Chapter 007: The Competition Conference

Everyone looked at him. Leilo feigned a friendly smile and said, "The drinks and fruits at the Dream Hotel are quite good; I trust everyone has enjoyed them sufficiently"

The expression on Chief Steward Luther's face improved slightly as he nodded and said, "I hope so"

Gaia nodded slightly: "I haven't forgotten"

This brat, with his silver tongue, can even turn black into white! Andrew said with resentment

... ...

The status of the nobility within the Abyss is so exalted that it is evident how great a sacrifice Gaia has made, humbling herself for the sake of the adventurers' supply station

Susha waved her hand without looking back: "Alright, Sister Marisa, don't you think what is happening here is more interesting?" Susha had not realized that what was happening here was more interesting, of course, this change occurred after she saw Gaia.

Luther glanced at Gaia and said, "Then the first competition is Thunder..."

After he finished speaking, he flipped his fingers, and the gold coins on his hand disappeared

The noble's private guard, although not numerous, purchases only high-end magical defense products, which are expensive and yield high profits

Leilo's business is substantial; he has established good cooperative relationships with many commercial firms in the south, and he is indeed capable of achieving this

Le Luo looked at Gaia with a sinister expression: "Hmph, at such a young age, you possess such cunning. It seems that your deliberate humiliation of Cristiano was not a momentary whim; you are clearly trying to use that incident to force him out of this competition!"

I... Lei Luo organized his thoughts: "I have a complete promotional plan: First, I will send people to conduct weapon demonstrations in the main towns, such as Mein City, Modo Town, and Castle Kashi... in these places, to inform people that the weapons from the Mage Soldier Family are of superior quality. Although the price is 30% higher than that of ordinary weapons, their durability is twice that of regular weapons. Overall, the weapons from the Mage Soldier Family are still a good deal."

Gaia looked at him with a cold expression and淡淡 said to Strong: "The smile of a weasel"

Susha was filled with joy, but then became furious: "Damn Gaia, you tricked me again!"

What moved Luther the most, evidently, was this last point

After thoroughly consolidating the market in the north, I will leverage my good relationship with my business partners in the south to deliver the weapons of the Demon Soldier Clan at favorable prices, thereby opening up new markets

Although he asked this, he felt it was merely a routine procedure

Andrew, come back. Don't you understand? He is deliberately provoking you. If you offend him, he will treat us the same way he treats Cristiano. Do not let him succeed.

A trace of barely perceptible coldness flashed in Le Luo's narrowed eyes

It would be strange if the Demon Soldier Clan did not send someone to secretly monitor such an important matter

This contemptuous attitude infuriated a warrior behind Leilo, who strode forward and reached out to grab Gaia. However, Gaia remained as steady as a mountain, not moving an inch. At a critical moment, a furious shout suddenly rang out: "Andrew, stop!"

Mr. Luther, if I were to say that this coin in my hand is worth the equivalent of ten coins of Mr. Leiro to the Mage Soldier family, would you believe it

Leiluo spread his hands and said, "Well then, please listen to me. Everyone knows that I am a reasonable person. Staying here is nothing but a waste of time; I do not wish to waste your time playing this competitive game with me." The expressions of the crowd changed slightly, but they did not dare to say much more.

It is referred to as a "competition conference," but in fact, compared to the annually held "beast fighting conference," it cannot be considered a significant event in scale. It is merely a gathering of a group of merchants in a conference room, competing with one another.

The waiter looked at Strong in surprise: "You are not from Mainz, are you? In Mainz, there may be some who do not know the Lord of the City, but surely no one is unfamiliar with Mr. Leiro. He is the largest merchant in Mainz, the pride of the business community, and nearly one-third of the shops in Mainz belong to him. It seems he was not very interested in the weapons industry before and had never ventured into it. It turns out that when he decides to engage, he aims high, directly competing for the first-level agency of the Demon Weapon Family. Truly a business genius, tsk tsk, his vision is simply different from ours... It seems he was not very interested in the weapons industry before and had never ventured into it. It turns out that when he decides to engage, he aims high, directly competing for the first-level agency of the Demon Weapon Family. Truly a business genius, tsk tsk, his vision is simply different from ours..."

