Chess Mage of Faerûn

Chapter 378 War of words
This was not only because of the cool, sweet, and lingering aftertaste of the nectar in the cup, but also because he had never tasted this wine before.

Don't doubt his professional expertise as a seasoned wine connoisseur and sommelier. If even he, Clauren, hasn't tasted a wine like that, then even if it's not a new release, it must at least be one that has never been seen before.

So what is the value of a new, fine wine recipe? Why should it be handed over to one's own clan?

"you win."

"Hmm?" The old dwarf muttered softly, making the mage think he had misheard.

"Damn it, I mean you won!"

Klaus spoke with a mixture of anticipation and impatience:

"Damn new recipe, you treacherous mage, you've given us a condition that we can't refuse."

"You're welcome."

The mage remained calm, while the dwarf glared and puffed out his beard.

After a moment of eye contact, Klaus finally gave in, grumbling in a muffled voice:

“Tell me your real goals and conditions. I don’t believe you’re willing to pay such a high price just to exonerate these two bastards.”

As he spoke, the old dwarf glared fiercely at the two revered elders who were protecting the young on either side, and puffed smoke from his nostrils:

"Even if you bundled these two together, they wouldn't be worth this price! Traitors who should even be stripped of their surnames."

Bud and Kegan shrank back as they were scolded, unable to retort, their faces filled with helplessness and grievance.

Now that we can sit down and talk, things will be much easier.

The two dwarf brothers released the elder, and when he turned around to appease the guards and returned, a full wine glass was placed in front of him again.

The monk watched the other man drink heartily, his words carrying a hint of lightness.

"That's only right. If it were just for the two of them, why would I go to such lengths?"

Upon hearing this, both Bard and Kegan's faces darkened, but they pretended not to care.

However, the monk's tone gradually became solemn:

"But these two guys, no matter how hopeless or useless they are, are still my team members, and to this day, they are knights personally appointed by me with my sword and honor."

"Then, if it is not out of respect and reluctance for one's family and clan, what reason would one have to travel thousands of miles from Wudong City to your esteemed place, only to suffer your ridicule, indifference, and even foreseeable punishment?"

The words uttered by the monk grew increasingly stern, and he stood up, looking down at the other person from a superior position.

“Listen carefully, esteemed Elder Mr. Clauren Sweet Wine, our cooperation negotiations with your clan will indeed not be terminated because of Bard and Kegan.”

"However! As participants, they also own 10% of the formula and receive subsequent profits."

With his knees bent and legs crossed, the monk sat opposite the old dwarf once more. His face had calmed down, as if he had composed himself. His words were no longer impassioned, but there was a certain meaning in them.

"What does their former surname matter? Since they are my vassal knights, they also have the right to establish their own family name. The only difference is whether they have the noble title and honor of the surname Sweet Wine or a newly emerging family name."

The old dwarf's face flushed red and then turned pale. He wanted to retort but couldn't find the words. After a long while, he could only stammer out one sentence: "Arrogant mage, are you underestimating our clan?"

“I’m not so bored as to look down on this or that,” the mage glanced at the other person and sipped his hot tea with peace of mind.
"I don't have much time to waste on your prejudices and suspicions either. I'll wait a quarter of an hour. If you can't bring out someone to negotiate and finalize this deal, then I won't make a pointless stop."

As soon as the words were spoken, several flying dragons roared to the sky, their roars booming and echoing through the heavens. Their wings flapped, and a sudden gust of wind arose.

Klaus didn't have time to perform his face-changing act now. Knowing the importance of the situation, he flipped off the cloud chariot and headed straight for the entrance to the hill cave.

Before long, an old dwarf with an even longer beard, more whips, and more luxurious decorations on his beard whips arrived with several of his kin who appeared to be of high status, including Clauren.

"Clan leader!"

"Old man Balenda!"

The way the two addressed each other revealed their identities, which made Zhang Yuan feel slightly relieved.

If we don't come soon, the cloud chariot's usefulness will be over, and then we won't even have a place to spend the night with those two rascals.

Master Zhang casually put away his cloud chariot, strolled over to the approaching dwarf chieftain, and gave a graceful sorcerer's salute.

The old dwarf named Balenda was much more shrewd. He returned the greeting and calmly sized up the human mage whom Cloren had described as arrogant and despicable.

“Young spellcaster, there’s no need to rush to put away your magic chariot. If your so-called sincerity is nothing more than empty words to deceive us, then I think there’s no need for this deal to proceed.”

Kloren, who was following behind, looked indignant. He had been so confused by the earlier bluff that it took him a while to realize that it was clearly this mage who had brought two guides to seek cooperation, but instead, his side had been the one who was in the wrong and was being lectured from a superior position.

"No matter how nicely you put it, you must have some ulterior motive that forced you to rely on Kegan and Bard to approach my people. If you truly wanted to atone for your sins and return, why wait until today?"

"Please state your terms; there's no need for further words."

The dwarf chieftain's face, as solid as a rock, exemplified the meaning of "imposing without anger," but the seasoned Master Zhang was not swayed by such an attitude.
The monk remained calm as he explained the pre-arranged conditions, taking in the changing expressions of the other party with a quick glance.

"Your appetite is far too great. You think you can exchange a single formula for forty tribesmen, half of whom will be artisans?"

"Do you think you're offering up Moradin's sacred text or treating our clan like people for auction? Even setting aside whether you can find other clans willing to cooperate, what clan, besides the Sweet Wine Clan, would even look at a brewing recipe like this?"

Balenda remained calm and composed, seemingly unmoved by the recipe, and even took the initiative, appearing to have the other party completely under her control.

"What is your opinion, Your Excellency?"

"Ten soldiers and five craftsmen—that's the biggest concession we can offer, and they must be directly commanded by their own officers."

Oh?
The monk's lips formed a thin arc, and a hint of mockery flickered in the corners of his upturned eyes:

"If this is your clan's sincerity, then I also have two words to say to you."

"First of all, I did not come here because I had no other choice but to seek your help through Kegan and Bard. On the contrary, it was because of them that I chose you from several options."

"Furthermore, please don't forget that the reason your clan can be called sweet wine is also because of a recipe. This doesn't mean that other clans can't replicate it."

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(End of this chapter)