Because of magic, everything in Faerûn is polarizing, and so is the speed at which news spreads.
Among the ordinary people, news is often extremely limited. When the news reaches their ears, it is often months or even years later, and they hear it as a legend.
At the top, news is often extremely fast, and news from hundreds of kilometers away can be delivered instantly (the teleportation technique depends on whether you are willing to spend the money).
The great achievements of the conqueror army in the Northland spread so quickly, which is the credit of the owner of the horse farm in Amphail Village. The huge animals dragging heavy trucks along the commercial road are extremely conspicuous. Regarding their origin, , those curious people naturally couldn't help but inquire, and then they implicated the army of conquerors and their road to conquering.
Many businessmen are so itchy that they plan to go to the Giant Plains when they have time and buy a few giant animals. On the complicated business roads, these super large animals do have advantages that ordinary animals do not have. After all, one The dragging force far exceeds the combined force of four horses.
Although anyone with a little bit of magic knowledge knows that you can also get giant animals by using magic constancy to immobilize mutated animals on ordinary livestock. The premise is that you have to find an extraordinary spellcaster who is willing to make this money. Since everything is involved Spells with professional experience are extremely cautious when casted by spellcasters.
Even if you find an extraordinary spellcaster who is willing to cast it, you can't get two five-ring spells without five thousand gold coins. The value far exceeds buying them from the Giant Plains.
Residents of Amphel Village, who had a close relationship with Gavin, were naturally particularly concerned about the conqueror's army. This was human nature.
"It's a fluke, it's just a fluke." Gavin didn't know how to respond to such a straightforward compliment, so he could only laugh and say, "Madam only saw our superficial glory, but did not see the difficulties behind us. This time I came here to ask for your help."
Gavin chose to get straight to the point. Playing tricks with someone with a lot of experience and complex thoughts like Gothel's mother would only complicate things. It would be better to keep things simple and clear.
"Huh? Asking for help from us?" Gao Se's mother laughed and said, "You can even defeat an army of hundreds of thousands of monsters. What else in this world can stump you? If it stumps you too, How can we, a group of weak women, help?”
During the dissemination, a lot of news has been distorted. The monster army faced by the conqueror army has increased from tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands. It is estimated that not only the monster army has been exaggerated, but also the size of the conqueror army has been exaggerated several times. , it is not necessarily more than one hundred thousand, exaggeration is a common problem of all intelligent races.
Gavin did not correct Mother Gothel's cognitive error, but said solemnly: "Madam, I'm not kidding. We have gone far in the part where monsters are the leader, and the rest is dominated by humans. As part of our dominance, we need to keep our swords in our pockets, use diplomacy as tactics, lips and teeth as weapons, and trade as shields. In this regard, ladies and your girls are absolutely strong. I hope you can help. Open things up.”
What he wanted to invite was not Mother Gothel alone, but her entire joy hall.
In Gowther's Mother's Happy Hall, there are escort girls who responded to Gavin and Gowther's mother's hotel chain plan and left, and there are also some who choose to stay in the Happy Hall to continue operating, and they are the majority.
It is easy to go from frugality to luxury, but it is difficult to go from luxury to frugality.
After a person has tasted the taste of quick money, it is difficult to save one gold coin after another in a down-to-earth manner.
Compared to running around outside in the face of wind, rain and the risk of death, instead of being comfortable and comfortable in the Happy Hall, eating, drinking, and having fun with others every day, a lot of gold and glitter are put into their accounts. Their income from dancing is the top craftsmen. The harvest of a day's hard work, or the entire net worth of a farmer who works day and night for several days. The income of successful businessmen is certainly more than theirs, but there is a prerequisite for this, and that is success. In comparison, in this world, I'm afraid There are more failed businessmen.
Of course, there are inspiring examples of the escort girls in Gao Se Mama's Happy Hall who have gone out and successfully opened up their own new lives. These are only a few, and most of them have not been as happy with their lives. Some even come back after going round and round.
Gavin didn't mean to judge whether these escort girls were willing to be humble and indolent. Everyone had the right to choose their own life. This was their choice. If possible, he just wanted to use this choice to his own advantage. It will be easier for escort girls who are used to the feasting and feasting to blend into those luxurious and chaotic aristocratic circles, and naturally it will be easier to get the information Gavin needs.
As for their ability to collect intelligence, there is no need to doubt this. All pubs, hotels, and entertainment halls will also do the work of collecting and selling intelligence. The more famous escort girls are, the more masters they are in this area. Many people invite them As escorts, their purpose is not just for pleasure, the information they hold is also an important part of the services they provide.
When Gavin first came to Amphiel Village, he also used them as an important source of information.
Mother Gowther is so smart and understands everything, "You mean, you want me to lead my girls into the aristocratic circle of the Kingdom of Cormyr? Help you collect intelligence?"
