Even if hearing Count Samo's analysis made Xu Yi feel much more assured, it was impossible for him to not care about Viscount Leslie's successor.
After all, New Flyer's main factories were in rented territory, so he had to look at the other side's face.
So before seeing Baron Belil Stagg, Xu Yi still had a bit of awe in his heart. He thought that even if the other side looked down on New Flyer, as long as he didn't do anything against New Flyer, there wouldn't be a problem.
However, this bit of awe disappeared after seeing Baron Belil for the first time.
"You are Xu Yi?"
Seeing Xu Yi come in behind Butler Brunei, Baron Belil looked over Xu Yi with a look of disdain.
Seeing this Baron sitting in his chair with his legs crossed and a sloppy look on his face, looking more like a hoodlum than someone from a large noble family, Xu Yi couldn't help slightly knitting his brows. He only replied with a simple "Yes."
Seeing Baron Belil's posture, Xu Yi found that his hopes for both sides to be safe were dashed.
Even if this Baron Belil didn't have the Stagg Family's support, he wasn't someone easy to deal with.
As expected, after Baron Belil looked over Xu Yi, he didn't have any intention of letting Xu Yi sit down. He slowly picked up some fruit from the table and ate it for a while before looking over at Xu Yi, looking like he had just thought of something.
"Oh, that's right, I didn't call you over for anything important, I just wanted to tell you something.
I could have had Butler Brunei tell you this, but I was a bit curious about you, so I called you over to take a look.
Only looking at it now ….. "Baron Belil shook his head and clicked his tongue, looking very frivolous.
"There's nothing special, I really don't know why Leslie is so polite to you. Really, you're simply losing face for our Stagg Family."
Xu Yi was too lazy to frown anymore. He asked calmly, "Lord Baron, what is it that you want to inform me of?"
"Oh?
Oh, I see.
Now that I've taken over from Leslie, I'm managing the territory on behalf of the family.
Your New Flyer used to lease a hectare of land from Leslie, right? "
"Yes."
"Oh, I remember how much the rent is?" Baron Belil looked at Butler Brunei.
"Fifty gold coins a year, Lord Baron." Butler Brunei bowed respectfully.
"Peng —"
Baron Belil suddenly slammed his hand on the table and raised his voice, "Only 50 gold coins?
This was too little!
Is our Stagg Family's territory that worthless? "
Butler Brunei lowered his head in silence.
Xu Yi looked at Baron Belil and looked down on his poor acting skills. He revealed a hesitant appearance as he asked, "Lord Baron, your meaning is ….."
"You don't understand what I mean?
You're this stupid, how can you be the chairman? "Baron Belil cut off Xu Yi without any politeness.
"It's very simple, I'm in charge of this territory now, so the lease contract you signed with Leslie is invalid. I have the final say.
Such a large piece of land for only 50 gold coins a year, this is too much, it's no different from giving it away for free.
So starting today, the rent will be increased. I called you here to sign a new contract.
Butler Brunei, come, give him the new contract and have him sign it. "
Butler Brunei took out a contract he had already prepared for Xu Yi.
Xu Yi didn't reach his hand out to take it, rather he asked Baron Belil, "Lord Baron, I remember that when I signed the lease contract with Viscount Leslie last year, it clearly stated that this land was rented from the Stagg Family, so the other side of the contract is the Stagg Family.
Although Viscount Leslie has already left, the contract was signed by Viscount Leslie on behalf of the Stagg Family. If we want to change it, the Stagg Family has to send a representative to discuss it with our New Flyer.
Lord Baron, can you ….. represent the Stagg Family? "
"If I can't, then can you?"
Baron Belil looked at Xu Yi and said with a laugh, "I say, you are just an insignificant small merchant and you dare say that our Stagg Family will send a representative to discuss it with you, who do you think you are?
Stop wasting words, if I say change the contract, then change it. If you keep talking, do you believe that I won't immediately declare the contract invalid and take back the territory? "
Meeting such an unreasonable person, Xu Yi could only helplessly shake his head and carefully look over the new contract.
However, after looking over it, Xu Yi couldn't take it anymore. He looked up at Baron Belil in surprise, "A hundred thousand gold coins a year?
Lord Baron, even if you want to increase the rent, you can't increase it like this, right?
This is an increase of two thousand times! "
Baron Belil coldly looked at Xu Yi, "You still don't understand what I mean?
I called you here to sign the new contract, I didn't say I wanted to discuss it with you.
You can either sign it or I'll declare the contract invalid and send someone to take back the territory tomorrow.