Gaia stood up, and with a twist of his five fingers, a coin magically appeared between them

The crowd erupted in an uproar, while Lei Luo smiled faintly and sat back down

... ...

He looked at Luther and said: "For the Mage Soldier family, I believe the market is no longer an issue. In the northern part of the Empire, the market share of the Mage Soldier family is likely at least 50%... In other words, among ten adventurers, at least five are using weapons from the Mage Soldier family"

"My lord." Strong's voice startled Gaia: "Tomorrow is the competition conference."

The maids who were arranging the meeting room immediately removed the originally prepared chairs upon seeing the large shadow at the entrance and replaced them with a more spacious one

Andrew was furious, pointing at Gaia and shouting: "Nonsense! They are all gold coins, each bearing the image of the Dragon Emperor. Why is your one gold coin worth ten of ours? Is it just because you are a noble? Bah! You are nothing but a poor, fallen aristocrat, pretending to be something you are not."

Leiluo appeared quite amiable, nodding to the people around him

In the adjacent room, Su Sha was pressing her eyes against the small hole, and when she saw Gaia outside, she was quite surprised: What is this guy doing here?

Once the momentum is built up, I will begin a 10% discount promotion, and customers who purchase two gold coins will receive ten arrows as a gift. In the northern part of the empire, among ten adventurers, five are clients of the Mage Soldier family. I will seize the opportunity to convert the remaining five into supporters of the Mage Soldier family

However, when this crystal card was taken out, it led Luther to another speculation: Nobles all have families. Even if Gaia's territory is barren, and even if he is not favored at home and has been sent here, this crystal card should indicate some issues: he still has supporters within his family; otherwise, how could a fourteen-year-old child possess so much gold? Four thousand gold coins is certainly not a small sum, even for an ordinary noble. However, this crystal card should indicate some issues: he still has supporters within his family; otherwise, how could a fourteen-year-old child possess so much gold? Four thousand gold coins is certainly not a small sum, even for an ordinary noble.

Everyone present displayed expressions of confusion, except for the little Susha next door, who revealed a knowing smile

Gaia waved his hand; since arriving in this world, he had not felt this relaxed for a long time. "Go on in."

The warrior was taken aback, with his fingertips just one centimeter away from Gaia's neck

As Gaia just mentioned, the Mage Warrior Clan holds an absolute advantage in the northern part of the Empire, but this advantage is limited to adventurers and ordinary citizens; the military and nobility cannot encroach upon it. For the Mage Warrior Clan to achieve a breakthrough, it must address these two aspects.

By the way, Your Excellency Gaia, your Greenland is not included in my plans; even ordinary weapons are unaffordable for your people

He seems to be able to determine others' destinies with just a casual remark. Little does he know, it is precisely this trait that is most detestable

At that moment, Leilo suddenly stood up from the back and said, "Ladies and gentlemen!"

Luther couldn't help but laugh

"Luther, the chief steward." Leilo stood up once more and glanced at Lord Gaia: "I believe that, in any case, there is one point on which I and this noble Lord Gaia are in agreement"

The Gaia family is not very clear about their investigation, after all, Sean does not want anyone to know about their relationship. However, they still know that Gaia comes from a prominent family in the imperial capital. As long as there are still members in the family who support Gaia, it is already sufficient for the Mage Soldier family.

This is to assess the business acumen of the two individuals

Gaia burst into laughter: "Of course it's fake!"

Strong has gathered sufficient information and, leaving behind the attendant who is still in a state of idol worship, returned to report to Gaia

Luther frowned, hesitating. Leilo stood up again: "Luther, the chief steward, you must understand that the magical warrior families need to maintain their current position in order to further develop. If you grant this kid the qualification of a first-level distributor, I fear he won't even be able to come up with the basic operating funds"

The door opened, and a long-haired girl, around eighteen or nineteen years old, walked in. Upon seeing Su Sha eagerly leaning against the wall, she finally let out a sigh of relief: "Miss Su Sha, we had agreed to go shopping today."

