Chapter 257：Map

"We have heard of this." Rosie laughed: "According to the master Celsus your crossbow has potential to be ranked as a three star item. Although the Temple has yet to give a formal identification and evaluation but we as Scott consortium believe in master Celsus's eyes and in your talent. So we intend to follow and offer price of a three-star item to buy the rights for it."

Dudian looked at her. He didn't expect that Scott consortium would be so generous because the views of the master Celsus was very risky. Because when the Temple assessed the items then quite a few professional masters examined the product. Sometimes disputes would arise and the final result would be determined after a voting. Scott consortium's move in this case was a bold one.

However because of the dividends from the new textile machine Dudian didn't trust Scott consortium. He pondered a little as he looked at Rosie: "I'll consider as I'm not in a hurry."

Rosie laughed: "Mr Dean the sooner your crossbow is mass produced the higher the results from sales would be. I believe that we have offered the reasonable price and the other consortia would offer something within this range. They would offer lower price but not a higher. In addition, we have had cooperated in the past so we have more trust between each other. If your New World consortium wants to produce the crossbows then it would be very difficult. After all, your relationship with the Mellon consortium is not good."

Dudian knew what she meant: "I know all of that. But I need time to think about it and I don't want to decide in haste."

Rosie's brows wrinkled: "Mr Dean we have given the the price of a three-star item. Even if the Temple evaluated it as a two star item then you won't suffer but earn twice. Why do you... "

"Thank you for the trust. If I have any intention to sell the rights to a consortia then..." Dudian contined. "you will be the first to be notified about the issue."

"Anyway, Scott consortium will always be your best ally and I hope that the future will be a happy one for both sides." Rosie said as she stared at the boy.

"Good bye."

After bidding farewell Rosie left the dining room as she followed after butler.

Dudian didn't speak about the issue and glanced at Old Fulin for a moment.

Jake who was sitting close to Dudian and Old Fulin seemed like a kid who was tempted by the sweets in front of him: "Mr Dean this is a rare opportunity. Why are you delaying? The chances will decrease as the time passes. Why don't you directly agree?"

Dudian cut a piece of steak and put up into his mouth. He gentle chewed it and looked up at man: "The best time to eat the steak is when its hot. Not when the mouth is warm. Or else you won't taste the delicacy. There are wolves who are attracted to the smell of steak. In this case there will be lots of hungry wolves who will be attracted to the smell and will come to snatch the steak. At the end the one who pays the most will get the meat."

Jake was startled and speechless.

Dudian helped old patriarch to get up and go upstairs after the lunch ended. They were half the way when butler trotted over and whispered to Old Fulin.: "Master the Huasheng consortium came over."

"Huasheng?" Old Fulin looked at Dudian and said to the butler: "Let them come in. I'll be in study room."

The butler promised and stepped down.

It didn't take long before butler went into the study room and a dignified middle-aged man followed him inside. The middle-aged man glanced at both of them. His eyes lit as he said: "I didn't expect Mr Dean to look so young. He looks as handsome as the rumors say...Lucky day..."

Dudian smiled: "If you are looking for the old patriarch then I will go out. If you are looking for me then miss Rosie has offered us to purchase the crossbow according to three-star item price. I'm still considering it and I won't accept any offer below that price."

Middle-aged man's smiled stiffened. He didn't expect that Dudian would be so direct and the Scott consortium to act so fast. He laughed.: "MR Dean is straighforward. I have come over to regarding the manufacturing and sales right of new crossbow but didn't expect that miss Rosie would be so fast. It seems that Huasheng consortium has not nope as we would offer the price of two star item. However if you work with us then I will give you very helpful gift."

"Oh?"

Middle-aged man continued: "This gift may not be useful to others but would be valuable to you. It is the map of the area outside the 'death passage'! I assume you know that passage was originally leased by our consortiu,. The senior hunter had mapped the areas that they have explored. Although it is not complete but there should be help if its used properly."

Dudian's eyes lit up: "I know, I will think about this."

The middle-aged man nodded. The moment Dudian had told Rosie's name he knew that there were little hope in having talks and he didn't want to waste time.

After the middle-aged man was sent Old Fulin asked Dudian: "Which consortium are you planning to sell the new item? If we rely on ourselves then the efficiency would be very low because of our limited resources."

Dudian knew that current financial resources of Ryan family was not enough to invest in large-scale crossbow manufacturing. There were two choices and those were to sell it either to the consortia or the Temple. The price would be naturally higher if he sold it to the consortium rather than temple. However he could get points if he sold the Temple. He would be able to buy materials that are rare and even consortia can't afford to buy.

However there were no absolutes. Any rule had loopholes. Moreover there was underground black market where he could get more than enough.

Therefore Dudian didn't intend to sell the crossbow to the 'Temple of Elements'. Although the points would help him to achieve senior architect or master level but for him the scarcest right now was gold coins. He could buy 'fountain of life' with gold. The level of architect was a virtual status which he wasn't interested much at this time. Moreover he was aware that to climb up the ladder wasn't going to be easy as there will be people on top at every step who would be interested in pushing him down.

As long as he earned more money than a master then he didn't care whether his title was an intermediate level architect. He didn't care even if they called him an incompetent architect.

"My crossbow is not inferior to the snake crossbow. Without a doubt it is at least a three star level item. If I'm lucky it would be a top grade three star item. As long as it gets me enough money I don't care much. " Dudian continued: "I can work on other projects and sell again."

Old Fulin looked at him:"Are you confident in your abilities?"

Dudian shrugged his shoulders. He was absolutely confident that as an intermediate level archer his understanding of bows and crossbow was much more than those group of researchers in the Temple. Maybe the design of his crossbow wasn't as good as snake crossbow but in actual combat it was definitely better than snake crossbow.