Chapter 010: I Am Just Robbing

Hearing Du Fan say this, Uncle Hua wasn’t surprised at all. He looked at Du Fan and then said, “Alright, since you’re willing to listen, we might as well tell you. Our family head is injured and needs the venom of the camel snake as a medicinal ingredient. We’re here to find that camel snake. But it lives deep in the swamp…”
“Do you want me to take you in? Or maybe have me help you find that venom?” Before Uncle Hua could respond, Du Fan continued, “What’s her relationship to your family head?”
“I’m my father’s youngest daughter!” The girl raised her head and glared at Du Fan.
Du Fan nodded, his face showing no expression. “To save your father, you’d do anything, right? Sacrifice anything, right?” As he spoke, his eyes wandered over the girl. “So, what’s your name, miss?”
The girl blushed. “You’re shameless!”
Du Fan replied insolently, “Thanks for the compliment. That’s what everyone else says about me.”
Uncle Hua stood in front of the girl. “If you help us find the camel snake’s venom, we will reward you generously!”
“Generously? I have high demands!” Du Fan clearly wasn’t very interested in this matter.
But Uncle Hua knew that a master like Du Fan wouldn’t come here unless something truly attracted him. “Tell us what you need. As long as it’s within our power, we’ll help you.”
Du Fan pointed at the girl. “What if I want her?”
“You’re joking. Our young lady is too mischievous to catch your eye,” Uncle Hua said politely.
Du Fan nodded in agreement, almost bending the girl’s nose from anger. She wasn’t that worthless! If it weren’t for her reluctance to fall into the hands of such a shameless man, she would have already…
Thinking about it later, she realized her words held no conviction.
Du Fan knew about the camel snake. Although finding it would be troublesome, it shouldn’t be too difficult for a family with a sixth-level warrior as a member.
“You can put forward your demands first. We can discuss them.”
Looking at the anxious Uncle Hua, Du Fan gestured for them to sit down. “Before we discuss this, shouldn’t you first tell me who I’m supposed to work with?”
Uncle Hua quickly replied, “We’re from the Beiba family. I’m Hua Wei, and this is our young lady—Lena.”

“The Beiba family?” Du Fan didn’t know much about the Beiba family. All he knew was that it had started out in business, and during a drought five years ago, they donated five million gold coins, after which they were granted the title of Honorary Earl—though only those of the current generation could hold such titles. Once the current head of the family died, they reverted to being an ordinary small family. It was for this reason that Du Fan remembered such a family: the empire had gained five million gold coins for nothing, while they only received an honorary title. This made Du Fan laugh for a long time. But facts proved Du Fan wrong. Although it seemed they lost out by getting only an honorary title, they used their privileges to establish a business family that wasn’t extremely powerful but was widespread. By the time the original head of the family passed away, they had already become major business tycoons in their region! Although the honorary title meant little in the eyes of others, it came with many privileges. These privileges might not matter much to a true noble, but they were crucial for a businessman. It was this that allowed them to penetrate almost all business circles, which is why Du Fan paid even more attention to them. Although Du Fan didn’t reveal their identity, Walwei knew he had already figured out who they were. “You’re right. We indeed come from the Beiba family,” Walwei said without showing any arrogance because of his family. First, they needed Du Fan’s help, and in his eyes, Du Fan already had the strength of an eighth-level fighter. With such strength and at such a young age, he seemed to have endless potential. Someone like him could even reach the peak of the ninth level or even glimpse the Saintly realm. In any case, they should flatter him. Moreover, their family was special—it had status but was still a business family. It was extremely difficult to attract experts like him. Second, it was due to the demeanor Du Fan displayed in everything he did. Although he had grown up in the Church, he still returned home and received noble-style education, so his manners were impeccably elegant. It was a temperament that stemmed from within, different from those of people from a merchant background. Walwei also had keen insight; he was able to notice this.

