Ant Lord in the Star Realm-Chapter 638 - 569: Ingenious Plan_4

Dragon Cypress: "..."

This old Spider, Aconite, really isn't easy to deal with, he thought.

Dragon Cypress: "I am an honest Ant. I do not participate in the competition among the three Lords: Seven-Leaf, Melde, and White Ivy."

Dragon Cypress: "Aconite Spider King has misunderstood. I know nothing. I had no intention of raising my price on the spot..."

Dragon Cypress: "An appropriate increase in benefits?"

Heliotrope: "...Yes."

Dragon Cypress: "It seems that there's more to this Leader selection than meets the eye, isn't there?"

Heliotrope: "No."

Dragon Cypress: "If there isn't, then I won't be polite."

Dragon Cypress: "Currently, Ink Orchid and I are in urgent need of Source Stones for our evolution, so I need Aconite Spider King to add Divine-Given Origin Force Food equivalent to an additional 20,000,000 Source Stones."

Heliotrope: 20,000,000? This is clearly extortion!

"Dragon Cypress Ant King, please wait a moment. I'll report to Aconite Spider King."

Heliotrope turned and ran.

The rumbling sound of Stone Slab Wheelcarts loaded with Source Stones grew closer as Red Peach and Column Spotted ran back.

Column Spotted gathered his spiritual power and mind, asking, "Dragon Cypress Ant King, Grass Dragon asked me to inquire, can you reveal a bit of information? What did Aconite Spider King offer to demand a share of three Divine-Grade Molan Seeds?"

Dragon Cypress replied indifferently, "It's not convenient."

Dragon Cypress: "Column Spotted, don't blame me. Even if I do not agree to Aconite Spider King's trade request, it can still go elsewhere and find other Insects to trade with. This is the first time in my life I have heard of a Spider truly selling at a loss. Rather than having other Insects benefit from this once-in-ten-thousand-years opportunity, it's better if I benefit."

Column Spotted: "Divine-Grade Molan Seeds are Top-Level Divine-Grade; they are not so easy to find."

Dragon Cypress: "Indeed. But not impossible. It just takes more time and energy."

Dragon Cypress: "Ink Orchid and I aim to evolve to King-Level sooner. Helping White Ivy and Melde compete for a Deputy Leader position would be quite good as well."

Column Spotted: "..."

Column Spotted: "Being a Deputy Leader is really just an empty title."

"Quit the chatter," Dragon Cypress said, flicking his tentacles. "Let's proceed with the trade quickly. Send over the Source Stones first. Last year's Soul-Setting Fruit was successfully harvested and stored in the Huagi Mountain Treasury; I'll bring them to you on the way when I transport the Source Stones..."

...

Column Spotted and Red Peach left.

Heliotrope ran back again.

"Dragon Cypress Ant King, Aconite Spider King says 20,000,000 is impossible, but it can agree to add Divine-Given Origin Force Food, either Fire System or Earth System, equivalent to 2,000,000 Source Stones."

"Flat rate, 20,000,000 Source Stones' worth of food. No bargaining," Dragon Cypress stated.

...

Heliotrope went back to report.

Soon, he ran back again.

"Dragon Cypress Ant King, Aconite Spider King says, 'Ant, don't be too greedy. 3,000,000 Source Stones' worth of food, no more.'"

Heliotrope clarified, "Those were the exact words of Aconite Spider King. I am just a Little Spider responsible for relaying the message."

Dragon Cypress: "..."

Heliotrope must be tired from all the running back and forth, Dragon Cypress mused.

Dragon Cypress: "Let's both take a step back: 16,000,000 Source Stones, plus Fire System and Earth System Divine-Given Origin Force Food, each equivalent to 8,000,000 Source Stones."

...

Heliotrope left.

Heliotrope ran back again.

"Dragon Cypress Ant King, Aconite Spider King says 4,000,000 Source Stones, plus Fire System and Earth System Divine-Given Origin Force Food, each equivalent to 2,000,000 Source Stones. Take it or leave it; it has other options."

Dragon Cypress: "Then tell Aconite Spider King to forget it. However, it should be clear that getting a trade share of Divine-Grade Fruit equivalent to Divine-Grade Molan Seeds is not so easy."

Heliotrope: "..."

Heliotrope: "Then... your counteroffer...?"

Dragon Cypress: "10,000,000 total value..."

...

Heliotrope was a diligent Little Spider, relaying messages back and forth, running ten trips.

Finally, a deal was struck for an additional 6,000,000 Source Stones, plus Earth System and Fire System Divine-Given Origin Force Food, each equivalent to 3,000,000 Source Stones.

The goods could be sent over first as a deposit for the trade.

Dragon Cypress wasn't foolish enough to seriously swindle Aconite Spider King for such a large sum. They had known each other for over a hundred years, with no grudges or enmity. Furthermore, they would need to continue trading with Seven-Leaf for another three or four hundred years, so there was no need to sour the relationship.

He decided to stop while he was ahead.

...

In this world, it was practically unheard of for any Insect to truly get the better of a Flame Spider Roving Merchant in a deal.

Somehow, they had picked up an incredibly lucky break, seemingly out of nowhere.

Dragon Cypress and Ink Orchid were happy for a whole year.

In the warming temperatures of the Late Winter Season, at White Rice Mountain, the White Rice Divine-Given Seed successfully broke through to Lord-Level.