"Not just to break into the noble circle of the Kingdom of Cormyr, I plan to expand our hotel chain plan eastward, along the trade route along the Sword Coast coast to the traders' avenue on the Dragon Coast, and then expand the entire Conqueror The road is included in it. Since you have heard the name of this road here, you should know how big its potential is and how big an advantage I have there. I dare not say anything else there, but I can ensure that Your safety and business are priorities." Gavin doesn't mind sharing with others when he eats meat. His stall is getting bigger and bigger. Wanting to monopolize the benefits will only arouse public anger. People who have nothing to do with its convenience will It is better to sell favors to acquaintances and engage in deeper interest bundling.
"Every time you make an offer, we can't refuse it." Gao Se's mother couldn't help but sigh deeply.
She has not been idle in the past two months. She has been rapidly advancing the hotel chain plan on Changlu. She has already seen preliminary results and tasted the benefits.
These hotel chains have different origins or shapes, but their business models are printed from the same mold. That is to say, a lot of manpower, material resources, and energy are required to be invested in the early stages of development. Once they have arranged the right people, they only need to carry out operations and accounting. If they are supervised, they will be able to operate normally. I dare not say that they will make a fortune every day, but they will be able to continuously and stably provide wealth.
Just by stabilizing the hotel chain on the long road, the monthly income will be ten times that of Gao Se's Mother Happy Hall at its peak.
The Long Road is only 700 kilometers long, and the total length of the roads Gavin mentioned is not 10,000 kilometers, but 5,000. If they eat them all, this will become a source of gold coins flowing into their treasury. The river brings them a steady stream of wealth.
But the price they need to pay is also high, which means that they will step onto the chariot of the conqueror's army. Being a spy is different from doing business. The risk factor will rise sharply, and if you are not careful, you will be undone.
Gavin knew there was something going on as soon as he heard Gowther's mother's tone, and hurriedly added: "Just like before, what kind of life they choose is entirely up to them. We don't need to force anything."
No one has a grudge against wealth, and Gowther's mother is no exception. At best, she looks down on those small interests, but the price offered by Gavin is too generous, and the potential he has shown is too great. If you continue to bet on him, if you are not careful, you will gain not only wealth, but also unimaginable power.
"You are wrong this time." Gao Se's mother said with an extremely serious expression, "If you really want to do this, it is not as simple as volunteering. You must also go through strict screening, assessment and training. This The matter will involve their life and death. Not every escort girl has such qualities. The escort girls in my hands alone are not enough."
"The lady is right, but I took it too much for granted." Gavin immediately corrected his attitude and said, "It's just that the risk factor of going to the Kingdom of Cormyr this time is still relatively small. After all, our army of conquerors is there. , We and Cormier each have their own needs, and we are just trying to find ways to maximize our own interests, which requires repeated probing. After this matter is dealt with, we will discuss whether to conduct in-depth cooperation."
What Gao Se's mother said was already biased towards the spy.
Gavin wanted them to be diplomats, make full use of their ability to dance, and act as spies in the open, with a relatively low risk factor.
Secret agent, Gavin already has the Black Wings that are being secretly formed on the Dragon Coast.
"Since the general has offered such generous terms, if I don't agree again, my escort girls will definitely eat me if they find out about it." Gao Se's mother responded with a smile, "But we have agreed in advance that we can only I will try my best, but to what extent I can achieve it is not guaranteed.”
"That's enough." Of course, Gavin would not place all his hopes on them. They were just a kind of support, and the core force would still be on his side.
"Since you are going to Cormyr, this book will definitely be of some help." Gowther's mother handed Gavin a thick kraft paper book.
Varro's Travels to Cormyr.
Seeing the name of this book, Gavin couldn't help but exclaimed: "Has this book been published now?"
For him, this book is not only helpful, it is simply a window to comprehensively understand the Kingdom of Cormyr. It will have a guiding role in his future industrial layout in the Kingdom of Cormyr.
Varro is the name of a traveling mage who became famous with the series of books called Varro's Travels.
He is not only the author of Varro's Travels: Cormyr, but also Varro's Travels: Northland, Varro's Travels: Waterdeep, Varro's Travels: Monster Manual, etc.
He had only heard of this travel series in his previous life, but had never actually bought one. After all, due to the printing and papermaking methods of Faerun, the spread of many publications would be limited to a small area for a long time.
"What do you mean it's been published now? Do you know this book?" This time it was Gowther's mother's turn to look confused.
"I heard that Master Varro once saw some excerpts from his previous travelogue. He once mentioned that he was going to write a travelogue about the Northland and Cormyr. But you know the temperament of these authors. They have always It's not on time, no one knows when it will be published, I thought it would take a while." Gavin was vague.
Although he doesn't know the specific order of Varro's Travels, one thing is certain. Varro's Travels: Cormyr is by no means the first book in this series. Places like Waterdeep are relatively developed in all aspects and have a good audience. , is the first choice for issuance. It is the most correct choice to wait until a certain amount of people and funds have been accumulated before going on long-distance travel. In any world, long-distance travel is an extremely money-consuming behavior.
"That's it." Gowther's mother suddenly realized it, and she was convinced of Gavin's explanation. "This is an internal version of the transcript that I got from my friends in Waterdeep City. Large-scale printing will have to wait until next year."
