The Low-Key Life of a Necromancer

Chapter 447 Friendship in the North

Li, who left the Northland, did not go far this time. He only came to the border area between the Northland and the kingdom.

This place became prosperous because of the exchanges between the north and the south, but it also became more depressed and dilapidated because of the kingdom's conservative aristocratic system.

The opposite situation occurs precisely because the nobles who control the land are not restrained.

“There’s not a single living person to be seen here.”

The entire town was deserted, except for the factory next to the lord's castle, which was emitting thick smoke.

The entire town's population was driven to work in factories.

Regardless of gender, age or status, only those who are truly unable to move will be thrown into a corner and left to die in silence.

Li jumped off the transport vehicle and faced the trench with the brave man beside him.

The hero urinated longer and more vigorously than Li, which made Li very unhappy.

"Brave man, what do you usually eat?"

"Huh? Just normal, food."

"Didn't you take anything to nourish your body?"

"Replenish my body? I'm strong and healthy, why do I need to replenish my body?"

Li's question left the brave man completely confused, only Xiaoli, who had just climbed out of the ditch on the other side, blushed.

"Master, I will cook something nourishing for you for dinner."

"Ahem~ Xiaoli, I'll leave it to you then."

After the group got dressed, Li led them into the center of the town.

Li's purpose of coming here this time was very clear. He wanted to make a breakthrough here and sow discord between the north and south regions.

Li has countless solutions in his mind for problems that are very difficult in the eyes of others. After all, the experience of the earth is in Li's mind, as well as the changes of dynasties and modern contradictions. He can call upon any solution he wants.

Li entered the town under the Northern flag and was immediately warmly welcomed by the local lord.

The lords had already noticed the transport vehicles parked outside the city. Now, even a wheel from the north could attract the attention of these lords, let alone an entire business group.

"I'm new here, so I'm not going to show my respect with this small gift. I haven't asked how I should address you, Lord~"

After being invited into the castle, Li was taken into the castle by the butler, through the ancient corridor, and came to the newly built attic.

The lords here liked the architecture and home decoration of the North very much, but they were worried about the safety issues of building a manor outside the castle, so they finally built this crowded new building.

The lord took the gifts brought by Li and happily invited Li and his party to sit on the sofa.

"Just call me Norton. I am just a small honorary noble. This territory is still the property of my wife."

Norton has always been very humble in his external performance and has given enough face to his wife's family.

However, judging from the fact that Norton is in charge here, the real power of the fiefdom has long been in the hands of the fat man in front of him.

Li looked down on the style and methods of the nobles of this era, but he had to be careful of their complicated thoughts.

No matter how rubbish the nobles are, there are always smart people among them. It would be a pity if Li fell into the hands of such people because of carelessness.

"Sir Norton! I have heard your name from Lord Edward a long time ago. It takes a lot of skill to run a territory so prosperously!"

Don't hit a smiling person. Li gave Norton gifts and compliments, making Norton laugh.

Just when Li thought he could move forward, Norton slapped Li in the face.

"Weiser Li, Mr. Li, I have admired your name for a long time. I admire you for being able to make the North prosperous as a low-ranking knight in the border area~"

Norton smiled and revealed to Lee that he knew very well where Lee was coming from.

Li couldn't laugh anymore. This Norton was indeed not a simple person. To deceive such a person, tricks alone were not enough.

You have to be willing to invest!

"I didn't expect Sir Norton to have been paying attention to the situation in the North. I won't hide it. This time, I have big business to do!"

Norton was very interested in the big business that Li mentioned. After all, he had asked Edward to help him contact merchants in the North.

Norton just didn't expect that Li would come in person to negotiate.

"Since Mr. Li has already communicated with Lord Edward, he should know what my territory needs."

Norton wants the latest production machinery, mineral processing, and steelmaking equipment in the North!

Lee and Norton knew exactly what each other needed.

The conversation soon reached the bargaining stage. Whoever could get closer to the other party's bottom line would have a greater advantage!

"The new equipment can be sold to you, provided that Sir Norton can come up with enough funds to buy the new equipment."

“…How much are you going to offer?”

"Six thousand gold coins."

The smile on Norton's face disappeared, he felt that Li was playing tricks on him!

"Six thousand gold coins, Mr. Li, you really dare to ask for that. Even if I save up for decades in my small territory, I still can't come up with six thousand gold coins!"

"Really? But the factory run by Sir Norton has a monthly income of about 100 gold coins. If it is replaced with new equipment, the income can be doubled~"

The figures Lee gave are true, but Norton actually earns more than that.

After all, Norton's labor costs are lower.

Norton did some calculations in his mind. After getting the new equipment from the North, he could earn back the cost of the machine in two or three years by running it at full capacity.

After that, he continued to manufacture and all the money he earned went into Norton's personal pocket.

In the past, if there was an investment with such obvious returns, the nobles would have scrambled to do it.

But the rise of the North sounded the alarm for all nobles.

The kingdom has not been at peace in the past two years. If Norton puts all its assets into the factory, if something unexpected happens or the Northland equipment needs to be upgraded again, all of Norton’s investment will be wasted.

"No, I can't accept this high price."

"I didn't expect Sir Norton to be such a conservative person. I can only go find other nobles to continue discussing this matter."

Li stood up to leave, but Norton quickly stopped him.

"Mr. Li, don't be so anxious. We all know how much profit the new equipment can bring, but six thousand gold coins is too much. I really can't afford it."

Norton meant to ask Lee to lower the price.

Bargaining between the two parties is the normal process of a transaction.

However, Li did not follow the normal process.

"Mr. Norton, I have a better suggestion. You can jointly set up a factory with the nearby nobles and jointly pay for the new equipment~"

"You mean, let me cooperate with others? That's impossible!"

Norton's title is too low. If he cooperates with other nobles, he will completely lose the dominant position, which is not in Norton's interest.

"That can't be helped. Maybe I should hold an auction here. Whoever bids the highest will win the friendship of the North~"

"Six thousand gold coins of friendship are truly precious! I'm waiting for the day when the auction begins!"

Sir Norton angrily sent the guest away, and the negotiation ended unpleasantly.