Victor was delighted. The fleet's safe arrival also meant that the development of Two Rivers Territory had entered a new stage.
Many projects that had long been planned could finally be put on the agenda. The newly arrived laborers could also speed up construction, while the supplies they had brought would ensure the territory's stable operation.
However, Victor noticed something strange. There were clearly several more ships docking this time than there had been when the fleet departed. He did not believe his father would purchase new ships at a time like this, so rather than entering Sea Song Town, he headed straight for the docks.
Victor's cavalry unit was quite conspicuous. As they neared the docks, the infantry stationed there had already begun assembling in formation before the pier. When the leading officer saw Victor, he immediately had all the soldiers line up to greet him.
Victor nodded from horseback without dismounting and rode directly onto the pier. There, he happened to see the manager of Sea Song Town's Engineering Team Two—acting Town Mayor Vincent—speaking with someone whose back was to the docks. When Vincent noticed Victor's arrival, he immediately pulled the man over to salute Victor. Once the man turned around, Victor saw that it was Captain Jack.
Both men removed their hats in salute. Victor walked over and helped Captain Jack up at once. "It seems this voyage went smoothly. Thanks for the effort, Captain Jack."
"My lord, thank you for your concern and trust. It was my duty." Captain Jack was deeply moved by the recognition of his work. If the boss valued you this highly, it meant you had the favor of those above and a bright future ahead. Vincent's envious expression beside him said it all.
"Don't get too excited. I happened to have something to ask you. What is going on with those extra ships in the fleet?" Victor asked his question directly.
"My lord, it's like this..." A voice interrupted Jack before he could answer.
"Baron Victor, it has been far too long. I hope you can forgive me for taking so long to deliver the goods." The speaker was also an old acquaintance of Victor's. A ball-like figure waddled down from the ship beside them—it was Vitri of the Gorn Trading Company.
"So it's Chairman Vitri. I never expected you to deliver the goods here personally. Our agreement only required delivery before mid-October, so I did not expect you to arrive this early." Victor had a favorable impression of Vitri. After all, while this great merchant did business, he also handled personal relations exceptionally well.
Victor turned to Captain Jack and Vincent. "You two handle the work and the handover of the goods first. Tomorrow, I'll take Jack's ship back to Wood Fort Town."
Then Victor invited Chairman Vitri to tour Sea Song Town with him.
Along the way, Victor introduced Vitri to the current state of Sea Song Town and Two Rivers Territory, as well as some of his plans for the territory's future development. Chairman Vitri was also a skilled conversationalist. He agreed throughout while offering a number of interesting and practical suggestions. When they arrived at Sea Song Town's temporary office, Victor arranged dinner and invited Vitri to talk while they ate.
"Chairman Vitri, I never expected you to understand the customs and culture of the Northlands so well. If I did not know your background, I might have mistaken you for a noble born and raised in the northern counties."
"Lord Victor, you flatter me. As a qualified merchant, understanding the market and the needs of one's customers is essential. The northern counties are one of our trading company's key future markets, so naturally we must understand their characteristics and current situation. And you may simply call me Vitri."
"Of course. You can call me Victor as well. The Iron Birch Wood you delivered this time came at just the right moment. I can finally begin building my castle. But it seems you brought more than just Iron Birch Wood. You must have brought other goods as well, right?"
Chairman Vitri smiled. "Lord Victor—oh, Victor—you truly are sharp. If you became a merchant, you would surely be an outstanding one too." In this world, great merchants were either born nobles or had acquired noble status. At the very least, all great merchants were regarded as members of the nobility.
"I brought quite a lot of goods this time. I believe they will be of great help in developing your territory, and I hope we can conclude this deal." Vitri's tone became somewhat serious.
Seeing this, Victor found it rather strange. Vitri had always been the smooth and adaptable sort, so Victor was not quite used to this sudden seriousness in both his tone and manner.
"Then, Vitri, tell me about them. I also hope we can make this deal." No matter what, Victor at least wanted to hear what goods Vitri had brought and whether they could truly help with the territory's construction.
"I brought four ships. Two are loaded entirely with the Iron Birch Wood you ordered previously. The other two carry ten tons of iron, as well as large quantities of cloth and furs. The rest are weapons: two hundred Armor-Piercing Crossbows made in the Raine Kingdom, one hundred bundles of Armor-Piercing Arrows with twenty arrows per bundle, a batch of swords produced by the southern desert tribes, and finally, one hundred sets of Iron Knight Armor."
The moment weapons were mentioned, Victor's expression turned grave. The Grand Duchy of Vera tightly controlled weapons sales licenses, and only the Grand Duke could approve them. No matter how extensive the Gorn Trading Company's connections were, as an outsider that had only recently arrived, it was impossible for them to obtain permission to sell weapons during this chaotic period of political transition.
Especially when Vitri mentioned the Armor-Piercing Crossbows and Iron Knight Armor, Victor stood up at once, checked that the doors and windows were shut, then gritted his teeth as he said to Vitri, "Chairman Vitri, I consider you a friend. Are you trying to gamble with my life and property?" The Raine Kingdom's Armor-Piercing Crossbows were renowned far and wide. Paired with their specialized Armor-Piercing Arrows, they could pierce nearly any armor within a hundred meters and were known as the "sharpest weapon." The Raine Kingdom strictly controlled them as well; anyone caught privately selling more than ten could even be wanted by the kingdom. Given the Raine Kingdom's influence, even foreign nobles would be lucky to escape with only severe consequences. Iron Knight Armor was even more famous in the Grand Duchy of Vera. The Iron Birch Family had never sold it externally, only giving it as gifts at most. Even Grand Duke Silver Maple, their liege lord, had received no more than ten sets upon his accession. The Ducal House likely had no more than fifty sets accumulated over generations. Any noble who acquired Iron Knight Armor in private would be targeted by the Iron Birch Family.
"Victor, rest assured. All of these weapons have been approved. The Raine Royal House knows about them, and so does the Iron Birch Family," Vitri said seriously.
Upon hearing this, Victor vaguely formed a guess.
"The Raine Kingdom wants to interfere in the internal affairs of the Grand Duchy of Vera? Aren't they reaching too far?"
Vitri smiled faintly. "Victor, you truly are clever. I am quite good at reading people. In truth, from the first time we met, I sensed a trace of wariness toward me from you. It was not the ordinary caution one would show toward a stranger or a swindler, but something more subtle—the caution one showed toward an enemy. But rest assured, we will not be enemies. At least, not before the Silver Maple Ducal House falls."
Before you continue