"Yes." Smith sighed. Although he knew Lord Victor had some self-interest in doing this, the man was still pouring everything he had into training him. Watching Lord Victor sell off his property made him feel miserable.
Colin nodded, then suddenly said, "Brother, tell Lord Victor that I'll visit him this Saturday."
"Mm." Smith did not think much of it and nodded in agreement.
The following afternoon, Smith skipped dinner and rode his Eastland War Horse back to Lord Victor's villa outside the city to continue his Knight Training.
On Saturday, Colin rose early. He rented an Eastland White Horse from the stables and left the city for Lord Victor's villa in the countryside.
The weather was good today, though the sun was somewhat scorching. Colin galloped along the open road, passing pedestrians and carriages. Endless wheat fields stretched along both sides of the road, with countless farmers busy at work among them.
Wheat around Will City was generally harvested in September, and by now, the yield was more or less apparent. This year would mostly be a bumper harvest. With the Empire suffering from a grain shortage, both grain merchants and farmers would profit from it.
Though these hardworking farmers were drenched in sweat, their faces were filled with joy.
Before long, Colin arrived at Knight Victor's country villa, surrounded by wheat fields and oak trees. The villa's iron gate was still open. Unlike last time, however, the elderly gatekeeper recognized Colin and invited him straight inside.
After entering the gate, Colin spotted Knight Victor in the distance training Smith. Smith possessed the Bronze Bloodline, but he had never received Knight Training before. Though he worked hard with the Training Greatsword, he was still rather clumsy.
Off to the side, several other Knight Apprentices were training on their own. It was obvious that Knight Victor devoted most of his attention to Smith.
The old man trotted all the way to Knight Victor's side. Knight Victor turned to look at Colin and called Smith over to greet him as well.
"Colin." Smith was bare-chested and dripping with sweat as he came forward to hug Colin.
"Brother." Colin did not mind and returned Smith's embrace.
"Lord Victor." Only after letting go of Smith did Colin bow to Knight Victor.
"Colin." Knight Victor inclined his head slightly, then smiled. "You brothers should go sit in the drawing room."
He thought Colin had come to visit Smith. Could he possibly have come to visit an old man like him?
Colin shook his head, promptly abandoning Smith as he smiled at Knight Victor. "No. Let my brother continue training. I came specifically to discuss something with you."
Knight Victor was quite surprised, while Smith swiftly turned around and went back to training.
After recovering from his surprise, Knight Victor invited Colin into the drawing room and had him sit down.
A plainly dressed maid brought over two saucers, then set down freshly brewed black tea and a bowl of sugar cubes. Colin caught a scent different from Duke Black Tea. He bent down, picked up a sugar cube from the bowl, dropped it into his tea, and elegantly stirred it with a small spoon before taking a sip. Then he said meaningfully, "Daof Black Tea from Xilan."
Though both were black teas from Xilan, this one was of a lower grade than Duke Black Tea.
That was somewhat impolite to say. Knight Victor's expression shifted slightly before he gave a bitter smile. "My family's finances have indeed run into some trouble recently."
At this point, Knight Victor's expression turned solemn. "But Colin, no matter what, I will do everything in my power to train Smith."
"You misunderstand. I did not come to mock your financial situation, nor do I doubt your determination to train my brother." Colin smiled and set down his teacup.
Knight Victor was immediately confused. If it was not for that, then what had Colin come for? And why had he exposed his declining finances from the very beginning?
"If one's financial situation is poor, then one must find a way to improve it. Selling off assets is not a long-term solution." Colin sat upright with the elegance of a noble, looking utterly composed. Then he smiled. "I came to discuss a business deal with you."
Knight Victor was somewhat dismissive, not because he looked down on Colin. It was simply that the Russell family's previous circumstances had truly been terrible. They had no steward, no servants, no carriage, and had never done business before.
Although Colin Russell had gained some small fame at the academy and was expected to become an Empire Lifetime Knight, he was still just a little brat.
What sort of business could Colin Russell possibly have?
However, Colin Russell's greatest advantage was that he was the biological younger brother of Smith, who possessed the Bronze Bloodline. Though Victor remained unconvinced inwardly, he showed interest on the surface and asked, "What business?"
"The most profitable ordinary business this year is grain." Colin smiled faintly.
Knight Victor shook his head inwardly. A little brat was still a little brat. Who did not know that the grain trade was the most profitable business this year?
For Smith's sake, Victor did not say anything too harsh. He merely advised him earnestly, "Colin, the grain trade is not easy. First, the grain merchants in Will City include nobles and wealthy merchants. It is difficult to get a share from them. Second, I have no capital. Third, as far as I know, although this year's grain has not yet been harvested, those merchants have already bought it from the farmers in advance. It is already too late to get involved."
"Actually, there is only one problem: money." Colin shook his head, casually raised his left leg, crossed it over the other, and said at ease, "Before September 1st, I will provide three hundred Gold Coins as capital to establish a grain company. And you can bring in the Empire Lifetime Knights you know, such as your comrades from the Gale Knight Order. You will not need to contribute a single coin. You only need to invest your status. I will hold sixty percent of the shares, while you will hold forty percent."
Victor revealed a shocked expression and said with a slight loss of composure, "Colin, are you joking? That is three hundred Gold Coins."
Smith, the young financial officer working at the Ministry of Finance, earned only a little over ten Gold Coins a year. That was already considered a respectable job. Three hundred Gold Coins were equivalent to Smith's former salary for twenty or thirty years.
A Lifetime Knight like Victor naturally possessed considerable wealth, but even for him, producing three hundred Gold Coins in cash would be extremely difficult.
And he had previously heard that the Russell family was poor. This counted as poor? Then what did that make his own family?
Moreover, through some respectable arrangements, three hundred Gold Coins could be used as capital worth three thousand Gold Coins or even more.
"Lord Victor, as an Empire noble, I know when it is appropriate to joke and when it is not." Colin's expression became serious, and a different sort of presence radiated from his blue eyes.
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