Chapter 175: A Failed Trap Banquet! The Commercial Alliance?

Archibald was also stunned.

His ferocious expression froze on his face, replaced by deep shock and greed.

Roko ignored the crowd's reaction; he kicked open all the chests, one after another!

Clatter! Clatter!

Golden light completely engulfed the entire hall!

The glint of gold and jewels was enough to almost blind everyone.

The whole world seemed to be left with nothing but the radiance of gold and gemstones.

In the deathly silence.

Roko's voice rose again, this time carrying a hint of indescribable arrogance and dominance.

"This is the 'toll' paid to me by that red dragon from the Black Mist Mountains, the 'Lord of Flame Prison,' Ignifar!"

Boom!

These words had even more impact than the severed head from before, or the mountain of gold before their eyes!

It was like a divine thunderbolt descending from the nine heavens, striking fiercely at the crown of everyone's head!

What?!

A dragon's toll?!

He—he not only stole from a dragon's lair, but also made that red dragon, known for its greed and tyranny, willingly pay him a toll?!

How is this possible!

This had already exceeded the cognitive range of everyone present!

This is no longer a madman!

This is a god or demon!

"It!"

Roko pointed at the mountain of gold, then pointed at the deathly pale Archibald, his voice like a booming bell!

"A dragon that has lived for thousands of years knows how to follow the rules!"

"You, Archibald, a mere human Marquis, do not!"

"Tell me, compared to it, what are you?!"

Domineering!

Arrogant!

Arrogant to the extreme!

But at this moment, not a single person felt he was boasting.

An existence capable of making a dragon bow and submit has the right to be!

Archibald was so humiliated by Roko's words that his whole body trembled violently; he felt a sweetness in his throat, and a mouthful of blood nearly sprayed out.

He had lost.

Lost in a complete mess.

In the face of Roko's unfathomable methods, everything he had meticulously prepared had become a joke.

Just as the atmosphere in the hall was tense to the extreme.

A gentle and magnetic voice suddenly came from the entrance, breaking the frozen air.

"Oh my, it's truly lively here today."

Everyone looked toward the sound.

They saw a plump, shrewd-looking merchant dressed in finery walking in with a smile on his face.

It was Silas of the Commercial Alliance!

He didn't even look at Archibald on the main seat, walking straight to Roko and performing a standard merchant's salute.

"Master Roko, long time no see."

"We of the Commercial Alliance also wish to have an in-depth talk with you regarding 'cooperation'."

The appearance of Silas was like pouring a ladle of cold water into a pot of boiling oil.

The atmosphere of the entire banquet hall changed subtly in an instant.

The Commercial Alliance!

There wasn't a single noble present who didn't understand the weight of these four words.

It was a behemoth that spanned the entire continent, wealthy enough to rival a kingdom, and one that even the royal families of the various kingdoms had to treat with deference.

Although they did not directly participate in political and military struggles, they controlled the economic lifeline of the entire continent.

To offend the Commercial Alliance was equivalent to cutting off one's own source of wealth.

No matter how powerful Marquis Archibald was, he dared not easily fall out with the Commercial Alliance.

Everyone's gaze shifted back and forth between Roko, Archibald, and Silas.

There's a good show to watch!

Archibald's complexion had already turned ugly to the extreme.

He never imagined that someone from the Commercial Alliance would jump out to support Roko at this most critical moment!

"Master Silas."

Archibald squeezed a few words through his teeth, his voice icy.

"This is a private banquet at my Governor's Mansion; as a merchant, coming uninvited, isn't that a bit against the rules?"

He attempted to use his status to suppress the other party.

However, Silas only chuckled, not even bothering to look at him.

He directly ignored this angry Marquis and spoke to Rocco with a face full of enthusiasm.

"Master Rocco, you have truly opened my eyes!"

His gaze swept over the mountain of gold on the ground, a flash of imperceptible sharpness crossing his eyes.

"I never expected that not only could you brew such a divine liquor as 'Vanguard Valley Flame', but you also possess such—hmm, such 'substantial' financial power."

"We in the Commercial Alliance love dealing with partners who have such strength and boldness as you."

His words, while seemingly praising Rocco, were in fact slapping Archibald in the face with every single syllable.

