Chapter 74

Chapter 74: May the Trade Winds Never Cease

After setting up plans and arrangements, the Karytes Guild began to operate at full capacity. They first invited representatives from various guilds that had been sending gifts over the past few days, then the respective leaders started discussing their agreements.

If this were in the past, these guilds might have been reluctant, but now they had a need for the Karytes Guild, so they agreed without much fuss. After all, selling to anyone was still selling, and it also meant having a long-term sales partner.

But they could never have guessed what kind of monster would be unleashed.

Lolan Hill sat at the head of the table, her shoulder-length blonde hair revealing a hint of her collarbone. Today she wore a light red off-shoulder dress that highlighted her youthful charm. She signed her name on several contract papers and then hosted a dinner for these guild representatives. Among the middle-aged men, this young lady stood out exceptionally. Her youth did not mean she lacked strength; in fact, she exuded a calm confidence.

The representative from the Aroni Guild was Mrs. Sherry, the wife of the current head of the Aroni family.

Looking at this girl, about the same age as her own daughter, she felt a deep sense of reflection. If her daughter were still alive, she would probably be worrying about which poet was handsome or which dress was prettier, discussing the latest fashion trends with her girlfriends. Yet, this Miss Karytes had shown remarkable decisiveness by leveraging this event to bind the Karytes Guild with other families, pushing the guilds beyond market limitations.

Although she didn’t understand why the young lady wanted to sign agreements with all the guilds present, she could feel the profound significance of this. Even if the Karytes Guild didn’t make much money in the end, such cooperation would greatly expand their business and enhance their reputation.

And once successful, this cooperative project would bind these dozen guilds together, forming a large and tightly-knit interest group. Ultimately, the leader of this group, the Karytes Guild, would gain immense power, forever changing the landscape of Vergha. Guilds that did not join would be marginalized and eventually lose their market share until they vanished.

What a frightening yet beautiful young lady.

She thought to herself and then stood up, raising her glass.

“Thank you, Miss Lacy, for your assistance. May you remain young and beautiful forever.” As she rose, other guild representatives also stood up, congratulating her together.

“May the trade winds never cease, the sails always full, treasures of the seven seas arriving as promised.”

The representatives present chanted this ancient blessing together.

The proverb, which represents the trade spirit and contractual belief of Viergha since ancient times, is also the most famous toast at sea.

“Toasts!” ×N

Amidst laughter and joy, the dinner gradually came to an end.

—

In the study room of the Tisiphone family,

“Adley, the Rourna delegation will arrive in two days. Have you made up your mind?”

“What decision do I need to make? Kill Angus’ daughter?” Adley retorted from his seat on the sofa.

“I didn’t say that, but once she collaborates officially with Rourna, it will be harder for us to act. The organization might then side with Callites.”

“The Green Empire has been unstable internally over the past two years, and some of the High Nobility have already suggested to the emperor to start a new war to divert conflicts.”

“A Nightmare Dragon? Haha. Who else is as active and daring besides the Paskas?”

Adley speculated with great certainty.

The Paskas family were dukes in the southern part of the Green Empire, or one could say kings, as their combined territories were larger than those of the Western Wind Kingdom. Due to their proximity to Rourna, they could quickly gather nearly 500,000 troops at the border and, if fully mobilized, could summon around 1.2 million soldiers.

Their family emblem was a red dragon on a black background, also known as the Nightmare Dragon. They possess the complete advancement route for the dragon sequence 8·Nightmare Dragon Jabawok. Their ancestors were a branch of the Green Imperial family, so they have always been trusted and stationed in the prosperous south of the empire, making them one of the four major dukedoms of the Green Empire.

The other three families were: the Trei family with the gray raven as its emblem, the Landsworth family with the blue unicorn on a white background as its emblem, and the Salus family with the golden griffin as its emblem.

“The Nightmare Dragons are usually warlike. Ravens do not leave the North, so we’ll see what the unicorns and griffins think. If one of the Nightmare Dragons can pull in an ally, the century-old war will be reignited.”

“And our organization must integrate the Snow Flower Seven Nations as soon as possible. Viergha is a crucial link.”

“Only in this way can we, the descendants of fallen nations, continue to live. Otherwise, under the collapse of the entire nest, there will be no place to hide.” Wick slowly analyzed the situation.

Adley closed his eyes in thought. He hadn’t expected things to move so fast. According to the original plan, he should have secretly caused trouble for Callites, then stepped in to help solve it, gaining favor with Lacy and ideally marrying her, thereby obtaining everything from Callites.

If worse came to worst, he would gain their trust and then easily take control, slowly absorbing Callites.

The heavens’ calculations were no match for human ones; the civil war within Westwind had disrupted all rhythms. No one had anticipated that the annual peasant uprisings would be so severe this time, directly defeating the Northern Alliance Army of Westwind on the main battlefield. In an instant, unrest spread throughout Westwind, affecting even the Southern region of Vergha.

“Do not act yet. I will pay a visit to the master sent by the organization recently,” Edri opened his eyes, then made a decision.

“Are you referring to him? I don’t think these meticulous alchemists would readily offer their help,” replied someone else.

“Many things are not done simply because the price isn’t right,” Edri smiled.

“I will give him an offer he can’t refuse.” After saying that, he put on his coat and left the study.

Watching Edri leave, Wick continued sitting on the sofa, slowly sipping his coffee, remaining silent for a long time.

“My clever younger brother, you have been bewitched by Miss Lacy and have abandoned your usual coldness.”

“Since that’s the case, let me help you sever this inappropriate fantasy,” he said slowly, finishing his drink and placing the cup on the table, before summoning some shadowy figures.

The bleak autumn wind swept through, and beyond the port of Hope Lane, ships began to set sail, preparing to follow the coastline towards the northern kingdom of Westwind. Along with them were representatives from twelve other merchant associations, carrying large amounts of grain, which was desperately needed in Westwind, provided by the Moteil and Rhea merchant associations.

“Uncle Fang, goodbye. I hope to hear more stories about the Eastern Continent next time,” Lolan Hill waved to a tall uncle clad in white armor at the harbor, watching as the fleet raised its sails and set off.

This uncle was the nephew of the Eastern man Angus had once saved, now the leader of the ‘Trade Wind’ fleet. According to his description, the Eastern Continent was extremely similar to Loran Hill’s ancestral homeland in ancient times, with people dressed in fine clothing and emphasizing etiquette. This naturally piqued the young lady’s curiosity, having listened to many tales about the Eastern Continent these days.

“Haha, if the young lady enjoys hearing it, then I’ll set off. Let’s meet again in two months,” the uncle waved with a smile, his wide sleeves fluttering in the wind, the exotic Eastern attire rare in Vergha.

Seagulls circled, sea breeze blowing, the vast fleet began to weigh anchor, heading toward the direction where the sun sets, accompanied by the purple-red twilight, gradually moving further away.

—End of Chapter—

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