Reasonable and Understanding

Throughout the night, Blackwater City came alive again, with large numbers of troops moving back and forth within the city. The curfew, which had just been lifted, was reinstated, and the entire city was filled with shouts and the sound of marching troops.

Such a large-scale change in Blackwater City has caused great anxiety among the residents, who fear that an army has attacked again and Blackwater City is about to be besieged once more!

They had just gone through a siege, a period that, though short, was very difficult. Many were worried that the battlefield, which had just ended, would affect them again, and were preparing to leave the city as soon as possible the next morning!

However, the heads of the Great Merchant Guilds of commerce did not take it seriously. They had already received notifications from the Interim Management Committee and the Northern Frontier Chamber of Commerce that Viscount Victor was going to lead a portion of his army north, but this would not affect the city's defenses. The main force of the Southern Marching Legion would remain in Blackwater City.

Victor also expressed his gratitude to the merchants on behalf of the Governor's Mansion, since the Interim Management Committee would not have been able to collect so many mules and horses in such a short time without their help.

Of course, these chambers of commerce didn't help for nothing. A large portion of the mules and horses collected by the Interim Management Committee this time were rented from various chambers of commerce, and the rental fees had to be paid at a rate 20% higher than the market price.

At the same time, Gaita, the head of the Interim Management Committee, assured the various chambers of commerce that if livestock such as mules and horses were lost due to injury or illness, the Interim Management Committee would compensate them at market price. The chambers of commerce could choose to receive the compensation or go directly to the Two Rivers Territory to take away the corresponding livestock.

Those chamber of commerce managers are very shrewd; most of them would choose the second option, since trading an old packhorse for a young one would be more profitable.

These chambers of commerce were not worried that the Interim Management Committee would not fulfill its promises, since the Interim Management Committee had obtained a guarantee from the Governor's Mansion and had also offered the commercial tax revenue of Blackwater City for the next three months as collateral. With these, the Great Merchant Guilds would naturally accept it gladly.

After all, Victor had only occupied Blackwater City for a short time, but he had already demonstrated his credibility by organizing several trade fairs between noble Eastern Region and Great Merchant Guilds within Blackwater City.

Of course, on the other hand, these chambers of commerce also had their own ideas about Victor. With the Northern Alliance Army having gained a relative advantage, Victor, who had performed outstandingly in the Civil War, was clearly a rising star in this land. Naturally, the Great Merchant Guilds were willing to forge good relations with Victor.

Gaita, the head of the Interim Management Committee, understood this particularly well. The managers of the Great Merchant Guilds, who were usually difficult to deal with, were very polite to him. Although they couldn't be said to grant every request, they were very accommodating in purchasing goods or renting livestock and mules, and sometimes they were even willing to give him a discount.

Gaita happened to find a medium-sized trading company in the city that mainly deals in leather goods to provide a batch of urgently needed supplies for the army.

At that moment, Gaita was talking to Boli, the president of the chamber of commerce.

"Mr. Gaita, since Viscount Victor needs our Chamber of Commerce this time, we will definitely help!"

We happen to have a batch of leather water bags stored in the warehouse in the south of the city, a little over 6,000 of them, which should be enough to meet the Viscount's needs!

"Thank you so much, Chairman Boli. With this batch of leather water bags, it will be enough for the army heading north this time!"

"Your Excellency will be very pleased to know this. I'll give you the market price. How much would you like?"

"Just go with the market price, and I'll give you a discount. How about 200 gold?"

"This isn't a discount, you're probably losing money!"

"How could that be? It's just cost price. Since Viscount Victor needs us, I certainly won't be stingy. I'll arrange for someone to deliver these leather water bags to the military camp tonight!"

"Thank you so much, Chairman Boli!"

When Gaita left, Chairman Boli escorted him all the way to the front door, his attitude being extremely polite, even to the point of being solicitous.

This was completely different from the treatment he received when he was Viscount Krick's secretary to the governor. Back then, although the presidents and managers of these chambers of commerce were very polite to him, they would always refuse to help him when it came to it. They would never be so understanding as they are now.