"Whatever you give me, I won't lower prices. Because costs are very expensive." Jinyo lied straight-faced. True that costs like Earth Spirit Divine Fertilizer required raw materials worth millions. But if he sold Exploding Potatoes at this price monthly, he'd deduct expenses while making tremendous profits.

  "You must definitely want it. Important information for you and everyone around you."

  "???"

  "Actually, days ago, the 8th ranked main disciple of Serpent Fang School disappeared without a trace. No one knows where he is now. Think he probably died already. Now Serpent Fang School master is in trouble and sent investigation orders. If you don't remember, Serpent Fang School is a demon school with main offices in neighboring cities."

  "What does it have to do with me? I'm minding my own business."

  "Oh, that's the point. Because the 8th ranked main disciple of Serpent Fang School master got blinded by someone. Plus before disappearing, still declared he'd burn rival mansions to ashes."

  "..."

  "Story sounds familiar, right? That's right, dear friend. The person you blinded is the 8th ranked disciple of demon school masters. Excited?"

  "Excited with ghosts! How could demon school masters' main disciples have such pathetic skills?" Daikiyo's name never existed in Jinyo's head. Jinyo with planar less than a thousand units defeated Daikiyo as easily as flipping palms. This was too unbelievable that he accidentally walked kicking stumps hard.

  Demon schools were schools using unrighteous techniques. In this era, matters of separating righteousness and unrighteousness no longer existed in manuals. As long as under same legal frameworks, demon schools were just terms. However, truths that most criminals used demon school techniques didn't change. Because demon schools tended toward more severe techniques. Bloodthirsty and easily dominated minds.

  Demon schools had assassin and violent natures. Taught to have lower morals and empathy than other schools. In this era, truly evil demon schools were completely swept away. Remaining demon schools were those adapting to globalization eras. But being targeted by demon schools wasn't good. Because though they didn't commit openly lawless acts like before, breaking laws without letting officers catch still existed.

  "I didn't kill him. After that, we didn't meet either."

  "Don't know! In their eyes, Daikiyo prepared coming for revenge then disappeared. They just think you killed him. Though no evidence you killed, but also no evidence to deny. Or four days ago, do you have alibi proof?"

  "No, none." Four days ago, Jinyo was busy with land upgrade missions. He had no alibi proofs or anything. He had nothing to argue with, including unnecessary. Jinyo was innocent. He never killed humans even once. No matter how much he disliked Daikiyo, the other side was just strangers never having grudges before. Jinyo didn't think of making Daikiyo die, including not wanting to provoke demon schools.

  "Good gift, right?"

  "So good I want to return double."

  "No thanks, I'm grateful. Happen to have busy lives finding money. Don't want provoking matters like being targeted by demon school masters. Future millionaire lives like me don't need such intensity. But if sitting VIP seats at field edges, that's rather interesting. Especially your losing faces. Makes me able to drink another ten champagne bottles."

  "William..."

  "Oh sorry, just lost to voices in heads. What were we talking about? Right, deals. Deals." William pretended using hands pushing chins. Smiles hiding knives sprouted in fox William's eyes. Sharp enough to cut lines on negotiation tables tilting toward him, not Jinyo. Jinyo deeply realized he wasn't the side with superior cards. Plus invited demons into house doors himself. Sometimes he forgot William wasn't excellent splendid friends. But middlemen merchants who were both enemies and friends of farmers worldwide.

  "Actually, I can help you. Make demon school masters not pursue, and you and family will be safe. But I'd gain nothing doing this. Regrettable."

  "If wanting to know Exploding Potato cultivation methods, I won't tell."

  "Oh my, saw through it. But this is life matters. Demon school masters might send assassins or send other ranked disciples avenging junior disciples. People targeted by demon schools never had good lives. You know well, Jinyo Southerncross. If you agree telling me, we'll continue being allies. Then I'll help you escape from demon schools."

  William's offered proposals, if thinking logically, weren't bad at all. Just telling methods escaped from crises running toward. But even death, Jinyo didn't think of telling. Even telling, William couldn't follow anyway. Jinyo himself still researched Exploding Potato cultivation outside Garden of the Sword without progress. Jinyo pondered finding ways negotiating benefits as much as possible.

  "If I die, no one will sell you Exploding Potatoes this quality anymore. Would that be good?"

  "Just Exploding Potatoes. Regrettable but not sorry." William showed no signs of budging at all.

  Doesn't work. What to do? Not like thinking at all. Jinyo rushed brains finding exits from now. Cards in hands fewer than, while William had only confidence. He lost nothing at all on this negotiation table. Merchants must flick abacus beads finding most profitable exits always. Profits from Exploding Potatoes were circulating money, true, but not worth risking becoming enemies with demon school masters.

  Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.

  Profits from buying and selling your Exploding Potatoes are just iceberg tips if I get production methods. I won't risk myself with those meager profits. Genius botanist sir. William waited for Jinyo falling into pits. He must chase driving Jinyo down into deep pits unable to climb up. Whichever way, it was Jinyo's fault inviting greedy beast lords into homes.

  "I can't tell." Jinyo gave answers.

  "No matter what, I can't tell. Telling is useless. Squeezing me to tell methods is worthless." Without lies, schemes and straightforward until William had to change faces.

  "Chose surrendering? No creativity in negotiations at all!"

  "I'm speaking truth. I can't tell. You want robbing gold in my hands but I didn't have gold from the start."

  "When yourself has genuine golden geese. Truly funny words."

  "Happen golden geese are quite stubborn and mysterious. What to do? Want doing business with me or letting me get killed by demon schools? Let wealth opportunities slip from hands. This isn't conclusions you want, right?"

