Chapter 35: Additional Conditions

The next day.

Luo De and Dixiya arrived at Duoli's manor on time.

After yesterday's explanation.

Dixiya now knows why Luo De needs to borrow money.

Her complexion is no longer as grim as before.

Today she came along mainly to see how much money Luo De's Vision could fetch.

Unlike when she came yesterday,

When she came to Duoli's room again today, on her bedside, in the most conspicuous spot, there sat an exquisitely crafted box.

Duoli herself was currently holding a music box, legs crossed, wearing an expression of enjoyment as she listened to the sound coming from inside.

That is a very special music box.

Unlike traditional music boxes,

the structure of this music box is not a mechanical one that can play music by itself.

Through its transparent shell one can see

inside is a pile of complex tracks, with an opening not too large that can just fit a Mora.

Exactly.

It's a Mora.

This music box, which Duoli treasures,

is activated by throwing a gleaming Mora into it.

As the Mora rolls back and forth along the tracks, the clinking sounds combine into a lilting tune.

A melody can be formed solely from the collisions of the Mora and the tracks.

It sounds unbelievable.

But it really is like that.

Both Luo De and Dixiya think so.

Theoretically a monotonous sound, yet it sounds pleasant to hear.

If we draw an analogy,

it's roughly like playing a tune by tapping a calculator.

Duoli is obviously enjoying herself.

Even though Luo De and Dixiya had been standing before her for half a day, she only noticed they had arrived when the music ended.

"Yo, you're punctual."

"Sangge Mahabayi sir likes guests like you the most."

Duoli, still with an expression of lingering enjoyment, clapped her hands and then handed over a piece of paper beside her: "Here, this is the generous Sangge Mahabayi sir's appraisal of you; it could have been higher, but since you're a desert dweller, if you can't repay the debt, wouldn't I be losing big?"

Duoli's words were heartless.

Upon seeing the numbers on the loan contract, Luo De and Dixiya's pupils contracted in unison.

One million Mora.

This is the amount of money Duoli can lend to Luo De.

The repayment period is five years.

"Originally,"

"borrowing here requires monthly repayments on schedule."

"But I see you don't have the ability to make monthly repayments."

"So the kind and benevolent Sangge Mahabayi sir has decided to change your repayment method to a single lump‑sum payment of principal and interest after five years."

"Of course."

"If you earn money in the meantime, you can also repay me early, but you still have to pay the interest, and it must still be settled in one lump sum after the five‑year term."

After explaining the repayment method clearly, Duoli tossed another money into the music box and continued to enjoy the sound of the money colliding.

This sound is Duoli's favorite sound in her life.

Only here, with outsiders present,

if she were in her own Aierkasa Zalai Palace, she would surely be dancing to this music.

One million Mora.

In the rainforest region, that's not considered a large number.

but in the desert region, this sum can truly be described as astronomical.

For example,

the Tanit Tribe's Babel,

after she slaughtered the tribe's elders who opposed her and became chieftain, she set her heart on uniting all the desert tribes, hoping to revive the glory of Ju'er City's unification of the desert.

Such an ambitious warlord who also rules the desert's strongest tribe,

how much savings does she have?

a mere two hundred thousand Mora.

This is all the wealth the Tanit Tribe's matriarch has amassed through deceit and wrongdoing.

From this we can see

the weight of one million Mora in the desert region

Whether Luo De is satisfied or not, at least Dixiya feels that Duoli's willingness to lend this much Mora is already the utmost benevolence and righteousness.

Moreover, judging from Duoli's words,

If it weren't for worrying that lending out too much at once would leave Luo De unable to repay, that Vision could even be mortgaged for more money.

"Five years later, repay the principal and interest in one lump sum clearly."

Duo Li was willing to lend Luo De one million Mora, and Dixiya was very happy; after all, one million Mora should be enough for Luo De's plan.

But this five-year-later lump-sum repayment of principal and interest.

If Luo De cannot repay.

"If he can't repay, then Master Sang Ge Ma Ha Ba Yi won't be so easy to talk to."

Duo Li, who seemed to have been listening to the music box all along, interjected a sentence.

This is also what Dixiya worries about most.

Wanting to earn that much Mora in the desert is not an easy thing.

But the person making the decision is ultimately Luo De.

Even if Dixiya feels this loan contract is dangerous for him, she cannot make the decision for Luo De.

Soon.

Luo De's decision was made.

"Yes."

"But."

"I still have some conditions."

Upon hearing this,

Duo Li's hand movement paused, her eyelids slightly lifted, she changed her previous tone, and spoke in a slightly cold voice: "Desert folk, don't go too far~~"

"It's not really that excessive."

Luo De chuckled and said: "I want a permit to cultivate flowing sand eels."

"Huh?"

Duo Li's face showed a hint of doubt: "What do you need it for?"

In response, Luo De's answer was just one word: "Raise."

"Raise?"

"In A Ru Cun?"

Duo Li then asked: "How do you know I have a permit to cultivate flowing sand eels?"

"If a merchant like you doesn't have this permit, who else could?"

Luo De's tone shifted, he put on a helpless expression, and wryly said: "You've also seen my plan; livestock breeding is an important part of it, and the flowing sand eel is the most suitable economic organism for desert farming, but this is strictly controlled by the Academy, and only those they permit can farm and sell it, so that's why I want a farming permit."

Then.

He again emphasized with a stronger tone: "I just want a permit, and I don't plan to borrow more money from you; if the flowing sand eel farming succeeds, you'll get a stable supply channel for sand fat cocoons from A Ru Cun; if it fails, I'll bear the loss myself, and you won't lose much."

It sounds like a very profitable deal.

Duo Li agreed without thinking too much.

It's just a farming permit; she has plenty of them, giving one to Luo De is no problem.

However, what Duo Li didn't expect was.

After proposing this additional condition, Luo De then mentioned several other things.

Chick hatchlings, mushroom piglets, date palm saplings, various crop seeds that can grow in desert regions, some of which are not produced in Xu Mi and must be imported from abroad, as well as the indispensable Fertility Blessing.

As for the purchase funds, they will be deducted directly from Luo De's one-million loan.

Just helping with the procurement.

Duo Li also agreed.

"The price will follow my side's pricing, any objections?"

"No objections."

"The needed items are quite a lot; can they be delivered in half a month?"

"No problem."

"Well then, let me calculate, uh, erm, oh, there's still 719421 Mora left; do you want to come check the account?"

"I trust your calculation."

"Alright, I'll give you the account, the contract is settled, the money is here, take it."

After taking out some Mora from the box, Duo Li handed over both the account and the Mora to Luo De.

This loan contract was thus also completed.

(End of chapter)