Cornered Roa

"Ah, Sir Noland... I," a graceful blue-haired woman stood in a store with a heavy medicinal scent. Jars of strange liquids were placed on the shelves while the counter of the store was placed much closer to the entrance, leaving most of the stock behind the fair-skinned, dark-haired owner.

"Hush now," unlike Trilok's perm, Noland had short and straight hair. He stood up from his seat and walked over to the girl. Not denying her the physical contact, he gently held her shoulders and looked deeply into her eyes.

"I am beloved by many, Sweet Vennet. I cannot promise you my affection," Noland whispered, making the girl shiver as tears soon formed in the corner of her eyes. She felt a little dizzy, and started sniffing audibly.

"But, you can remember my touch. You can feel my care and affection through these," Noland whispered and picked the finger-lengthed plug-pill light blue in color. "I won't charge you this time. Take this as a token of my appreciation. Use... it. Grow strong with this and think of me every time you use more of these..." Noland smiled gently. Soon, he walked the lady out of his store and sat down behind the counter with a distressed expression.

Introducing the butt plug pills in the community was the worst idea he ever had. 'These girls are crazy! Love them? Spend time with them? My only lady is Alchemy!' Noland snorted internally. Almost every other day, he had to deal with these incessantly lustful young women. Now, he truly envied the boorish acts with which Trilok set his reputation. No girl would dare confess their affection to that man, after all!

"Tsk, tsk, I saw Vennet leaving with tears and your product in her hands. Man, I tell you, this method of making customers by turning them addicted to your products is amazing."

Noland heard a derisive tone and looked up. The man he envied, like usual, wore a loose tunic and a pair of shorts that only reached his knees. Instead of shoes, the man wore slippers. His young skin not as fair as Noland, but still marked the lack of sheer sun which any fisher would have at this age.

"Tri?" Noland perked up, "What happened? Did Kol think about my offer?" He inquired quickly.

"Ah, no," Trilok shook his head.

It wasn't new that Noland wanted a stream of information from himself and had asked Kol to be his information broker, too. But Kol only refused with any hesitation. When inquired by Trilok about the matter, since it would have been a profitable endeavor for the woman, she failed to give a rational answer and instead blamed her whimsical nature.

"Then? Want a plug for yourself?" Noland inquired with a curious expression.

Trilok's gaze turned dark instantly.

[Rear Refreshment: An uncommon alchemical refinement under heaven formed by the flesh of 2 box crown guppies mixed with...]

The recipe for the infernal pill followed soon. The effect of this pill was quite simple. It would refresh the body and fill it with vigor and vitality. Noland still wasn't capable to refine pills that increased the effects of spiritual energy with a great rate of success so this pill turned out to be his greatest selling product now.

"It's about an investment opportunity. Where's Ron? Have him look after the store."

Trilok stated concisely.

---

Instead of going to the tavern, Trilok led Noland to a slightly more secluded area. Of course, the nearest location would be the empty areas of the deck close to the ledges, right next to the ocean but Trilok did not choose such a location and instead stopped close to the narrow path between a few stores yet to be given out to the fishers.

Once Noland heard Trilok's idea, he frowned.

"I understand we can sponsor ships. Of course, the best ship to sponsor would Uncle Roa's but I doubt he will let us in on his earnings since we didn't let him in on ours. But, what's the point of all of this? We save coins and instead wait for trade ships. Isn't that simpler?"

Trilok looked at Noland's information.

[Name: Noland

Age: 19

Spirit Vein: Blue (Upgrade Requirement: 500,000)

Cultivation: Spiritual Dweller— 9 (Upgrade Requirement: 11,000)

Technique: Sea God's Ascension (Mid-Common)(No Special Traits)(Upgrade Requirement: 20000)

]

Even with a slightly better aptitude, Noland was still only Cultivating the common Cultivation technique.

"Remember you called this place a dump?" Trilok inquired.

"I still call it a dump," Noland shrugged.

"Then why not turn things around? The only place near this ship which isn't a dump is that—" Trilok pointed towards the ocean, "After brewing Spirit Trace Oil... after breaking through to Spiritual Enhancer realm, I felt this, too. This place may not be a dump for me now, but it will soon be. Even the chief is only a spiritual summoner. Remember how he held his tongue even at the sight of Jeli in ropes? Have you ever seen him so powerless?" Trilok inquired.

"So... you want to leave the community for an adventure?" Noland inquired.

"No, I want to sponsor adventurers. Those that can at least try and reach out for places that people like you and I cannot," Trilok replied.

"What does it have to do anything with the sponsorship of ships? And why money of all things? We can sponsor them with spirit oils, potions, and pills," Noland crossed his arms. He still felt dubious of Trilok's intentions.

"Of course, we can do all that," Trilok felt a little troubled. The major need of sponsoring the fishers with the coin wasn't just to give out the 'dead' coin, but use the fishers as a way for an influx of newer coins. It was a well-known fact that fishers from other communities often meet each other in the ocean and trade privately. Since the community ships are always moving, the fishers represented the community's need for various products, some of which are produced in areas that the ships have already passed.