  "Hmm..." William invested buying stubbornly expensive things coming finding Jinyo here. Returning home empty-handed wasn't in his dictionary. This William couldn't spell the word 'disappointed'!

  "I have final choices. If you promise selling Exploding Potatoes to only me and promise not selling to other merchants. Purchase prices at 300,000 per 100 kilograms like today. I'll help extending time for you to prepare. By then, you should be strong enough fighting demon schools, Father genius swordsman." Final ropes William dropped down for Jinyo to grab was disgusting trade monopolies. First high-quality Exploding Potato lots released were advertisements inviting wealthy merchants running to Jinyo through William. Future purchase prices wouldn't be 300,000-350,000. From William's calculations, ready to adjust prices to 400,000-500,000 in the future if Jinyo's produce had higher quality.

  "Isn't oppression too much? My produce quality higher than markets. But will buy at only market prices. Too brutal. Where will I get profits?"

  "Not really. I helped extending your death times. Plus if you can't pass this, you can't be long-term partners with me... don't think this is more fun?" William granted tests no one wanted. He was bad-natured men liking seeing others' troubles. Excited watching turbulent lives. Jinyo couldn't swallow, couldn't spit because unlike thinking.

  "Never thought even one decimal." Telling cultivation methods couldn't. Accepting deals disadvantaged long-term. Another choice was refusing both. Going finding other middlemen merchants granting better benefits.

  But would there be people giving better offers than William truly?

  No, no way. Even William who knew each other long still ground-dragging fangs until Jinyo's skin peeled, leaving only muscles. Try talking with Satan demon gangs ready to gang up abandoning Jinyo leaving not even bones. Futures should be equally dark.

  "This mobile phone has phone numbers of people knowing Mother in world governments." Jinyo picked mobile phones placing on tables. William's gaze turned focusing on outdated model phones decades ago. He was surprised, not thinking Jinyo would carry ancient phones like this anywhere. Or was this his preparation? It was interesting how Jinyo would wriggle free from his hands.

  "What do you say? Will you tell Mother's acquaintances?"

  "Something like that. Plus I still have Rina working in world governments. Just me speaking one word. Rina will find ways helping me. At least demon school masters shouldn't be able to touch me."

  "Would that be good? World government officers won't intervene in small city disputes like this. That side has its own iron rules. And will that young lady agree helping?" William grinned. Jinyo like birds being caught and caged trying to fly away. World governments would intervene only on important matters. Officers themselves didn't have life freedom. They were controlled by strict rules and rule keepers. If violating, would be severely punished.

  "Rina will help me. She'll abandon everything and come handling even if she gets punished. And by then, your value equals zero. Because you can't protect me. I don't need doing business with you anymore."

  "..." Smiles disappeared from William's face. He leaned closer to Jinyo while whispering:

  "What makes you confident she'll help you?"

  "Because she loves me."

  "Oh... single people hurt badly." William clutched chests. 28 years single life was lamenting. Jinyo didn't change faces but inside feeling strongly guilty. He pinched nails into flesh not loosening faces now. Cards in William's hands disappeared one. If Jinyo used Mother's numbers calling world government acquaintances, Jinyo escaped from demon schools. Even if this plan didn't succeed, he had Rina as trump cards.

  Rina would definitely agree helping. Jinyo was confident. But he didn't want her entering troubles in matters he didn't cause. What he did must take responsibility himself. Was ideal gentleman paths Jinyo wanted being.

  "Sigh, understood. Then like this. You must sell Exploding Potatoes to only me. Forbidden contacting others. Then I'll buy according to quality and produce quantities. Referencing market prices at that time. Okay?"

  "And must help me concealing identity. Make demon schools approach me as slowly as possible. Months are good." Jinyo needed time. He didn't want clashing with demon schools, especially now when he had no connections and power. The only thing relying on was Rina's power with limitations from her job duties. Plus Norn's matters still needing help. He had only to rely on his own power.

  "Understood. I'll tell first that even if my connections, don't know how long can delay. Demon schools can't talk using normal human logic. Don't even need reasons. But that's why they're interesting." William laughed. Faces and behaviors currently pressuring were truly pleasant to ears and eyes. He picked document sheets drafting contracts. Deals were Jinyo must sell consistent quality Exploding Potatoes to William 1500 kilograms monthly. Minimum purchase prices were 300,000 per 100 kilograms. Prices would fluctuate according to quality and market demands. Jinyo couldn't sell Exploding Potatoes to other middlemen merchants and must monopolize to William's agents only.

  William would be responsible for security systems and Jinyo's personal information. Distribute and export products profiting maximum. And William must grant Jinyo 10% bonus money of sales in cases earning more than 20 million per season.

  William left gift baskets. Humming, kicking dust out of mansions. He was happy like making hundred million contracts. Meanwhile, Jinyo sighed. Besides selling Exploding Potatoes not smoothly, still monopolized by middlemen merchants. Plus had to sit stressed about being avenged by demon schools for faults not caused. William prepared well and Jinyo got led by noses from start to finish.

  But there was one thing William overlooked.

  No, it was things Jinyo hid very tightly.

  He still had two more secretly hidden cards.

  Jinyo's trump cards weren't Exploding Potatoes. Exploding Potatoes were plants with lowest medicinal properties. Tremendous produce but hard selling because market understanding limitations. Products Jinyo wanted using as ladders to Southerncross family success weren't potatoes but Immortal Rice or Happy Carrots that though easier planting but gave low yields. But had medicinal properties and markets with high demands.

  Plus Immortal Rice no one ever discovered before in history.

  "William, if not cunning with me, would think you're genuinely trustworthy allies."

  Tests whether both would be long-term trustworthy allies or not must let time prove for long.