Linde listened quietly to Nad's well-reasoned and enticing proposal, his gentle smile remaining unchanged.
He put down his teacup, the porcelain cup making a crisp, light sound against the tray.
Exclusive agency rights? Priority purchasing rights?
Lind repeated the two words, his tone as calm as if discussing the weather, "I have naturally heard of the Truk family's reputation. The trading network under my father's rule is indeed impressive."
He leaned back slightly in his chair, his deep purple eyes staring directly into Nad's sharp eyes, as if he could see through all the scheming beneath her shrewd exterior.
“Nad,” he no longer used the distant title, and his voice carried a hint of casualness that belonged to an “elder brother” but was even more distant.
“You are a smart man. You have managed the family’s vast trade with the dwarves for many years. Your vision and skills are first-rate.”
What you see is the intrinsic value of the artificial crystal, its immense potential in magic, engineering, and even warfare, and the astronomical sums of gold it can generate.
Nad frowned slightly; Lind's attitude made her feel uneasy.
He wasn't blinded by the promise of huge profits; instead, he seemed to be... scrutinizing whether the price she offered was sufficient.
"Isn't that enough?"
She remained calm and countered, "The channels and premiums that the Truk family can provide are enough to allow Blackrock Territory to accumulate unimaginable wealth in a short period of time."
This is enough to support you in doing whatever you want in this 'frontier region'.
"wealth?"
Linde chuckled softly, a laugh carrying an indescribable meaning, as if he had heard an interesting but naive idea.
"Nade, you underestimate me, or rather, you underestimate Blackrock Territory."
Wealth is certainly important, but for me, it has never been the ultimate goal; it's merely one of the tools to achieve it.
He leaned forward slightly, his hands crossed on the table. His posture no longer resembled that of a gentle older brother, but rather that of a chess player in control of the game.
“You saw the value in the crystal remains, which is good. It shows that you have a keen business sense.”
But you've overlooked one thing, or rather, something you can't understand—I released the news of the Crystal Remains never to get the Truk family's treasury to open up to me.
Nad's heart sank. Not for money? Then what? Her mind raced, considering Linde's previous actions and the location of Blackrock Territory…
A thought flashed through my mind like lightning.
"You've taken a fancy to the dwarf?"
Her voice carried a hint of disbelief.
"clever."
Lind nodded approvingly, a glint of light flashing in his purple eyes.
"Or rather, I was drawn to the Dwarven Kingdom's unparalleled forging techniques, rune engraving skills, profound understanding of metals and energy, and... their rock-solid yet incredibly reliable spirit of contract."
He spread out one hand, as if displaying a grand blueprint:
“I do need to make trades, but not by exchanging crystals for gold coins.”
"I will use it to forge a path deep into Ironforge, to gain the opportunity to speak directly with the Dwarf King, and to acquire a group of the most elite Mountain Masters and Runesmiths to serve me."
Nad's pupils contracted slightly.
Lind's appetite and ambition far exceeded her expectations. He actually wanted to bypass the Truk family as an intermediary and directly seize the core technologies and top talents of the Dwarf Kingdom!
This is almost shaking one of the foundations of the family's trade with the dwarves!
"Linde, are you crazy?"
For the first time, Nad's voice lost its composure, filled with shock and a hint of barely perceptible anger.
"The core technologies and top masters of the Dwarf Kingdom cannot be obtained by a mere new material. They have their own pride and heritage!"
The Truk family has cooperated with them for generations, building a deep trust that has barely maintained trade relations. You think you can just steal their national treasures? That's nothing short of delusional!
"A pipe dream?"
Linde's smile remained, but his eyes suddenly sharpened like blades. An invisible pressure, stemming from absolute strength and a sense of control, instantly enveloped the entire living room, making the fireplace flames seem to dim for a moment.
"Nad, don't try to understand my world with your businessman's logic."
The Truk family's 'deep trust' with the dwarves was built on mutually beneficial trade. And what could I offer them?
He paused, letting the invisible pressure settle in Nad's heart, then spoke clearly, word by word:
"I can bring them advanced materials science knowledge and open a door for them to a completely new field of forging!"
I can provide them with a near-unlimited, stable, and pure energy sample, making it no longer a dream for them to forge legendary artifacts! More importantly…”
Linde's voice was low, yet it carried an almost magical allure and an undeniable confidence:
"I can give them an opportunity to challenge their limits and create an unprecedented 'great creation' that will be etched into the history of the entire continent and even the world!"