But that doesn't mean another community ship won't be in that location.

Even in the port of their community, many fishers from other communities gather daily and trade various goods and coins. But if Trilok actively 'sends' dead coins to other ships, the number of dead coins he would receive will get lower and lower.

"But I have a lot of coins to spend. What are you gonna do about it?" Trilok finally shrugged, making Noland's expression bleak.

"Say it! What are you hiding?" Noland leaned forward.

"Nothing," Trilok smiled.

"You're lying. All this chat about investment opportunity is just useless... you want something else. If you don't tell me—"

"If I don't tell you, then what? You'll not invest? You had such an idea before but I wasn't interested. Which led you to feel suppressed by the other party. I get it now. To earn fair grounds against a monster as great as Roa, we will have to work together. But, are you really willing to lose this opportunity just because I don't want to share my personal details?" Trilok inquired with a sharp gaze, making Noland feel stunned.

"Tch, pretentious bastard," Noland snorted.

"Fine. I think you have an appointment with Uncle Roa already?" Noland inquired.

"Yep. It's in 20 minutes. Anyway, what happened to the remaining Spirit Manifesting Pills?"

"I could separate a few components but the core of the pill was never revealed," Noland shrugged, "I would probably need hundreds of pills to even start understanding the main components of pills."

Soon, the duo walked into a wooden cabin with the door decorated by a beautiful, glimmering sword. Spiritual energy seemed to ripple around the sword as the two youths looked at each other.

"You're the enhancer, right? Go ahead, knock," Noland smiled.

"Huff, fine," Trilok gritted his teeth and knocked twice.

*Knock*

*Knock*

Every time he knocked, his knuckles would feel ticklish because of the ripple of spiritual energy.

"Come in," Roa's voice echoed from the other side and the two finally entered the cabin.

Just like others, Roa had fashioned his house into a place of business on the front and his living quarters behind. Since the middle-aged son of the Community Chief was still single, he had one of the best places to stay in the entire community!

"Heh, you both, huh. Come on, sit. It isn't like you two to approach me this early in the day... or the month... or the year."

When the two sat opposite to the desk, Trilok and Noland eyed each other. After a silent conflict, Trilok once again spoke up.

"We're here to discuss about sponsoring your ships," Trilok went straight to the point. It wasn't like the trio needed each other's introduction and they had entered into enough financial conflicts, one of them was the reason why Vayu knew Jeli, in the first place.

"Oh, do tell," Roa hadn't combed his hair yet and was going through some past records so him smiling wildly with his long untied hair still disheveled made him come across slightly crazy.

"Do you know that the old man just bought Spiritual Aftertaste?" Trilok inquired before saying anything more.

Frowning at the news, Roa shook his head.

"Well, now you know," Trilok smiled, "And he offered to provide me with materials to be his private alchemist and brew more of Spiritual Aftertaste."

Even Noland's eyes widened now.

Of course, there was truth in the lies and lie in the truth. Trilok continued with a straight face, "I, of course, rejected the offer. I have just broken through the ranks of a spiritual enhancer and still don't know the DEF of alchemy... much less GHI that your father asked me to commit for. This brings me to the cause of this venture. We want to have a say in the procurement of materials from other community ships."

Noland nodded silently.

While making their way towards Roa's cabin, they both had discussed their needs, and only by having an active authority over the raw materials brought into the ship would they be able to achieve this goal.

"It is understandable. With Mithra gone, for three years now, right? You two have certainly filled the void for an alchemist in the ship. While Mithra was barely apt in the complete process of Refinement, Noland is good at refining pills, and you are amazing at potioneering."

Mithra was the old alchemist who used to suppress the alchemical market with an iron fist until he got the opportunity to trade places in a Trade Ship, an act which he committed with great joy.

But Roa's expression turned grim.

"But having an authority in the say of material procurement without owning private ships and teams means that you will have to pay a greater price. Your demand, in essence, is to be a part of the management circle of the community. A simple sponsor, a few potions and oils, and definition the strangely shaped pills will not get you a foot on the other side," Roa hummed thoughtfully.

"Management circle, unlike business partnership is cruder. More basic. You both clearly have the knack of the latter. Shameless enough to grip any form of market and earn your living while trying to expand your area of interests. But for management circle... you need the qualification of strength."

As Roa spoke these words, Trilok checked Roa's information.

[Name: Roa

Age: 40

Spirit Vein: Blue (Upgrade Requirement: 500,000)

Cultivation: Spiritual Enhancer— 9 (Upgrade Requirement: 47,000), Uncommon Physique— 9 (Upgrade Requirement: 56,000)

Techniques: Bellow of Wine Monk (High-Epic)(Special Trait: Wine Dantian: 2)(Upgrade Requirement: 220,000)

Drunk Shura (High-Mystic)(Special Trait: Wine Conversion: 2)(Upgrade Requirement: 160,000)

]

Roa's status was similar to 'Jolly' the chief. Just lower.

"Qualification of strength?" Noland frowned.