Neither of them said much, as if they both understood that today's encounter was merely a chance meeting. Then, everyone needed to return to their original lives, just as they had been before, and just as they would be in the future

Luther's eyes lit up; he had been a person who had navigated the business world for a lifetime. Without Gaia needing to elaborate, he understood her meaning.

Leiluo laughed and said: "What is there to compare? My business spans across Mainz. Although he is a noble, his territory is Greenland, that impoverished place. What can he use to compare his strength with mine? The profits from any one of my stores under the Leiluo Trading Company are three times the total profits of his entire territory! Hmph!"

Next door, Su Sha exclaimed with excitement: "This little brat can even perform magic tricks. If I had known yesterday, I would have asked him to show me. How dare he keep it to himself, hum!" Su Sha fiercely rubbed her nose with her finger

Leilo's expression changed slightly, and he nodded, saying: "I understand."

Gaia shrugged: "Therefore, I believe that for the Magic Soldier Family to further develop and grow, it can no longer rely solely on the quality of your weapons and the amount of gold your distributors possess. Now, you need a different kind of assistance. I will say no more for now; Mr. Luther surely understands that I am correct in what I say."

Gaia no longer paid attention to him and turned to Luther, saying: "If I could become a primary distributor near the city of Mainz, the first thing I would do is to promote the weapons of the Mage Soldier family to the Mainz City Defense Force"

Gaia raised the gold coin in her hand: "Well, I admit that I am not wealthy, and I also acknowledge that my territory is still in its early stages. However, my status ensures that I will find it easier than Mr. Leilo in many areas"

Andrew glanced at the wall behind the steward Luther, lowered his head, and whispered in Relo's ear: "There is a gap in the wall behind Luther, and there is someone next door who is overhearing us."

Gaia smiled: "Are you worried that I might be inspired by your idea?" Leilo snorted, his words laced with sarcasm: "How could I dare to doubt that a noble would engage in the sordid act of stealing someone else's ideas?"

"Wow, this kid is actually so wealthy..." Su Sha exclaimed in surprise from next door, unaware that this was all of Gaia's possessions

He and the person he brought sat at the front, glanced at the two groups, and simply said: "Well, let's begin"

Gaia's actions naturally drew disdain from many onlookers. A plump businessman trailing behind him sneered and said to those around him: "Look, it's this Greenland bumpkin who scared Cristiano into not competing anymore. Hmph, although this kid is a bit foolish, he has done me a great favor. Well, let's not make him too uncomfortable later; let's just let him be."

Strong's eyes were filled with anger. However, Gaia seemed to be oblivious to it, wearing an expression of indifference.

Originally, such a competitive event was merely a display of the strengths of both parties. The commerce in the Abyss is still quite underdeveloped, and there is no concept of bidding or anything of that sort

Gaia calmly took out her magic crystal card: "There are over 4,000 gold coins in here, as basic startup capital. I believe that should be more than sufficient, right?"

Leiluo's mind raced through several thoughts in an instant. He grabbed Andrew and asked in a low voice, "What are you best at?"

In comparison to Gaia, their investigation into Leilo is much more thorough. It is indeed true that Leilo has a close relationship with the Lord of the City, but everyone understands that whenever he appears at the Lord's banquet, it is always when the Lord is in need of raising gold coins. The two parties can never engage in a conversation on equal terms; however, Gaia is different.

Andrew suddenly realized and, drenched in sweat, returned to Leiro's side: "Sir, I apologize, Andrew was too reckless!" Leiro waved his hand, a hint of a confident smile on his lips: "Don't worry, in a while, you might have the chance to take revenge yourself."

Leilo was exasperated: "What do you mean? Are you saying that I cannot accomplish these two tasks? I am a distinguished guest of the city lord!" Gaia smiled faintly; he knew that between himself and Leilo, it was clear who could better assist the Demon Soldier family in overcoming their current commercial bottleneck. He did not need to elaborate; the old fox named Luther would make his own judgment.

