The Two Faces of Nobility

The Two Faces of Nobility

"This woman actually looked into Frozen Earth Territory."

To be honest, Ryan was still quite surprised. After all, his Frozen Earth Territory lay on the remote border of Northwind Province, separated by a stretch of Mountain Forest and swampland. No one was willing to go there, especially in winter.

"The Lady Irina is certainly well informed."

Ryan smiled. This woman definitely did not know the true state of Frozen Earth Territory. After all, his territory did not even have roads.

Then it could only have been Baron Hatton.

With that baron's intelligence, he had probably been thoroughly played by this woman.

Ryan understood that Irina could at most use a few petty tricks to pry out information. After all, nobles did not need to follow any rules when dealing with commoners.

"We merchants make money by exploiting information gaps. A deal with a lord might even allow me to become a senior manager in the merchant guild."

Irina looked at Ryan with pitiful, tender eyes, then handed him a card forged from silver.

"With this card, Baron Ryan can enjoy a five percent discount at Blade Rose. Please take good care of my business in the future."

She believed dealing with a young baron would be effortless.

After all, Baron Ryan before her looked completely captivated by her.

Looking at that face capable of enchanting countless women, Irina did not mind taking this exchange a little further.

"A five percent discount? That works out perfectly."

Ryan waved the silver card in his hand. "I plan to purchase two hundred thousand jin of grain from Blade Rose."

"Two hundred thousand jin?"

Irina's eyes widened. This time, she was not pretending. Could that dump of a Frozen Earth Territory even consume so much grain?

"Not just grain. I also want three hundred slaves. If there are any slaves who can forge iron, I want all of them."

"If there aren't, find a way to recruit a group of blacksmiths willing to return to Frozen Earth Territory with me. For every one you find, I'll give you one gold coin as payment."

"If you can handle this matter well, I'll give Blade Rose priority consideration for future trade with Frozen Earth Territory."

Most of the time, the Imperial Merchant Guild was the first choice for many nobles' transactions. If other merchant guilds wanted a share under such circumstances, they could only offer greater benefits.

From Ryan's earlier words, Irina had already heard which goods would rise in value next. Yet after gritting her teeth, she still decided to sell them to Ryan at the original price.

"For two hundred thousand jin of grain, we'll need to gather supplies from elsewhere. It may take several days."

"The grain will cost two thousand gold coins in total. Lord Ryan, please don't cheat me."

"The three hundred slaves are easy enough. Northwind Province may not have much else, but it has plenty of slaves. The batch retained by Blade Rose Merchant Guild can all farm and endure the cold. They'll cost a total of one thousand two hundred gold coins. But slaves who can forge iron..."

Irina gritted her teeth. "Five hundred gold coins... no, six hundred. I'll get ten of them from other trading houses for you, Lord Ryan."

Once all the transactions had been completed, Irina had people carry out two thousand two hundred gold coins. The glittering chest drew everyone's eyes despite themselves.

But it belonged to Baron Ryan. No one dared entertain any ideas.

The grain and slaves would both take some time. Ryan gave Irina three days, because he would also need time to transport everything back to Frozen Earth Territory. The orcs could appear in Northwind Province at any moment, and he did not want to run into them on the road home.

This also showed how powerful Viscount Miles was. The things Ryan had traded with him had been prepared in only half a day, and the Steward had informed him that they could be collected at any time.

"Rosen!"

Since he had made a deal, Ryan naturally accepted the invitation to stay at Blade Rose Merchant Guild. Nor did he simply sit around doing nothing.

Calling Rosen over, Ryan handed him a warhorse acquired from Miles.

"Take my letter and immediately travel to Dragoon Viscount's Territory to visit that viscount. Don't say anything. Hand my letter to the viscount, then bring his reply back."

"Once you finish this, return directly to Frozen Earth Territory."

"Yes, my lord!"

Rosen clutched the letter tightly, treating it as something more precious than his own life.

"Don't be nervous. It's nothing major."

Ryan said with a smile.

A noble could not lack virtues such as integrity, fearlessness, and dignity. But likewise, a qualified noble could never lack cunning, deceitfulness, and greed.

As for what could not be sold to others, in Zero Crossing Prefecture, only two nobles were qualified to learn in advance that the orcs were heading south.

He had obtained twenty thousand jin of grain and seventy warhorses from Viscount Miles. Now, he intended to obtain even more from Viscount Dragoon.

After all, Zero Crossing Prefecture only had these two viscounts, and the two were rivals, as were the families behind them.

During this orc calamity involving the Black Goat Orcs, even the slightest information gap could lead to the downfall of many nobles.

After giving Rosen his orders, Ryan began asking Irina where in Zero Crossing City he could purchase enchanted armor. At the same time, he indirectly inquired about the relationship between the Black Goat Orcs and Viscount Miles.

"Fifteen years ago, there was a large-scale orc invasion of Northwind Province. At the time, the invasion was led by the Bearmen Tribe, which had little intelligence, but it still caused enormous losses to Northwind Province. A Black Goat Tribe was among them."

"While Viscount Miles led his army into battle against the bearmen, they launched a surprise attack on Miles Viscount's Territory. They looted all of Viscount Miles's wealth and even ate his eldest son."

"The viscount's first wife was also unable to eat for several days because of what happened that year. In the end, she passed away as well."

"Viscount Miles's current eldest son, Kristan, and his younger children were actually born to the viscount's second wife. It is said that while his first wife was still alive, this woman was merely Viscount Miles's lover."

"As for his true eldest son, it was said that he was once called the person in the Miles Family most like the viscount. At only ten years old, he had already displayed astonishing political and military talent."

"So that was it."

Ryan sighed. No wonder the viscount had become so enraged upon hearing the news about the Black Goat Orcs.

A true heir had died. Viscount Miles must have been devastated beyond measure.

After all, Kristan's current performance was not even as good as that of his youngest son, Rag.

"Then does Viscount Miles have any conflict with the Count Clayton Family?"

Ryan discovered that these merchant guilds truly had remarkably well-informed networks.

Irina looked at Ryan in confusion. Over the course of the day, she had gathered even more information about this young baron.

"Back then, Grand Duke Mayers conquered Northwind Province, yet not a single Meyers was able to establish a presence in Northwind Province. It is said that Count Clayton was involved in that."

"Ah?"