An opportunity for all dwarven blacksmiths to have their names shine in the Hall of Ancestors!
Do you think those dwarven masters, who value forging as their life and honor above all else, could resist such temptation?
Nad was stunned by the grand vision described in Lind's words and the almost arrogant confidence he exuded, and for a moment she was speechless.
Looking at her half-brother, she felt for the first time a huge, suffocating gap between them.
His discussion went far beyond gold coins and trade, touching on racial heritage, historical status, and technological power capable of changing the world order.
“So,” Lind withdrew his imposing aura, regaining his previous calm, as if his earlier sharpness was just an illusion.
“What I need is not gold coins, nor any agency rights. I need you, Nad Truk, as the person in charge of the Truk family’s trade with the dwarves, to do one thing for me.”
His gaze was fixed firmly on Nad:
"Use all your channels and connections to convey my wishes, along with... a small sample of the crystalline remains sufficient to prove my words, to the Dwarf King of Ironforge, or at least to the Hill Kings Council, who truly holds the reins. Tell them that Viscount Lind Truk of Blackrock Depths seeks a meeting of the highest order."
The location can be Ironforge or in my territory.
The theme is about... collaborating to build the 'future'.
He leaned forward slightly, his voice carrying an almost seductive power:
"Once this is accomplished, as the guide and facilitator, the Truk family will obtain priority purchasing rights for Blackrock Territory Crystal Remains within the Kree Empire, and the share will not disappoint you."
At the same time, the Truk family can still participate in new collaborative projects and share in the profits.
This is the 'business' I've prepared for you and your family.
Nade fell silent.
Her brain was rapidly calculating the risks and rewards.
While the prospects Linde painted were enticing, directly getting involved in his top-level technological collaboration with the dwarven kingdom was extremely risky.
Failure could not only offend the dwarves, but could also jeopardize the family's existing trade network.
But if successful...
The Truk family will no longer be just a trade intermediary, but will be truly involved in the technology chain that is capable of changing the world order, and their status will be completely different.
The priority purchase right for that crystal remains is itself a huge gold mine.
She looked into Linde's unfathomable purple eyes, which were filled with unquestionable certainty and absolute control over the future.
She realized that this might be an "opportunity" that she, and even the entire Truk family, could not refuse, or more precisely, a vortex that could not be easily escaped.
“I need to see that 'proven' sample.”
Nad took a deep breath, her voice regaining its businessman's composure, but a hint of unprecedented seriousness and... a spark of ignited ambition appeared deep in her eyes.
"Furthermore, I need to know what exactly this 'great creation' that you intend to involve the dwarves in forging is. A mere concept is unlikely to impress those stubborn old dwarves."
Linde smiled. He knew that Nad was tempted, or rather, bound by the enormous benefits and risks.
"The sample will be provided shortly."
Lind stood up, walked to the window, turned his back to Nad, and gazed at the distant horizon outside the castle, as if he could see through space and see the steel behemoth crashing down at the Horn of Storms.
"As for that 'creation'..."
His voice was deep and powerful, carrying an almost pilgrimage-like quality.
It is not a concept.
It already exists, it's just lying dormant, waiting to be awakened and perfected.
It is as huge as a mountain range, as hard as a star, and contains power that can make dragons bow their heads and gods take notice.
It is the pinnacle of a lost civilization, and the key to the future.
He turned around, his backlit figure seemingly shrouded in a mysterious halo, his purple eyes shimmering like stars in the shadows:
“Nad, I have my own ways of persuading those stubborn dwarves… I could even go to the dwarf kingdom myself.”
I believe that no true dwarf, after seeing it with their own eyes, could refuse such an invitation.
Nad stared blankly at Lind, the phrase "the rebirth of the steel star" striking her heart like a hammer blow.
She couldn't imagine what it was, but the absolute confidence and extraordinary vision in Lind's words made her realize that this deal, or rather this high-stakes gamble, had exceeded her initial business assessment.
Blackrock Territory, a place she once thought to be a barren frontier, now appeared unfathomable to her, like an abyss.
The older brother before her stood on the edge of the abyss, showing her a tempting, unknown, and thrilling future.
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