Chapter114

"So..." Elara looked at Leif with a gentle smile in her eyes. They had been discussing this deal for a long time, and it was finally time for her to bring up her second goal. "I want to invite the Zhaiyun Workshop to open in Marigold City. Aside from salt, their other goods are scarce here, and they could save both merchants and civilians."

"Of course, I'll clean up all the disrupted trade routes within two months and rebuild them. I'll also have relay stations constructed along the way."

"All the heavy and random taxes that Gao Qiong imposed have been abolished. Taxes will now follow a lighter, low-rate system. If you think the new rates are still a problem, we can discuss again."

The ability to restore mildly salt-alkaline land into arable soil, even just in lightly affected areas, was priceless to the Sargassum State. The emperor had gathered the brightest minds, but no one had found a viable solution.

But here she was, offering a solution like it was nothing. And her only request was to let Zhaiyun Workshop set up in Marigold?

Even though Leif had believed from the start that Elara wouldn't make outrageous demands, he hadn't expected her conditions to be so simple.

"Alright." Facing such generous terms, Leif had no reason to refuse.

Still, he had made it clear that he was not someone who took advantage of others. This plan could save the state and its people, yet she was only asking for something that would barely affect him.

He suddenly reached into his robe and pulled out a piece of white jade he always wore close to his body. It still held the warmth of his skin.

The man in green nearby raised his eyebrows at the sight of the jade, but said nothing.

Leif handed the still-warm jade to Elara. "This is a token. From now on, for all non-salt goods purchased by Marigold's government, Zhaiyun Workshop will sell them at seventy percent of the original price. Salt goods will be sold at sixty percent."

That was nearly at cost, or even below.

Elara's smile grew wider. The two goals she had come for today were both achieved, and the outcome was even better than she expected.

She accepted the exquisite white jade without hesitation. Then she called for a bamboo slip and wrote down the names of items System 92 had identified in this world that could neutralize salt and alkali, such as black sail and gypsum.

"These things can be found using Zhaiyun Workshop's wide commercial network. They probably don't exist in Sargassum." If they did, those researchers would have found them already.

"Once you find them, grind them into powder and spread them over the mildly affected land. But don't use too much. Hold a cup of vinegar and soak the treated soil in it. If it no longer bubbles, that means the salt and alkali problem is basically solved and the land can be used."

"I also know a few plants that resist salt and can improve such soil." Elara wrote down the names of robe hemp, desert dates, white thorn, and goji in the local language. "You can try planting these."

"Leif thanks the Princess on behalf of the people of Sargassum." He took the two bamboo slips from Elara with care, lifted the cup from the table, and toasted her again. His clear amber eyes looked at her seriously, with a trace of gratitude.

Once more, Elara felt that this man resembled a refined white cat, noble and gentle.

She suppressed a smile and raised her cup to return the toast. "You're too polite, Prince Leif. I hope we work well together from now on."

Leif blinked his crystal-clear eyes. It was the first time he had heard such a phrase. He picked up his cup and replied, "Work well together."

After leaving the second floor of the Lotus House, Elara stepped onto the street and immediately turned to Kalyan behind her.

"Go, notify all the craftsmen experienced in building waterways. I'll be waiting for them in the governor's office in half a stick of incense. We're holding a meeting."

Elara had asked Leif to modify the flow of the Bidi River, connecting it to Qinggan inside the Plumera Kingdom. Although she said she wanted no reward, guiding the salty Bidi River into her land was already a great reward.

Plumera was severely lacking in salt mines and had no salt fields or wells. Letting Leif guide a salt-heavy river through their border was like inviting a salt river to them.

She only needed to build a filtering pool and salt extraction facility where the Bidi connected with Qinggan. From then on, that river from Sargassum would continuously bring salty water into their territory, where it would be filtered, dried, and processed into edible salt. The salt shortage would be significantly relieved.

When she had studied the geography of Sargassum and suggested modifying the river rather than blocking it, this was her real purpose.

It was a perfect win-win solution. Leif used her plan to reduce the salt-flooding problem and remove excess salt from their soil. Meanwhile, she used that same water to collect salt.

With this much benefit, she saw no reason to ask for more rewards. Otherwise, even Elara would think she was being greedy, using knowledge to bully that handsome prince.

Thinking of Leif's clear, refined eyes staring unblinking at her, Elara smiled and told Kalyan, "Also, help me look into whether we have those items and seeds in the Plumera Kingdom."

She repeated to Kalyan the contents of the two bamboo slips she had given Leif. If she could find them in her own land, she'd gather them and sell them to Leif at a low price. It would be her small way of returning the favor for benefiting from the Bidi River's salt.

In the Lotus House, second floor.

After Elara left, Leif returned to his seat and examined the two bamboo slips carefully.

Two of the biggest problems in the Sargassum State had just been solved in one meeting. Leif's mood was unusually good. His amber eyes sparkled beneath long lashes, and a faint smile appeared on his pale lips.

"Leif, that woman must never be treated as an enemy."

Leif paused for a moment and looked up at Servant Yinon.

Servant Yinon picked up the tea on the table and took another sip. His posture was still a bit lazy, but the look on his face had become much more serious. "Although we were the ones who invited her up to talk business, from the moment she started speaking, she took control of the entire deal without showing it."

From beginning to end, this whole negotiation followed her lead, whether intentionally or not. Leif had the ability to establish Zhaiyun Workshop and become its owner, so of course he had strong business skills. But in front of that woman, he was quietly led by her the entire time.

Servant Yinon held his wine cup, and when he thought of how confidently Elara had spoken, the corner of his eyebrow lifted slightly. "This princess of the Plumera State has knowledge, insight, ability, temperament, and strategy that all far exceed what we expected. With her in Plumera, those like Lord Gregory in the capital won't last long. Sooner or later, Plumera will rise to power in her hands. A person like her must never be treated as an enemy."

As he spoke, Servant Yinon looked at Leif again. "Those two methods she mentioned, once you verify them thoroughly, report them to the royal court. But you must also warn the royals of Sargassum State that these are her ideas. Just because Plumera is currently weak and chaotic, they must not ignore or disrespect her as a royal princess. Someone like her must be treated with care. If not, even for people like us, the consequences could be beyond our control."

Leif thought of the beautiful girl who had sat across from him just now, speaking with confidence and smiling eyes. He had noticed everything that Servant Yinon said too.

But he truly hadn't felt a trace of malice in those lovely, smiling eyes of hers.

She really was knowledgeable and wise. Her character, methods, and abilities were stronger than any woman he had ever met, even stronger than his own mother...

Leif withdrew his gaze and focused again on the two bamboo slips in his hand. "I understand."

He would not let anyone steal the credit or honor of this achievement.

If her two methods today really could save the people of Sargassum from disaster, then her kindness should be known and appreciated by those who were helped.

A person must repay the kindness they receive.

Leif had always despised the kind of ungrateful wolves who didn't know how to return favors.