What is called having strength?

Being able to make a dragon pay a toll, that is called strength!

What is called having boldness?

Daring to flip the table at a trap banquet in the Governor's Mansion, that is called boldness!

Silas paused, his voice suddenly raised a few notches to ensure everyone present could hear clearly.

"I am here, on behalf of the Commercial Alliance Council, to make a formal announcement!"

"Effective immediately, our Commercial Alliance will enter into the highest level of strategic partnership with Vanguard Valley!"

"We will provide an annual advance payment of one million gold coins for exclusive distribution rights of 'Vanguard Valley Flame' in the three major provinces of the West!"

"At the same time, we will provide full protection and support for the 'Hope Road' newly opened by Master Rocco!"

"Any act attempting to sabotage our cooperation or threaten the safety of our partners will be regarded as a provocation against the entire Commercial Alliance!"

Boom!

These words were no different from another heavy bomb exploding among the crowd!

Exclusive distribution rights!

One million gold coins!

Full protection!

This was no longer a simple commercial cooperation; it was clearly a public declaration: Rocco Raymond is under the protection of my Commercial Alliance! Whoever dares to touch him is going against my Commercial Alliance!

Those nobles who had originally stood on Archibald's side, or were taking a wait-and-see attitude, had their expressions change instantly.

In their hearts, they began to calculate rapidly.

On one side was Marquis Archibald, who was powerful but tyrannical in his actions, and now clearly in the wrong.

On the other side was the Commercial Alliance, with its immense wealth, heaven-reaching background, and now standing on the moral high ground, along with that mysterious young man who dared to provoke even a dragon.

How to make this choice was already self-evident.

"Ahem, well—Marquis, I suddenly remembered I have some urgent matters to attend to in my territory, so I must take my leave."

A quick-witted Viscount was the first to stand up, found a clumsy excuse, and slunk away.

"Yes, yes, I remembered too, my wife is still waiting for me at home—Marquis, let's gather another day, another day!"

Once there was a first, there was a second.

In the blink of an eye, more than half of the nobles in the hall had run off.

They used their actions to declare their stance.

Watching this scene of being deserted by his followers, Archibald felt the world spinning, and he couldn't catch his breath.

The power he was so proud of, the death trap he had meticulously set, had crumbled to pieces at this moment, becoming a huge joke.

He had become the laughingstock of the entire Western noble circle!

"Pfft!"

Extreme humiliation and anger finally shattered his reason.

Archibald could no longer suppress the metallic taste in his throat; a mouthful of blood sprayed out violently, staining the white tablecloth in front of him.

He pointed at Rocco and Silas, his eyes filled with such venomous resentment it was as if he wanted to eat them alive.

"Fine, fine, you all just wait!"

After saying this, he was supported by a group of his confidants and stumbled away in a sorry state.

The vast banquet hall was left with only Rocco's people, the Commercial Alliance's people, and the gold and silver treasures covering the floor.

A thrilling trap banquet had come to an end in such a dramatic fashion.

Rocco watched Archibald's retreating back as he spat blood, his face devoid of any expression.

He turned his head to look at the fat merchant Silas, who was smiling at him.

The two met each other's eyes and saw a hint of fox-like cunning in the other's gaze.

Rocco knew there was no such thing as a free lunch in this world.

The Commercial Alliance stepping in at this moment was definitely not just for the sake of that bit of liquor business.

"Master Silas, thank you for the rescue," Rocco said calmly.

"Think nothing of it, think nothing of it, we are partners after all," Silas waved his hand with a chuckle.

His gaze fell once again on the mountain of treasure, his eyes becoming somewhat burning.

"Master Rocco, now that the idlers have left."

"We can properly discuss a real 'cooperation'."

"For instance—how exactly did you walk out of a dragon's lair—unscathed?"

"I am quite curious about that story."

Inside the study, sandalwood incense curled.

Rocco and Silas sat opposite each other, sipping fragrant tea, yet the atmosphere was not as relaxed as it appeared on the surface.

"Master Rocco, let's speak plainly."

Silas set down his teacup, leaned forward slightly, and light flickered in his shrewd eyes.

"We of the Commercial Alliance are very interested in that 'Hope Road' of yours."

