Kebir thought for a moment, then said to Butler Hank, "Send someone to invite every member of the Grain Association. Be polite to the nobles, but speak plainly to the commoners."
"Yes, sir." Butler Hank promptly answered and turned to leave. Before long, all the Grain Association members had arrived at Kebir's villa.
There were eight people in total, including Kebir. Three were nobles, while five were wealthy commoner merchants. The president was Fulton, a Hereditary Viscount. He was also the last to arrive.
Upon receiving the news, Kebir personally came outside the mahogany doors on the first floor to greet him.
"Welcome, Lord Fulton." Kebir bowed deeply to the president with extreme humility.
Viscount Fulton was sixty this year. He had a nobleman's face—in other words, he was handsome. He was tall and carried himself with a very mild temperament.
"Kebir, what could be so urgent? I was learning to paint at Madam Vicky's place." Viscount Fulton looked rather displeased.
What painting? He's really there to fool around with her. Kebir cursed inwardly. Many people knew that Madam Vicky, Will City's famed painter, was this president's plaything.
"I truly apologize. It is an extremely urgent matter." Kebir bowed again in apology.
Viscount Fulton's expression grew slightly more serious. Kebir then led Lord Fulton inside.
Kebir first invited Viscount Fulton to sit, then gave the others a slight bow and explained the matter.
The others were not as well-informed as Kebir. The other four grain merchants were immediately shocked and indignantly began voicing their outrage.
Viscount Fulton and the other two nobles merely watched coldly. Viscount Fulton even casually crossed one leg over the other.
This was awkward.
Kebir and the others knew they had no strength to contend against five Imperial Knights. They could only rely on the power of these three nobles.
"Noah Company is coming at us aggressively. Lord Fulton, what do you think?" Kebir asked carefully.
"The Empire belongs to the nobles. Since five Imperial Knights have taken an interest in the grain business, you should simply surrender part of your profits." Viscount Fulton smiled faintly, as if he were discussing something utterly trivial.
The other two nobles also chimed in.
Kebir and the other wealthy merchants' hearts immediately turned cold, and they cursed furiously inside.
These people usually call us brothers, yet they turn their backs on us in the blink of an eye.
But there was nothing they could do. Noah Company was after the wealthy merchants' market share, not the interests of nobles like Viscount Fulton.
Five Imperial Knights—even retired ones—could not be underestimated in Will City. Why would Viscount Fulton and the others go to such trouble for no benefit, helping wealthy merchants fight these people to the death?
With no other options, Kebir and the others could only see the three noble lords off as though they were serving grandfathers. Before leaving, the three nobles remained perfectly relaxed. Viscount Fulton kept praising Madam Vicky's paintings, perfectly demonstrating what it meant to let others die while keeping oneself safe.
Kebir and the remaining four grain merchants were left to defend their shared interests, but they had no good ideas either. In the end, Kebir told the other commoner merchants to wait for news at the villa.
He himself took a carriage to Knight Victor's villa outside the city to negotiate.
However, when Kebir arrived at the Victor villa, he was immediately met with a harsh rebuff.
"Who did you say you were?" The gatekeeper—the old man who always smiled and invited Colin in whenever he saw him—opened his aged eyes wide and looked up at Kebir as though he were hard of hearing.
"I am Kebir, vice president of Will City's Grain Association," Kebir could only say helplessly.
"Who are you?" The old gatekeeper looked innocent as he tilted his head up and turned an ear toward Kebir.
Kebir had no choice but to lean close to the old gatekeeper's ear and repeat himself loudly.
"Why are you shouting? It's not like I'm deaf." The old gatekeeper looked angry.
Kebir understood at once. He was being deliberately hassled. These arrogant nobles. He cursed Knight Victor viciously in his heart.
Kebir sparred verbally with the old gatekeeper for a long time before finally being allowed through the iron gate. After that, the Victor family's butler led the way and brought Kebir to the second-floor living room.
Knight Victor sat on the sofa, his expression calm.
"Lord Victor, I am Kebir, vice president of the Grain Association." Kebir bent deeply at the waist and spoke with a trace of humility.