Mother Gothel once again used her actions to prove the breadth of her friendships and power in Waterdeep City. This involved a core confidential document within a publication publishing house.
"Thank you, madam, for taking the trouble." Gavin thanked him solemnly.
At the same time, I couldn't help but wonder, could Godther's mother have already guessed that she would invite her to go to Cormyr? Have you actually made preparations in advance?
"This can only be said to be a coincidence. I am a loyal reader of Mr. Varro. I will read all his publications immediately. My friend also knows my preferences, so he prepared a copy for me in advance. Now you need it more than I do." As if to prove that she was not just talking nonsense, Gowther's mother went directly to the bookcase and opened it. Inside was not only the complete series of Varro's Travels, but also Varro's Encyclopedia of Magic and Varro's Magic Encyclopedia. There are also a series of more obscure books such as Luo's personal biography and excerpts from Varo's diary. Although they are neatly arranged, the obvious signs of wrinkles indicate that these are not simple decorations. Their owners often read them.
"Even so, thank you ma'am." Gavin was even more surprised. "I have always wanted to read Mr. Varro's complete works, but I have never had the chance. Since ma'am, what you have here is so complete, can I borrow it and read it?"
"Of course." Gao Se's mother said very generously, "What do you need? I'll pack it for you."
"No need to go to such trouble, I can just take it to the hotel and read it." Gavin simply adjusted his arrangement and did not return to the City of Faith today. He spent the whole day reading all the books of Mr. Varro. Read them all through.
"Since you study here in Amphail Village, it's easier. Just study here directly at my place. The Happy Hall is much quieter during the day than the one in your hotel." Gao Se's mother gave the answer. A less troublesome idea.
"Then I'll trouble you, ma'am." Gavin did not refuse, because the Shima Hotel was a bit noisy during the day.
Not just for the purchase of food from the kobold quarry, but also because the situation here has gradually opened up after the Crying Witch disappeared for a long time. The busy traffic is not enough, but the occupancy rate has increased significantly. After all, in An There are no competitors in Phil Village, and the prices are relatively favorable and reasonable. The morning and evening are the busiest times, and all the people coming in and out are businessmen and travelers.
When he arrived at Gowther's mother's side, he was invisible the whole time.
"You haven't had breakfast yet, I'll let them prepare it together." Gao Se's mother said with concern.
Gavin shook his head and rejected Mother Gowther's kindness and said, "Those girls of yours are very smart. If you ask them to deliver two portions of food to the room, it will definitely arouse a lot of suspicion. Why not try the skills of my cook over there." "
As soon as he turned his head, Gavin took out three dishes and one soup from the portable dimension cave. Although the dishes were not many, the portions were quite large, including meat and vegetables, and they were still steaming.
He never treats himself badly in this regard. As long as there is space in the portable dimensional cave, he will carry a lot of them with him, mainly to be prepared.
"Even if I give them ten more courages, they won't dare to make random suspicions about me." Gao Se's mother said domineeringly, "Since you have prepared so thoroughly, then you won't let them have any trouble. Your food is for me." It's too greasy. I need to control my body shape. I have a special breakfast, so I won't be with you. If there is nothing else, you can read here by yourself. There is still a lot of work to prepare for sending them to Cormyr."
"Okay." Gavin did not force it. No matter in which world, women are very concerned about their body appearance, especially the ladies in the Happy Hall. Three meals a day have always been clear soup and little water. This is to maintain their capital to make money. The price that had to be paid was that although Gao Se's mother no longer needed to entertain people with her appearance, her control over this aspect of herself was even better than that of other escort girls.
Gavin ate and watched, and soon he was immersed in the ocean of knowledge.
For the other series of Varro's Travels, he just read through the shorthand and did not study it seriously. It was not too late to leave it to his leisure time. This only took a few hours. His main energy was spent on the subject of Varro's Travels. Mir not only studied it carefully, but also took out a pen and paper to write and draw.
During the study process, Gavin's biggest impression was that it was indeed a travel book. Master Varro was full of unique interests in eating and drinking. Every village he introduced to the village, he always had a look at its specialties, taverns and hotels. Commentary, for those who want to follow his footsteps and travel, this part is naturally very helpful, and can help tourists effectively avoid lightning and prevent being cheated.
But for people like Gavin who have ulterior motives, this part is the most useless thing, and they are basically covered briefly.
The second impression is that Master Varro really dares to write about anything, and at the same time, he has extraordinary abilities. He even got some secret orders of the Kingdom of Cormyr, and wrote them in his travel notes openly, including some unreliable tidbits. .
When this book is officially published, it will also be the time when the Kingdom of Cormyr changes its secret orders on a large scale, and it will also be the time when Mr. Varro is listed on the list of the most unpopular people in the Kingdom of Cormyr.
If I meet this Master Varro in the future, I must be careful about my words and deeds to prevent some of my own affairs from becoming writing materials for his new book.
(End of chapter)