"Well then, gentlemen, let us begin." Luther took out a piece of parchment: "First, the comparison of strengths between both parties."

Susha in the next room held her head and thought hard: "If I get the chance, I must see whether this kid is wearing something like a storage ring..."

This is the second time Gaia has come to the Dream Hotel within two days. He keeps looking around, and to others, this action seems somewhat unsophisticated, akin to the reaction of a farmer who has never been to the city before when he first enters. Only Strong understands what he is doing.

Andrew was merely rambling, yet his words had a striking effect, awakening those who were lost in thought. The expressions on Luther and Relo's faces changed simultaneously. Relo inwardly cursed himself, realizing he had underestimated this child.

Then I will take my leave, take care of yourself... Su Sha glanced back at him, and Gaia suddenly called out to her: "Su Sha, I have deceived you twice. Remember, I owe you. You can come to Greenland to find me."

However, both sides have their respective strengths and are evenly matched. Luther discussed with several of his assistants, then stood up and said: "Since both parties are evenly matched in strength, we would like to hear your suggestions regarding the development of the Demon Soldier Family near Main City."

Strong was taken aback, looking at Gaia with some uncertainty. After a moment of thought, he chose not to speak. On the surface, the situation appeared to be a stalemate between both sides, but in reality, Gaia had already pushed his advantages to the limit. Meanwhile, Leilo still had many hidden cards. If things continued this way, victory would surely belong to Leilo. Strong did not understand why Gaia was so confident.

Leiluo stood up confidently at first, but then furrowed his brow and sat back down. He raised his hand and said, "I spoke first just now, so it's your turn this time."

Luther glanced at Leilo and said lightly, "Mr. Leilo, you may speak now"

Luther glanced at the materials in his hand, looked at Gaia with some surprise, stood up, and slightly bowed to Gaia, saying, "I did not know there was another noble present; please forgive me"

Gaia couldn't help but regard this fat man with newfound respect. However, the way he looked at the warrior Andrew was akin to looking at a fool

The crowd looked at Leilo sitting in that chair with a mix of annoyance and fear, the creaking sound almost making them worry that he would collapse the chair.

Then, Gaia smiled slightly and said, "This is the personal guard of the city lord."

Seeing Luther in a difficult position, Leilo cast a triumphant glare at Gaia, the display of superiority was too obvious. Gaia noticed that look and whispered to Strang: "That fat guy must be thinking: Hey, kid, if you want to compete with me, you are still far from it"

Gaia waved his hand slightly and said, "No need to be polite; I am here today as an ordinary businessman participating in the competition." Luther looked at him with some surprise and nodded lightly. Such a rule-abiding noble is indeed rare in the Abyss.

One after another, more people arrived. When three individuals reached the entrance and saw Leiluo, they asked a couple of questions at the door but did not enter; instead, they turned and left. The remaining individuals, after much consideration, also walked in, appearing quite lacking in confidence.

Dissatisfaction aside, Leilo has already stated this, which shows that he is indeed determined to win this competition. As everyone soon found themselves unable to compete with him, they gradually left in small numbers. In the large conference room, only the two groups of Gaia and Leilo remained.

Luther couldn't help but nod; they had conducted their own investigation before coming and knew that what Leilo said was indeed the truth. If viewed purely from the perspective of being tightly closed, ten thousand Gaias would not be a match for Leilo.

Andrew: "You!" Leilo slightly raised his hand, and Andrew dared not say more.

At the entrance of the most magnificent and dreamlike hotel in Mainz, Su Sha sighed and glanced at Gaia with a pout: "I have arrived, Gaia, thank you for today"

Leilo chuckled lightly, stood up with his hand pressed against the luxurious satin garment on his chest, and slightly bowed: "Chief Steward Luther, I sincerely apologize. In order to save everyone some time, I had them leave early. However, rest assured, the price I have offered will definitely satisfy the Mage Soldier family"

With a ringing sound, a group of people streamed in from outside the conference room. Upon seeing that the large conference room only had two groups of people remaining, the elder at the forefront couldn't help but be taken aback

Luther's eyes brightened once again: Gaia indeed saw the bottleneck of the Demon Soldier family.

