Connections

Victor had the illusion that he was not facing a boy barely in his teens, but a shrewd, seasoned noble.

"I'm sorry. I misspoke." Victor took a deep breath and gave Colin a slight nod.

"So, do you agree with my proposal or not?" Colin smiled faintly, bent down to pick up the teacup from the table, and took a small sip.

"Do you have a specific plan?" Victor asked seriously, his tone having changed without him noticing.

"Nobles are nobles, and commoners are commoners. Within the Will City Grain Association, those nobles collude with wealthy merchants. Merchants without surnames possess enormous wealth and live respectable lives. Yet Imperial Lifetime Knights like you, former members of the Gale Knight Order and extraordinary individuals, have to sell off your property because you are struggling to make ends meet. I don't think that is fair. The Empire's nobles should be ashamed of it."

"My plan is for you to find Imperial Knights like yourself who are living in hardship and establish a grain company with me. Then, using your respectable standing, borrow a sum from the Imperial Bank. We will force our way into the Will City Grain Association. As for the nobles within the Grain Association, we will leave each other alone. As for those wealthy merchants, we can slaughter every last one of them."

A smile spread across Colin's face as he took another sip of black tea.

"As expected of a noble, even one only in his teens." Victor gave Colin a serious look and began calculating in his heart.

The Empire belonged to the Emperor, but it also belonged to the nobles. The Empire's laws overwhelmingly favored the nobility. To a certain extent, wealthy merchants could only attach themselves to nobles.

Thus, business often depended not on money or ability, but on bloodline and connections. If an Imperial prince wanted to do business, wealth would come pouring in without him having to do anything.

A Lifetime Knight who had once served in a Knight Order and bled for the Empire already carried considerable weight. What if there were several more?

And being able to make high-sounding speeches by exploiting one's noble status while carrying out a business deal that amounted to robbery—that was what it meant to be a noble.

Respectable, elegant, composed, and cunning.

"Fine." Victor agreed without much thought.

"A wise decision." Colin smiled slightly, then raised his teacup in gesture. Knight Victor froze for a moment before raising his own cup and clinking it against Colin's.

"Happy cooperation!"

After that, everything proceeded extremely smoothly. Every year, many Lifetime Knights emerged within Marquis Kent's Territory. Many had served in regular Knight Orders, and there were also many who had survived and retired. A fair number of them were in Will City as well.

Through the connections Victor had built while serving in the Gale Knight Order, he contacted several seniors who had also served there. Including himself, a total of five Imperial Lifetime Knights joined Colin's plan.

Although most of these people had retired because of their age, and as extraordinary individuals they were considered inferior, they were still Imperial Lifetime Knights who had once bled for the Empire.

Moreover, because they had all served in the Gale Knight Order, they had extremely extensive connections within the Knight Order. Many younger knights had been trained by them.

The influence they wielded together was absolutely not to be underestimated.

The connections were in place. All that remained was money.

Morning, August 1st.

It was a rare overcast day, bringing a welcome coolness. The wheat outside Will City was about to be harvested, and this year's rising wheat prices greatly benefited both the city's commoners and the rural farmers. Everyone in Will City seemed cheerful.

Brian's standing at school had risen noticeably. The impact of his defeat against Colin had weakened.

Colin had taken leave from school today and stayed home the entire time. Linda had already gone to work. Although Colin had once suggested that Linda become a full-time noble lady, attending balls and concerts when she had time, Linda had refused.

Being frugal, she would never allow herself to idle around.

In the living room, Colin held a cup of plain Duke Black Tea. Beside him were small sweet biscuits Linda had made, while in his hands was a knight novel called "Charlemagne's Travels," which he read to pass the time.

The knight novels of this world were all essentially the same. Every protagonist was born a noble, their family fell into decline, and after a series of grand adventures, they ultimately married a princess or the daughter of a grand duke.

"Were all these authors taught by the same master? Couldn't they come up with even one original story?" Colin could not stand it any longer after reading halfway through and put the book down.

Just then, there came a knock at the door.

"Mr. Colin. It's me, Rhode."

Colin used the armrest to rise, tidied his appearance slightly, and then went to the door and opened it. Rhode stood outside wearing a round hat, looking exceedingly humble.

Upon seeing Colin, Rhode removed his hat, held it against his chest, and bowed to him.

"Come in, Rhode." Colin took out a pair of guest slippers and set them down.

"Thank you, Mr. Colin." Rhode remained humble.

After arriving in the living room, Colin had Rhode sit down first. He then went up to the second-floor bedroom, carried down a wooden box, and placed it on the floor.

"Another disciple of my teacher is also making Basic Strength Potions, and his skill is above mine. He asked me to sell them to Mr. George together, so the quantity this time is rather astonishing." Colin opened the wooden box. Inside were twenty Basic Strength Potions arranged neatly in rows, their blood-red magical glow reflecting off one another and weaving together the color of Gold Coins.

Rhode was startled for a moment but quickly calmed down. He then stood up, bowed humbly to Colin, and apologized, "Mr. Colin, your shipment this time is truly beyond expectations. I'm sorry, but I did not bring enough Gold Coins."

"It's fine. We can settle it next time. But let me remind you first: my shipment next month will be even larger." Colin nodded understandingly.

"Alright." Rhode still held his hat against his chest and remained bent at the waist.

"Also, I have a private letter. Please take it back to Mr. George." Colin opened his coat, took an exquisite envelope from his inner pocket, and handed it to Rhode.

"Certainly." Rhode accepted the letter, carefully held it in his hand, and turned to leave.

Not long afterward, Rhode returned with materials for thirty portions next month and one hundred Gold Coins. He carefully removed the twenty Basic Strength Potions and sealed them inside the wooden box he had brought. Afterward, he bade Colin farewell and carried the wooden box out of the Russell family home.

Leaving aside George Magic Shop's debt for the moment.

Each potion sold for eight Gold Coins, so twenty potions amounted to one hundred and sixty Gold Coins. Next month, Colin would produce thirty Basic Strength Potions worth two hundred and forty Gold Coins, making four hundred Gold Coins in total.

Not only was that enough to fulfill his promise of three hundred Gold Coins to Knight Victor, but there would also be an extra hundred Gold Coins. After saving a little more, he should buy a villa with stables and hire a butler, maids, manservants, and a coachman.