Could Hadrian really think that having a relationship with him would allow him to integrate into Marinburg's high society?
"It's not about that, Mr. Laine, I came here because I have a matter to ask for your help with!" Hadrian took out a scroll of parchment from his space ring: "Mr. Laine, take a look, this is a vein I purchased some days ago, and it's located deep in Marinburg's Deep Mine District."
"Hmm~ let me see." Laine took the parchment and found that the vein was already quite far from Marinburg's urban area, almost fifteen kilometers away: "What's the matter?"
"This is a Secret Silver vein. I spent a lot of money buying and excavating it through an introduction, but when I sent people to mine it, I realized there was a problem." Hadrian said with a pale face: "Since I started mining this vein, miners have frequently disappeared or gone mad; it was clear it was a problematic vein, and I was deceived again."
"Mm, obviously you need to organize patrols and guards; there must be a problem within the vein." Laine nodded, giving the most basic judgment.
"I did that, but it was useless because... the patrols and guards didn't encounter any monsters." Hadrian shook his head in distress, his beautifully groomed mustache twisting even more: "The patrols... only found some small animals, and even the miners could easily handle those."
"Oh? Then what?" Laine thought, wasn't it some demon or bandit robbers, or malicious troublemakers?
"But the situation for the miners got worse; many of them went mad or spoke incoherently, and no one could understand what they were saying. Some even showed physical mutations. I tried many methods, but none worked." Hadrian concluded: "So, I thought of you, Mr. Laine, please lend me a hand!"
"Then what can I get out of it?" Laine nodded, now truly appearing ready to talk business.
"Mr. Laine, if you can help me solve the problem with this Secret Silver vein, I will transfer eighty percent ownership of the vein to you!" Hadrian offered a shocking price, leaving Laine with a gaping mouth.
Laine had seen that this Secret Silver vein was worth at least 30,000 Gold Marks, and eighty percent ownership was 24,000 Gold Marks, nearly 20,000 after deducting costs!
What does Hadrian want? ʀᴇᴀᴅ ʟᴀᴛᴇsᴛ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀᴛ novel fire.net
"I just want to win this fight! I just want to tell everyone! Merchants from the Southern Realm are no worse than those from the Empire! Money is worthless; what truly holds value are things money can't buy!" Hadrian said through gritted teeth, his face full of emotional flush as he clenched his fists: "We can have all major churches judge this fairly, Mr. Laine, are you willing to do me this favor?!"
Laine thought for a while, finally nodding: "Then I will be happy to do you this favor."
"Great!" Hadrian exclaimed, realizing something suddenly, and then shouted outside.
"Bring Mr. Laine's gift up quickly!"
Amidst the servants' responses and Amelia's curious gaze, something was brought in: the lovely daughter of the bankrupt knight, Miranda, and the tall, dark elf with long black hair down to her waist and tanned skin...
Beautiful... so beautiful, even though he had seen the dark elf's face before, Laine could not help but be amazed.
She was truly stunning.