INFINITE MONEY - I Will Buy Everything

Chapter 256: Chapter 257 - A Proposal

"But the sword is nothing compared to the scroll." Edward blurted out, his voice laced with incredulity.

"Comparing something like this to a war machine is simply too much."

Hearing this, William felt a wave of confusion. How could a mere scroll, adorned with what seemed like cartoon characters, hold more significance than a sword that had once been part of a legendary weapon, rumored to have cleaved mountains and performed other astonishing feats?

"It may not possess the same monetary value as the sword," Edward continued, "but its artistic worth far surpasses it. This is something believed to have been lost to time, and now, holding it in my hands... I—I—I can hardly believe you would simply hand it over to me." Despite the oddness of his words, Edward felt they carried a certain validity.

'So that's what this guy is so worked up about,' William mused. 'Just because it's artistically significant, he's struggling to accept my sincerity. Even though I'm genuinely considering this, his artistic and strategic mind seems to be clouding his judgment.'

"Edward, I fully appreciate the artistic value and… craftsmanship of the scroll," William said, striving to project an air of expertise. "And it's precisely because it's so valuable that I believe it should be entrusted to you."

Edward listened in silence, his thoughts churning. 'There seems to be some hidden meaning in his words. But his expression appears sincere. Besides, I was the one who intended to lure them here and use them, yet now it feels as though they've ensnared me instead.'

He shook his head slightly, a faint smile playing on his lips as he thought, 'Perhaps I've overanalyzed this situation. It could truly be just a generous gift, without any ulterior motives.'

'It's simply hard for me to believe that such genuine gestures still exist.'

He smiled before finally speaking, "If that's what you say, then thank you for such an extraordinary gift. I apologize for making this more complicated than it needed to be."

William shrugged it off with a smile. "No worries, it's perfectly fine. If you can be generous enough to offer us such a priceless sword, then we can certainly extend the same courtesy and kindness."

'I almost expected him to demand protection in exchange for the scroll, perhaps against future attacks they might face. But it seems my mind has been overthinking things.' Edward thought as he set the golden scroll aside and engaged in casual conversation with William for a while.

After some time, when William sensed the moment was right, he finally asked, "So... Edward, do you mind telling me why you invited my family?"

"Well... I initially wanted to discuss some business with your father, but it seems that won't be possible at the moment, so let's just forget about it." Edward replied, attempting to be dismissive.

'So Delmar was right. He does have some kind of deal in mind. But what could it be?' William pondered as he responded, "If you have a business proposition, you can always share it with me, and I'll convey it to my father. Or, if it's urgent, I can make a decision on it right now."

Edward shook his head. "It's not that urgent; I can wait until your father arrives. Besides, it wouldn't be particularly interesting for you to discuss business when we're just having a casual conversation."

'So, in other words, he's implying that I'm just a kid who wouldn't grasp the complexity of it.' William thought, feeling a tinge of resentment.

Straightening up, William spoke with newfound seriousness, "I understand that I may appear inexperienced because of my age. But believe me when I say that, in matters of business, I may be young, but I am far from ignorant." His voice carried a firm conviction.

Edward regarded William with a neutral expression, his face betraying nothing of his thoughts. However, internally, he nodded in approval, recognizing the boy's determination and resilience.

'Good! It seems this kid has a strong backbone. Even though I subtly hinted that I didn't want to discuss business with him, he persisted with admirable tenacity, without overstepping any bounds of decorum.'

'Now, should I really tell him, or simply brush this off again?' Edward mused, before deciding to reveal his proposal.

"Since you're so insistent on hearing it, I'll tell you." Edward said, before pressing a button beneath the table. Moments later, a knock echoed from the door. "Sir, it's me."

"Yes, come in."

The door swung open, and William observed an older man clad in the same butler attire as the others he had seen earlier, but this one seemed more refined, exuding an air of higher status.

'This guy must be the head butler or something.' William surmised, as the man approached, and Edward instructed him to retrieve something. The butler departed, returning shortly thereafter to hand Edward a small black device.

"Now, before I delve into my proposal, tell me— what do you think this is?" Edward asked, placing the device in the center of the table, where a hologram promptly materialized.

William scrutinized the hologram, which depicted sprawling grasslands, dense forests, flowing rivers, caverns, crumbling buildings, ruined roads, towering mountains, and more of the like.

"I'm not sure... perhaps an uninhabited region that experienced some catastrophic event, leading its residents to flee, leaving it desolate and unlivable."

Edward nodded in agreement. "Yes, that's largely accurate, but there's more to this place than meets the eye. This region has been uninhabitable for as long as anyone can remember."

"This area was abandoned and classified as one of the most perilous locations in the world by both official authorities and the great houses."

Hearing this, something clicked in William's memory, prompting him to ask, "Is it the Unknown Lands?"

Edward nodded once more. "Yes, precisely. And not only that, but it's also an Unknown Land situated just a few hundred miles outside the borders of the Wiseburn Kingdom."

"So, what does this mean?" William inquired, still unsure of where this conversation was heading and eager to get to the crux of the matter.

"You see, this land, so close yet so treacherous, was discovered a few years ago by some intrepid frontiers who risked everything to find it. Although they ultimately lost their lives, their efforts were not in vain."

Edward straightened in his seat before continuing, "They uncovered that this place is rich in treasures and materials of immense value. Furthermore, it's a location that has remained untouched by any people or organizations."

"So, you can understand that this land is indeed worth the sacrifice of a few lives, right?" William nodded briefly, not wanting to dwell too much on the human cost.

"Despite the dangers, we dispatched several expeditions to scout the area, and even after sustaining heavy losses, we managed to locate a section that's not only less hazardous but also abundant in valuable resources."

"But the issue was that we couldn't exploit this area until we obtained official authorization, which I've finally secured after considerable effort."

"I know what you're thinking: why am I sharing all of this with you?" Edward said, noticing William's attentive silence.

"Because I want you to assist me with this."