Du Fan knew they were from the Beiba family, which made things even stranger. For a family like theirs, even if they wanted high-level mercenaries, it wouldn’t be hard to find ones above level six. Yet they only sent a level-six swordsman named Walwei—wasn’t that extremely strange?
Although mercenaries at levels seven or eight were rare in the mercenary world, they weren’t entirely absent. If they spent one million gold coins, someone would surely provide them with venom. Why did they need their lady and bodyguards to come here as well?
“One million gold coins?”
“What?” Walwei could hardly believe his ears. Du Fan wanted one million gold coins? Lenna snorted and cursed inwardly: Greedy fool!
Walwei glared at his lady. If it weren’t for her sneaking along and his lack of time to send her back, and if he weren’t worried about sending her back with just a few people, how would Lenna still be here? Though Walwei was their family’s guard, the Beiba clan leader treated him like a brother. And he indeed deserved such treatment.
Lenna had grown up under his care. Walwei treated her like his own niece, so even if he glared at her and gave her a stern look, she wouldn’t get angry. After all, she was the one who had done wrong first!
“I can help you, but listen well—this is ‘help,’ not a guarantee that I’ll find what you need. Don’t treat me as a fool. I can take you into the swamp and help you avoid most dangers, but I can’t guarantee that everyone of you will be safe. Moreover, I’ll only stay there for half a month before leaving.”
Lenna screamed, “Half a month? And you’ll leave no matter if we find it or not? Are you robbing us?”
Du Fan replied coldly, “I am indeed robbing you. You don’t have to use me. As for the reason, I think it’s unnecessary for me to explain.”
Hearing Du Fan’s words, Walwei wore a bitter smile. “I guess the remaining one million gold coins are just a joke, right? Fine, we’re serious about getting the Burmese Viper venom. But we also need something else—the Fire Fruit from the Burmese Viper Valley.”
“If you can truly obtain this Fire Fruit, we’re willing to pay two million gold coins—no, three million!” Walwei had the authority to decide. Although the amount was large, their family head’s annual income exceeded this amount every year. If their family head died, they’d have nothing left.

Du Fan thought three million gold coins was a reasonable price for the Fiery Fruit. To go to the Snake Valley, one needed to be at level eight or above to return, and getting the Fiery Fruit was even easier. But although three million gold coins was tempting, and Du Fan urgently needed money to develop Doha City and several other cities, how could he agree to such a one-time deal? “I don’t want three million gold coins. I just want your promise.”

Walwei had long known that if the other party learned of his identity, they would demand an exorbitant amount. But they had no choice. They came here intending to send Lenna back, and another purpose was to issue tasks here; those who accepted the tasks were already on their way. However, they weren’t as strong as Du Fan. For saving the family head, it was better to find someone stronger—so as to increase the chances of success.

But when it came to making a promise, it wasn’t something Walwei could decide casually. Still, he decided to listen first. As long as Du Fan’s conditions weren’t unreasonable, agreeing wouldn’t hurt.

“Oh, before mentioning my conditions, let me introduce myself. My name is Du Fan Green. No need to look at me like that—you heard me right. I am the lord of the Rose Province, Du Fan Green. I’m also a duke, apparently.”

“Oh! Duke Du Fan!!” Walwei exclaimed in a strange tone. It was actually Duke Du Fan! What terrible luck they had! If they could connect with Du Fan… even without the family head… no, no, no. How could he think like that?

“What are your demands? Just say them.”

“You know the current situation of the Rose Province, right?”

Walwei nodded. Having been by the family head’s side for years, he naturally knew some things. Although their family was spread across the entire empire, including other cities, the Rose Province used to be quite prosperous, but now… it was a barren land. Du Fan’s intention was simply for them to promote commercial development here. But…

Du Fan certainly understood Walwei’s concerns. Investing in a province wasn’t like investing in a small city, let alone the capital city of Doha City. It couldn’t be done with just one or two million gold coins—probably tens of millions or more.

If there were profits, it would be fine. But if the investment couldn’t be recovered and tens of millions had to be spent… they definitely wouldn’t do it!

Du Fan was well aware of their concerns. He wasn’t worried about those bandit groups; he could leave them to Miss Chenchen. After all, he could handle them, it just took time and someone to make a public statement. As long as a merchant group entered the Rose Province and benefited from him, others would naturally follow.

“I understand your concerns, so I won’t force you. All I ask is that after I eliminate all the bandit groups here, you help promote economic development. Of course, for those of you who enter the Rose Province first, I’ll exempt you from taxes for five years and reduce them by half for another five years. How does that sound?”

“After all the bandit groups are eliminated?” Walwei asked uncertainly.

Du Fan was still quite confident. “That’s right. After they’re gone, you can send people to investigate, and then enter. Is that acceptable?”

“Acceptable, absolutely!” Walwei nodded eagerly. The main reason the Rose Province’s economy hadn’t developed was because it was a lawless area. Doing business there was risky; temporary trades might work, but who would invest money there?

Moreover, since it served as a gateway, transportation would be well-developed. If Du Fan did well, he could become wealthy just from tolls.

Where there are people, there are business opportunities! That was a phrase the old lord often repeated.

“Good, I agree! But, Duke, you still need to collect those three million gold coins—consider it our initial investment!”