In the next few days, Feng Chou successfully sold out all the normal goods that the cargo ship had brought.
This was partly because the goods that Feng Chou had chosen were indeed goods that were in demand in Tailun City. Another important reason was that some of the merchants in the club who wanted to be on good terms with Feng Chou had taken advantage of the situation to help him.
In a traditional city like Casablanca, people valued land and status more than money. But in Tailun City, people valued money more. Feng Chou's huge transaction of over ten million crowns had caused his reputation and status in the Alchemy Club to skyrocket.
Feng Chou obviously couldn't let the cargo ship return empty-handed. After receiving the money from the transaction, he started to purchase goods for the return trip.
With the help of his friends in the Alchemy Club, Feng Chou purchased large amounts of crude black iron and arcane copper from the Sutton Empire and the Radiant Empire, as well as various magical woods from the Dark Forest, magical herbs from the Nature Elves, and alchemy materials such as the bones and hides of magical beasts from the Southern Continent.
Other than these goods, Feng Chou also purchased a set of secondhand revolving gun production equipment from Baron Millet. He planned to open a military factory in Casablanca that mainly produced revolving guns.
He also hired a few young skilled workers from Baron Millet's gun factory with a high salary. He had them travel north with their families.
Feng Chou had originally planned to settle down in Tailun City. This was also one of the reasons why he had asked his apprentices to follow the ship to Tailun City. But Count Patrick had completely disrupted his plans. He had no choice but to ask his apprentices to follow Natasha back to Casablanca.
A week later, Count Patrick's butler brought a bank manager to visit Feng Chou's villa. He sent over the balance of the transaction and invited Feng Chou to attend the banquet hosted by Count Patrick the next night.
After sending off Count Patrick's butler and bank manager, Feng Chou looked at the silver invitation card in his hand and fell silent for a while.
Even though Feng Chou had his own trump card, a Vampire Archmage's Feast at Treacherous Gate was still full of danger. Even though he had long expected this moment to come, when it came to it, he still could not help but hesitate. Should he go?
…
On the evening of the second day, Feng Chou arrived at the entrance of Count Patrick's villa in a carriage that had the coat of arms of the House of Amborite engraved on it.
The steward of the Earl's mansion was leading more than ten servants to greet the guests at the door.
Feng Chou alighted from the carriage, and the butler quickly came forward to greet him.
After some simple greetings, the butler let a second-class servant lead Feng Chou into the villa and went straight to the main building of the villa. Another young third-class servant jumped onto the carriage and directed the coachman to drive the carriage to the stable.
Under the guidance of the second-class servant, Feng Chou passed through a wide garden and a fountain square, arriving in front of a magnificent palace.
Under the corridor in front of the main entrance of the palace, there were twelve thick pillars supporting the wide corridor. In front of the corridor was a wide flight of stairs, and the Earl was standing under the corridor to welcome the guests.
Seeing Feng Chou arrive, the Earl took two steps forward and came to the edge of the corridor. He gave Feng Chou, who had just stepped onto the corridor, a warm hug and said, "Welcome, my friend from the faraway Casablanca. I hope that you have gotten used to living in Tailun City."
Feng Chou replied with a smile, "My Earl, because I have a friend like you, I have already fallen in love with this city, which is filled with the aura of freedom."
After some simple greetings, the Earl invited Feng Chou into the main hall of the banquet.
Walking in from the main entrance of the palace, there was a large hall.
The hall was brightly lit, and a band was playing soothing music.
In the center of the hall was a sunken dance floor. Above the dance floor was a dome that led straight to the third floor. Hanging from the dome were more than ten sets of intricate and beautiful crystal chandeliers of various sizes.
The dance floor was surrounded by circular corridors supported by giant pillars. On the wide corridors, there were sofas or wooden benches placed at intervals. These sofas and benches would form a small semi-private space for the people attending the banquet to rest.
On the left side of the hall was a performance stage for the band, and on the right side were a few doors that led to the dining hall. Servants shuttled back and forth through the doors, serving fine wine and drinks to the banquet participants.
