On Amstell Continent, the currency with the highest exchange rate was gold coins, which could only be issued by Kingdom of Makai or Kingdom of Horrep.

A gold coin was made of pure gold weighing 21 grams. By using the gold price which was currently perched at USD 52/gram, the value of gold coins was equivalent to USD 1,092 or rounded down to USD 1,000 by Lt. Col. Slane.

To be honest, pricing USD 7,000 or 7 gold coins for a 900 watts solar power plant complete with a water pump, piping system, and ice cube maker along with transportation and installation costs was already giving an 8% profit.

Since 2022 the US of A government had begun to subsidize the price of solar power plants, and coupled with research and development that continued to increase the efficiency of solar power use, the price of solar power plants had experienced a consistent downward trend.

So why did Lt. Col. Slane ask for 25 gold coins as compensation from Osvik?

Because that was the standard price he charged to anyone who didn't get a special discount like Old Man Dourk or Tuscan Region's nobles.

Is the price set by Lt. Col. Slane too expensive?

According to Lt. Col. Slane absolutely not. Because for him the selling price was not calculated by cost of goods plus the percentage of profit, then applied to all consumers.

Each commodity had different values ​​for consumers in different situations. A glass of water would be nothing to the people living by the lake, but a luxury commodity for the people of the desert. As for people who almost died from dehydration, they would not hesitate to buy it with all the belongings they have.

In fact, Lt. Col. Slane felt that the price he was offering was still too cheap. Given that with the current level of science and technology on Amstell Continent, it would take centuries before the concept of electricity was born and could be widely applied.

Osvik also did not seem to mind Lt. Col. Slane's calculation. He cheerfully paid the price.

Luckily, apart from his bodyguards' weapon and equipment that he took from Dourk Tavern, the Registration Office security did not confiscate any other items. The two banknotes' suitcases were still intact and were not missing any single banknote, even though the Registration Office security had opened and checked them.

For the wall clock, Osvik paid for it with a 10-years of managing rights for a hill in Kandez Region. He was super relieved because Lt. Col. Slane did not ask for fertile farmland, but rather a hill that was tightly covered by pine trees which were generally used as firewood.

With an ecstatic heart, Osvik requested another 10 wall clocks in exchange with 10-years of administration right for a whole plateau tightly covered by a pine forest. Osvik hoped that Amethyst Merchant would turn the entire plateau into agricultural land which would be returned to him in 10 years.

'Turning a pine forest into farmland is not easy, but Amethyst Merchant would do it for me,' Osvik muttered while his heart flew up into the clouds.

Osvik did get suspicious when Lt. Col. Slane calmy used a map to pinpoint the location he requested. Lt. Col. Slane even showed a photo of the requested area which seemed to be taken from the air.

Lt. Col. Slane called the photo as aerial imagery and it was so accurate and detailed, that Osvik had to rub his eyes several times to make sure there was nothing wrong with his vision.

Also, Osvik saw how in an instant Lt. Col. Slane managed to create a very neat administer right agreement using a device he calls laptop and printer. Although Lt. Col. Slane explained that he only needed to change the name and a few other parts before printing it, Osvik still did not understand how a 16-page document could just appear in a few breaths after the agreement was reached.

Osvik was not a smart human, but he wasn't stupid either. Therefore he was fully aware that Lt. Col. Slane had long been eyeing the hill and the plateau for which he requested the administer right.

But in the end, Osvik chose not to think too deep about it. He was sure that there was no gold or other mineral in the hill or the plateau. Besides, the hill and plateau location was on the remote border so it had no strategic value if Amethyst Merchant had the intention to attack Walluo City.

At the same time, Lt. Col. Slane felt a little guilty because the land that Osvik gave up was much bigger than the initial estimate he made. However, because Osvik signed the administer right agreement with a smile from ear to ear, the guilt that lingered in Lt. Col. Slane's heart was slowly but surely evaporating to the last drop.

After putting the administer right agreement into his briefcase, Lt. Col. Slane cheerfully said, "Now we can go to Amethyst Merchant Marketing Office to see commodities Ser Osvik might be interested in. Meanwhile, some of your bodyguards will go to Maple Palace Hotel to drop your belongings and guard your room."

Osvik immediately frowned. "Ser Slane, no nobles on Amstell Continent are willing to stay at a hotel. Asking a noble to stay in a hotel is tantamount to insulting him."

Lt. Col. Slane smiled cheerfully before saying. "If you want roadside camping I'll provide that."

Irritation instantly enveloped Osvik's heart. But after he remembered that he had just obtained 10 wall clocks for a cheap price, his irritation immediately subsided.

'Who knows I'll get another big fish with no less cheap price. So I better be patient while waiting for another golden opportunity.' Osvik then took a deep breath before casually saying, "Well, there's a first time for everything. Ser Slane, we'd better hurry."

---

Display Room, Amethyst Merchant Marketing Office.

