A Scumbag Always Gets What He Deserves

5: Rege is a two-year-old

Lord Duncan's backer was Rege Grande. This didn't surprise Jian Qiao in the slightest.

In fact, he'd already guessed. It was the second son, eager to fight for the inheritance, who would recklessly seek to amass wealth. Without wealth he was truly good for nothing. After the old duke died, he'd lose everything.

At the same time, his eldest brother would instantly become the richest man in Tortus. Such was the power conferred by primogeniture.

Jian Qiao felt sympathetic, but his eyes watching this great nobleman were as calm as water. He'd known there'd be a showdown when his opponent came over in such a bluster. The fabled Rege wasn't a man of many twists and turns.

Sure enough, Rege stared at him for a long time, then spoke bluntly. "We'll cooperate to open a shop. Split the profit fifty-fifty."

He called it cooperation. In fact, he just wanted to get his hands on Jian Qiao's fragrance making and gemstone processing technology. Still, for a nobleman like Rege, being willing to give up half the profit could be considered extremely generous. If he chose, the knights under his command could level the city of Desolette.

And at that time, he could take away everything Jian Qiao had.

In the last five years, as the city of Desolette gradually became rich, they'd been attacked by the rulers of other cities, but they'd stubbornly survived. It wasn't because their military strength was very formidable. It was because they were surrounded by enemies who were more impoverished and backward than they were.

The Knights of Grande were different. They were the majestic force that helped Charles III build a kingdom. In the face of this powerful army, the wealthy city of Desolette was just a piece of fat that could be snatched away at any time.

The two manservants quickly looked at their master and winked to encourage him to agree.

Jian Qiao opened his thin lips and spat out two short words: "Not possible."

Rege, who already regarded this wealth as his own, raised his eyebrows in surprise.

Jian Qiao said firmly, "I have to get eighty percent of the profit or there's no deal."

An eighty-twenty split, that was his bottom line, because the profits from those shops not only supported the servants and army of the earl's mansion, but also helped build the entire city of Desolette.

The maintenance of widows, orphans, and old people, the placement of abandoned children, the expansion of schools, the establishment of hospitals, the cleaning of streets, the repair of houses, all these huge public expenditures had to be paid out of Jian Qiao's private treasury.

Without eighty percent of the profit, he couldn't help his people lead a peaceful and prosperous life, it was unacceptable.

However, his ideas were truly outrageous in an age when human life was as cheap as weeds, so he made no effort to explain anything to Rege.

Rege stared directly at him and said in a cold voice, "My lord Earl, do you know, I've never been so generous to anyone. Your greed is far beyond my expectation."

Giving away half the profit, Rege had indeed never made such a losing deal. If he wanted something, others would offer it with both hands, that was all.

Jian Qiao nodded slightly and readily accepted this "appreciation".

Rege laughed angrily, raised his chin, and asked, "If you offend me so much aren't you afraid of my revenge?"

The question was to the point. Jian Qiao really wasn't afraid.

He leaned down, leisurely approaching Lord Rege, and said softly, "Although I've never seen you, I've heard of your deeds from the bards. You're a great knight, and you have your principles. Unless someone violates Grande's laws or harms you personally, you won't retaliate. You're different from other nobles—"