Chapter 1457: The Name of Toughness, Reaching an Agreement

Meanwhile, in Seventon.

Having returned to the Arcane Union, Xia Duo had already begun preparing for the upcoming David String experiment. Although not all personnel were in place, Luowei was readily available, making it a perfect time to exchange ideas with him.

Just as the two were deep in pleasant conversation, Xia Duo's expression suddenly changed. The Magic Mark he had left at the Green Vine Tribe in the Langas Plain had been triggered—perhaps by the so-called Moonshadow Family.

With Luowei present, it was inconvenient for Xia Duo to connect with the other party, so he said to Luowei, "I have an urgent matter to attend to. Let's stop here for now and continue once everyone else has arrived!"

After speaking, he hurried away under Luowei's puzzled gaze.

……

After returning to his residence, Xia Duo finally accepted the communication request. A shared Perception Field provided by the Magic Mark connected the human and the Elf, who were in different locations.

Xia Duo could see a majestic-looking Moon Elf Mage standing amidst the ruins he had created not long ago, while the environment he was currently in was also within the other party's perception.

Unlike standard Communication Spells or Magic Net Background Communication, which are entirely based on sending messages back and forth, this was a real-time communication.

One can always deliberate extensively when sending messages privately, but in real-time communication, it is difficult to make too many subtle moves—especially since the Magic Mark Xia Duo left behind contained some interesting little tricks, which would greatly reduce the chance of the other party acting underhandedly.

"Good afternoon, Mage Kalano. I didn't expect us to meet in such a setting!" Xia Duo greeted in standard Elvish.

Upon hearing this, a trace of surprise first appeared on Kalano's face, but he quickly returned to calmness. He calmly replied to Xia Duo with a good afternoon and accurately stated Xia Duo's name as well.

To this, Xia Duo just smiled slightly and went straight to the point: "My citizens of Daxia Territory were conducting normal activities in the Langas Plain, yet they were targeted without cause by the Moonshadow Family. I think Your Excellency should give me an explanation!"

To this, Kalano did not directly refuse, but he threw the question back to Xia Duo: "I wonder what kind of explanation Lord Xia Duo wants?"

What kind of explanation did he want? Xia Duo's request was simple: as long as the Elves did not interfere with his people's activities in the Langas Plain, the other party likely wouldn't agree to anything more.

However, he had never thought Kalano would be so easy to talk to.

Not long ago, just after returning to Seventon, Xia Duo had found a file on Yierlan High Mages from the Arcane Union through Iolum's channels, which included records about Kalano.

There was one sentence in it that left a deep impression on Xia Duo, even without recalling his memories: "Extremely tough externally, never willing to suffer the slightest loss"!

What just happened, even if it were a negotiation strategy, could be considered a concession to some extent, so how could this be called "tough"?

Xia Duo's first reaction was—

Perhaps the secret behind this matter was far greater than he imagined!

That was why an Elf High Mage, known for being consistently tough, was acting particularly restrained even when facing a human Arcanist.

For a moment, Xia Duo didn't want to get involved in this, but many things cannot be avoided; one can only face them head-on.

After thinking for a moment, he made a request he considered relatively reasonable: "I need the Moonshadow Family to compensate for all my losses in this matter."

In any case, it was a matter of asking for the moon and settling for what one could get; Xia Duo didn't care if the other party could accept it. As long as the other party spoke up, he would gain something, and if a great secret really existed, perhaps the other party would agree quite readily.

In fact, his premonition was correct. After hearing his request, Kalano agreed without the slightest hesitation, not even asking for the specific amount of compensation!

With the other party being so easy to talk to, Xia Duo even began to doubt if this was the real Kalano. Since that was the case, he casually threw out a number:

"Let's settle it with 500 pounds of High-Grade Mithril!"

"Agreed."

Kalano still did not refuse, and his attitude showed no resistance either. However, after agreeing to this condition, he also proposed a condition—

"If Lord Xia Duo is willing to keep the Mithril Mine near the Green Vine Tribe a secret, the Moonshadow Family is willing to pay double the price for it."

"Keep the Mithril Mine a secret?" Xia Duo asked suspiciously. Suddenly, he felt uncertain about his previous guess. Could it really be for the Mithril Mine?

How rich must that deposit be!

One must know that Mithril Mines generally coexist with silver and copper mines, and the ratio of raw ore is less than one in a thousand, not to mention the refined Mithril.

500 pounds is not a small amount. Furthermore, Xia Duo had requested High-Grade Mithril; even if the Moonshadow Family had a mine, taking out so much at once would be like cutting off a piece of their own flesh.

Not to mention that the other party promised to pay double, just to have him keep a secret.

It must be said that Xia Duo's confidence in his previous guess was shaken. If there really were some great secret, the other party should be negotiating and stalling for time while eliminating the traces as quickly as possible.

How could they agree to his conditions so easily?

But Kalano reaffirmed his statement and provided some explanation—

"Yes, even in Yierlan, Mithril Mines are extremely rare. Not all Upper Families can own their own Mithril Mine. The Moonshadow Family cannot abandon that Mithril Mine near the Green Vine Tribe.

"If Lord Xia Duo leaks the situation of that Mithril Mine, the Moonshadow Family would still be able to retain ownership and keep a portion of the output.

"It is just that in such a case, Lord Xia Duo would not be able to obtain more benefits than what the Moonshadow Family is offering, and at the same time, you would become an enemy of the Moonshadow Family. I hope Lord Xia Duo will consider this carefully."

Hearing the final threat, Xia Duo felt his judgment waver again. Perhaps the other party wasn't easy to talk to, but the interests were too great to let go.

Could it really just be the Mithril Mine?

Xia Duo still felt there was a problem, but he didn't know where it lay. This feeling was like having a feather inside his heart, scratching and scratching—it was simply maddening.

However, out of rational consideration, he didn't need to pay too much attention to what the Elves were doing in the Langas Plain.

Even if there was a secret, so what? As long as it couldn't be brought to light, or the cost of bringing it to light was too high, it was as good as non-existent.

"Sometimes it's better to be ignorant!"

Xia Duo could only use this piece of ancient Wisdom to comfort himself for the time being. Regarding the exchange condition proposed by Kalano, he considered it and agreed.

"I hope that events similar to this will not happen again in the future!"

"Please rest assured, Lord Xia Duo. There will never be similar incidents again in the future. As members of the Northland Alliance, the friendship between Yierlan and Netheril will last forever, and the Moonshadow Family and Daxia Territory will also have many opportunities for cooperation in the future. Let's treat this as an early introduction!"

After speaking, a smile finally appeared on Kalano's face. "I will send a family Elder to Seventon to handle the handover with Your Excellency later. I hope Your Excellency will have the Sacred Contract prepared."

"No problem, I will wait for them in Seventon!"