The food was already served. Salin poured wine for Helene and raised his crystal glass, smiling. "Yes, for the future."
"For the future."
"For the future!"
The crystal glasses of the trio clinked together, producing a crisp sound. Salin was satisfied. He didn't care how much he got, but with this partnership, the four families wouldn't be able to control the trade even if they took root in the city in the future. He still remembered the story he heard back then. A merchant company with a deep background went to Holy Rock City to develop, but it was pushed out by the four families.
The four families fought openly and covertly, but if other factions really came to share the profits, the four families would immediately unite.
Now that he had settled the person-in-charge of the Clyde family and the Williams family in this city, the remaining two families wouldn't be able to cause any trouble.
Business couldn't be settled by force. Splitting the factions in secret was the best solution.
Once the matter of cooperation was confirmed, the three of them became more natural. Helene seemed to have forgotten the unhappiness from her childhood as she discussed the location of the merchant company with Ainphent. Choosing a location for a merchant company required knowledge. Ainphent had the advantage, and Helene wasn't too late. There were still good places for her to choose from.
Before they finished their meal, Neris flashed in from outside.
"Master."
"Neris, come and sit." Salin was in a good mood as he let Neris sit beside him. He knew that Neris wasn't a rash person. She definitely had her reasons for rushing here.
"Master, it's not an enemy."
"Oh? Then who is it? They actually sent an army. "
"This …"
"It's fine. Helene is one of us," Salin said, going with the flow. If what Neris said was confidential, she wouldn't have come here. She would definitely wait for Salin to return to the temple. The two had a telepathic connection and worked well together.
Helene didn't know that Neris was Salin's contracted creature. She was rather pleased with Salin's words.
"Do you remember Baron Pijacques?"
"I do. It's good enough that he has ten soldiers. Didn't you say he's a scout? Right, I got him to wait in Deep Forest Town. I'll gather more people to receive him. Why did he come here himself? "
"Not only did he come, he even convinced two viscounts to join you."
"Pfft …" Salin spat out a mouthful of wine. Back then, he had never thought much of Baron Pijacques. Who would have thought that Baron Pijacques would do such a great thing? A Baron could own a small town at most, while a Viscount could own a sizable city. Salin's hometown, Ceylon City, was the territory of a viscount.
Jacques was a destitute Baron, yet he managed to convince two Viscounts to leave their homes and seek shelter in such a faraway place. No matter how Salin thought about it, it was too bizarre. Did something happen in Phoenix, or did Holy Rock City do something? Salin didn't think that he had any reputation outside that could make two nobles with territories come to him.
Helene also stared at Salin with widened eyes. Nelis's words were too shocking. A noble actually came to seek refuge with Sarlin. What kind of magic did Sarlin have? Helene's mind was in a mess. This matter had made her lose her judgment. However, Salin's image grew even larger in her heart.
"En, Neris, accompany Elaine to her residence.
Salin could not eat anymore. He wanted to see the two nobles immediately and ask them what had happened in Phoenix.
"Helene …"
"It's okay. Go do what you need to do. We'll talk about our business tomorrow." Helene smiled understandingly, her face full of charm.
Ainphent's lips moved. Seeing Nelis's unfriendly gaze, he changed his words. "I'll go back first and plan for next year's voyage." He had wanted to follow Salin to take a look, but since Nelis hinted at him not to, he could only endure.
Salin trusted Ainphent, but Nelis did not. The person she trusted the most was Sicar. That silly girl would not even realize that Salin had sold her.
"Miss Helene, you don't have to rush back. Your subordinates have all been arranged to stay. Someone will take care of them." Nelis smiled as she asked someone to change Helene's soup and serve her post-meal snacks. Ainphent stood up awkwardly, unable to vent his anger. He hated himself for being afraid of a maid.
Salin stood up and left without helping Ainphent. Of course, he trusted Nelis the most. After going through fire and water so many times, he already knew that Nelis was thinking for him most of the time. Occasionally, she would reveal her true nature, and he could also sense it. This time's incident might have been an accident, but it was more likely that something had happened in the south. If something happened in Phoenix, Rex might be in danger when he returned next year.
Salin sent for Zola. Taking the soldiers, he left the city hall building and walked to the west of the city. The construction on the west side of the city was almost complete. There was a temporary military camp. Other than practicing magic every day, Daniel spent most of his time training his soldiers.
Seeing Daniel, Salin asked him to bring a hundred soldiers and two hundred revenants out of the city to pick up Baron Pijacques. Salin himself waited at the camp.
Daniel was ordered to build the first camp. He only had a team of two hundred pirates. Although the camp was large, it was actually only in use. With Salin's arrival, the soldiers could no longer rest. They all put on their armor and waited in the wing rooms on both sides. Actually, Salin did not need these people's protection. He had Zola by his side, which was equal to the strength of all the pirates.
