70: Chapter 70 A fundraising roadshow targeting assassins and nobles

Coaster's breath hitched, and his shrewd, beady green eyes instantly widened, as if he had heard a divine oracle from a devout believer.

He instinctively swallowed, his Adam's apple bobbing, letting out a crisp 'gulp'.

As a financial intermediary in Silvermoon City who made a living selling information and brokering deals, he had heard countless boasts and lies, but never had anyone described such a wild blueprint in such a calm tone.

Gold?

Flowing into this godforsaken swamp?

He instinctively found it absurd, yet the profound gaze of the young man before him made his heart race involuntarily.

Levi paid no heed to his lapse in composure, merely turning to walk back to his desk and retrieving two items from a locked walnut box.

The first was a report bound in fine parchment, with the title "Report on the Exploration Reserves and Commercial Mining Value Assessment of the Blackstone Territory's Super-Large Mithril Vein (Preliminary Edition)" written in gilded letters on the cover.

He casually tossed the report onto the table with a soft 'thud'.

The second item he held carefully in his palm.

It was a raw ore, roughly the size of a fist, unpolished.

Even under the dim lamplight of the study, it still emitted a soft, dreamlike silver glow, its exposed crystal surface seeming to condense moonlight, so pure it was dazzling.

Coaster's gaze was instantly drawn to the ore; he practically scrambled to the table, his nose almost touching it.

As a qualified intermediary, he naturally recognized what it was.

Mithril!

And it was top-grade mithril, with an astonishingly high purity!

Ore of this quality usually only appeared deep within the Dwarf Kingdom or in the lairs of ancient dragons.

Even a small piece would drive the enchanters in the Royal Capital mad.

"This... this is..." Coaster's voice trembled with excitement; he reached out, then recoiled as if shocked, looking at Levi with awe.

"A sample," Levi said concisely.

He gently placed the ore on the report and said in an unquestionable tone, "Mr. Coaster, I'm sure Director Evelyn has explained the situation to you. I need you to, before sunset tomorrow, 'accidentally' let the gentlemen in Silvermoon City with the sharpest ears, the fullest pockets, and the most active minds, know the contents of this report."

He paused, then extended a finger and lightly tapped the thick pages of the report.

"Of course, the figures in the report might contain a little 'well-intentioned' exaggeration due to limitations in exploration technology, such as reserves and grade. But this sample in your hand is absolutely genuine. Do you understand what I mean?"

A false, grand promise enough to turn heads, paired with irrefutable proof.

Coaster understood instantly.

This was the classic beginning of a Ponzi scheme, ancient and effective.

But he didn't care; the bigger the scheme, the fatter the profits.

"Understood, completely understood, Lord Byron!" Coaster bowed even lower, his face full of fawning smiles. "However, for news of this caliber, the usual commission might..."

"Three percent of the total financing amount after the deal is done, as your 'information consulting fee'," Levi interrupted him indifferently. "Also," he pushed over a heavy money bag, "this is your advance payment and operating expenses. Remember, I don't want widespread publicity, but rather a sense of mystery and urgency leaked through 'internal channels' and 'exclusive news'. I want them to believe they are among the first clever ones to seize this opportunity."

Three percent!

Coaster's eyes instantly turned into the shape of gold coins.

He weighed the bag of gold coins, and the last shred of doubt in his heart vanished.

He immediately patted his chest, guaranteeing that he would handle it perfectly, making those greedy nobles and merchants swarm like sharks smelling blood.

Levi smiled and nodded, watching Coaster, led by Evelyn, depart contentedly like a fat rat carrying treasure.

The wind outside the window seemed to pick up.

He looked back at the princess's camp down the mountain; the largest tent in the center of the camp was still lit.

Princess Ella, this golden signboard he had painstakingly acquired, must be tossing and turning now.

But it didn't matter; after tomorrow, it would be someone else's turn to suffer from insomnia.

Three days later, the old hall in Blackstone Castle, originally used for storing sundries, was thoroughly cleaned and refurbished.

Scarlet carpets, urgently purchased from merchants in the Royal Capital, covered the floor. New Byron Family banners hung on the walls, and behind the makeshift podium was a huge white screen treated with alchemy.

The hall was bustling with noise, the air a mixture of expensive perfume, cigar smoke, and the stench of money.

Dozens of lavishly dressed nobles, wealthy merchants, and their respective scheming retainers packed the place.

They whispered to each other, their gazes occasionally darting towards the most special seat at the head table.

The Pearl of the Empire, Her Royal Highness Princess Ella Radiance, was seated there.

She had changed out of her military uniform, wearing a conservative court gown, with a standard yet stiff smile on her face.

