Chapter 261 - 18: Entrepreneurship is Difficult_2

Words : 1395 Updated : Sep 29th, 2025

Chapter 261: Chapter 18: Entrepreneurship is Difficult_2 After everything was prepared, the Blood Clan transformed into bats and took off, carrying with them most of Jones’ "assets," or rather, his debts. The entire transport process was quite simple, after all, the Blood Clan members summoned by the goblin merchant were all experienced. As for Jones, he just needed to fly nervously with the main group. The tall Blood Clan member at the front even chatted with Jones, "We handle all kinds of transport and courier tasks annually. If the young master ever needs anything, feel free to contact me. My record is summoning two hundred Blood Clan members in one go. We could even transport a small warship if need be. Here’s my business card." "Don’t loosen your grip! Can’t you wait until we land to give me your card? What if the cage falls?" "It’s fine, just holding on with one foot is enough. We are very experienced, trust the professionals." Jones’ heart was about to jump out, yet the Dwarves in the cage slept soundly, even starting to snore. The Blood Clan transport team flew fast, covering a three-month walking distance in just over two hours, arriving at Jones’ small castle. Seeing the vast number of Blood Clan members carrying cages, Dora was stunned. "Do we need to carry them inside the castle?" "No, just leave them outside." "Okay, brothers, put the cages down." Turning back into human form, the tall Blood Clan member handed Jones a list, "This is the delivery list for the first batch, please check it, and if everything is correct, sign it." There was really nothing much to check since it was just twenty-four dwarves and a bamboo cage filled with various exploration equipment. Jones had already checked everything once at the starting point. However, to be cautious, Jones counted carefully three more times before signing. After all, if this gamble failed, he would fall into an extremely miserable situation. "Alright, we are heading back to bring other things. By the way, any accidents occurring after your acceptance won’t be our responsibility." "What kind of accidents might happen?" "Since it’s called an accident, who knows? Fights, illnesses, escapes, any situation where a slave could disappear might occur," the tall Blood Clan shrugged, said casually and left. However, Jones’ heart sank. Other things are manageable... escape? "Dwarves would escape?" Instantly, Jones and Dora facing the twenty-four cages with twenty-four Dwarves inside were at a loss. Yes, slaves do escape; this is common knowledge, so any place with slaves requires supervision. The adrenaline-pumped Jones had forgotten this. Generally, Blood Clan slaves would guard the slaves since they are closer to the Blood Clan when compared to other races. Blood Clan Lords treat Blood Clan slaves better, to a degree, they are just slaves in name. They are pretty much like hired workers, just without the status of freemen, like Dora. However, with only 35,000 gold coins left, Jones clearly couldn’t afford many Blood Clan slaves... impossible to afford them at all. Hiring freemen as supervisors? Impossible. Doing that would be equivalent to Jones announcing with a megaphone: "Look! I’m working for Hydra!" "What should we do now? I can’t let them work with shackles, but if I let them out, what if they run away? That would directly bankrupt me. I don’t have enough money to buy another group of dwarves. And even if I did, I’d still face the same problem." Jones was stunned, staring blankly at the dwarves inside the cage. The dwarves were gripping the bars, quietly watching Jones one by one. "What if we return the dwarves?" Dora mumbled softly, "Return them all, we only owe eight hundred gold coins at most." "How did you calculate eight hundred gold coins?" Dora counted with her fingers, "Young Master Adelle offered a hundred thousand gold coins, we borrowed nine thousand gold coins from the bank, with eighteen hundred in interest. We owe 110,800 in total. If Young Master Adelle helps, the bank would certainly agree to let us refund the castle. So, we return the dwarves and the castle, we could get back 110,000. After clearing the debt, we would just owe 800 gold coins. Maybe Miss Yilin would help us with that." Jones stared blankly at Dora who was diligently calculating: "I just spent five thousand gold coins on transportation, and this five thousand cannot be refunded. If we transport them back, it could cost another five thousand. So, it’s 10,800 gold coins." "Alright..." Dora pouted, lowering her head in resignation. 10,800 gold coins, it’s a castle gone before even starting... Jones felt like he was sinking into a quagmire. Anyway, there’s no going back now. Jones, biting the bullet, walked to one of the cages, coughed dryly, and forced a smile: "Hi, I am your new master, Count Jones Dracula." The dwarf picking his toes inside the iron cage glanced at Jones doubtfully. He was a dwarf with white-streaked beard, a high nose bridge, a large beard, wearing tattered clothes, looking quite old. There was a scar at the corner of his left eye. It’s said he was the leader of these dwarves and the most expensive one among them, valued at eight thousand gold coins. He knew exploration, mining techniques, and even smelting. "Ahem, your name is Barrel, right?" Jones continued to smile. Barrel stretched lazily, not answering, just staring at Jones. The other dwarves in neighboring cages were also watching. Dora’s brows furrowed tightly because she felt Jones was on the brink of bankruptcy. Although he didn’t have any assets to break in the first place. "Barrel, hello. Nice to meet you. I hope you will enjoy living on my land," said Jones, still smiling at Barrel. That smile already seemed strained, almost hanging by a thread. After a while, Barrel finally reacted, sniffed his fingers that had been picking his toes, then looked at Jones meaningfully, holding up three fingers: "Besides slave traders, I have had three masters. You’re the first one to say ’hello’ to me. And you seem very young. What do you want?" "Haha," Jones laughed awkwardly, proceeding, "I’d like to discuss something with you." "What is it?" "I want to implement a new work system with no supervisors. No overseers, no one to whip you or rush you. If you’re tired, you can take a short break, no one will whip you. It’s a very humane work system. Even if efficiency drops a little, it’s okay. You will enjoy the same treatment as the Blood Clan slaves, completely free to move. Except for no wages, it’s almost like a normal job! Yes, exactly! Very great!" Jones eloquently described, while Barrel listened expressionlessly. "Of course, you must promise me one thing, you can’t escape! Yes, you can’t escape! In fact, escaping isn’t worth it at all, is it? You have slave tattoos, and this area is surrounded by Blood Clan territory; your chance of escape is low. If captured by other Blood Clan Lords, you won’t enjoy this treatment. Should I catch you again, I will revoke this treatment! How’s that, amazed by my generosity?" After a passionate speech, Jones looked eagerly around at the dwarves in the cages. However, the dwarves coldly watched him, as if he were a monkey. A light breeze swept through, rustling some fallen leaves. Surrounded by silence, the scene became awkward again. After two dry coughs, Jones could only curb his excess actions and make his expression as indifferent as theirs. "Hmm... that’s basically it, what do you think of the idea? If I were you, I’d take it, because the idea is just so great. Yes, that’s it. What do you think?" The dwarves remained silent. Jones was nervously eyeing them, feeling a bit flustered. After a while, Barrel touched his nose and said coldly, "I guess you can’t afford Blood Clan supervisors, can you?" Jones’ expression visibly stiffened. Ten minutes later... Jones slowly walked to a corner away from the dwarves, picked up a shovel, hesitated, and ultimately put the newly bought shovel back, instead picking up a stone and smashing it to the ground with force. "Bastards! Bastards! Why can even slaves humiliate me! It’s too much—!" That roar echoed softly in the midnight forest. Follow current novels on freewe(b)novel.c(o)m

Chapter 261 - 18: Entrepreneurship is Difficult_2

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