[The emblem has already been published, but it's in traditional Chinese. I spent a long time sorting out the manuscript today, but I realized that there were more typos than I imagined. I really want to go back and correct them one by one, but I'm afraid I'll mess up the chapters. I apologize to everyone.]
A mile east of the shrine was the city hall. As the city was still in its early stages, there were no hotels or businesses yet. The Williams family members were all placed on the first floor.
This time, the Williams family had brought more than two hundred people. Apart from the backbone of the city's business, they had also brought a hundred swordsmen and two mages. The two mages were of the third rank and fourth rank respectively. They weren't old, looking to be in their mid-thirties. Among the hundred swordsmen, about a fifth was at the level of a swordsman.
The Williams family had invested a considerable amount of resources this time. After all, it was difficult for a count's family to recruit many mages even if they had immense wealth.
Helene had brought two mages this time, which was enough to show the Williams family's attitude.
As Daniel spoke with Helene, the two mages from the Williams family, who had been somewhat indignant, were surprised. Although they'd heard that this city was related to the Bitterwater Prefectural Kingdom, the city lord was unfathomable for a great mage to receive guests. In Qinyin, even a fourth-rank Great Magician would receive treatment similar to that of a noble. Moreover, Daniel was a necromancer, and his battle prowess was slightly stronger than elemental mages of the same rank. On the battlefield, the difference was even more obvious.
Any kind of undead summoned by a necromancer could boost morale on the battlefield.
Daniel looked honest and sincere. Those who weren't familiar with him would definitely be fooled by his appearance. He didn't talk to Helene about the city base at all. He only talked about the local customs of the Tanggulas Empire and the Cloud Flow Empire. Helene had tried to ask about Salin many times, but Daniel had blocked her without leaving a trace.
Daniel was now dead set on following Salin. Ever since he knew that the three monarchs were controlled by Salin and Ainphent, Daniel had no other thoughts. He'd signed a contract with Salin before. He didn't know what was wrong with the contract, but he didn't want to become a puppet.
Moreover, Salin had treated him well. This time, he'd formed a battalion alone. Although it was still a pie in the sky, it at least proved that Salin would give him a good future. As for the threat of the Vatican, Daniel no longer cared about it. If he was caught by the Vatican, he would die anyway. He might as well live a grand life.
Daniel had seen Salin kill the people of the Vatican with his own eyes. He didn't see any hesitation from Salin. This was what Daniel admired the most about Salin. If it were anyone else, they would have to consider the massive background of the Church.
If Salin wasn't afraid, then as a follower, he was even less afraid. However, Daniel did not understand why the Church would take the same path as before, using violence to make others submit. People like Salin and himself would never surrender.
Helene was somewhat vexed. After returning to her family from the Frozen Sea, she counted the losses. This trip had cost her more than 200,000 gold coins, and that didn't include the compensation for the dead swordsmen. Her ship was specially made so that it could sail in the Northern Sea. Small ice cubes could not threaten the ship at all.
If it wasn't for her mother's forcefulness, the family would definitely hold her responsible for her mistakes. Fortunately, she had received information that Kushui County was expanding its territory in the north and persuaded her mother. This time, she not only brought the Williams Family's investment, but also her own savings. She planned to fight for this new city.
Helene had high hopes for Salin. Not only did Salin have many strong people around him, but he also had many strong people around him. Salin could easily sell her a ship, and that was what Helene valued the most.
The quality of the ship wasn't bad, and it could even be used for battle. Helene knew that Salin definitely had a group of experienced sailors, and that ship wouldn't be Salin's best ship.
There was a huge amount of wealth in the sea, but due to the limitations of sailing, most people could only look at it and lament. The southeast sea was dominated by Alchemy City, and further south was the sea of the Cloud Flow Empire. Qin Yin only didn't have any influence in the north. The location of Salin's port was very good. From here to the Frozen Sea, they could save a lot of supplies, and they could hunt for longer.
If they could open up a summer sea route, they could do long-term business with Scotia. Although it wasn't an ice-free port, it was enough for long-distance trade. The Williams Family's secret sea route in the north would be discovered sooner or later. In the past two years, Helene had always encountered pirates when she went out to sea. If it wasn't for the fact that her ship's performance was much better than the pirates', she wouldn't be able to do business at all.
Salin said that he could provide protection for the hunting ships, and Helene was really tempted. The wealth of the Frozen Sea wasn't something that the Williams Family could monopolize. If other families found out about this secret, they would come for a share sooner or later. When that happened, Cloud Flow City would become extremely important, and the nobles of Cloud Flow City would also get involved.
Instead of working with the nobles of Cloud Flow City, it was better to work with Bitter Water Commandery.
