Chapter 170: A Successful Transaction! Roko's Path of Hope!

Finally, at dusk on the second day, they walked out of the dense fog of the Black Mist Mountains.

When the warm sunlight once again spilled upon them.

Everyone had a feeling as if they had returned from another world.

Outside the mountains, in that agreed-upon hilly area.

A caravan consisting of over a dozen carriages had already been waiting for a long time.

At the lead was a fat merchant who looked very shrewd.

He was the business partner Martina had contacted in advance through her connections in the Commercial Alliance.

"Master Roko!"

Seeing Roko and his party, the fat merchant immediately greeted them with a face full of smiles.

"You have finally arrived! Master Silas had long since instructed that your business is our Commercial Alliance's business!"

"Was the journey smooth?"

"It was smooth enough."

Roko nodded with a calm expression.

Naturally, he would not speak of the ambush and the dragon they had encountered in the mountains.

"Have you brought the goods?"

"Brought them! Brought them!"

The fat merchant hurriedly waved his hand.

The workers behind him immediately lifted the tarpaulins on the carriages.

One could see that every carriage was filled with bags of snow-white table salt stacked neatly, bolts of brightly colored fabric, and various precious medicinal herbs.

"Very good."

Roko nodded with satisfaction.

"Our goods are here as well."

He likewise waved his hand.

The soldiers behind him moved out the Strong Liquor and weapons they had brought.

When the fat merchant saw the Strong Liquor stored in the exquisite wooden barrels and smelled the aroma that made his very soul tremble.

His eyes went straight in an instant.

"Heavens! Is—is this the legendary 'Vanguard Valley Flame' that can make even dwarves go crazy?"

He couldn't wait to open a barrel and taste a small sip.

The next second, an expression of intoxication appeared on his face.

The transaction proceeded exceptionally smoothly.

It could even be said that Roko got a massive bargain.

In order to obtain this Strong Liquor, the fat merchant gave all the supplies he had brought to Roko at a price that was practically half-sold and half-gifted.

Both sides were overjoyed.

When the transaction was completed and they were preparing to embark on the return journey.

Roko did something that caught everyone by surprise.

He pulled Zewen aside and whispered a few words to him.

Then, Zewen took the dozen or so best hunters under his command and returned to the Black Mist Mountains silently once again.

No one knew what they went to do.

Until the next morning, when they appeared again.

Each person had a bulging, heavy sack strapped to their back.

They threw the sacks in front of Roko.

The mouths of the sacks opened.

In an instant!

A burst of dazzling golden light almost blinded everyone's eyes.

One could see that the sacks were actually filled with golden coins and colorful gemstones!

"Th—this is..."

Hart was dumbfounded.

"Shh."

Roko made a 'quiet' gesture, a sly smile appearing on his face.

"This is the 'toll' that dragon paid us."

"Consider it compensation for the mental distress of risking our lives crossing its territory this time."

Everyone was stunned.

They never dreamed that Roko's boldness would reach such a level!

He actually sent people to steal the dragon's treasure!

Although this bit of loot was not even a drop in the bucket compared to that mountain of treasure.

But this was pulling teeth from a tiger's mouth!

And he had succeeded!

This Master is simply a madman!

A madman who is daring enough to defy the heavens and has luck that is off the charts!

Loaded with supplies and wealth, the caravan embarked on the journey back to Vanguard Valley.

A few days later.

When the people of Vanguard Valley saw the endless caravan, laden with cart after cart of table salt and cloth, slowly driving into the city.

The entire Vanguard Valley was in an uproar!

All the rumors collapsed without being attacked!

All the panic vanished into thin air!

Their Master, the Lord, had not lied to them!

He had truly solved all the problems!

"Long live the Lord!"

"Long live Master Roko!"

Cheers like a mountain landslide and a tsunami resounded throughout the entire Vanguard Valley!

Roko's prestige reached an unprecedented peak at this moment!

And this news also spread like a gust of wind to the Sunset Province.

The Governor's Mansion.

"Bang!"

After hearing the secret agent's report, Marquis Archibald was so angry that he smashed the precious rosewood desk in front of him to pieces with one punch!

