Lord of Rot

Chapter 180 I won’t let you go if you don’t buy my stuff (page 12)

The caravan arrived faster than Li Qi imagined.

On the second day after Joe's return, six wagons carrying goods arrived at Porcupine Territory.

"Is this the porcupine collar?"

The first carriage stopped, and a bald, fat middle-aged man got out.

"It's completely different from the information I asked about."

According to the news he learned, the Porcupine Territory was poor and dilapidated. There were not many people in the territory, and they were starved of food and clothing.

Look at the porcupine collar in front of them.

At a glance, there must be thousands of serfs working in the fields.

Also, what kind of ground is this under your feet? It feels hard when you step on it, like a stone, but how could there be such a huge stone, with no cracks, and lying flat from the foot to the end of the line of sight.

Patrolling security forces stopped the caravan.

Yesterday, the lord specifically told that a caravan might arrive recently, so the security team had a good attitude and just sent one person to the castle to spread the news.

Soon a young man came over.

"I am Qiao, the commercial steward appointed by the lord." The visitor looked at the bald middle-aged man and asked, "Excuse me, are you from...?"

"I'm Claude." The businessman smiled kindly: "I'm from Donggang City."

"Donggang City?"

Joe was a little surprised. He only knew that his lord sent some soap to Roaring Castle in Eastport City, but it probably couldn't attract a caravan. After all, Joe himself also took soap to Green Forest Castle, but no one cared about it.

If I hadn't brought honey and some agricultural and sideline products with me, my trip would have been in vain.

"Very welcome!" Qiao showed a kind smile. It was definitely a big surprise for the merchants of Donggang City to come. It was the largest trading port in the entire East Gorge, and the merchants were all wealthy.

"My lord is in the castle, please come with me."

"Of course I have to visit the lord first." Claude nodded. No matter how big a businessman he is, he must be polite to the noble lord, not to mention that he is here for business this time.

On the way to Porcupine Castle, Claude couldn't help but ask: "Sir Qiao, what kind of stone is this under our feet? I have never seen such a flat ground."

Is there no smoother ground than this? No, Claude's own small manor had flat stone floors, and to be fair, the ground in the Porcupine Territory did not count as a certificate.

But it's one piece.

Could it be magic?

The scholars demanded high prices, and Claude boasted that he was extremely wealthy, so he was reluctant to waste money on hiring scholars to pave the ground.

"It was Lord Li Qi's invention. This is called cement floor," Joe said with some pride. Li Qi was definitely the greatest lord he had ever heard of and seen.

"I have heard the legendary stories, sir," Claude said, "I'm afraid this is the wisdom given by the four gods."

Although he couldn't understand what the cement floor was.

Walking further inside, the rows of red brick houses once again stunned Claude.

Rows of houses built with red flat square stone bricks?

Living in a stone house in Donggang City is nothing, but what kind of place is this? This is a barren porcupine collar.

The flat ground, neat houses, and people coming and going with smiles on their faces. If he hadn't seen the towering city walls, Claude would have mistakenly thought that he had not gone to the Porcupine Territory, but had entered the Iron Stone City.

"That's a residential area." Joe is happy to introduce Porcupine Collar to outsiders. This is a good opportunity to change the outside world's perception of poverty in Porcupine Collar: "Civilians will move in in two days."

"Lord Li Qi is so kind."

Li Qi was indeed very merciful in solving the housing problem for his people, more merciful than ninety-nine percent of the lords.

Merchants like to do business in the territories of benevolent lords. Lawful and good means safety, and they can trade with more confidence.

They chatted and came to Porcupine Castle.

Claude asked curiously along the way, and Joe would explain it in a simple way. As for the deeper principles, Joe didn't know. On the one hand, he couldn't explain it in detail. It was all confidential.

"Everyone has a job."

Claude was shocked.

Beggars are still inevitable in the wealthy Donggang City, but there are no beggars in Porcupine Territory!

"Everyone needs to work here," Joe said. "No one will starve to death as long as they are willing to work."

Are those beggars begging because they don’t want to work?

If on earth, yes, yes, it’s because you don’t want to work, and you can make more money by begging.

But in this era, beggars will be taken away for no apparent reason and used as slaves. They may be taken away to test drugs, or used to replace death row prisoners. Being a beggar is not a safe job. You really can’t survive unless you can’t find a job. Only people have to be beggars.

Claude had received enough shocks.

Enter Porcupine Castle.

Following Joe, Claude met the Porcupine Baron, Reacher Clarence.

A handsome young aristocratic young man.

The first thing Claude thought of was Philip Cavendish, the Midnight Sun of Eastport City. They were also very handsome and put a lot of pressure on people.

"Good day, sir!" Claude's etiquette was impeccable: "I am a businessman from Donggang City, Claude."

He took out a box: "This is a gift for the first meeting."

The small gift box was delivered to Li Qi by the male servant.

It is a dagger inlaid with gems. The price is about tens of silver moons. Its decorative significance is greater than its actual combat effect.

"Mr. Claude, you are welcome to the porcupine collar." Li Qi nodded with satisfaction: "Please sit down."

"Thank you."

Claude came down and walked with Joe from the moment he entered the Porcupine Collar until they reached the Porcupine Collar. He was already fat and puffy, and now he was tired and panting slightly.

A footman came carrying something.

"This is this?" Claude looked at the few small balls in the quilt in confusion. He could feel the amazing coolness.

Looking at Li Qi again, he seemed to have a cup next to him.

"Ice cream." Li Qi raised his hand and said, "Try it. It's refreshing and relieves the heat. It's a specialty of the porcupine collar."

"Yes"

Claude picked up the spoon, took a spoonful and put it into his mouth.

So cool!

The coolness exploded from my stomach and crawled up my spine.

Not only is it cool, but it also has a rich sweetness that leaves a fragrance on your lips and teeth.

Claude was also in a hurry and finished the ice cream in a few mouthfuls, but he was still a little unfinished.

But after eating, he noticed something was wrong.

What did he just eat? ice!

There is ice in Donggang City, and Claude himself has a small ice cellar. He spent a lot of money on that small ice cellar.

Porcupine collar can actually eat ice at will, and there is such delicious ice cream. If anyone tells him that porcupine collar is poor in the future, he will definitely tear the other person's mouth to pieces.

"How does it taste?" Li Qi asked.

"A rare delicacy!" Claude nodded hastily, he meant it sincerely.

"As long as you like it." Li Qi ordered Qiao on the side: "Qiao, take Mr. Claude to the business district."

"Mr. Claude, if you have any business issues, you can talk to Joe."