After Gaia finished speaking, she glanced at Leiser and said, "As for the other strategies, I believe I need not elaborate, as Mr. Leiro will certainly be able to handle them."

The boy and girl shouted and made a commotion, one chasing while the other fled, leaving only Strong, who silently followed behind. The loyal municipal officer shrugged his shoulders, recalling Gaia's words, and couldn't help but reveal a faint smile at the corners of his mouth

Gaia glanced at him lightly without saying a word

Gaia remained calm, while Leilo, filled with resentment, sat back down with a thud, causing the chair to emit a creaking sound under the strain

Luther had already made up his mind. He glanced at Leilo and declared, "Both sides have their strengths, and neither can claim victory."

The remaining five adventurers are all broke

This is purely commercial competition. It seems that Leilo is speaking to himself: "What truly matters is real strength; it is not enough to rely on being born into a good race to achieve victory."

Therefore..." Reilo's gaze swept over the crowd, pausing slightly on Gaia's face: "This time, I, Reilo, am determined to secure the qualification of a first-level distributor. You all may return now.

Gaia glanced back at Leilo, who was quietly conversing with Andrew. With a smile, Gaia said to Strang: "I bet he is definitely trying to figure out a way to scheme against me"

Luther found himself once again at a difficult crossroads. He glanced awkwardly at the two individuals.

Everyone burst into laughter

The fact that that brawny yet simple-minded fellow was able to answer the question correctly this time is undoubtedly a coincidence; it is completely inexplicable given his intelligence.

Luther, constrained by the dignity of his noble status, found it difficult to refute. Moreover, as Gaia spoke very courteously, he smiled and said, "Indeed, what are your thoughts?"

Strong snorted: "His strength is far greater than ours, yet he can only tie with us. In this situation, he has already lost; what is there to be proud of?" Gaia smiled: "You are right. Since he has already lost, let us make his defeat more thorough and simply eliminate him from the competition."

Luther furrowed his brow, stroking his beard, and pondered uncertainly in his heart

Susha smiled faintly and walked through the luxurious door. Gaia stood at the entrance, watching her disappear inside. Suddenly, Susha poked her head out from the door, stuck out her tongue at him, and made a funny face, causing Gaia to chuckle involuntarily. ... Susha blinked and withdrew her head ... . ... Gaia suddenly felt a wave of melancholy, furrowing his brow as he gazed at the door and blinked.

When the self-important fat man arrived at the door of the conference room, Gaia had already entered. Upon seeing the fat man walk in, the receptionist at the door immediately became attentive, bending down to kiss the fat man's plump hand: "Ah, Lord Leilo, your presence is an honor for our Dream Hotel. Please, do come in! Scarlett, prepare a comfortable chair for Lord Leilo..."

Strong was also not very familiar with the matters of Mainz. He glanced at Leilo, walked over to a waiter, slipped a silver coin into his hand, and quietly asked, "Who exactly is that fat man?"

Andrew was furious: "Are you calling me stupid?" Gaia looked at him and smiled: "We are starting from your IQ: it is indeed not easy for you to realize this!"

Market share is clearly a term that these individuals are unable to comprehend

In the conference room, aside from Gaia, four or five people had already arrived. Upon seeing the chubby Leilo enter, their expressions changed simultaneously, and they whispered among themselves: "Why is this fatso here? Once he arrives, what are we even competing for? Let's just concede to him!"

Gaia raised her hand slowly and said, "Mr. Luther, shouldn't you ask me something before making your wise judgment?"

Leiluo had just taken a seat and was telling Andrew in a sinister tone, "That kid thinks he can compete with me, but he is still far from it"

Next door, Su Sha curled her lip: "That fatso dares to mock Gaia for being poor!" After a moment of gritting her teeth, she suddenly smiled: "So it turns out Gaia is just a little pauper. Good thing I only had vegetable soup pretending to be mashed potatoes yesterday, otherwise I would have surely eaten him out of house and home in one meal, hehe!"