Chapter 718: Chapter 66: The Fourth Type of Extraordinary Spiritual Plant – Ghost Vine and a Millennium-old Mission

The West High Merchant Guild already has some investments in the Hesse Territory, including mills, furniture workshops, and silver mines, as well as a border outpost.

Its location is right in the middle of the border camp where Su Li once confronted the Green Dragon, serving as a part of the entire defense system. Below Stone Mountain is primarily the guild’s camp, while Hesse Territory’s barracks and watchtowers are mostly constructed on the mountain, with both sides watching and helping each other.

But clearly, such an outpost can no longer satisfy the ambitions of the West High Merchant Guild.

The 30,000 plus Golden Crown investment brought by Director Charlotte is precisely to establish a large camp and stronghold for their guild in the Hesse Territory!

Under these circumstances, Su Li naturally welcomes this. If they can have 1,000 woodcutters and furniture workers, along with hundreds of slaves, cooks, stablemen, and others, it would be equivalent to increasing Hesse Territory’s population by close to one-tenth.

So Su Li enthusiastically asked, "How does your guild plan to invest?"

Director Charlotte was straightforward, stating, "I spent a day in Hesse Territory yesterday and heard the Lord encourages various forces to explore Black Pine Forest, so I plan to further invest hopefully in Black Pine Forest to establish a large pioneering stronghold, including a camp that accommodates 800 woodcutters and a military camp that stations 200 guards."

"We will use this stronghold as our forward base, cutting down at least 1 million Black Pine Wood trees each year. Just this alone can provide Hesse Territory with about 3,000 Golden Crowns in annual taxes!" 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

There’s no doubt that the value of Black Pine Wood is very high. This precious wood that sells well both inside and outside the Empire fetches as much as 1 Silver Coin per tree, even at its source! Equivalent to a farmer’s one to two months’ income. If this precious wood could be sent out, reaching Marle Castle, within the Empire, or even the distant East, the value of a single Black Pine Wood would at least be tenfold.

Su Li still remembers the chair that Master Kote gifted him, which was valued at 10 Golden Crowns. Of course, the value of that chair was not solely in the raw wood; it also included various luxurious materials such as velvet, cashmere, Golden Thread, and more.

So Su Li said, "Exporting raw wood like this is too inefficient; it’s better to process it into more valuable furniture. Just right, our territory now can produce a large amount of cashmere and Golden Thread. Your guild can integrate these specialties within the territory and treat Hesse Territory as a processing and manufacturing center for your guild."

Charlotte smiled and said, "We have exactly this intention. The reason this guild trip garnered so much attention from our upper management is because of the significant changes in Black Pine Forest. Previously, we could only send people in during spring and summer for logging and had to hire a large number of mercenaries as guards, resulting in low efficiency."

"Now, under your expansion, Black Pine Forest is relatively safe, we can log all year round, and the amount of timber increases significantly. Continued transportation is no longer economically viable, and the better choice is undoubtedly local processing in your territory."

Su Li nodded slightly; what Charlotte said was an undeniable truth. This year’s situation has changed dramatically.

In the past, when they entered Black Pine Forest, although logging was possible, it mainly benefited from the vast expanse of the Black Pine Forest. Even if various monsters lurked in the shadows, merchants engaging in short-time activities in limited areas wouldn’t encounter large-scale beast herds.

But this year is different. They can stay inside continuously and freely log, significantly increasing production.

Considering this form and Su Li’s suggestion, Charlotte added, "Our guild plans to invest 5,000 Golden Crowns in the southeast of your territory’s city to construct a large carpenter’s workshop, recruiting 400 apprentice carpenters for production. This will ensure the territory produces at least 20,000 pieces of furniture annually, becoming an important local specialty."

Indeed ambitious investment, Su Li smiled and said, "This is excellent; our territory will provide you with the most stable environment for business. If your outward transportation requires guards, the territory will offer you some support. The Black Steel Redemption Knight Order, Fallen Wolf Knight Mercenary Corps, and Blue Heron Mercenary Corps can all provide guard services for you."

Charlotte calmly said, "On that point, you don’t need to worry. Our guild has good relations with many Lords and Pioneer Lords, and our caravans can almost freely traverse various territories. In the wild, encountering raiders or Beastman Warbands poses no problem as we have a reliable Resin Crossbowman Legion, numbering 200 men, capable of firing Green Fire Burning Arrows. Also, we have a Woodcutter Corps with over 300 members, equipped with Armor-Piercing War Axes, capable of both production and combat."

Su Li simply calculated and realized that the scale of the West High Merchant Guild is indeed substantial—guards and workers already exceed 1,000 people. If they recruit over 400 apprentice carpenters within the territory, approximately 1,500 people would be working for this guild.

In any case, for the West High Merchant Guild to invest so many resources in Hesse Territory, it counts as a huge investment.

So Su Li asked, "Then what are the guild’s requirements? I don’t believe Director Charlotte traveled from a far distance only to discuss about expanding production with me. If everything is to my benefit, I believe you must have an important request."