Choose for yourself. "
Xu Yi gave an angry smile. Seeing Baron Belil's indifferent expression, he thought, was this fellow really stupid?
Or was he doing this on purpose?
Based on his appearance of being in his twenties and his appearance, Xu Yi really wanted to think that he was stupid.
But he was still a direct descendant of the Stagg Family and Viscount Leslie's cousin. Coming from the Stagg Family, he had been educated since he was young, so there was no reason for him to be this stupid.
But if he wasn't stupid and was doing this on purpose, Xu Yi was very confused.
What did the Stagg Family want to do?
According to Count Samo's analysis, the Stagg Family should have some scruples and wouldn't do anything to the New Flyer. But now Baron Belil had suddenly increased the rent from fifty gold coins to an exaggerated hundred thousand gold coins. Moreover, he had an incomparably disdainful attitude towards Xu Yi. It was clear that he didn't want Xu Yi and the New Flyer to have an easy time.
But what benefits did the Stagg Family have in making things hard for the New Flyer?
Xu Yi really couldn't figure it out.
Looking down at the contract in his hand that had many harsh conditions other than the hundred thousand gold coins, Xu Yi thought about it before taking a deep breath. After calming himself down, he said to Baron Belil, "Sir Baron, this matter is very important. Can you give me a few days to discuss this with the other people of the company before replying to you?"
"Discuss what?
Aren't you the chairman?
Could it be that you don't have the final say?
Then what kind of chairman are you? "Baron Belil impatiently said.
"The company doesn't belong to me alone, so I have to inform the others.
Then again, our New Flyer is a small company and a hundred thousand gold coins is a large number. It is too heavy a burden for us, so we can't casually agree.
I ask the Sir Baron to make an exception and give me a few days, alright? "Xu Yi calmly said.
Baron Belil looked at Xu Yi with a frown. After thinking about it, he waved his hand, "Alright, a hundred thousand gold coins is not a small number for a small company like yours, so I'll give you some time to consider it.
But a few days is impossible, I'll only give you a single day.
You have to give me a reply the day after tomorrow, I don't have that much free time to wait for you, do you understand? "
Xu Yi was silent for a bit before nodding, "Alright."
"Alright, you can leave.
Next time you come, it's best if you prepare the money. "Baron Belil waved his hand and chased Xu Yi out like he was a fly.
After leaving the manor left by Viscount Leslie, Xu Yi turned back to look at this familiar, but now unfamiliar manor. He shook his head with a bitter smile and after thinking for a bit, he called out, "Agnes."
Agnes' figure appeared out of thin air and she asked Xu Yi with a bit of curiosity, "Chairman, you had me hide ahead of time and not meet this person, was it because you already knew that he wasn't friendly to you?"
"I guessed it, but I never thought that I would be right.
It seems like it's a bit troublesome now. "
Xu Yi said with a bitter smile, "Agnes, I'm afraid I can't leave Banta City for now. How about this, there's nothing to do at the design institute for the next few days, so you can take a trip for me."
"Ah?
This isn't good, right? "Agnes said in a surprised voice.
"Chairman, there are many things I don't understand, I'm afraid I can't take your place."
"It's fine, this matter isn't hard.
Listen well … … "
Xu Yi carefully explained everything to Agnes and after making sure that Agnes understood, he handed the bag on his back to her.
"If possible, come back as soon as possible.
I might need your feedback to make a decision. "
Xu Yi said this before looking at the serious expression on Agnes' face. He couldn't help revealing a smile as he patted Agnes' shoulder and said, "It really is a pity, I thought that I would be able to go on a beautiful trip with a beautiful subordinate, but now it's gone."
Agnes naturally didn't understand the special meaning in Xu Yi's words, so she said to him with a smile, "As long as the chairman is willing, I can go on a business trip with you at any time."
"It's best if you don't, otherwise Stiel will definitely kill me." Xu Yi shook his head and had Agnes quickly set off.
Watching Agnes' figure disappear into the air, Xu Yi turned back to look at the manor's closed gates before heading into Banta City.
Half an hour later, Xu Yi appeared in front of the gates of the City Lord's Manor.
Seeing the familiar open doors of the City Lord's Manor, he thought of how he had come looking for Count Sean a few days ago because Baron Belil hadn't seen him and had been reassured by his analysis. Now that he felt unsettled because Baron Belil had seen him, he came looking for Count Sean again. Xu Yi couldn't help laughing at himself.
Xu Yi couldn't help laughing at himself, "Why do I feel like I'm a primary school student who ran to the teacher to complain after being bullied by his classmates?"