Chapter 346: Wanting Both

Luoning and Lord Mailun's discussion lasted for a very long time.

Perhaps because the conversation was pleasant, the other party even enthusiastically invited Luoning to stay for dinner.

When the night grew deep, Luoning finally left by carriage, heading to the inn where the nobles were staying.

Both purposes of this visit had been achieved.

The first was to find a buyer for the timber from Jiliu Island.

Although the price of five gold coins per cubic meter was not very profitable, it was the best method while his strength was currently insufficient.

If he did not cooperate with Mailun, once those pirates attacked his ships, causing damage to the vessels, the death of crew members, and other such accidents, a single loss would be difficult for Luoning to bear.

Biding one's time on the sea was necessary.

Once Luoning's strength grew, he would come back and renegotiate with the other party at that time.

Perhaps, by then, he would not only be able to negotiate the price, but he could also choose his own partners, rather than being limited to the Earl of Screaming Island's family.

The second was to purchase two twenty-meter-long cargo ships and one warship of the same length.

On the market, such a warship sold for five thousand gold coins, and although cargo ships were cheaper, each still cost three thousand gold coins.

After some haggling, Mailun also made concessions—

The warship was sold for four thousand five hundred gold coins, and the two cargo ships were charged only five thousand gold coins, a total discount of one thousand five hundred gold coins.

It was fortunate that Luoning had money now; if it were in the past, he would not have been able to handle paying out nearly ten thousand gold coins at once.

In addition, Luoning requested that the other party deliver the goods—to be successfully docked at the port of Jiliu Island.

He planned to first train a naval force on Jiliu Island, then simultaneously build a simple pier in Wubei Territory, initially realizing the connection between Jiliu Island and Wubei Territory.

As for the Jiliu Island naval force, Luoning prepared to let Kalada take charge.

As someone born in a port city who had also served as a teacher at the Supernatural Academy, Kalada possessed a certain amount of theoretical knowledge in this area.

As for Lisi, once Weituolinuo agreed to let him join Wubei Territory for training, Luoning would arrange for him to be at the Wubei Territory port to cultivate the naval force together with Kalada.

After the leadership was determined, what remained was the recruitment of Professional Knights, soldiers, captains, and sailors.

Weike could be responsible for the captains and sailors, and there would be suitable personnel in Jianjiao City.

The key was the Professional Knights and soldiers.

When Luoning became the master of Jiliu Island, the Wali Knight stationed on the island would naturally leave.

At that time, besides Kalada, only Laen and his four Professional Knight subordinates, who had been brought under his command not long ago, would remain on the island.

So, in the last two days, Luoning had Kalada use his connections to summon his students and friends to join Jiliu Island.

The Fleming Family estate.

Before Luoning arrived, Mailun and Qiaosi had agreed to have pirates blockade Jiliu Island and attack the other party's merchant ships.

It was just unexpected that the two sides were now in a cooperative relationship.

"My Lord, you are now in a cooperative relationship with Luoning, so does the matter we discussed before need to be paused?"

"Of course it needs to be paused."

A smile appeared on Mailun's face unconsciously, "Such a trade is about the same as us controlling Jiliu Island ourselves, and it even saves the trouble of management."

He pondered for Along while, but his tone shifted:

"However, the scale of the pirates still needs to be expanded, and they must be made to linger more on the route between Jiliu Island and Wubei Territory. Once they discover Luoning's ships, they should attack when they should attack, and harass when they should harass."

Qiaosi was stunned for a moment, then revealed an insidious smile: "This subordinate understands. You only protect the trade ships between Luoning and Screaming Island."

Mailun nodded.

He was still counting on this cheap yet high-quality timber to bring him greater benefits, so naturally, he had to protect the safety of the ships Luoning sent to Screaming Island.

However, the transport between Luoning's Wubei Territory and Jiliu Island still fell within the scope of his strikes and suppression.

Cooperation is cooperation, and blockading is blockading; these are two different things.

For the Screaming Sea, having his Fleming family dominate alone was enough.

"Do not tamper with the quality of the ships Luoning purchased; follow the normal transaction."

Mailun instructed; he would not use the Fleming Family's commercial reputation to commit fraud.

"However, we must periodically destroy his ships every two years, so that he has to pay out the money he earned again."

Qiaosi could not help but sigh in his heart; the master he followed really knew how to do business.

The idea that this young Baron Luoning had of earning money from the Fleming Family to develop himself would likely be shattered.

The next morning, Kalada found Luoning.

"My Lord, according to your instructions, I have recruited fifteen people in total this time. This is their list."

Luoning took the parchment, which clearly listed the names and strengths of these people.

Among them were one Bronze Knight, two Advanced Knights, three Intermediate Knights, and nine Primary Knights.

He could not help but praise: "Well done, I didn't expect your connections to be so extensive!"

"I have experienced many twists and turns over the years, and the people I know are also quite complex."

Kalada smiled, "Among these people are partners I have worked with, such as Lusen and Aidan; some are students I have mentored; and others are classmates from my time at the Supernatural Academy. They all come from ordinary families."

Luoning noticed that Lusen was the only Bronze Knight, and Aidan was an Advanced Knight.

Kalada paused and continued: "They have all heard of your reputation and are impressed by your strength, and they are all willing to become your followers. However, the number is a bit high; you should see which ones are more suitable."

"Keep them all, I want them all!"

Luoning said without any hesitation.

"The people on Jiliu Island are either criminals or the descendants of criminals, and the composition of the personnel is very complex. Plus, there is the threat of pirates outside, so I feel more at ease with more people."

With this group from Kalada, plus Laen and the others, there would be twenty-one Professional Knights on Jiliu Island.

In terms of the number of Professional Knights alone, it was already comparable to Luoning's subordinates.

The only disadvantage was that the top combat power was only Kalada, who was comparable to Gold.

"Kalada."

Luoning looked at this Knight of talent who had only recently followed him; although the other party came from humble origins, his character was beyond reproach. After spending time together during this period, he trusted the other party quite a bit.

Now that he had brought so many people he knew well to become his followers, it could be said that his contribution was not small.

"My lord, please give your orders."

Luoning smiled, then said quite solemnly: "I intend to appoint you as the Governor of Jiliu Island, responsible for the island's public security, defense, and transportation."

Kalada was stunned, and then a look of pleasant surprise appeared on his face.

From an ordinary follower to a Governor, this was a very large leap, and he was one step closer to his ideal.

He knelt on one knee, "I will surely do my utmost and not fail your expectations!"

Luoning helped him up.

Next, he gave some instructions regarding the administrative affairs on Jiliu Island.

Potatoes must certainly be planted on a large scale, but attention must be paid to crop rotation to prevent them from catching late blight.

And besides potatoes, the specialty coconuts and cherries on Jiliu Island also needed to be expanded in cultivation.

Of course, these administrative duties were only for Kalada to hold concurrently for the time being; when there was an opportunity, Luoning would have the Administrative Assistant trained by Wilson go to Jiliu Island to preside over the administration.

Kalada's main task was still to be placed on military affairs.

Luoning himself would also periodically go to Jiliu Island to inspect and provide guidance; after all, for him, with Kaierluosi there, this distance was not a problem. (End of chapter)