"Oh?" Roko raised an eyebrow, remaining calm and composed.

"The Black Mist Mountains are known as a forbidden zone of death; for a thousand years, countless caravans have gone in and never returned. Yet you, not only can pass through safely, but can even—well, get along with the 'natives' inside."

Silas smiled with a hint of implication.

"The value of this trade route is immeasurable. We of the Commercial Alliance hope to share this trade route with you."

"Share?"

Roko picked up his teacup and gently blew away the steam.

"Master Silas, what exactly do you mean by share?"

"It's very simple."

Silas held up three fingers.

"We provide the personnel and the funds, and we take charge of the daily operations and security maintenance of the trade route. As for the profits, we take seventy percent, and you take thirty."

Upon hearing this, Roko laughed.

He set down his teacup and shook his head.

"Master Silas, your abacus is certainly calculating quite shrewdly."

"This road is something I, Roko, carved out with my own life. Your Commercial Alliance just said a few words at a banquet, and you want to take seventy percent of the profits?"

"I'm afraid there's no such good deal under the heavens."

Silas's expression stiffened slightly, then he immediately returned to a smile.

"Master Roko, you can't put it that way. If not for our Commercial Alliance standing up for you, whether you could walk out of this Governor's Mansion today

is still an unknown."

"Are you threatening me?"

Roko's gaze turned cold in an instant.

A powerful aura emanated from him, making the temperature of the entire study seem to drop by several degrees.

Silas felt a chill in his heart; only then did he remember that the young man before him was not some soft persimmon to be kneaded at will, but a ruthless man who dared to challenge a dragon.

He hurriedly waved his hands and laughed: "A misunderstanding, a misunderstanding! Master Roko, I have absolutely no such intention."

"We are discussing, just discussing."

"My conditions are very simple."

Roko withdrew his aura and held up one finger.

"The trade route, I can let your Commercial Alliance participate."

"The profits will be split fifty-fifty."

"Additionally, I need your Commercial Alliance to handle three things for me."

"Fifty-fifty?" Silas's chubby face twitched; this was practically cutting flesh from his heart.

"What are the three things?"

"First, I want your intelligence network to help me find out all the strongholds and the list of high-level members of the 'Poison Scorpion Society' in the entire western part of the Bulake Kingdom."

"Second, I need a batch of rare alchemy materials that cannot be bought on the market; I will give you the list later."

"Third—"

Roko looked at Silas, the corners of his mouth curling into a playful smile.

"I want your Commercial Alliance, acting as an intermediary, to help me demand a 'mental distress fee' from Marquis Archibald."

Three days later.

The citizens of Sunset City witnessed a scene they would never forget for the rest of their lives.

A massive caravan consisting of over a hundred carriages rumbled out from the direction of the Governor's Mansion, slowly heading toward the city gates.

What was loaded on the carriages was not merchandise, but crates filled with gold coins, precious ores, and various supplies.

And at the very front of the caravan, riding on horseback, was none other than the young lord who had entered the city alone a few days ago, Rocco Raymond.

Everyone knew what had happened.

Their Governor, the ruler of the Sunset Province, Marquis Archibald, had been ruthlessly fleeced on his own turf!

This was simply a supreme humiliation!

Within the caravan.

Hart looked at the wealth behind him that stretched as far as the eye could see, then looked at the calm-faced Lord beside him; the admiration in his heart had reached an insurmountable level.

Too strong!

The Master is truly too strong!

He charged into a dragon's den and a tiger's lair single-handedly, not only coming out unscathed but also turning around and looting the host's entire family fortune!

What kind of courage and means was this!

"Master, this time, we have truly offended Archibald to the death," Hart said with some worry.

"Just because he isn't making a move against us now doesn't mean he won't in the future."

"I know."

Roko nodded, his gaze looking toward the east; that was the direction of Vanguard Valley.

"Therefore, we must become stronger than him before he can catch his breath."

"The resources we fleeced from him this time are enough for our New Wind Legion to expand by another fold!"

"With the Commercial Alliance line, our Strong Liquor and weapons can also be sold for a better price, to exchange for more strategic supplies."

"Time is on our side."

Upon hearing this, Hart nodded heavily, his eyes filled with anticipation for the future.