It seems like something big is going on between the two nations. The Wilga Business Alliance and Lurna are neighbors, often engaging in trade and cooperation. Because Lurna serves as a bridgehead directly facing Cangcui, the seven nations of the Xuehua Alliance provide it with supplies annually to help defend against the Empire's invasions.
However, as peace lasted, support from other nations dwindled, until it almost ceased to exist. Only Verga still supported Lurna, and there were many reasons for this. First, if Lurna fell, Verga would be the one facing the Greenery, so Verga was willing to pay the price to protect himself. Second, Lurna's mages possessed excellent alchemical creations, which often brought new business opportunities and were valued by Verga's merchants. Third, Lurna's new magical technologies, such as the magic airships and steel battleships of recent years, had directly opened up many new shipping routes, greatly stimulating the continent's economic development, and these technologies were urgently needed by merchants.
At the same time, due to the geographical limitations of Lurna itself, although it has excellent technology, it suffers from population and resource constraints and has always relied on Virga for blood transfusions. Therefore, the two countries hit it off and have cooperated on several projects in recent years, and this year they have taken a further step.
However, this was a big step, Loran Hill thought. Giving up their core technology like that clearly showed that Luerna was under immense pressure. Where did this pressure come from? Most likely, it was the Green Empire across the way, the behemoth that held nearly half the continent's population.
"This price is really expensive." A familiar voice came from next to Loran Hill.
[Chrome Demon-Breaking Mechanical Crossbow] (Excellent Gold Grade): Made of Chrome Gold, it contains four magic arrays, namely acceleration, stable atmosphere, sharp enchantment, and demon-breaking enchantment. It has a sophisticated structure, excellent design concept, and is easy to use, making it very suitable for low-level personnel.
She looked back and saw that it was the master and servant who had just gone to the clothing store.
"I've seen gold-grade alchemical artifacts in Luerna before. They only cost 50-80 extraordinary gold coins there. Although your Luerna has opened up the technology, you are really bold in asking for prices." The red-haired lady knocked on the price tag next to the cabinet with the folding fan in her hand.
"Besides, there must be more than one of these things," she added.
"Miss Funo may have some misunderstandings about our Lurna's alchemical creations. Let me explain it to you."
"This artifact was jointly developed by several high-level alchemists from our Lurna Nation's Phipua Academy. From the outset, it was designed as a countermeasure to the Emerald Moon Bow of the Verdant Empire, intended as a long-range weapon for use in small-scale, emergency battles. I'm sure many are familiar with the Emerald Moon Bow. To achieve a comparable high-level standard weapon, this artifact consumed a great deal of resources and effort during its development."
"So in order to recoup the high investment in development, we can't sell it at cost price. Otherwise, who would invest energy in developing new things?" The clerk's explanation was so clear that the young lady next to him felt a little embarrassed.
"Even if it's the Emerald Moon Bow, it only costs more than 100 gold coins on Cangcui's side." Feng Nai said stubbornly.
The alchemist apprentice continued to explain to the eldest daughter of Anemis, "Can I recount for you how people valued the Emerald Moon Bow hundreds of years ago? I believe this will help you better understand the value of this crossbow of the same level."
How long does it take to make the Emerald Moon Bow? Some say it's ten days, some say it's half a year, some say it's three years... In fact, none of these are correct. So far, the most outstanding elf craftsmen in the Emerald Forest have told us: An excellent, lethal Emerald Moon Longbow must take more than five years to make. From the selection of Sky-Splitting Beast Horn and Darkmoon Yew Wood to the enchanted nitration of the mixed bowstring; from the correction of the angle to the test shooting of thousands of arrow feathers. It can even be said that the value of a truly lethal Emerald Moon Longbow is no less than the value of a work of art that takes the same amount of time to make. When such a weapon that reveals an endless aura of killing is handed over to the hands of a warrior, with 60 long-feathered arrows in a quiver, at least half of them will pay with their lives for it. ————Excerpt from "A Study on Weapons Used by Forest Elves"
"In Lurna, at our excellent advanced alchemy workshop, it only takes three months to create a weapon of the same quality. If we have sufficient resources and streamline production, it can be even faster."
In fact, the apprentice was exaggerating a bit. Chrome-Hig is a very rare metal in the world of Ivar, and the stock is not large. In addition, the high-level alchemists required for its production are not everywhere even in Lurna. However, this is indeed a remarkable achievement.
"Okay, okay, miss, stop talking." The maid next to her pulled her own lady back.
"Is your store manager here? Just say someone from the Anemis family is visiting."
"Store manager?" The apprentice thought about it and realized that the store manager was the owner of the workshop and should be the mentor.
"Our instructor is out today. Is there anything I can do for you?"
"Oh, so you're not here... How about this, you tell him that everything he needs is ready, and he can just come to the Anemis Chamber of Commerce to get it." Having said this, the maid showed a malicious smile and continued.
"Also, our young lady really likes this crossbow. I hope you can tell the store manager about what happened today. He will definitely be very happy."
"Okay." It's just a message, what's the big deal, the apprentice thought.
Little did people know that Anemis was one of the five largest guilds in Hopeland, on par with Carites, and had great influence in the local area. This apprentice who had offended Miss Anemis would probably be severely punished by his mentor.
"Okay, my lovely Miss Funo, let's leave it at that for today. I've told you long ago that the gradient printing and dyeing of that clothing store is just a gimmick and it cannot be mass-produced at all, but you just don't believe it." The chestnut-haired maid next to her began to criticize her own master again.
"Now, the owner of the workshop is not here, so today's trip is wasted. Go back and study hard. Didn't you boast that you would go to Emenas with Miss Rachel?"
"Oh, Penny, how did you become like this? Why do you look just like your dad? I was just trying to coax Rachel into it. After all, she finally came to Hopeland."
"Miss, you may have forgotten something. If Miss Rachel marries and moves to Hopeland, you two will be able to see each other every day. Will you still have the nerve to say this to her then?"
"Oh... I really don't want to study. Studying is so boring. Please let me go, Penny. You are my good sister. You must understand me, right?" Feng Nai was reluctantly pulled onto the carriage by Penny, and then the carriage started to drive back.
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