Lord: My Shop Connects to Modern Times

Lynn tapped her fingers unconsciously on the table.

"Your observations are very insightful and useful," Lynn praised. "You've worked hard these past few days, get some rest. But..."

He then changed the subject, saying, "I'll have to ask you to make another trip next time."

Lia sat up straight: "Go on."

"You don't need to scout around Ironstone Keep anymore. I'll give you a few hunters who are good at walking. You'll need to take them a little further north and find some secluded high points near the main roads leading to Frostfire City to observe."

After a pause, Lynn continued, "No need for scouting the details. Just record the size, time, and direction of the large groups passing through. If a group of more than two hundred people heads south, report back immediately."

"Understood!" Lia replied crisply, then thought for a moment, "My lord, after they find out, what are our plans? They definitely outnumber us."

"When soldiers come, we'll block them; when water comes, we'll dam it." Lynn's tone was calm, yet utterly resolute.

"We have concrete walls and are well-prepared. They have come from afar with long supply lines. We are at their best and have a good position. We may well have a chance."

He stood up: "You should rest well for two days, then set off. Be careful; intelligence is important, but your safety is even more important."

Lia nodded, downed the rest of her soda in one gulp, the cool, sweet sensation dispelling some of her fatigue: "Then I'm going to sleep."

After Liya left, Lynn sat alone in the stone house for a while.

The soda glass on the table still had a little water stain on it, reflecting the flickering light of the oil lamp.

Lynn stared at the cup, a thoughtful look on his face.

The two most pressing issues to be addressed are Dawncoin and the threat posed by Kal.

After thinking for a long time, Lynn's eyes lit up, and he looked away from the water stains in the cup.

He remembered one person: Earl Lehman.

When the name appeared in Lynn's mind, his thoughts seemed to come alive instantly.

Oh right! How could I forget about him?

Lynn leaned back in his chair, his fingers slowly tracing patterns on the rough wooden table.

The last time I went to Earl Lehman, I used antibiotics to save his youngest son, and in return, I asked for some food and weapons.

The count was a fairly decent person and had some principles in dealing with Herbert, not pushing him to the brink. He kept his promises and didn't cause any trouble afterward.

More importantly, Lehman's territory is located in the eastern part of the South, separated from Karl's Frostfire City by a large wilderness and two viscountries. Moreover, since both are earls, Earl Karl should not be able to affect Earl Lehman's territory.

The worst-case scenario is that Earl Lehman also has the shadow of that big shot behind him, that big shot who wants Lynn dead.

However, Lynn felt that the probability of this happening was not high. This time, Karl had almost openly stepped forward to oppose Lynn in the recruitment. If Lehman was really that big shot's man, he should be planning and preparing to take action in a big way, just like Karl.

Besides, Lynn had been to Lehman's territory once; if he really wanted to kill him, he would have done so back then...

Lynn's thoughts began to race.

Huiyan Town lacks money and raw materials for making gunpowder.

Earl Lehman's territory is large and his population is large, so he must have started mining earlier than we are. He probably has sulfur there, and even if he doesn't have a fixed mine, he must have a stable supply channel.

As for money, it shouldn't be difficult for a count's territory, which has been operating for many years, to come up with a few thousand Dawn coins for business operations.

If a deal can be successfully reached with the other party, it would be killing two birds with one stone.

But what do I have to offer in exchange?

Lynn's gaze swept across the room. Two bags of cement, not yet used, were piled in the corner.

The technical threshold for this product is neither high nor low; the key lies in the proportions and firing process.

Should I give you the finished product directly? Or... a simplified recipe? Lynn weighed the options in her mind and decided to give you the finished product first.

The recipe is like a hen that lays golden eggs; you can't easily let go of it unless absolutely necessary.

Lynn then thought of Earl Lehman's youngest son.

The child has recovered from the illness, but is definitely weak and needs to recuperate.

Instant noodles? These have a long shelf life, can be eaten after being soaked in hot water, and have a good flavor. They are an excellent convenient food for soldiers who often need to go out on patrol or fighting, or for noblemen who are too lazy to prepare their own meals.

And then there are the seasonings, chili powder, cumin, concentrated broth... The food in this world is relatively monotonous, so these things would be a novelty for nobles who are used to eating roasted meat with coarse salt.

There's also chocolate, or candy. It's not very filling, but it's rare and can be given as a gift or as part of high-grade military rations, quickly replenishing energy.

As for composite bows, ballistae, lathes, and steam engines, Lynn has no intention of selling them to any other nobles for the time being.

If a caravan were willing to buy it at a high price, that would be fine, but selling it to the nobility at this juncture is tantamount to licking blood from a knife's edge; the risk is too great. We should at least wait until we have completely subdued Karl...

The more Lynn thought about it, the more confident she became. These items from the system store were unique in this world.

Earl Lehman wasn't stupid. As long as he saw the practical value of these things, especially the enormous role of cement in fortifications, he would definitely be tempted.

The key is how to make contact and how to negotiate.

Last time it was a life-saving favor, and Lehman gave supplies as a way of returning the favor. This time it's a pure transaction, so the other party has to feel it's worthwhile, that there's something to gain, or even that they've gotten a good deal.

Lynn pondered that he needed to send someone who was eloquent and reliable enough.

Leon won't do. He's too rigid. He's a good soldier, but not a good businessman.

Bray? A hunter by trade, he's likely to be at a disadvantage at the negotiating table.

Joel is steady and knowledgeable, but his status is so low that he probably won't even get to see the Earl, let alone negotiate a price.

Do I really have to make the trip myself?

Lynn sighed helplessly, rubbing his fingers on the ring for a long time before finally making up his mind.

I have to go this time!

Firstly, it shows sincerity; secondly, only he can clearly explain some of the technical details and the gimmick of "exclusive secret recipes".

There are definitely risks. We'll leave our territory and venture deep into another nobleman's castle.

But compared to directly facing the combined forces of Karl and Gavin at the city gates, this risk is worth taking.

Earl Lehman has a good reputation, and after all, I saved his son. Even if he doesn't want to make a deal, it's unlikely that he would just turn his back on me and detain me.

Having made his decision, Lynn got up and paced around the room.

"That's settled then," Lynn muttered to himself, sat back down at the table, pulled out a rough piece of scrap paper, and picked up a charcoal pencil.

He needed to write a list of trades, clearly outlining what he could reliably provide, the approximate quantities, and the items he hoped to exchange—primarily sulfur and Dawncoins, and if possible, some rare metal ores from Grayrock Town.

How should the price be set? Lynn had no idea; there was no market reference price for things like cement in this world.

He had no choice but to bite the bullet and, based on his own assessment of the value of these items, combined with his understanding of the aristocratic spending levels from Kai and the original owner's memories, set a relatively high price, leaving room for the other party to bargain...

After finishing the list, Lynn stretched lazily and looked out at the sky, which was beginning to darken.

Anyway, let's set off tomorrow.