Chapter 377: Chapter 14: Negotiation

“Alliance?”

Kalsa sneered, a bit sarcastically, “If you are truly sincere towards your allies, isn’t this attitude a bit inappropriate?”

The trade of Moonlight Mushrooms with Feiyan City has been ongoing for some time, but recently, the trade quota from Feiyan City suddenly decreased significantly, to the point that the witches at the Witch Castle have started to feel the impact on their cultivation.

This is the main reason Kalsa arranged to meet Lynch.

Kalsa said, “For so many years, our trade has been proceeding normally, but recently you privately reduced the Moonlight Mushroom trade quota. I want to know, what is the reason for this? Give me an explanation.”

Lynch explained, “The production of Moonlight Mushrooms is not under my control. Recently, only so much has been growing in the Moon Forest.”

Kalsa asked, “Is that so? But my witches do not believe so.”

Saying this, she gave a signal to Witch Diana below.

The latter stepped forward and unfolded a Crystal Ball before Lynch.

She traced a rune on the Crystal Ball with her fingertips, leaving behind a mark. The Crystal Ball suddenly lit up, projecting a beam of light upwards, revealing an image in the air in front of everyone.

It showed a farm, next to which were piled mounds of Moonlight Mushrooms. Two apprentices were seen conversing inside.

A male apprentice asked, “How did these Moonlight Mushrooms get transported here? Weren’t they always meant to be sold to the witches of the Witch Castle?”

The other replied, “Hush, the Witch Master instructed us to stockpile them, but outwardly claim that there’s a reduced yield.”

“Ah? Why is that? Are we no longer engaging with the Witch Castle?”

“I don’t know. I heard it’s the Guardian’s order.”

The witches within the Witch Castle visibly became enraged.

“Wow!”

“This is too much! All those Moonlight Mushrooms were just being hoarded!”

“I’m almost out of resources for cultivation here…”

Immediately, dozens of eyes pinned fiercely on Lynch, making him feel a prickly discomfort as if thorns were on his back.

For a moment, Lynch’s expression became awkward:

’What is Flora up to? The farm’s secrets have been exposed, and she still doesn’t realize it.’

Yes, the withholding of the Moonlight Mushrooms was indeed a decision he had made.

It was not out of any enmity towards the Witch Castle, only to create leverage to negotiate alliance matters with them.

Previously, he had sent several invitations to the Witch Castle, hoping to form an alliance, but their responses remained ambiguous. Apart from the Moonlight Mushroom trade, all other interactions were handled with excessive caution.

It was clearly a situation of wanting benefits without taking responsibility, akin to a rogue’s approach.

Lynch certainly couldn’t let them continue to manipulate things this way, which is why he orchestrated the withholding of the Moonlight Mushrooms, forcing this conversation with Witch Kalsa.

Now that the secrets were out, Lynch decided not to pretend anymore.

He nodded and first praised, “Witch Kalsa, what a superb method, silently sending spies around me. It seems you’ve thoroughly investigated my background.”

Witch Kalsa said, “This was just a necessary measure to ensure the safety of our trade. I’m glad I took this precaution, or else we’d still be deceived by the Silver Frost Wizard, thinking the reduction in Moonlight Mushrooms was natural.”

Pausing, her brows furrowed and her voice carried a cold edge: “Silver Frost Wizard, what do you mean by this? I need a reasonable explanation!”

“Explanation?”

Lynch was not accommodating. He stood up, met the other’s sharp gaze, and without backing down said, “Shouldn’t I be the one asking for an explanation here? You were the ones who first contacted me, but when I proposed an alliance, you repeatedly and obstinately evaded. What are you doing, thinking I’m easy to bully?”

Having been in the Jade Land for over ten years, Lynch maintained a low-profile persona, avoided trouble, and even when approached, he would manage issues with patience.

But now, the development in Feiyan City has reached a critical point. With its current scale, it’s hard to avoid notice, and internally, resources can no longer sustain the existing growth model.

Internally and externally, he must do something, and expansion is inevitable.

If expansion is necessary, doing it alone is not feasible. Drawing some in to counter others is a conventional strategy that must be realized.

Lynch’s investigations over the years showed that among the eight major powers in the Jade Land, the Witch Castle was the weakest. They also faced suppression and exclusion from other forces, making them the most susceptible to alliance.

If no agreement could be reached here, Lynch thought it was fine to start targeting the softer options anyway.

Pausing, Lynch assertively said, “Here, you either become a friend or an enemy, Witch Kalsa, there is no room for ambiguous stances!”

“Wow!”

Such arrogant words clearly enraged the Witch Castle swiftly, making the surrounding witches curse angrily:

“What attitude!”

“This is our Witch Domain, not your Feiyan City!”

“Show some respect!”

Watching these witches, jumping like chickens whose tails had been stepped on, Lynch understood the reason why, even with a Second Tier Mystic Technique guardian, they remained the weakest force.

It’s not Lynch being sexist, but a force entirely made up of women seems to lack future prospects.

Lynch wasted no words, raising his right hand, a grand Truth Magic Array spread outwards, unleashing a powerful Spiritual Field of a Second Tier Mystic adept.

Except for Witch Kalsa herself, the rest were only ordinary wizards. In the presence of this Second Tier force field, they all felt like they had plunged into an ice cave, instantly silenced.

Lynch had already pushed this far, and if the host here, Witch Kalsa, remained seated, the Witch Castle might as well be dismantled by tomorrow.

With a “snap!”

She slapped the armrest of the throne and stood up abruptly, “Fine, Lord of Fiery Flame, if you wish to test the depths of my Witch Castle, let’s see how well I, Kalsa, match up to your prowess!”

As she spoke, a massive Magic Array lit up beneath her feet, mirroring Lynch’s own Truth Magic Array!

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