Veins bulged on his face, and his expression was as ferocious as a demon!

"What did you say?!"

"The Blood Wolf Mercenary Group, completely wiped out?!"

"That Roko not only walked out of the Black Mist Mountains unscathed, but also brought back mountains of supplies and treasures?!"

"Yes... yes, Master Marquis—"

The secret agent knelt on the ground, trembling with fear.

"Impossible! This is absolutely impossible!"

Archibald roared crazily in the study.

He could not accept this fact!

The double-kill trap he had meticulously planned was actually broken by that brat just like that?

And it was broken so thoroughly!

The elite mercenary group he sent had vanished into thin air!

The trade blockade he was so proud of had become a huge joke!

He, Marquis Archibald, Governor of the Sunset Province, one of the most powerful men in the west!

Was actually played in the palm of the hand by a brat from a remote province!

This was a supreme humiliation!

"Uncle, Uncle, please calm your anger—"

Engels advised tremblingly from the side.

"Get out!"

Archibald kicked him over to the ground.

"It's all because of you, this piece of trash! If it weren't for you provoking that bane, how would I have ended up in this state today!"

He vented all his fury on his nephew, who was good for nothing.

He smashed and threw things crazily in the study, venting.

Until he was exhausted.

Only then did he slowly calm down.

It was just that his eyes had become colder and more terrifying than before.

He stared fixedly at the east, the direction of Vanguard Valley.

"Roko—"

He enunciated the name word by word, as if he wanted to swallow him alive.

"You are very good."

"You have successfully angered me."

He slowly sat back down on the only remaining chair.

"Since conventional means cannot deal with you."

"Then don't blame me for not following the rules."

He shouted coldly toward the outside of the door.

"Someone come."

An old man wearing butler attire walked in silently.

"Master Marquis, what are your orders?"

"Go, send a message to the Poison Scorpion Society."

Archibald said in a hoarse voice.

"Tell them, I will double the price we discussed before."

"I only have one requirement."

"I want Rocco Raymond to die."

At any cost.

A flash of surprise crossed the Butler's eyes, but he still lowered his head respectfully.

"Yes, Master."

"And one more thing."

Archibald added.

"Prepare a most generous gift."

"And send an envoy who is the most eloquent."

"Go to Vanguard Valley."

"Oh?"

The Butler was somewhat puzzled.

"Are we... going to—?"

A sinister smile curled at the corners of Archibald's mouth.

"Of course, to go and offer our congratulations and apologies to our brave and fearless Master Rocco."

"And by the way, discuss 'cooperation' with him."

Vanguard Valley ushered in an unprecedented wave of development.

That secret trade route crossing the Black Mist Mountains was named "Hope Road" by Rocco.

It was like a powerful artery, continuously transporting the blood needed for survival to this barren land.

Table salt, cloth, medicinal herbs, iron ore—

Various strategic materials that had once been choked off by the three western provinces.

Now, they were all being transported back through this invisible lifeline.

And the Strong Liquor produced in Vanguard Valley also flowed to the outside world through this road.

In exchange for large amounts of gold coins.

The territory's finances, from their previous state of near collapse.

Leaped to become the most prosperous existence in the entire Xin Feng Province.

Using the startup capital "borrowed" from the dragon's lair, Rocco began to carry out territory construction with bold and decisive measures.

New residential areas rose from the ground under the planning.

Barren land was reclaimed.

The training of the Xin Feng Legion was also in full swing.

The soldiers were well-fed, well-clothed, and their military pay was issued on time, leading to unprecedentedly high morale.

Especially those soldiers who had rendered meritorious service in the Battle of the Black Mist Mountains received generous rewards.

The families of the deceased received a large pension.

The living not only received gold coins but also saw their positions promoted.

Because of his meritorious command and brave combat, Hart was officially appointed by Rocco as the first Legion Commander of the Xin Feng Legion.

His military rank was also promoted to Qishichang.

As for Zewen and his Red Leaf Forest Tribe, they were honored by Rocco as the most distinguished guests and most reliable allies.