"Yep. We can discuss your partnership with my group of fishers but you won't be able to get a say in the major decisions of the Community unless you become a peak Spiritual Enhancer. Of course, you would also need sufficient accomplishments and reputation. This is why we don't let every spiritual enhancer in on the management of the community."

This was something Trilok did not know and his face fell slightly. But he quickly regained his composure.

"Very well. Then for the sponsorship," This time, Noland spoke up while allowing Trilok to prepare another pitch, "We will provide with an influx of coin and the two most popular oil alongside the best pill of the community for the fisher's... female relatives."

Noland stated without a hint of shame.

Roa couldn't help but lament.

In Mithra's 'dynasty' nobody would have even imagined such a debauched pill.

'But this guy... the fact that he has the best sales in trade ships means that the pills really work. Even my partners ask me to buy these constantly...' Roa thought internally. He may not have married, but as a strong cultivator and the son of the chief, he clearly had his own 'pull' own pull over the curves.

"How many coins are we talking about?"

"Hundred thousand," Noland stated, making Roa sigh softly.

'This is probably the limits that their savings can allow them,' the middle-aged man thought internally.

"And what about the products of sponsorship?" Roa inquired.

These are the things Noland and Trilok had discussed previously. It still wasn't the time for Trilok to enter the stage again.

"Three vials of Poor Man's Health each day, 1 vial of spirit trace oil every two days. And a single Rear Refreshment for all your fishers daily."

Roa grew silent and began calculating.

He owned a fleet of 11 ships with a total of 72 fishers under his command. Only a few of them were Spiritual Enhancers while most of them were veteran Spiritual Dwellers that still couldn't have their spirits breakthrough into the next rank.

The collective price of four vials of oil was 1020, and the price of the butt plug was 280 coins. But the variable of possible deaths still wasn't accounted for.

Before Roa could inquire, Noland continued with a smile.

"Of course, if any member of your fleet dies, his family will receive the promised award for as long as a week. In this package, however, we won't be adding any spirit trace oil."

Roa shook his head, "A deceased's family is entitled to—"

"They're entitled to shit," Noland sneered with a cold expression, "Did you forget I'm an orphan, uncle? My tears for the dead are all dried out. Parents are gone? Tough luck. The community provides education and scrolls for the same. The amount of pity they deserve is limited, because, let's face it, I didn't receive any."

Roa pursed his lips. His gaze flickered for a moment.

As Noland stated, pity was limited in the current negotiation. Noland's story was harsh, and so was Trilok's. Both orphans striving to make a living and encountering tough situations, both, in the ocean, and in the community.

"It's fine," Roa nodded.

'Aside from the initial investment of a hundred thousand, the two will be spending 28,800 coins daily and every two days, this number would bump up to 93,600. This kind of expense... if I accept such a great investment, I need to be able to grit my teeth for the pound of flesh they are going to ask for,' Roa thought to himself. Of course, this was the market price of the products being offered. The actual cost was much lower.

Finally, Noland grew silent and waited for Roa's response.

'Curses... Do I have to offer revenue myself? The moment I let them see through my line of tolerance, they'll rip me off a new one financially...' Roa gulped, carefully thinking about the offer he can make for such a price.

'The two communities that fall ahead and behind us have a great supply of herbs instead of spiritual beasts. However... if we show signs of development too quickly, we will face trouble in foreign communities.'

Noland's and Trilok's actions were similar to giving Roa's fleet their salaries in the form of alchemical products!

This was an extremely enticing endeavor.

The stronger his fleets get, the more they will be able to adventure across the ocean.

It was just as Trilok had imagined. Even if he doesn't have enough capital to build a loyal team, he can definitely sponsor such a situation and earn profits from the sidelines.

"30% profits. You both will have to decide your share amongst yourselves," Roa spoke up finally.

"We already have discussed these terms privately," Trilok spoke up with a smile.

"Noland will take 12% profits, and I will have 34% of the total profits. So... It's whether you are willing to think for your people or not."

A total of 46% profit share!

'You two think too much. My fleet brings materials worth almost 300,000 every day! Their total salary per day almost rivals a hundred thousand. And the remaining amount is used for the maintenance of the ships. In the end, all we are left is with unsold stock and a little over 170,000 in gross profit. And you want to take half of it?'

Roa sneered. Of course, in reality, this business wasn't this profitable. Any astute fisher would demand an insurance for his loyalty. At the death of a fisher, his/her family is compensated for four months of the dead member's salary. Of course, Roa always reserved the chance to not pay the amount but it would in fact lower the trust of other fishers in him. So, every day, around 80,000 would be stacked away. Even Roa's fleet had a mortality rate of 2-3 members every year.

Even with all this money, Roa felt quite poor. He would utilize his savings to buy more defensive talismans and the cultivation resources for his body and spirit cultivation. The sheer cost of his living was mind-numbing!

If Noland and Trilok devour half of the remaining amount, Roa will have to lessen his own cultivation resources!

"Not at all. This is too excessive!" Roa stated firmly.

But Trilok didn't lose his smile. Keeping one's objective in the dark and making the opponent fluster with lies and deceit is a major part of a negotiation.