Chapter 109

Chapter 109: The Envoy’s Visit

Night fell upon the Carites household.

Within the manor constructed with purple tiles and white stone bricks, shadows moved about as new candles replaced the dimly lit ones by the attendants, casting brighter light throughout the hall.

“Head Maid Chelsea, where is the Young Lady? We have urgent matters to report.”

A middle-aged steward asked anxiously. The brightly lit hall was filled with people, including managers from the main office of the guild, workshop masters, the captain of the guards, and other individuals coming to deliver news.

The vast business scope of a large guild meant they received all sorts of messages and notifications. Although the Carites had been established for a shorter time than some others, they had managed to gather a group of people around them over the years through mutual benefits.

After discovering the abnormalities in the other three guilds, smaller guilds and individuals who usually maintained good relations with the Carites began sending word.

No one had anticipated that during this festive night, the opposing side would suddenly strike, especially at such an hour, causing considerable unrest among many.

Now, the Carites Guild headquarters had already mobilized. Those who had gone home after work or were resting were called back to assemble in the courtyard, and the guild’s entrance was closed, prohibiting anyone from entering or leaving at will.

However, since the head of the family wasn’t present, and Angus and Lacy didn’t have any other family members, once the personnel had assembled, no one took charge to make decisions on how to respond.

“Apologies, the Young Lady mentioned she wanted to go shopping and check out the night market, so she has already left and is not at home.”

“Did she have her personal guards with her?” another steward asked worriedly.

“No, she did not,” replied the Head Maid succinctly.

“What should we do now? We can’t reach the Young Lady, and if anything happens to her, what will become of us Carites?”

Several stewards paced back and forth in anxiety, sighing occasionally.

Although the crowd in the hall was restless and despondent, the Head Maid stood quietly in the center, unmoved like a sturdy pillar amidst a turbulent river, calm and composed, seemingly unperturbed by Lacy’s safety.

Her composure provided some reassurance to the others in the hall, as sometimes having no news could be seen as a good sign.

Chelsea’s strength was roughly at Sequence 3, though she had little room for improvement, she was experienced.

She actually wasn’t sure of her Young Lady’s true capabilities, but she was certain

Indeed, Lacy must be more capable than her, as evidenced by her meticulous observations in daily life.

Lacy’s breathing was unusually stable, even though the Young Lady did not engage in heavy labor. Even when inspecting the guild’s workshop for a whole day, she never showed signs of fatigue. Her footsteps were always light and steady, and she had never stumbled or made a mistake. It was easy to maintain such composure for a day or two, but to do so consistently over several months was truly remarkable.

As long as the Young Lady possessed the ability to protect herself and had sharp observational skills, she would definitely return if she noticed anything amiss in the city. Chelsea was confident about this.

“Reporting to all the distinguished gentlemen, the Helius family has sent an envoy with an official document bearing their seal. It should be genuine,” said one of the squires who quickly entered the hall and announced the news.

The five major guilds were interconnected, and in such critical times, a mere verbal message from a single individual could not easily win trust. Hearing of the official document, the crowd present began to take the matter more seriously.

“Please bring in the envoy,” a gentle and ethereal voice echoed from the stairs. Lolan Hill, dressed in a red gown, slowly descended the steps and then gave her instructions.

“Yes, Young Lady!” The squire quickly left the hall to fetch the envoy. With Lolan Hill’s return, the guild suddenly found its backbone, and everyone’s anxieties were alleviated.

The spacious hall was already carpeted with red, and a luxurious chair had been placed in the center by the attendants.

On the golden wall in the middle, there was a painting of black-petaled purple-stamened Night Flowers. Below the large floral mural, a white throne stood. The backrest of the soft, plush seat was adorned with rows of purple flower-shaped rivets, and the armrests were made of purple sandalwood, exuding great elegance.

This throne was specially crafted by Angus to highlight the Carithes family’s status and prestige. It was only used on significant occasions.

Seated on the white and purple throne, Lolan Hill placed her hands on the armrests. In front of her, about forty high-ranking members of the Carithes family stood in two rows.

The previous chaotic and anxious scenes were now gone. The leaders of the guild stood calmly and orderly, awaiting the envoy’s arrival and Lolan Hill’s orders. Chelsea stood to the left of Lolan Hill, while the position to her right, which had previously been occupied by Ceres, remained empty.

A group of people clad in brown-bronze armor dismounted in the courtyard. Only after the leader had been thoroughly checked were they allowed to enter the hall.

The envoy, originally somewhat anxious and uneasy, was taken aback by what he saw before him.

The hall, resplendent with gold and jade, was adorned with intricate reliefs and small frescoes. Exquisitely designed chandeliers hung from the ceiling, casting a warm glow over the room. Along the walls stood two rows of well-armed guards, clad in purple cloaks with black night-blooming flowers on their backs. Their iron masks had been pulled down, and they held their swords at the ready, exuding a formidable and deadly aura.

In the center of the hall stood the upper echelons of the merchant guild, each with a badge of a black petal and purple stamen on their left chest, symbolizing their status and honor. They too were composed, radiating a confident and powerful presence, much like Chelsea did earlier.

And right in the middle of the hall, seated on a white-purple throne, was a young lady who seemed to have stepped out of a myth. Her dreamlike figure and face, coupled with her sky-blue, clear eyes, gazed at the messenger entering the hall. Her gentle yet substantial gaze pressed him down, leaving him breathless and forcing him to bow his head as he cautiously moved forward. The short distance of ten meters felt like a century.

“Respected Lady Lacy, I am the envoy of the Helius family, sent by our current patriarch to deliver urgent news.”

“Was it Mereu who instructed you to convey this message?” A melodious voice echoed from ahead.

“Yes, Lady Mereu specifically asked me to personally deliver this to Lady Lacy.”

“Do you have formal documentation?”

“I do. Please see for yourself.” The messenger handed the letter to a nearby attendant, who then passed it to Chelsea. After inspecting it, Chelsea presented it to Lolan Hill.

On her way back, Lolan Hill had already gained a general understanding of the situation, but this letter made the severity of the matter even clearer.

The other three families had been prepared for some time, indicating they had a strong confidence in their actions.

Furthermore, the scale of the events was so large that it would be impossible to keep it secret, nor could they face the future inquiries from the industry guilds within the alliance. This showed that they were fully confident in avoiding any blame.

However, the industry guild was composed of twenty-six major trading companies. It was unlikely that most members could be bought off without any notice, and the cost of such bribes would be beyond their means.

Therefore, the Vergha Trade Alliance was likely to undergo a significant change. Hoping for rescue from other city guilds might be futile.

Finally, the letter’s conclusion stated that the Helius family was willing, as they had done many years ago, to stand together with Callites to weather the storm.

The signature at the end was that of the current patriarch of the Helius family, Mereu, along with a crimson stamp of a camellia flower.

Thank you to Commander Zhang of the Strategic Deception Bureau and Xue Fenghongyue for your support.

(End of Chapter)