Chess Mage of Faerûn

Chapter 501 Revisiting the Widow's Door

Summer is the peak season for shipping and logistics in the Sword Bay. Although it doesn't have the grand spectacle of thousands of sails racing in Deep Water City and Luscany, the ships and sampans coming and going are still numerous and lined up one after another, creating a prosperous and vibrant scene.

It was bound to happen, and Manager Jia's heart skipped a beat, his smile freezing on his face.

The lord's words seemed casual, but the underlying meaning was not to be ignored.

If a single berth can generate so much revenue, a port must have at least ten or more berths. How much would that generate in a day? And how much in a year?
A berth is given away, consider it a loss to avoid disaster. The real fear is that thieves will have their eyes on it and try to take a bite out of this lucrative opportunity.

Therefore, Manager Jia not only had to give this berth, but he also had to give it in a nonchalant and sincere manner.

"It's not that easy. We laborers at the bottom only earn a meager living. Don't be fooled by the current prosperity. How many days a year can we have like this? We should be grateful to the Queen of the Ocean for making half of our berths usable on ordinary days."

"It's just a berth, which is usually idle and useless. It's a good thing that it can be used by the lord."

Manager Jia tried to elicit sympathy and complaints, attempting to use persuasive rhetoric to get away with it, but the monk paid no attention, preoccupied with admiring the bay scenery. Only after a long while, when the other party was hoarse and speechless, did he finally turn his face towards him.

"These days, who isn't earning a living through hard work? Even I have to squeeze out time to work hard and travel around just to barely make ends meet."

As soon as the monk opened his mouth, Manager Jia knew he had met his match. Why did that blatant lying style seem so familiar?
"You flatter me, sir. You are a dignified lord and a noble wizard. How can we poor folks compare to you?"

Since flattery is free, Manager Jia lavished praise upon praise upon Master Zhang, as if he were doing it in bulk.

The latter, however, remained unmoved, his face showing worry and distress.

"The title of lord is just a name, an empty shell. So many people below rely on me for their livelihood. Look, I've managed to do some small business, but I don't even have a channel for making money."

"Oh, this,"

Seeing that the other party wasn't buying it, Manager Jia thought to himself that they were determined to take a bite out of him, and he wouldn't get away with it without paying a price.

"While I cannot make decisions about your requests, I can at least relay them to your family."

"No need to be so nervous. I've already said it's just a small business. Just do me a favor."

The monk wore a relaxed and kind smile, and drew a circle with his finger in the direction of the Auerbach's anchorage:
"You're saying this berth is mine now?"

"Yes, it is."

"So, this area around the berths and docks is also under my jurisdiction?"

"Well... I think so."

Manager Jia broke out in a cold sweat, his mind racing, but he still couldn't figure out what the big deal was, so he could only vaguely agree.

After all, the most important berths have been given up, and the little bit of open space on the edge is only worth a few coins.

But the monk wasn't finished speaking; he continued:

“The storage area is right across from the berth. Is it okay if I rent two warehouses for material turnover? The rent will be charged according to the rules, not a penny less.”

"In principle, there's no problem, but..."

Jax, considering the other party's identity as a wizard, couldn't help but feel some apprehension:

"The storage area has a large quantity of goods and frequent traffic, and some of the items used in witchcraft are... well, it's not safe either. What do you think, sir?"

"Don't worry, they're just some ordinary little items. Otherwise, you can come and witness each time they're put into storage." After some haggling, Manager Jia agreed to the other party's request, not only out of fear but also because he couldn't find a reason to object.

On second thought, if this formidable neighbor really intended to use their connections to do business, wouldn't they at least be more considerate once they had a stake in the deal?

"No need, see you later."

The mage stood up and declined Manager Jia's offer to see him off. He stepped out of the port authority's reception room and disappeared into the afterglow of the teleportation spell.

The latter was left with a somewhat dazed look, his gaze shifting back and forth between the doorway and the scroll on the table.

At the bottom of the contract file, a signature flickered like a burning azure flame—the mage's arcane insignia. The soft light reflected in Manager Jia's eyes, causing his pupils to shrink subconsciously. When he came to his senses, he felt a sense of relief, yet also as if he had been suspended in mid-air. This contradictory emotion was something even he himself could not understand.

I hope I didn't do anything wrong.

After sighing inwardly, Manager Jia carefully put away the contract in a wooden box, turned around and called his deputy in, gave him a few instructions, and then got up to go to Neverwinter City to report on the day's events.

Just as he was feeling anxious and uncertain, the instigator had already arrived in Deepwater, the largest city in the North.

"The teleportation location fee is one gold. Thank you for your patronage. May the arcane light shine upon you forever."

May the light of arcane magic shine forever.

Zhang Yuan, who had been precisely teleported to the Vigilant Order Academy, took out his badge certificate from when he had studied there, and the cost of two gold coins was halved.

Mosquito legs are meat too!
Having made another small profit, Master Zhang returned the gift and leisurely left the academy, arriving at the gate of the Dussel family's mansion in the commercial district.

Ah yes, it's that pretty widow's house.

Tuk-tuk-tuk~
The door opened a crack, and a man dressed as a bodyguard came out to greet them.

"Your Excellency Wizard, how may I help you?"

The visitor, dressed in a mage's robe and wearing a Vigilant badge on his chest, was clearly not someone to be trifled with; the gatekeepers weren't so clueless as to lack such discernment.

"Please inform Mrs. Dussel that our old friend Charnem is coming to visit."

After watching the other party rush into the house to report, the monk waited patiently with another guard at the door. Before long, a noblewoman came towards him.

The person who came had a dignified yet swift gait, and the swaying of their waist revealed a touch of elegance.

But it was none other than the widow of Chairman Carrick, Mrs. Belleira Dussel.

Having not seen her for over a year, the beautiful widow's face had gained a lot of charm and allure. Although her elegant attire lacked the forbidden and seductive feel of her black mourning dress from that day, it still accentuated her shapely figure, highlighting the voluptuous curves unique to young women, giving her a distinctive charm.

"Good day, Your Excellency Chanem, the Dussel family welcomes you."

"Good day, Mrs. Dussel, we meet again, and this time I bring good news."

The lady gave the guest a ladylike curtsy, her long eyelashes fluttering, her eyes slightly lowered. When she spoke again, her tone wasn't one of surprise, but rather a hint of helplessness:
"Then, esteemed wizard, what good news do you have for this poor widow?"

Thank you to Miaohong and Jakiro_J for your monthly tickets!

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(End of this chapter)