In the blink of an eye, three years had passed.
The Free Commercial Alliance, founded at Glan Territory's initiative, had become a colossal force.
Its members were spread across several kingdoms, including Wallis, Iron Fort, Hill Forest, and Yalino, with more than three hundred member territories in total.
Among these member territories, the fastest-growing on average was still the economic zone centered on Glan Territory and radiating into more than a dozen surrounding territories. It had become the most prosperous core region of the Free Trade Alliance. The dozens of industrial chains across these territories generated annual economic benefits exceeding several million gold coins.
Nathan Territory produced abundant grain and possessed extensive shallow coal deposits underground, so it developed grain processing and coal mining industries. One of its specialties was a long loaf of bread from Nathan Territory—soft in texture and easy to store—which sold extremely well throughout the Free Trade Alliance. Together with the ever-growing demand for coal, Baron Sean's territory earned more than one hundred thousand gold coins annually.
Yoken Territory had much highland and was rich in cattle, sheep, and a local specialty nut. In the eastern hills of Yoken Territory, there was also a medium-sized silver mine with reserves exceeding a thousand tons. Thus, it developed canned food processing, nut snacks, and silver mining. Its specialty canned beef and mutton and nut snacks were in short supply year after year. With the output of the silver mine added in, Baron Howard's territory earned more than one hundred and fifty thousand gold coins annually.
Patton Territory was cold year-round and produced only a small number of cold-weather horses. However, it made use of its dense forests and abundant game to develop logging and fur processing. In a lowland area west of Patton Territory, there was a clay