Chapter 332: Deep Sea Merfabric, Everyone’s Happy (2)
Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
“Treasures housed in the Imperial Museum are, without a doubt, the most numerous and of the highest quality in this world. In this regard, we elves are undoubtedly at the forefront.”
“For ordinary items, we wouldn’t easily make acquisitions.”
To this, Ji Chen expressed full confidence, “Your Excellency Ambassador, I assure you that you will be satisfied.”
Then, he signaled to Alice, who nodded in understanding and walked out of the hall to retrieve the pre-prepared Merfabric.
Although Ji Chen could have taken the Merfabric out of his backpack directly, doing so abruptly would have lacked elegance.
The packaging and presentation of an item played a significant role in conveying its value.
Soon, under everyone’s gaze, Alice walked in once again, carrying a long wooden box in her hands. The box was made from top-quality jungle wood, emitting a natural fragrance. It was intricately carved with various marine creatures, lifelike and vivid. Gemstones and pearls adorned various parts of the box, with ivory pearls adorning the clasp. Leaving aside what was inside, just from this box, one could sense that its contents were extraordinary, or rather… not cheap.
Seeing this exquisite wooden box, Miligas’ attention was drawn to it, and his interest and curiosity grew more intense. He wondered what was inside.
Observing this, Ji Chen smiled faintly.
This specially crafted wooden box, with the gemstones, jade, and pearls adorning it, was worth the equivalent of thirty thousand gold coins. After adding the cost of the wood and craftsmanship, it couldn’t be obtained for less than thirty thousand gold coins.
This time, to achieve the desired effect, he had indeed used his financial resources.
The long wooden box was placed on the table, and even the usually resolute and unsmiling military officer among them cast a curious glance. Elves may be wealthy, but they wouldn’t spend their gold coins on making a wooden box.
They had a long history and possessed the wisdom of a sophisticated race with refined tastes, not nouveau riche.
Under the slightly curious gazes of the two elves, Ji Chen gently undid the clasp and opened the wooden box.
Upon seeing what was inside the box, Miligas involuntarily exclaimed, “A… piece of pure white fabric?”
Inside the wooden box lay a pure white Merfabric, as pristine as a cloud trapped in a box.
Soft, ethereal, and pure.
Even Miligas, who considered himself knowledgeable about many things, couldn’t help but be amazed. He subconsciously wanted to get closer and feel the softness of this cloud-like fabric with his hands.
However, Ji Chen stopped him, his expression serious. “Your Excellency Ambassador, touching it without caution might contaminate this piece of Merfabric.”
As if awakened from a dream by those words, Miligas nodded hastily, his expression becoming equally serious. “Brett, please go to my room and fetch the pair of Ice Silkworm Silk gloves for me.”
Military officer Brett nodded and quickly walked out. He soon returned, carrying a wooden box containing a pair of white silk gloves.
Miligas first washed his hands thoroughly, as if trying to cleanse them of any impurities. Then, he used a valuable golden handkerchief to carefully dry his hands until not a single water stain remained. Only then did he begin to put on the pair of white silk gloves.
“These ice silkworm gloves are made from the silk spun by seventh-tier domesticated creatures known as Glacial Silver Silkworms. They naturally possess a property that repels impurities and cleanses the hands. Once you put them on, there’s no need to worry about contaminating treasures.
Any treasure should be handled with one hundred percent care. It would be a great regret if damage occurred due to the owner’s carelessness.
But Your Excellency, please rest assured. I will be extremely cautious, and I won’t let even the slightest contamination happen. Please allow me to touch it.”
As Miligas put on the gloves, he explained with a serious expression.
Ji Chen:
Although this was originally intended for you.
But when you explain it so seriously and inadvertently reveal your wealth, it makes me uncomfortable.
Initially, Ji Chen had some playful thoughts like, “Oh, my precious item, please don’t damage it,” which is why he deliberately said that. In reality, Merfabric naturally repelled dirt and wouldn’t be contaminated by a simple touch.
