return," Lt. Colonel Slane said, still in his casual tone, "I will give Northern Coalition other sources of income."

"Other sources of income?" Count Weizz asked with a puzzled face.

"Yes, Amethyst Merchant intends to open a factory of vegetable oil, sesame oil, and such."

In an instant, the three leaders of Northern Coalition dropped their jaws.

It was natural because the oils that Amethyst Merchants introduced were luxurious commodities in culinary art, and now they had even become one of exclusive commodities monopolized by the nobles.

Coincidentally, to restore the potential of Nouel Farmland, the Nouel's planting must be interspersed with corn, soybeans, peanuts, and sesame, where all these commodities were the main ingredients of vegetable oil, sesame oil, and such.

"Sir Slane, you are not joking right?" Viscount Olrig nervously said.

"I don't. Amethyst Merchant also plans to open a factory of Amur Beer and Lada Whiskey in Northern Coalition's Territories. We need it as right now we have Kingdom of Buriek as a huge customer."

While the three leaders of Northern Coalition deeply sank in a trance, Lt. Colonel Slane handed over a number of documents.

"The details are in this document. Basically, it's pretty similar with the proposal I gave to Tuscan Region. Please study them carefully before you make the final decision."

"We will."

"And this," Lt. Colonel Slane handed over another document as he continued, "is my proposal to build a high road that will connect all Regions around Desolate Land’s entrance with Magwurt City. We will build it for free, but every region must bear the maintenance cost.

We build this high road for economic and trade purposes, but for a Regions that are worried we will use it as a means of military mobilization, they can reject this proposal.

Of course, in the future Amethyst Merchant will only build a factory in Regions that are connected to Magwurt City. Please help me to communicate this project."

"""We will,""" The three leaders of Northern Coalition firmly replied.

"Thank you." Lt. Colonel Slane smiled widely before continuing, "And please remember, when there is a meat pie, Amethyst Merchant will happily share it to anyone who helped to secure it."

"""We understood."""

Without Delay, the three leaders of Northern Coalition then said their goodbye. They just got a very sweet proposal, so they couldn't wait to study it.

'Phew... I still have a meeting with Pavel Terrek,' Lt. Colonel Slane muttered as he hurried to the Main Meeting Room.

Yesterday afternoon, while crying tragically, Osvik told him that Pavel would come as Merry Gold Union's representative, so Lt. Colonel Slane had made some preparations.

---

Main Meeting Room, Amethyst Merchant Marketing Complex.

09:20, 28 Sept 2025

Other than Yuuna, every member of the group from Walluo City had visited Magwurt City, so they all already had a passport to enter Magwurt City. As for Yuuna, Rutim had received special instructions from Lt. Colonel Slane, so Yuuna's registration process was completed in a few minutes. Yuuna even had a chance to take a photo with Pavel.

The group from Walluo City was then taken to Amethyst Merchant's marketing office, while some of their bodyguards took their luggage to their room at Mapple Palace.

Once he entered the meeting room, Lt. Colonel Slane immediately approached the group from Walluo City, who was sitting on the couch while enjoying some snacks.

Wasting no time, Lt. Colonel Slane said, "Viscount Pavel, Brother Osvik, Lady Yuuna, and the Three Maester, welcome to Magwurt City. It's my honor to have you all as my guest."

"Sir Slane, the honor is ours," Pavel replied as he stood up and shook Lt. Colonel Slane's hand.

"Brother Slane, please don't treat us as if we are strangers," Osvik said before hugging Lt. Colonel Slane.

"Understood." Lt. Col. Slane smiled before shaking hands with Yuuna and the Three Maester.

Wasting no time, Pavel then handed over a small wooden box to Lt. Colonel Slane, "Sir Slane, please allow me to apologize for the misunderstanding that had happened between you and my father."

"Please, don't worry about it. It's just a small thing in the past, and please conveys my greetings for Count Terrek."

"I will."