Knight Victor did not even stand, let alone have a maid bring tea and refreshments. A reserved nobleman's smile rested on his face as he asked blandly, "Hello, Kebir. What do you need from me?"
Kebir had become immune to Victor's arrogance. Like a dead pig unafraid of boiling water, he spoke with great sincerity. "It concerns Noah Company's grain purchases."
"Oh, grain purchases? That does seem to be a thing. What is it? Is there a problem?" Victor looked as though he had suddenly remembered and raised his head to ask.
"Lord Victor, please show us mercy and spare us. In return, we are willing to yield part of our profits." As Victor continued playing dumb, Kebir had no choice but to lower his stance again and again.
At this, a sharp gleam flashed through Victor's eyes. He was clearly tempted. Their operation this time was entirely illegal. Although the noble lords would favor them if the matter reached the Nobility Council, they would still have to spend time and money wrangling over it.
It would mean killing a thousand enemies while losing eight hundred of their own. If the other side was willing to yield part of the profits so everyone could eat steak together, that would not be a bad way to preserve harmony.
However, Victor knew this was not something he could decide. After thinking it over, he finally brought Colin Russell into the open and said meaningfully, "Kebir, perhaps you do not know that I recently took on an apprentice. His name is Smith Russell. And the person controlling Noah Company is neither me nor the other four knights. It is Colin Russell."
Colin Russell.
A thunderous boom erupted in Kebir's mind, followed by a dragon-like bolt of lightning. Stars danced before his eyes, and his ears rang.
During swordsmanship class at Will Knight Academy, Colin Russell had defeated his son Brian. Unable to accept it, Kebir had used his influence to get Smith Russell thrown out of the Ministry of Finance.
He had thought it was merely a trivial matter. The other side was just a fallen noble, a poor wretch with nothing but a surname and bloodline. His own family, on the other hand, was flourishing. They were not only wealthy, but also had "good" private connections with many nobles. Crushing the other side should have been effortless.
Yet that effortless act had turned out to wound muscle and bone.
Kebir understood the chain of events, but he became even more confused. Ignoring propriety, he pressed Victor, "Lord Victor, why? Even if you took Smith Russell as your apprentice, why would five Lifetime Imperial Knights, five extraordinary individuals, establish a company only to leave control in Colin Russell's hands?"
Kebir simply could not understand it. Five dignified Imperial Knights were actually taking orders from a child? Had these knights gone mad?
Because Smith Russell possesses the Bronze Bloodline, and because Colin Russell can casually produce three hundred Gold Coins. He is someone I cannot see through. Victor answered in his heart, but his face darkened as he gave a soft snort.
Kebir immediately came to his senses. He had lost his composure.
"Thank you for your guidance, my lord." Kebir bowed deeply and spoke sincerely.
That ended the conversation. Victor did not see him out either. Led by the Victor family's butler, Kebir left the villa, passed through the iron gate, and boarded his carriage.
Even with some time to recover, Kebir still felt as though his head was buzzing nonstop.
The situation was now roughly clear. Colin Russell was undoubtedly taking revenge. As for how he had gained control in front of five Imperial Knights, that was unimportant. What mattered was that he had displayed terrifying influence.
The nobles from the Grain Association whom Kebir had spent years fawning over had, when the moment came, been as flimsy as an undergarment that came off with a light tug.
Yet Colin Russell had firmly gripped five Imperial Knights in his hand, making them charge into battle for him. Victor had even said to Kebir's face, "The company's controller is not me."
The comparison made it clear just how frightening this man named Colin Russell was.
And Kebir had driven Colin Russell's brother, Smith Russell, out of the Ministry of Finance. On top of that, there was Brian's grudge against Colin at the academy.
"That bastard! How was I so accurate when I gave birth to such an idiot son?" Kebir knew he was in deep trouble. As anxiety consumed him, he cursed Brian viciously.
No matter how difficult it was, even if he had to kneel, he had to win the other side over. With that resolve, Kebir straightened his clothes and ordered the driver in a deep voice, "Go back to Wright Street. To the Russell family home."
Before you continue