Although he didn’t know what a Glacier Silver Silkworm was, being seventh-tier suggested it wasn’t an ordinary creature.
Well, this attempt to show off didn’t quite succeed and ended up with the other party showcasing their affluence.
“Feel free to proceed.”
With Ji Chen’s permission, Miligas cautiously touched the Merfabric. He felt its softness, akin to a cloud, even smoother than milk. Holding the delicate white fabric in his hands, he couldn’t help but brighten up.
At this moment, he fully believed in the claim that this was a treasure from the deep sea.
Just by touching it, he felt a coolness that belonged only to the ocean, and he could even faintly smell the scent of seawater.
Over the past few hundred years, he had seen countless rare treasures, but none could compare to this piece of white Merfabric.
If it could be turned into clothing, there was probably no elf who would refuse it.
Furthermore, the Queen’s birthday was approaching, and by then, elf nobles and ambassadors from all over would return to celebrate and present gifts to the Queen. If he could offer this piece of white Merfabric as a gift, he might stand out among the elves and even earn the Queen’s commendation.
Thinking of this, Miligas couldn’t help but get excited. It took him a while to calm down and carefully place the white Merfabric back in the wooden box.
He raised a question, “Your Excellency, what is the name of this kind of white fabric?”
“Deep Sea Merfabric, a treasure produced only in the boundless ocean.”
“Deep Sea Merfabric…” Miligas murmured, his eyes shining, “I wonder how many of these specialties the Crown of the Ocean can produce?”
The crucial question had come, and this answer would determine the maximum value of the Merfabric.
Ji Chen wore a somewhat regretful expression and shook his head.
“Because the materials required to make Deep Sea Merfabric are extremely rare, only about five top-quality pieces have been woven in the past hundred years.
Currently, we can only use lower-grade materials to replace some of the required ones, so the quality will be slightly lower compared to these five. However, we can produce about sixty pieces per month.”
Hearing this, Miligas was not shocked but delighted.
Only five pieces woven in over a hundred years? Didn’t that further emphasize the preciousness of this Deep Sea Merfabric?
When presented on the Queen’s birthday, it would be another indication of its rarity.
Not only was this highly valuable, but it also had historical value!
“Your Excellency Ambassador, 1 wonder if the elves would be interested in purchasing lower-grade Deep Sea Merfabric?”
“Of course, we are very interested. Elves welcome any suppliers with excellent products,” Miligas replied with a smile, “I wonder what the price is for this lower-grade Deep Sea Merfabric?”
Ji Chen hesitated for a moment and tentatively held up four fingers.
Miligas, upon seeing this, exclaimed, “Oh? Four hundred thousand gold coins? Deal!”
Ji Chen was stunned.
In fact, he meant four thousand gold coins per piece.
But this guy just multiplied it by ten!?
Ji Chen watched Miligas with a look that said, “Brother, you’re really generous. You’re selling something so precious for such a low price,” J i Chen found it hard to put into words.
It seems that there was a bit of a difference in thinking between the wealthy and normal people.
Obviously, for wealthy elves like Miligas, buying a piece of fabric for four hundred thousand gold coins was no big deal. If you offer a lower price, they might even think it’s not valuable enough and refuse to buy it.
Ji Chen ended up feeling like he got a “raw deal” and was almost too happy in his heart.
In the end, it was decided that each piece of tier-one Merfabric would be exchanged for three thousand units of third-tier rare resources such as crystals, mithril, and fine gold.
“Lord Ji Chen, you are truly a good friend of the elves, willing to sell such a treasure at such a low price,” Miligas said gratefully.
“Oh, it’s nothing. I hope the friendship between the Ocean Crown and the elves will last!” Ji Chen held back a smile and raised the wine glass on the table.
“Hahaha, of course, may our friendship endure!” Miligas also raised his glass, and they both drank to that.
This was a win-win situation, a cause for celebration for all!