I Became the Progenitor Vampire

The grain purchase plan had to be halted.

Lide was very surprised when he received the news.

He thought it would be the simplest step, but unexpectedly, he encountered obstacles.

"Lord Lide, I had already contacted several commerce firms that specialize in selling grain.

Just before making the payment, they suddenly informed me that due to the border war, Green City had issued a prohibition on large-scale grain purchases.

I ran to all the grain merchants in the east city for this. By the goddess, they all used this reason to refuse me. Those damn bastards!"

Laurent was quite distressed. He thought it would be a small matter, something that could be handled smoothly, but he didn't expect such a huge obstacle.

1800 Gold Pucks, enough to buy food for ten thousand people for a year, which translates to rations for one hundred thousand people for a month.

Although this was a considerable amount, it wasn't significant.

After all, the south was the main grain-producing region of the Nolan Empire, with ample reserves. It was the first time Laurent encountered difficulty in purchasing enough grain.

It was really infuriating to have money but not be able to buy grain!

Lide pondered for a moment.

Food's importance to the population plundering plan was irreplaceable.

Without food, capturing people back to the castle would be pointless. Humans couldn't be expected to eat only once a month like the Bloodline.

And the most suitable place to acquire large amounts of grain was Green City. Other surrounding cities were too far, unfamiliar, and lacked the grain reserves compared to Green City.

If he went to other cities to purchase grain, it would consume more time and effort, and he might not even get the desired quantity before winter.

So there was no choice; this problem had to be solved.

"Which main commerce firms control the grain in Green City?

I'm not asking about the small firms selling grain, but the firms controlling the entire grain market in Green City."

Laurent immediately replied: "Lord Lide, half of the grain in Green City is sold by honorary members of the Green City Chamber of Commerce, and the other half is controlled by the city's largest commerce firm—the Alex Chamber of Commerce."

The Green City Chamber of Commerce was composed of thousands of commerce firms, where the top twenty strongest firms were granted honorary membership.

The Golden Wheat Commerce was a member of the Green City Chamber of Commerce, but its strength was average, not even making it into the top five hundred.

Lide nodded slightly. There was no antitrust law in this era, and the nobles often monopolized the most profitable businesses.

And grain was fundamental, its profit potential rivaling any industry.

He had long been mentally prepared for a situation where one or several big nobles controlled the grain market.

"What's the situation with the Alex Chamber of Commerce? Can we buy grain from them?"

The Blood Clan Ancestor was a typical magic enthusiast with very poor social skills, having almost no connections in Green City.

Ironically, relationships and connections were crucial among the nobles, so even though he held the prestigious position of an Advanced Mage and a Baron, he had no channel to find the right person to solve this problem.

This should have been a simple matter given his status, but now he had to handle it personally.

He thought, after solving this issue, he needed to build connections in Green City.

"The Alex Chamber of Commerce is one of the founders of Green City and holds a very high status there.

If we can get their support, acquiring this batch of grain will be very easy," Laurent responded with a bitter expression. "I originally wanted to visit them, but I was stopped at the door."

"But if it's you, Lord Lide, I believe they'll be very happy to receive you."

The status of a mage and a merchant was naturally different. The Alex Chamber of Commerce might ignore him, but they couldn't afford to disregard Lide.

Laurent was somewhat relieved. If he hadn't clung onto this powerful figure, he would have had to accept the situation meekly.

"Are there any alternatives to the Alex Chamber of Commerce?"

"The Alex Chamber of Commerce is the best choice. If they can't solve this issue, no other firm can."

Laurent wore a wry smile.

Lide nodded slightly. It seemed the Alex Chamber of Commerce wasn't so simple in Green City.

Could this grain ban be related to them?

If it really was, what was their motive? Was it simply due to the Beastman invasion?

Lide squinted his eyes, these ancient nobles were decayed, but he wouldn't underestimate them.

"Has there ever been a precedent of banning grain sales in Green City during past winters?"

"Lord Lide, there hasn't been in the last ten years, but this year the Beastman came particularly early. Maybe those nobles in Green City have other concerns."

Whether or not it was them, he had to go.

"Help me send a visiting card, I will personally go to the Alex Chamber of Commerce."

"Yes, Lord Lide."

The headquarters of the Alex Chamber of Commerce was established in the most prosperous area in the center of Green City, less than a thousand blades away from the city lord's mansion.

After Laurent sent Lide's visiting card to the firm, it wasn't long before a vice president of the Alex Chamber of Commerce personally came out to agree on a time.

The treatment was vastly different from when he came alone seeking an audience.

Two Sunshine Hours had passed when Lide received Laurent's feedback.

The distance between the Alex Chamber of Commerce and the Crimson Mage Tower took a whole Sunshine Hour by carriage.

So Lide didn't delay any further, he got ready to leave with Laurent.

"Lord Lide, can I go with you?"

In the first-floor hall, just as Lide was about to leave, Miss Vena looked at him with pleading eyes.

Lide paused for a moment, glanced at the dozen or so hopeful mage apprentices in the hall, and nodded slightly.

"Vena, Kohen, you two come with me. Carlo, help them with their questions today."

Vena and Kohen were overjoyed at being named and quickly stepped forward to follow behind him.

Although the other mage apprentices were envious, they didn't dare to speak. They didn't have the courage to talk to Lord Lide like Miss Vena did.

Over the past few days, Lide had been staying in the Mage Tower, occasionally giving this group of mage apprentices a few lessons.

Having gone through compulsory education himself, he imitated his teachers' modern teaching methods to give these knowledge-thirsty apprentices a proper education.

The apprentices discovered that their teacher wasn't as aloof and unapproachable as they had thought, leading them to be much more close and respectful towards him.

If it had been the previous Vena, she definitely wouldn't have dared to speak up when the Blood Clan Ancestor went out.

Lide didn't have any extra thoughts about this. These mage apprentices were absolutely the best workforce.

They could work for him fourteen hours a day and still take pride in it.

All he had to do was give them a few lessons when he had time, and as their abilities improved, he would benefit the most.

There was no better workforce than this.

As a newly-minted capitalist, Lide was very satisfied with this group of apprentices.

Taking Vena and Kohen out also allowed him to see how sharp these two were. In the future, he could delegate more tasks related to the Golden Wheat Commerce to them.

The Bloodline side had to carry out their farming plans, and the Mage Tower couldn't be left behind. Combining both aspects was the key to success.