On the back wall of the hall, there were also a few doors. Outside the doors was the back garden of the Earl's Mansion.
There were four staircases at the four corners of the hall, leading to the second floor of the building. There were many resting rooms there for the guests to rest in.
Feng Chou walked around the hall. None of the guests or servants here had the aura of a Vampire.
He quickly found the small circle formed by the people he was familiar with in the club, and successfully joined them.
At this time, Feng Chou's heart relaxed a little. This banquet shouldn't have been held specifically to deal with him, right?
Just as Feng Chou let out a slight sigh of relief, a first-class servant of the Earl's Mansion came to Feng Chou's side and said softly, "Lord Baron, the Earl invites you."
Feng Chou, who had just let out a sigh of relief, froze for a moment, then relaxed again. He revealed a reserved smile, stood up, and nodded slightly in apology to the others in the small circle. Then, under the envious gazes of the crowd, he followed the servant and left.
Feng Chou followed the servant to a corner of the hall, and went up the spiral staircase to the second floor.
The second floor of the hall was a circular corridor. There were guests in groups of twos and threes in the corridor. Some were holding wine glasses and chatting in low voices, while others were leaning on the railing, looking down at the dance floor in the hall.
On the outside of the corridor, there were many rooms connected to each other, where the guests could rest or have private gatherings.
The servant led Feng Chou to the door of one of the rooms. He knocked on the door slightly, and Count Patrick's unique voice came from the other side, "Is this Baron Amborite?"
The servant replied, "Yes, my lord."
"Let him in."
The servant pushed the door open and made a gesture to invite Feng Chou in.
Feng Chou took a slight breath and walked into the room.
This was a parlor decorated in milky white and light gold. Count Patrick was sitting on a sofa, which was mainly milky white and decorated with light gold patterns. Holding a glass of wine that was as red as blood, he smiled at Feng Chou walking into the parlor. He pointed at the sofa next to him and said, "Please have a seat, my dear Baron."
After Feng Chou sat down, the count gently placed the glass of wine on the tea table in front of him and said, "I heard from Viscount Hubert that you once asked him about the trading of high-level arcana knowledge?"
Feng Chou answered honestly, "Yes, my lord. The knowledge left by my family is only enough for me to become a level-10 sorcerer, and I don't want to go to a sorcerer's school."
According to the Treaty of Preventing the Spread of Arcana Knowledge, the gods forbade the trading and spreading of arcana knowledge, but they did not forbid families who already had such knowledge from continuing to pass it down. Therefore, it was not illegal to learn arcana knowledge passed down by families.
The count smiled, "I can understand. If possible, no one wants to go to a sorcerer's school to be exploited. However, although Tyron is a free city, it is still bound by the Treaty of Preventing the Spread of Arcana Knowledge. Even the great and enlightened …" Here, the old man pointed at the direction of the Sacred Mountain, referring to Meredith, the Lord of the Sea.
It was said that anyone who called out the true name of a god would attract the god's attention. No matter when or where, even in the abyss of hell, no one could stop the god's gaze.
"… Her Excellency is also very determined to abide by the Treaty of Preventing the Spread of Arcana Knowledge, so …"
Here, the count paused, his gaze resting on Feng Chou's focused face for a few seconds before he continued, "So, it will be very difficult for you to buy arcana knowledge in the northern continent where the gods are powerful."
Feng Chou shrugged, a little annoyed, and said, "I thought that in this free port, I might be able to fulfill my wish, but the reality is really disappointing."
The count smiled mysteriously, "Yes, this free port can fulfill your wish, but you will have to pay a price."
Feng Chou looked puzzled, "What price?"
The count said, "I know of a secret organization called the Tyron Secret Spell Society. This organization has high-level arcana knowledge that can be traded with each other.
But to join this organization, you will have to sign a contract with a senior devil. "
"A devil's contract!" Feng Chou was slightly shocked.