Osvik already saw the iron carriage belonging to Amethyst Merchant. It had made him amazed, but the admiration he had felt was nothing compared to when he looked closely at it.

Osvik circled the M1152 Personnel Carrier a dozen times before finally he was satisfied and climbed it. Osvik chose the seat next to the driver and during the trip, he poked his head out the window, much like a puppy being taken out by car for the first time.

Lt. Col. Slane wanted to ask Osvik so he sat in the back seat with him. Considering that statistics showed the highest number of fatalities in traffic accidents was the passenger next to the driver.

However, after he saw Osvik's face which was adorned with a grin from ear to ear, Lt. Col. Slane in the end canceled his intention and only advised his trusted driver to drive extra carefully.

Before long, Lt. Col. Slane and his guest arrived in Amethyst Merchant Display Room.

The Display Room in Amethyst Merchant Marketing Office was a combination of a living room, bedroom, lounge, study room, kitchen, pantry, bathroom, and several other spaces combined into one like a 21st-century residence.

Osvik had entered Makai Royal Family's living room a few times, but somehow the living room that was filled with gold ornaments felt less classy than the Display Room he was currently entering.

Osvik looked at every corner of the Display Room with a wide-open mouth, before finally he turned to Lt. Col. Slane. "Ser Slane, please begin the presentation."

To help him with the presentation, Lt. Col. Slane brought three people who he considered could represent the three main products of Amethyst Merchant, and the first person to give the presentation was Specialist Adam from MCG.

Specialist Adam immediately turned on his laptop. "Ser Osvik, according to Lt. Col. Slane, you are interested in solar power plants and their applications."

Osvik nodded and Specialist Adam immediately continued. "Amethyst Merchant provides solar power plant packages based on the area of ​​the mansion, with a power of 5400-8000 watts."

"5400-8000 watts?"

A large question mark appeared on Maester Kallep's forehead, while Specialist Adam nodded and gave further explanation.

"As an illustration, the system used at Dourk Tavern generates 900 watts of power. Meanwhile, the system at the Registration Office generates 3600 watts of power.

Apart from the area of ​​the mansion, the applications that will be used will also determine the amount of power that the solar power plant must generate."

With the help of a 3D simulation, Specialist Adam then explained how the solar power plant works in a mansion. Including its application in powering the lighting system both inside and outside the mansion, pumping and piping systems for clean water, and room temperature control systems.

As for small applications, Specialist Adam uses the mock-ups kitchen to demonstrate electric teapots, electric stoves, refrigerators, sinks capable of delivering warm to hot water, and several other electronic devices.

With sparkling eyes, Osvik, Maester Kallep, and the two other Maesters heeded Specialist Adam's explanation and demonstration. Until finally, Osvik couldn't wait anymore to find out how much it cost him to get the solar power plant for Terrek Mansion.

"Ser Slane, how much is the package price for this electricity-based system?"

"For a small mansion with 5400 watts of power, the package can be obtained for 250 gold coins, and would be increased if there are electric devices outside the package that you want to add."

Osvik reflexively tilted his head. "Isn't it only 25 gold coins for a system with 900 watts of power?"

Lt. Col. Slane nodded firmly. "Yes, but the installation complexity from the smaller system to a larger system cannot be calculated by three plus three. If the 900 watts system's level of complexity is three. Then the complexity of an 1800 watts system is nine."

Actually, Lt. Col. Slane's explanation is a lie. The price of an 8,000 watts solar power plant is only USD 37,000 or 37 gold coins, including transportation costs from earth, installation costs, the most basic home device, and a profit of 12%.

However, what was sold by Lt. Col. Slane was not just an electricity-based technology, but also a technology gap of several hundred years.

Osvik and Maester Kallep were also aware that this price was quite cheap, because they could easily reach it. But of course, Osvik was still looking for loopholes to bargain.

"Ser Slane, isn't there a special cut you can give?"

Unfortunately, Lt. Col. Slane didn't give him a chance. "The mansions of the Northern Coalition nobles mostly use packages worth 310 gold coins. They also add various electric devices outside of the basic package up to 50-80 gold coins. But if Ser Osvik wants an economical package with a simpler system, then we can arrange that."

"Of course not!!"

Osvik's ego instantly drowned his rationality, including his intention to haggle. With a burning spirit he gave an instruction.

"Maester Kallep, if the system used in the Terrek mansion is cheaper than the system used by the Northern Coalition's nobles, then your name will also be tarnished. So make sure that never happens."

"Understood."

With steady steps and a fighting spirit that soared to the sky, Maester Kallep approached Specialist Adam. It wasn't long before the two had sunk in discussing the systems and devices used by the Northern Coalition's nobles and the better options that Amethyst Merchant could provide.

Lt. Col. Slane then gave a small smile before turning his head towards Osvik.

"Now, what other commodity is Ser Osvik interested in?"

Osvik immediately turned his head towards Maester Rivak, who then took a step forward.

"Ser Slane, please show me Amethyst Merchant's culinary commodities."

*****