Although everyone could see the reluctance in her smile, her presence itself was irrefutable official authentication.

This completely reassured the investors who had initially harbored doubts.

Levi sat beside Ella, dressed in a well-fitted black tuxedo, conversing 'cordially' with the princess beside him with a composed demeanor, as if they were close friends of many years.

Only Ella herself knew that her fingernails were almost digging into the flesh of her hands, which were clasped on her lap.

"Your Highness, smile more brightly," Levi's voice was very low, with an irresistible gentleness. "You are our strategic partner; you must let the investors see your confidence in this project."

Ella took a deep breath, and the curve of her lips widened a few more points, though the chill in her blue eyes was almost solidifying into ice.

Just then, the lights in the hall suddenly dimmed, with only the podium brightly lit by several magical light orbs.

Evelyn, wearing a sharply tailored black ladies' suit that perfectly accentuated her alluring figure, ascended the podium with elegant and confident steps.

She wore a pair of non-prescription crystal clear glasses, her red hair neatly pinned up, exuding a unique blend of intellect and charm.

"Good afternoon, esteemed gentlemen and ladies," Evelyn's voice, amplified by a magic array, clearly reached every corner of the hall.

Her naturally enchanting eyes swept across the audience, and every man who met her gaze felt his heart skip a beat.

"Welcome to the 'Blackstone Mining First Funding Briefing'. Today, I will present to you not just a project, but a magnificent opportunity that will change the future energy landscape of the Terrarium Continent."

As she spoke, a complex chart lit up on the large white screen behind her.

It was the 'PPT' that Levi had personally drawn for her over two nights.

"As we all know, whether driving alchemical golems or powering magic towers, every advancement in Magitech Industry relies on a core element—Strategic Metals. And mithril is the pinnacle of this pyramid!" Evelyn pointed to the steeply rising curve on the chart. "According to our market department's rigorous analysis, over the next decade, with the surging demand for military magitech equipment from various kingdoms, and the popularization of 'Enchantment' technology in the lower-tier markets, the demand for high-purity mithril will experience explosive growth. And we, Blackstone Mining, have already completed our strategic layout in advance, forming an industrial closed-loop from mining, refining, to sales, aiming to empower all investors and jointly seize the opportunities of this era!"

"Closed-loop," "empowerment," "lower-tier markets"... these unheard-of terms struck the minds of the audience like heavy hammers.

They were confused but deeply impressed.

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They looked at Evelyn's beautiful face full of confidence, at the incredibly professional and data-rich charts behind her, and then at the smiling, nodding Princess on the main seat. A sense of anxiety that 'it would be too late if they didn't invest now' spontaneously arose.

After successfully confusing everyone with a bunch of business buzzwords, Evelyn finally revealed her true intentions. The image on the curtain switched to a massive map of the mining area divided by grid lines.

'To allow every investor to maximize their returns, we have innovatively launched the core model of this financing—"Block Subscription, Independent Mining"!' Her words were full of inflammatory power. 'What you are purchasing is no longer ethereal shares, but these visible, tangible real mining areas on the map with permanent mining rights and ownership! The principle we uphold is: whoever invests, whoever clears, whoever benefits!'

'Clearing?' A fat, oily businessman keenly caught the word and asked loudly, 'Miss Evelyn, as far as I know, the tunnels in the Blackstone Mountains are not peaceful.'

The smile on Evelyn's face remained unchanged, as if she had long expected this question.

She bowed slightly and made a 'please' gesture: 'This question will be answered personally by the CEO of our Blackstone Heavy Industries, Lord Levi Byron.'

Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Levi slowly rose and walked onto the podium.

He took the microphone-shaped amplification magic tool handed over by Evelyn, a sincere smile on his face.

'This gentleman asks a very good question.' His voice was steady and magnetic. 'I never hide risks from my partners. Yes, according to our early exploration, there are indeed some Cave Demon Spiders entrenched deep in the tunnels. But I believe this is not a risk, but an opportunity.'

He looked around the room, his gaze full of power: 'I prefer to define this as an unavoidable sunk cost in the early stages of the project, and a test of the strength and determination of each investor! Wealth has always belonged to the brave who dare to hack through the thorns! Of course, as the project initiator, we will not let our partners fight alone.'

He changed the subject and dropped a bombshell: 'To this end, Blackstone Heavy Industries will provide "Security Outsourcing Services" composed of our most elite Orc Warriors for free to all investors who successfully subscribe to a mining area, assisting you in clearing the "initial obstacles" within your respective blocks. However...' He paused perfectly, a 'strictly business' expression appearing on his face, 'the wear and tear of weapons and equipment, the consumption of healing potions, and the pensions for the unfortunate casualties of the warriors—these are part of the "consumables" and must be borne by the investors themselves. A specific price list will be distributed to you shortly.'