Rocco not only gave them an extremely low price for exclusive supply of Strong Liquor but also provided them with a batch of fine weapons and equipment for free.

The entire Vanguard Valley, and even the entire Xin Feng Province Alliance, presented a scene of prosperity and thriving growth.

Those old nobles who once harbored ulterior motives completely extinguished all their thoughts after witnessing Rocco's iron-fisted methods and his unfathomable ability to break deadlocks.

They now only felt awe and submission.

However, just when Rocco thought he could finally develop steadily for a period of time.

An unexpected piece of news was sent back.

This day, Rocco was discussing the next phase of the military expansion plan with Martina.

A guard walked in hurriedly.

"Master, Master Martina."

"Outside the city, an envoy delegation claiming to be from the three western provinces has arrived."

"They say they are here to pay a visit to you under the orders of the three Governor Marquises of Sunset, Silver Moon, and Alva."

"Oh?"

Rocco and Martina exchanged a glance.

Both saw a hint of amusement in the other's eyes.

What tricks do these old guys want to play now?

Since the blockade didn't work, they want to play "diplomacy"?

"Let them in."

Rocco said indifferently.

"I want to see what kind of medicine they are selling in their gourd."

Soon.

An envoy delegation consisting of more than a dozen people walked into the council hall of the Lingzhu Fu under the guidance of the guards.

Leading them was a clean-shaven, middle-aged man.

He wore a luxurious silk robe, and his face wore a smile so warm it felt like a spring breeze.

At a glance, he was the type of old fox who had been immersed in officialdom for many years.

"Respected Master Rocco Raymond."

As soon as the middle-aged man approached, he performed an impeccable aristocratic salute to Rocco.

"I am Samuel, Chief Advisor to the Governor of Sunset Province, Marquis Archibald."

"I have come this time to represent the three major provinces of the west and offer you our most sincere apologies."

Apologies?

Roko raised an eyebrow and sneered inwardly.

A weasel paying respects to a chicken—nothing good can come of it.

He did not speak, simply watching the other party perform in silence.

"Master Roko, the previous matter regarding the trade blockade was entirely a massive misunderstanding!"

A look of deep remorse appeared on Samuel's face.

"It was all because of the instigation of some despicable villains and some incorrect intelligence that led our three Marquises to make such an erroneous decision."

"We are deeply sorry for this!"

"Upon learning the truth of the matter, the three Marquises immediately issued an order to completely lift the trade blockade on Xin Feng Province!"

"From today on, all trade routes will return to normal!"

As he spoke, he waved a hand at the attendants behind him.

Several attendants immediately brought up a few heavy chests.

The chests were opened.

Inside, they were filled with all sorts of glittering treasures and some magical items that looked expensive at a glance.

"This is a small token of apology prepared for you by our three Marquises."

Samuel said with a smile.

"I hope it can make up for the mistakes we committed previously."

"And I also hope that you, Master Roko, are magnanimous enough not to hold it against us."

His words were airtight, and his attitude was extremely humble.

He pushed all the responsibility onto "misunderstandings" and "villains."

It was as if they were the victims themselves.

If it were an ordinary young noble facing such a display, they would likely have been completely bewildered.

And then they would have accepted the apology, flattered and overwhelmed.

But Roko was not.

His mental age was greater than everyone else present.

He had seen this kind of trickery—a knife hidden behind a smile—many times before.

"A misunderstanding?"

Roko finally spoke.

His voice was very flat, revealing neither joy nor anger.

"Master Samuel, you are joking."

"Since it was a misunderstanding, then there is no issue now that it has been cleared up."

"I will accept the gifts."

"Please also convey my regards to the three Marquises on my behalf."

Roko acted as if the matter were settled right there.

This, in turn, made Samuel pause in surprise.

He had a belly full of rhetoric prepared that he hadn't even had the chance to say yet.

The script was not supposed to go like this.

Shouldn't he be questioning them, or be angry?

How could he accept it so easily?

"Ahem."

Samuel coughed twice and hurriedly continued his speech.

"Master Roko is truly broad-minded; it is admirable!"