"Iron ore?" Lucas feigned surprise, arching an eyebrow. "Exactly how much are we talking about?"
"Well..." Hana hesitated for a moment. "We have roughly tens of thousands of pounds of iron ore on hand."
This was the ore he had ordered his men to mine previously. He had attempted to smelt some of it, but after realizing the cost of production far outweighed the value of the crude iron produced, he had abandoned the project, leaving the rest of the ore in storage.
"That's far too little," Lucas said, shaking his head. Tens of thousands of pounds sounded like a massive number, but ore was essentially heavy rock; a few piles of it didn't amount to much in industrial terms.
"We can mine more! We can dig much more!" Hana said urgently.
"Don't be in such a rush," Lucas said, waving a hand placidly with a light chuckle. "You know as well as I do how precious salt is. A few piles of raw ore aren't nearly enough to trade for our specialty goods, let alone salt."
Hana fell silent. He knew Lucas was right. In this era, salt was practically a form of currency, and iron ore was useless without the means to process it.
"How many people live in Chitu City?" Lucas asked.
"About three to four thousand," Hana answered honestly, though he looked puzzled as to why the question was being asked.
"Here is what I propose," Lucas said, taking a sip of tea. "I will send experts to your territory to teach your people modern mining techniques. I will also invest in building a massive ironworks near Chitu City. You will provide the raw ore, and I will handle the smelting."
He paused to let the idea sink in. "In exchange for the ore you provide, I will pay you and your workers in goods and a steady supply of salt as wages. How does that sound?"
"You... you want to build an ironworks near Chitu City?" Hana was stunned. He hadn't expected Lucas to move his production to someone else's doorstep.
"Yes. Transporting raw ore back here is far too much labor for very little gain," Lucas said casually.
Lucas possessed the knowledge for advanced iron smelting and, more importantly, steel production. This was the foundation for his future "Iron and Steel Revolution." Railways, modern armies, and advanced architecture would all require staggering amounts of steel.
"I accept!" Hana agreed immediately. To him, the iron mine was a hot potato—something potentially valuable but currently just a burden. Many minor nobles shared this dilemma; they lacked the capital to invest in mining and smelting, and those who tried often went bankrupt.
"After the banquet tonight, I'll have someone take you to select your first batch of goods," Lucas said with a smirk.
Hana was essentially becoming Lucas's contractor. Chitu City would handle the grueling labor of mining, and Lucas would provide the finished goods. It was a classic win-win scenario, though the strategic advantage lay entirely with Lucas.
"I'll be ready," Hana replied, beaming. The meeting had gone better than he could have ever hoped.
"The banquet is prepared. Please, follow me," Lucas said, standing up.
"I've heard the food in your castle is the finest in the world. I've been looking forward to this," Hana said, his mood lighter than it had been in years.
Lucas led the way to the dining hall. Before they even reached the door, they could hear voices inside. Pichu, the great merchant from the East, had already been seated.
"Lord Lucas," Pichu said, immediately rising to offer a deep bow. Even though he was wealthier than many Earls, he was still a commoner by birth and kept his etiquette impeccable.
"Apologies for the wait, Mr. Pichu," Lucas smiled. "This is Lord Hana, the Lord of Chitu City."
"A pleasure to meet you, Lord Hana," Pichu said, bowing again.
"And you, Mr. Pichu," Hana replied, returning the gesture.
"Sit, everyone," Lucas took his place at the head of the table. He nodded to Nicole. "Have the kitchen start the service."
While the maids began bringing out the appetizers, Lucas turned his attention to the merchant. "Mr. Pichu, I hear you are a prominent figure in the East. What exactly is your primary business?"
"Ah?" Pichu blinked, caught off guard by Lucas's directness. He had expected at least half an hour of small talk. Recovering quickly, he replied, "I primarily deal in high-end textiles and ceramics."
"And what is it you want from me?" Lucas asked as a variety of steaming dishes were placed on the table. He didn't want to waste time.
"Goods... and salt," Pichu said, his face turning serious.
"You want salt too?" Lucas chuckled, casting a meaningful glance at the now-frozen Hana.
"Wait... you too?" Pichu was no fool. He immediately realized Hana was here for the same reason. He felt a sudden surge of anxiety. While the other goods were profitable, salt was the absolute necessity that drove the entire economy.
"My salt inventory is actually quite low at the moment. This makes things a bit difficult," Lucas said, looking troubled.
This was exactly why he had brought the two of them together: to manufacture a sense of scarcity and put them under pressure. While Hana was already under his thumb, Pichu was a powerful merchant whom he wanted to bind more tightly to Sedona City's interests.
"Lord Lucas... I am willing to pay ten percent above your current market price!" Pichu said hurriedly.
"Don't be in such a rush. First, have a look at this," Lucas signaled Annie to hand Pichu a document.
"This is a Regional Agency Agreement," Annie explained as Pichu took it with trembling hands.
"Eat first. You can take the agreement back and study it later," Lucas said softly. He knew Pichu would sign it; by tying the salt supply to the agency contract, he was making it an offer the merchant couldn't refuse.
The pirate blockade of the coast had made Lucas the most powerful man in the region. Since he was the only one with the technology to refine non-toxic mineral salt from land-based mines, he controlled the lifeblood of the western lands.
Hana and Pichu both picked up their forks, but neither looked like they were enjoying the world-class meal. They were too busy calculating their shares.
Lucas watched them with a quiet smile, savoring his own dinner. He knew that where there was competition, there was maximum profit for him.
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