The audience erupted into an uproar.

This calculation was too shrewd!

Under the name of providing free security, they were actually shifting the largest costs—personnel casualties and material consumption—entirely onto the investors.

Not only that, looking at this posture, they would also have to buy these "consumables" from Levi at high prices.

This meant the investors had to pay out of their own pockets to help him clear the tunnels, and then get fleeced by him again!

However, before everyone could recover from this outrageous maneuver, a raspy voice rang out from the most inconspicuous corner of the hall.

'Lord Byron, you have considered the safety of the investors so "thoughtfully," but what about your own safety? As far as I know, those eyeing this piece of fat are not just the people sitting here. If something unfortunate happens to you, an "accident," halfway through the project, how will the rights of us investors be guaranteed?'

Everyone looked toward the sound and saw a person completely shrouded in a black cloak standing up.

He was thin and sharp, like an unsheathed dagger. Although an agent disguised as a wealthy merchant stood beside him, the faint aura of killing intent made the people around him shiver.

Levi's pupils constricted slightly. Echo, the leader of the Shadow Guild. He had finally come.

Instead of being nervous, Levi smiled.

He looked directly at the cloaked figure, his voice echoing clearly throughout the hall through the amplification array, every word carrying an unquestionable decisiveness.

'This gentleman's concern is very far-sighted. So, I have made a small preparation in advance.' He raised his hand and snapped his fingers.

The image on the curtain behind the podium switched again, revealing an incredibly complex internal perspective of the tunnels, marked with dozens of red light dots, all concentrated in the core and richest areas of the vein.

'To ensure the project can proceed stably and long-term, I have signed an agreement with the continent's best team of Goblin Engineers to install thirty-six high-yield Alchemical Explosives on the core load-bearing structures of the vein.'

As soon as these words were spoken, the entire hall fell into a dead silence. One could hear a pin drop.

Everyone stared at Levi in a daze, as if looking at a madman.

The smile on Levi's face became even gentler, but the words he spoke made everyone's spine chill: 'These explosives are connected to a special Alchemical Life Device, which is tied to my heart. If my heartbeat stops for more than ten seconds, they will be instantly detonated.'

He spread his hands, his posture as elegant as if he were introducing a work of art: 'At that time, the entire Blackstone Mountains will collapse, and the rich Mithril Vein will be permanently sealed under hundreds of millions of tons of rock as a great "environmental project." Naturally, all the investments of everyone present will vanish into thin air and return to dust.'

'So, please rest assured. In a sense, the safety of my life is the greatest guarantee for your wealth.'

This crazy 'mutual destruction' declaration was like a bucket of ice water, dousing all the assassination plans in Echo's heart.

He had planned countless assassinations and dealt with all kinds of guards, but he had never seen this kind of play where one tied themselves directly to a mountain of gold as a hostage.

Killing Levi would be equivalent to personally blowing up the treasure he was about to get his hands on.

This deal was a total loss.

In an instant, the atmosphere of the entire hall was completely ignited!

Levi's madness had instead become the most solid guarantee!

As long as he was alive, everyone's investment was safe!

'I subscribe to Block A-3! It's closest to the main tunnel!'

'Bullshit! I have my eye on Block A-3! I offer five thousand gold coins!'

'Block B-5! I want Block B-5!'

Under Coaster's tireless fanning of the flames and Evelyn's soul-stirring guidance, the nobles on the scene went crazy, starting to bid frantically, scrambling for the 'rich mining areas' that Evelyn had intentionally or unintentionally hinted at.

In the corner, Echo's body trembled slightly under his cloak, not from fear, but from an extreme anger and excitement.

He realized that conventional means could no longer deal with this young man.

After a brief weighing of options, he lowered his voice and gave an instruction to the agent beside him.

Soon, his agent held up the bidding sign high and shouted out a block number that made everyone look sideways with an overwhelming price.

'Block A-1! We offer twelve thousand gold coins!'

The hall suddenly fell quiet.

Everyone's gaze focused on the map.

Block A-1, immediately adjacent to the only main passage of the tunnel, was the strategic bottleneck for all mining areas.

Echo's target had shifted at this moment.

Since he couldn't assassinate in the shadows, he would move to the open.

He would control the lifeline of the mining area. Once everyone had dug out the ore and built the roads, he would swallow Levi and all the investors whole!

Levi heard that bid, and he locked eyes with Echo under the cloak from a distance.

He saw a greedy, patient, and deadly venomous snake entrenched at the entrance of his gold mine.

But he only smiled slightly, picked up the auction gavel, and brought it down heavily.

'Sold! Congratulations to this gentleman!'