I am the one running the game

Chapter 923: Why is the price expensive? Has it always been this price?

"Grand Duke Lanton, your price is too high. The Empire simply cannot afford it."

"Please lower the price and leave some for the empire." An imperial consultant from the imperial capital asked with a pleading tone.

The other party came to discuss the ownership of the Seven Deadly Sins Magic Mirror and the Magic Mirror Puppet Army.

They said they were here to negotiate, but in fact they were just here to bargain.

After all, Lu Xingshi wanted all the earth-related treasures and magical weapons in the empire, so it would be unrealistic to just agree to a flat price.

"Look at what you said. This is already a very honest price." Lu Xingshi also looked like he was selling it to you at a loss: "The Seven Deadly Sins Magic Mirror has its own magic mirror factory. It can be said to be a portable arsenal that can also store a large number of troops."

"With this function, as long as we can lurk in the rear with the Seven Deadly Sins Magic Mirror, it is equivalent to leading a 100,000-strong army to attack from the rear."

"Plus, as long as there are raw materials, we can make a magic mirror puppet. It is simply a magical tool that supports war by fighting."

"After one round of fighting, not only did our forces not decrease, but we even had more."

"What's more, I also give you the border defense of the entire Dragon Mountain Range as a gift. This little thing is already very little for me." Lu Xingshi then listed a series of advantages.

The imperial adviser was speechless after hearing this.

What Lu Xingshi said was correct, but he only mentioned the advantages and did not mention the disadvantages at all.

For example, an arsenal and a barracks require a lot of resources, and lurking is even more troublesome. Don’t you see how eye-catching the size of the magic mirror is? As for fighting to support fighting... the magic mirror puppets are not made of corpses, so where can there be so many raw materials?

The free Dragon Mountain Border Defense is even more ridiculous. It was the resources provided by the Empire that allowed Cato to produce so many magic mirror puppets.

Otherwise, even with the rich Dragon Mountains, it is not easy to find so many resources. Both mining and transportation require labor costs.

"Let's not talk about the magic mirror puppet, let's just talk about the magic mirror of the seven deadly sins itself. It has not yet fully recovered."

"With these functions, in the hands of a top commander, it is definitely a powerful weapon on the battlefield. It can not only protect the commander, but also attack and defend, and has all the functions needed on the battlefield."

"Plus, it's easy to recover. As long as it has the desire, it won't be hungry. How great." Lu Xingshi was trying his best to promote it.

The Imperial Advisor sighed and said, "Grand Duke, the Empire has given us a list. Please take a look at it. If it doesn't work, we can revise it."

Having said that, he directly gave Lu Xingshi a bottom price. If they couldn't reach an agreement, then there would be nothing more to discuss.

Lu Xingshi did not make things difficult for the other party. This list was not drawn up by the other party, but the price arrived at after discussion among the top leaders of the empire.

Among them, there are fifteen top-level earth-related treasures and ten top-level earth-related magical weapons.

Then there is a series of support policies for the Duchy of Lanton, which accounts for the vast majority.

Finally, there is a 1% profit dividend from the Dragon Mountain Range.

Speaking of cutting losses, the last clause comes first. If Lu Xingshi had no greater ambitions and just lay down like this, it would be enough to make him rich enough to rival a country.

One percent of profit dividend is a huge sum.

At least no one in the imperial high-ranking officials could get this dividend, but it all went into the national treasury.

Sincerity is in the last one.

However, Lu Xingshi didn't care about the dividends from the output of the Dragon Mountain Range at all. Although it was useful to the Principality of Lanton, it had almost no effect on improving his strength.

At his level, money is no longer of any use.

Lu Xingshi directly crossed out a series of support policies and profit dividends.

"How many top-level earth-related treasures and magical weapons can these be exchanged for?" Lu Xingshi asked directly.

His behavior silenced all the imperial advisers.

After all, in their eyes, what is truly valuable are the last two items, not the first one.

"Grand Duke, this is the result of high-level discussions and cannot be changed." The imperial adviser thought about the first item being crossed out and was even prepared to explain to Lu Xingshi that he could not give too much profit dividends.

As a result, Lu Xingshi did not play by the rules at all.

"It can be changed. I can wait." Lu Xingshi tactfully said that you can go back and ask for instructions.

However, the Imperial Advisor answered firmly: "Even if you can wait, the Empire cannot change it."

"Even the last two items can be discussed, but the first one cannot be changed."

The imperial advisers also realized that the latter two items were of inestimable value to them.

But it is different for Lu Xingshi. As long as he has strong power, the last two items can be obtained with just a stretch of his hand.

And these treasures and magical weapons are the ways to continue to increase his strength.

That is why the empire would rather pay a huge price to prevent treasures and magical weapons from falling into Lu Xingshi's hands.

If Lu Xingshi had not specifically requested it, the empire would not even have the first item and would have directly given the second two items to purchase the Seven Deadly Sins Magic Mirror and the Dragon Mountain Magic Mirror Puppet Border Defense.

