In Daniel's eyes, this young Alderan noble had changed far too much.
Viscount Hermil had once been high-spirited, young, and proud. With his sharp eye and flexible mind, he had seized the first breath of magic industrial development and rapidly risen to become one of the capital's most sought-after figures. His factories and investment enterprises spread throughout Alderan and even extended into several cities in the central region. Back then, he had seemed like a charged Arcane Crystal, constantly radiating intense light, with inexhaustible energy within him and no fear or hesitation toward the outside world.
But now, all of the viscount's brilliance seemed to have withdrawn inward. He had hidden every edge, like an unseen hunter lurking in the dark. He curled up in his own "fortress," which had grown considerably quieter, warily watching a world that was no longer safe for him. He was not quite despondent yet, but he was not far from it.
And all these changes had taken place over the course of a single winter last year.
Daniel sighed inwardly. Of course, he knew the reason for these changes, and he knew Viscount Hermil's current behavior was perfectly logical. Yet this was not an outcome he wished to see—not because of any "personal friendship," but because he had invested far too much effort in this viscount. It had not been easy to guide and enlighten a minor noble who had once been commonplace in Alderan, known for nothing besides socializing and banquets, step by step into an investment magnate. The trust built from the very beginning of his rise was even more irreplaceable capital. If the viscount simply collapsed like this... the loss would be truly regrettable.
"Viscount, perhaps what I am about to say will sound to you like an outsider ignorant of