Without the slightest of guilt that the misunderstanding mentioned by Pavel was actually never happened, Lt. Colonel Slane checked the item in the small wooden box, and a thin smile immediately bloomed in his lips. At the same time, relief filled Pavel's heart.

"Well then, I'll get straight to the point." As he sat down, Lt. Colonel Slane continued, "I believe Merry Gold Union already knew what kind of commodities that Amethyst Merchant has or needed.

I'll just emphasize that Amethyst Merchant will buy copper ore no matter how big or small the quantity."

Pavel replied calmly, "Yes, I have already heard it from the Three Maester. Fortunately, Merry Gold Union has full control over copper mine in Horak and Norville Region, so it's not a big deal.

We will easily move copper ore from the two regions to Joker Trading Post, and I come specifically to talk about the details."

"I see. I'm glad to hear that."

"It's just," Pavel paused for a moment before continuing, "In the list of commodities that I received from the Three Maester it doesn’t mention about iron ore.

Considering that Kingdom of Buriek just moved the flow of iron ore to Amethyst Merchant, can we barter with copper ore?"

"No, I'm sorry we can’t do that. Amethyst Merchant won't do the barter no matter what."

In an instant, the Three Maester's expression became stiff, but Pavel calmly asked, "Sir Slane, can you please explain the reason?"

"It's Amethyst Merchant policy. We don’t sell raw material. In case of iron ore, we will only sell steel alloy, semi processed material per request, standard construction component, or fully finished product."

"How about pig iron?"

"We will sell some pig iron only to Kingdom of Buriek."

With a serious tone Pavel said, "Sir Slane, the termination of iron ore supply to Kingdom of Makai will cause turmoil, and it's not a good environment for business, unless short-term gain without any care to the future gain is our objective."

"I am fully aware about the potential for the turmoil, but Kingdom of Buriek only provides 40% of Amstell Continent’s iron ore need. So, the turmoil that arises will not paralyze Kingdom of Makai's economy, even though some big players in the construction business will go bankrupt.

Still in a casual tone, Lt. Colonel Slane continued, "As for Merry Gold Union, you only need to make a price adjustment and maybe lose a few customers, but it will not affect Merry Gold Union in a bigger scheme."

"I see." Pavel then paused for almost two minutes before asked, "What if Merry Gold Union refused to sell copper ore to Amethyst Merchant unless the payment is using iron ore?"

After a casual smile, Lt. Colonel Slane replied, "What if Amethyst Merchant offered a proposal to open a factory of various BBQ sauce, paper & pencils, tissue, garment, black beer in the level of Amur Beer, and several other factories in Kandez Region?"

Osvik and the Three Maester immediately dropped their jaws, while Pavel could not hide the deep shock in his heart. No one predicted the ambush launched by Lt. Colonel Slane, so their calculation went out of the window in a matter of a split second.

It's no secret that every Amethyst Merchant's commodities were a high-end product. So, having access to its factory was no different from having a gold mine.

"Big Bro Slane, are you serious with your offer?" Osvik tremblingly asked.

"I'm. Kandez Region has abundant raw material, while Amethyst Merchant has the technology. So, why don't we combine it?" Lt. Colonel Slane happily smiled before continuing, "I also already prepared the proposal. Merry Gold Union can choose one or all factories that I offer after studying it."

"How big is the percentage of ownership that can be held by Merry Gold Union?" Pavel asked.

"No more than 30%, and Amethyst Merchants hold full power over the management of each factory."

"I see." Pavel slightly nodded and then continued, "Sir Slane, Merry Gold Union will open a branch office in Magwurt City."

"Then, I will gladly help you take care of the administration procedure.”

"Thank you."

"No problem."

Actually, it was Lt. Colonel Slane who actually had to thank Pavel, as the more Amethyst Merchant's commodities were produced locally, the shipping quota from earth would become smaller. Therefore, in addition to cutting the costs, the risk of Amstell Continent’s exposure would also decrease.

Of course, Lt. Colonel Slane would never say it to his guests.

*****