“No, you…” Lu Xingshi could see that the imperial advisor had indeed tried his best, and this was also the bottom line of the empire.

If you keep asking, I guess he won’t be willing to give it to you.

"Okay, okay, let's do this." "But I have to choose the magical weapons and treasures myself." Lu Xingshi said directly.

Since he can't have them all, and if he can't choose for himself, Lu Xingshi will get angry.

"Of course there is no problem, considering you are in the Dragon Mountains, the Empire provided a list."

"Once you have made your selection, come and receive the magic mirror of the seven deadly sins, and the border guards will escort the treasures and magical tools you need to deliver them." The imperial advisor said, and took out another list, which was obviously prepared in advance.

There isn't much on the list; all together there are only a few hundred items.

The main reason is that Lu Xingshi requires earth-type and top-level ones. If one of the requirements is missing, the number will immediately swell.

"Ah... How come there isn't any weapon-like treasure or offensive magical device? They are either protective gear or accessories or auxiliary protection." Lu Xingshi looked at the list and felt that the empire was too wary of him.

He's not a super hero, he's just afraid that if he's given some magical treasure or weapon that has a damaging effect, he'll explode, right?

The Imperial Advisor simply responded: "I'm sorry, the list was not drawn up by me, but was delivered to me directly by the Empire."

The literal meaning is that I don’t know, but the actual meaning is that it has nothing to do with me.

"Okay, I won't make things difficult for you as a worker." Lu Xingshi knew that these were not something a consultant could decide.

But for Lu Xingshi, it doesn’t matter.

All the treasures were checked as accessories, and the magical weapons were chosen randomly according to their functions.

Fortunately, there is not only a name, but also a history, some effects, and so on.

That is, some effects can only be used as a reference, because no matter whether it is a treasure or a magical weapon, they are all in their initial state after being beaten by the environment, and the effects cannot be worse.

"That's all." Lu Xingshi then handed the list to the imperial advisor.

"Do you have any other instructions?" the imperial advisor asked cautiously.

He was afraid that if he handed it over, Lu Xingshi would be in trouble again.

"No more. Then how to deal with the policies and dividends for the last two items?" Lu Xingshi asked.

"Someone will go to the Principality of Lanton to coordinate the policy."

"Dividends need to be distributed at the end of the year, but you have to be prepared to incur losses in the first few years. After all, developing the Dragon Mountain Range requires initial investment."

"Don't worry, you are not responsible for the losses. You are only responsible for getting dividends every year." The Imperial Advisor explained briefly.

Lu Xingshi doesn't have to worry about it at all. The former is fully automatic, and the latter returns any losses to the empire, while any profits will be shared with Lu Xingshi.

"That's fine, but I have a question. Will the empire's finance minister cook the books to fool me?" Lu Xingshi thought about it and felt that this was indeed possible.

The Imperial Advisor was speechless and could only patiently explain: "I don't think the Chancellor of the Exchequer is really interested in testing how hard your meteorite is."

"Even if he wanted to give it a try, no one else in the empire would think of it."

Who would have the time to steal offerings to such a powerful weapon? He must be tired of living.

"Your dividends will be calculated, audited, and confirmed by multiple parties. There will be no problem."

After hearing what the other party said, Lu Xingshi nodded: "That's good."

He may not want it, but since you gave it to him, it is his. Lu Xingshi can give it away, but he cannot let others cheat him.

"If there is nothing else, I will return to the imperial capital to report and try to get your treasures and magical weapons as soon as possible." The imperial advisor was about to leave.

Although Lu Xingshi did not show any domineering or cunning appearance, but instead seemed a bit mercenary and humble. However, even so, the imperial advisor was still under considerable pressure.

After all, the Lu Xingshi in front of him could be said to be a ruthless man who single-handedly caused the alliance of various countries to fall apart and made them dare not set foot in the Orei Empire again.

As long as they survive one day, the countries dare not start any war and maintain a fragile peace.

"Then please be quick. I'm a little anxious." Lu Xingshi urged.

"Don't worry, it will be done as soon as possible. No one in the empire dares to neglect your affairs."

"Then I'll leave first." The imperial advisor said, then stood up and left.

Lu Xingshi did not go to see him off. With his status and strength, it was others who had to treat him with respect and courtesy, not him.

He is so powerful and has such a high status, but he still has to be worldly-wise. What's the use of his power and status?
After everyone left, Lu Xingshi was thinking about how to get the remaining earth-based treasures and magical weapons in the empire.

This group of people are like soft nails, and Lu Xingshi can't tear his relations apart and rob them directly now.

They want it but won't give it to me. They always want to give me non-offensive treasures and magic tools as compensation, and they are limited in quantity...

"No rush, take your time, there's plenty of time." Lu Xingshi did not plan to achieve his goal in a short period of time. After all, he had more important things to do.

He'll talk about it when he has time, and sooner or later the empire will demand it of him.

Although the empire is thriving now, there are actually many problems internally. When it faced the siege of the alliance of various countries, it overdrew the national strength, which was impossible without a price.

(End of this chapter)