However, Daniel's training was very strict. Since Salin was here personally, no one dared to slack off. With a necromancer as their commander, the pirates were used to carrying out orders without hesitation.
Salin thought of the layout of Sacred Rock City. After the city's construction was completed, the military camp should be moved outside the city.
"Sir, are you worried?" Zola asked from the side. He could tell that Salin had something on his mind, so he took the initiative to chat with Salin.
"Yes, I don't know what happened in Phoenix. According to the plan, even if Phoenix is going to be in chaos, it will have to wait for three years."
"Actually, it's the same when it's chaotic. It's better if it's earlier. Sir still has the Undead Lord and five thousand revenant soldiers. Now that Phoenix is in chaos, Sir will have a chance to take in Phoenix's manpower. Two viscounts have come to seek refuge, and they can probably bring more than a thousand people with them. If my lord handles this well, more people will come. "
"Rex is going to pass through Phoenix next spring," Salin voiced his concern.
"Actually, it won't be too late to ask those two later, Sir," Zola said to Salin seriously without a smile on his face.
Salin nodded. He was worried about Rex and Silva. Both of them were very important to him. If it was someone else, Salin wouldn't have lost his composure. Zola was right. Even if something big happened in Phoenix, he could send people to intercept them outside Phoenix. He could ask Rex to go around Lianyun City and come back by sea.
Sitting in silence was boring, and Salin was not willing to meditate at this time. He called a soldier over, asked for a chess piece, and began to play chess with Zola.
After about two hours, Daniel came back with his men.
"Sir, I've brought them back. They're outside," Daniel said to Salin as he entered the barracks.
"How many?"
"Many, about nine hundred."
"How did you arrange it?"
"Set up camp outside the city. I'll leave a hundred revenants."
"Good job. Where's Jacques? Let him in. There are two more guests. "
"Yes." Daniel turned and left. Not long after, the fat baron brought two middle-aged men into the barracks. He ran to Salin from afar and bowed in front of Salin.
"Jacques, long time no see. These two …" Salin said calmly.
He was an Archmage. Even if the other party was a viscount, he didn't have to get up to greet them.
The two middle-aged men, dressed in ordinary clothes, approached Salin and bowed in an aristocratic manner. They introduced themselves. "Sir Mage, I'm Suha."
"Peter."
The two of them said their names briefly without saying their surnames. Salin saw the worried and absent-minded faces of the two middle-aged men, so he said, "Geyi is outside. I'll have someone bring tea. Please sit."
Suha and Peter calmed themselves and sat on either side. This was the barracks. The table in front of Salin was large enough to unfold a map. The three of them sat far away. The two of them were still imagining things when Salin spoke again.
"I heard that you gave up your territory to come here. Did something happen in Phoenix?"
Suha and Peter looked at each other, not knowing what to say. They were of noble status. Although mages were even more noble, they had never heard of any nobles turning to mages. Even though the mage in front of them had a city.
"Pijacques, speak." Salin didn't want to waste time.
Pijacques was no longer as embarrassed as before. He already treated Salin as his lord. Hearing Salin's question, Pijacques smiled flatteringly and said, "Sir, something happened in Phoenix. Speaking of which …"
Pijacques talked incessantly. Salin listened attentively. Towards the end, Salin's brows relaxed. There was indeed a big change in Phoenix, but it wasn't targeted at him.
The story started last month. In November, news came from Holy Rock City that the new Grand Duke of Phoenix had died mysteriously. This news immediately caused a storm in Phoenix.
After the appearance of the black mages, the cowardly Grand Duke of Phoenix fled to Holy Rock City, saying that he wouldn't return to his territory. Salin knew about this, and it had become a joke among the nobles of Qin Yin. However, no matter how cowardly the Grand Duke of Phoenix was, he was the only master of this duchy. Even the emperor of Qin Yin couldn't do anything to him.
In November, the Grand Duke of Phoenix died in Holy Rock City, and Holy Rock City couldn't explain how the Grand Duke died. What's worse was that the Grand Duke of Phoenix didn't leave any descendants in the duchy. Now, after living in Holy Rock City for a few years, he suddenly had a son.
Holy Rock City wanted this one-year-old boy to inherit the title. The Senate had already passed it, and the House of Commons didn't object. Of course, the nobles of the duchy didn't agree. The emissary from the imperial capital was chased away, and a few major forces in the duchy had conflicts. According to the laws of Qin Yin, the territory of this duchy would always be independent and belonged to the nobles of this land. As for the death of the Grand Duke, everyone thought that it was a conspiracy by Holy Rock City.
You've already exceeded your reading limit for today. If you want to read more, please log in.
Login
Select text and click 'Report' to let us know about any bad translation.
