Draven pulled out two thin leather-bound booklets from his coat and gently placed them on the stone table in front of Selene.

  Selene slowly extended her fingers and opened the first page. Her eyes narrowed slightly as her gaze swept swiftly across page after page. As the content unfolded, she began flipping faster.

  In less than five minutes, she had finished both booklets. She didn't speak right away but turned her attention back to the dishes laid out on the stone table.

  The air was filled with the aroma of fish and mushrooms—a fresh scent that blended firewood smoke with something wild.

  "What do you want?" Selene finally asked.

  Draven's eyes lit up the moment she spoke. The corners of his mouth curled slightly."Lady Selene, as you know, what the Black Flag Tavern lacks most right now is manpower."

  "Slaves. I want five hundred slaves."

  He said it seriously, with no trace of jest. He knew he was asking for a lot, but he also knew that the woman before him could decide on far more.

  Selene wasn't surprised. She placed the booklets back on the table and nudged them aside slightly, then tapped the stone surface with her fingertips, as if weighing her options.

  These two booklets, though they looked like ordinary cookbooks, revealed their true value to her at a glance. One was a guide to edible mushrooms, detailing how to prepare and cook them. The other was a comprehensive manual on fish—how to clean, season, and cook them, all clearly written.

  They seemed simple, but in reality, they represented two entirely new sources of food. For a territory, this meant not just full stomachs, but a major improvement in quality of life. More importantly, they were low-cost, widely available, and held great potential.

  Leaning back in her chair, Selene looked up slightly at Draven."Five hundred slaves is still too many."

  There was a hint of coldness in her tone."You should know—not every beastkin is willing to accept new things. They're stubborn and tend to resist foreign ways."

  Of course, Draven knew. He'd heard about the resistance Selene faced when promoting gold coins. Many beastkin preferred barter over adopting a more convenient currency system.

  But this time, he straightened his back with confidence."What if I can get them to accept it quickly?"

  Selene raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised. She set down her glass of monkeywine and said with mild interest,"Go on."

  "The method is actually simple," Draven said."Just issue an order—have a few taverns under the lord's name offer these two new dishes for free during designated hours."

  "It only needs to run for a short while. Once they've tasted it, they'll start spreading the word themselves. You won't have to convince them—they'll go out foraging mushrooms, catching fish, and coming back to learn how to cook."

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  Selene was silent for a moment, a glimmer in her eyes. She looked down at the dishes on the table, as if recalling the taste just now.

  She had indeed sensed something different. It wasn't just wild game—it was carefully prepared cuisine, something capable of overturning traditional dietary habits.

  She nodded slightly and waved her right hand, pulling out a metal token from her coat and tossing it casually to Draven.

  Draven reacted quickly, catching it midair and slipping it into his coat as calmly as he could. But inside, he was cheering. He recognized the token—he had used the same one last time to claim slaves and supplies.

  Selene took a sip of wine, a cryptic smile tugging at her lips."You'll get five hundred slaves. As for the supplies—you'll have to find your own way."

  At these words, Draven's eye twitched slightly. He knew she was doing it on purpose. This was both a test and a warning.

  He held his composure and said nothing, simply bowing in acknowledgment. But he had no intention of leaving it at that. He didn't just want five hundred people—he wanted better people.

  Draven stepped forward slowly, locking eyes with Selene. Before she could frown, he spoke first:"Might the lord's estate still hold any slaves from the Black Wolf tribe?"

  "You know as well as I do—the Black Flag Tavern's name doesn't quite live up to the‘Black Wolf' part these days."

  He said it bluntly, without hiding his need. He knew this wasn't begging—it was an investment. What he wanted was strength he could use immediately, not a batch of untrained rabble.

  Including the young pups who were still too small to work, the entire Black Wolf tribe now had only six adult werewolves capable of labor. The remaining eleven children wouldn't be of use for several more years.

  "There are certainly Black Wolf slaves," Selene replied coolly, then frowned, her tone laced with displeasure."But what gives you the right to make further demands?"

  Her gaze turned icy. The illustrated books had already been handed over; by all logic, the deal was done. Yet this werewolf leader still wanted more out of it, and that irked her.

  She had always disliked the greedy—especially those who showed too much confidence in her presence. Unless, of course, the man before her could offer something of even greater value.

  As a lord, she was well-versed in using her gaze to suppress others. But Draven did not back down. Instead, he straightened his back and offered a subtle, almost imperceptible smile. He looked calm, composed, and certain of his position.

  "What if I can help you get the currency accepted faster?" he said.

  Selene arched a brow slightly, as if the suggestion had piqued her interest. She sat up straighter, lifted her wine cup from the table again, and remained silent—watching him, waiting for him to continue.

  Draven had spent the entire night pondering this, and now he was ready to trade his idea for greater gain.

  He went on."The Lord's Hall has been pushing for a currency system. I know you've established unified measurement standards and imposed market regulations. You even ordered that all grain transactions in the city must be settled using currency."

  "It's a clever and effective move. After all, grain is the most critical resource in the world of beastkin. But the problem is, this strategy only forces compliance from the larger clans. It doesn't help society as a whole understand or accept it."

  "The major clans obey because they fear you. But they're not foolish enough to exchange their precious grain for cold, lifeless metal coins. You might be able to pressure them for a year or two, but eventually, they'll grow weary and resentful."

  Selene set her wine cup back down with a crisp clink, her expression darkening.

  Draven pressed the advantage:"They're hoarding the coins in storage. But money that doesn't circulate loses all its value—it becomes a burden. And once they realize that those metal tokens can't buy them what they need, or that using them is just too much trouble, they'll start to complain. They'll feel cheated, convinced that you took their grain in exchange for something worthless."

  "And when that happens, they may not rebel openly—but you'll lose their trust."

  Selene's frown deepened. She knew Draven was right. She had also been troubled by this: why were the gold and silver coins that flowed smoothly in other nations stagnating like dead water within her own domain?