Helene had already thought this through before coming, but Salin hadn't appeared after so long. He even sent someone to tell her to wait. Damn it! Salin didn't seem to care about her, a young lady of the Williams Family.
Qin Yin wasn't Cloud Flow. Qin Yin's women had status, and they could even inherit noble titles, become city governors, and join the army. Qin Yin didn't lack duchesses in its history, and even empresses. In Qin Yin's land, a direct descendant of a large family like Helene wasn't just a vase. Her mother was a living example.
She could still listen to Daniel's words at first, but her expression gradually turned impatient. If not for the fear of angering this necromancer, Helene might have done something rude.
Just as Helene was fretting, Sala's voice came from outside the door.
"Helene, sorry to keep you waiting. I've brought someone I know to see you. " Sala pushed the door open with a smile. Helene looked up, and Sala's hateful smile made it impossible for her to lose her temper.
Beside Salin was a young magician who was also wearing a gray magician's robe. Helene looked at the handsome magician and felt that he looked very familiar.
Ainphent looked at Helene, who had grown up, and found it funny as he thought of his childhood. The Williams Family and the Clyde Family were competitors, but they still maintained contact on the surface. And when other commercial forces wanted to establish a foothold in Qin Yin, the four major families would work together to fight against them. This was also the secret to the four major families' prosperity.
Thus, as a direct descendant of the family, Ainphent had met his peers from the other three families. Later on, he was cursed by a Divine Spell of the Vatican, and his Magic String gradually disappeared. He was thrown into Deep Forest Town by his family, and could no longer see the people of the past.
Back then, Ainphent was a fearless person who had once beaten up the beauty before him. Helene wasn't old back then, and she wondered if she still remembered this guy who had beaten her until she cried.
Salin's warm greeting made Helene feel much better, but the magician beside Salin made her feel uncomfortable. For some reason, Helene's heart trembled when she saw those cold eyes. Something from the depths of her memory surfaced, but she couldn't grasp it.
"Helene, I'm Ainphent. Don't you remember me?" Ainphent bowed and smiled at Helene.
"Ah!" Helene clenched her fists, and instinctively wanted to punch Ainphent. But she suddenly remembered that this wasn't her family's city, and now that she had grown up, it would be embarrassing to talk about those childhood memories.
"Ainphent, you're a fifth-level magician now!" Helene immediately saw the symbol on Ainphent's magic robe. Her tone was indescribably bitter. She had always been talented in business, and it was because of Ainphent that she had worked hard to learn swordsmanship, hoping that one day she could beat this guy up.
Now, she was only a senior swordsman, while Ainphent was already a fifth-level magician. It seemed that there was no hope of revenge.
Helene was disappointed. She had thought that her family was the first to enter this city, but she didn't expect to see Ainphent here. This meant that the Clyde Family had already …
Seeing the awkward atmosphere between the two, Salin smiled. "Helene, Ainphent is my friend. Although the Clyde Family's trade with Bitterwater County has always been small, we've already signed a contract. But don't worry, since you're back, I'll arrange a good place for you no matter what. "
Helene blushed. Salin's address was rather intimate, but she couldn't say anything. And in her heart, she had a faint liking for this calculative magician. According to Salin, the Clyde Family didn't control all the trade in this city. Helene immediately became much happier, and the unhappiness caused by the long wait was quickly forgotten.
"Magician Salin …"
"Just call me Salin," Salin said with a smile. It wasn't that he was interested in Helene. Although Helene's beauty was rare, Salin was basically immune to beauty after seeing Rex and Sicar's looks. Moreover, there was Neris who clung to him all day, looking like a Myers Goddess.
Salin just didn't like to interact with the old fellows of the family. He was shrewd with age, and most of his energy was still focused on the training of magic. He couldn't be calculative with those people every day.
"Salin, my people …"
"Daniel, take Helene's subordinates to rest. Yes, arrange a location on the east side of Fifth Avenue. We'll choose a place to build the residence later."
"Yes, my Lord," Daniel said respectfully. In front of outsiders, he had to act appropriately. Although Salin didn't care about this, Daniel had already started to plan for Salin. Establishing authority wasn't something that could be done in a day or two. With Salin's current position, he couldn't be like before, where he could just manage one or two people around him.
Helene was even more delighted. Staying in the east side meant that the land Salin planned to give her was near the harbor. To her, this was the best news. Helene originally had a mission for her family, but when she saw the thousands of undead working outside, she knew that with Salin's strength, the Williams Family might not be able to provoke him. This way, she wouldn't have any burden. The way of thinking of those old fellows was already outdated. She didn't need to scheme against Salin at all. All she needed to do was maintain her current good relationship with him, and she would be able to get what she wanted in this city.
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