How Is Your Wife Doing?

Karl soon received the caravan leaders who had traveled from afar in the Lord's Hall.

These people were well-dressed, and their eyes revealed the shrewdness and prudence unique to merchants. They discussed in hushed tones for a moment and then selected a representative to speak.

He was a slightly overweight, ruddy-faced middle-aged man wearing a well-tailored dark silk coat.

His face wore a perfectly respectful smile, neither obsequious nor lacking in deference.

He bowed slightly and introduced himself clearly, "Your Excellency Lord Karl, I am Grimm, a merchant from the southern Royal Capital. During my stay in Fran City, I had the honor of meeting Earl Rochefort, and thus heard of your illustrious reputation and immortal achievements in the Northern Territory!"

He paused briefly, his tone becoming more solemn, as if reciting a eulogy. "First, please allow me, on behalf of all my colleagues in the Southern ' United Merchant Guild,' to extend our highest respect to you and all the brave warriors of Carnford who fought valiantly! Your heroic feat of defeating overwhelming odds and turning the tide has already spread throughout the kingdom like an epic, truly worthy of our utmost admiration!"

However, Karl sat calmly in the main seat, seemingly unconcerned about these usual compliments.

His gaze was deep, lingering more on the name "Grimm" itself.

This wasn't the first time he'd heard this name.

The Intelligence System had mentioned this name when he first arrived in this world.

Grimm was a highly influential merchant in the South, but more importantly, his wife, Lady Ella, had a close relationship with Earl Rochefort, and was even a long-term and relatively public mistress of the Count.

This information sparked in Karl an interest in the smiling businessman before him that went far beyond his apparent identity. A slightly mocking and probing thought arose in Karl's mind, and he decided to play by his own rules.

Just as Grimm was about to continue explaining his business plan, Karl unexpectedly leaned forward slightly, a seemingly amiable yet inquisitive smile on his face, interrupting his prepared remarks:

"Mr. Grimm, I appreciate your respect, but before we get down to business, allow me to ask a question, purely out of personal curiosity..." His tone was relaxed, but his gaze lingered thoughtfully on Grimm' face, "How is your wife, Ms. Ella, doing lately?"

Grimm's well-prepared, professional smile froze instantly, and he stood there, as if he had been frozen in place.

A flash of extreme surprise and a hint of barely perceptible panic crossed his eyes. Why would this young Lord, so far away in the Northern Territory, seemingly unconnected to his social circle, suddenly mention his wife? And why would he address her by her first name so familiarly?

He quickly composed himself, but his voice still trembled with disbelief. "Uh... thank you... thank you for your concern, my Lord! My wife... Ella is doing well, very well... but... but... forgive my intrusion, my lord, how... how do you know her?"

He was filled with doubt and uncertainty, rapidly considering all the possibilities.

Karl's smile deepened, and as if lost in reminiscence, he said in a slightly wistful tone, "Oh, a year ago, I had the honor of meeting your wife at a dinner hosted by Earl Rochefort in Fran City. Ms. Ella was truly captivating and left a lasting impression."

He paused, as if recalling some detail, and added, "I remember that I also gave Ms. Ella a small gift back then, a silver bracelet inlaid with rare Siren's Tear pearls. It cost me a full ten gold coins at the time. I wonder if she still has it?"

These words struck Grimm like a thunderbolt! He suddenly remembered! His wife, Ella, did indeed have a very exquisite silver bracelet inlaid with rare blue-grey pearls, which she loved and wore often!

He had asked about the origin of the gift, but his wife only vaguely said that it was a gift from a young nobleman at a banquet. At the time, he subconsciously assumed that it was a gift from the Count or his son or nephew, and did not investigate further. He even secretly felt that this was proof of his wife's close relationship with the Count, which would be of great benefit to his business in Fran City.

To my utter surprise! The giver was none other than Lord Karl, who was probably still unknown at the time!

After the initial shock, Grimm felt no displeasure at being offended; instead, he was overwhelmed with an indescribable joy!

It turns out that his wife not only had a close relationship with the powerful Earl Rochefort, but also had dealings with this newly rising star of the Northern Territory, who had distinguished himself in battle and was even favored by the royal family, and had even received such a valuable gift from him!

What does this show? It shows that his network of connections is far wider and more powerful than he himself imagined! Lord Karl's bringing up of the past at this moment is clearly a friendly suggestion to build rapport!

Grimm's smile instantly became incredibly sincere and eager, even tinged with a hint of flattery. "So that's how it is! So that was the generous gift from you, sir! Oh dear, I wouldn't have remembered if you hadn't mentioned it!"

"Ella really loves that bracelet, wears it often, and always praises the person who gave it to her for their discerning eye! It's... it's such a coincidence! I never knew you, sir, had such a connection with Ella!"

He quickly calculated in his mind: with this "unexpected" relationship, the subsequent business negotiations would likely go much more smoothly, and the terms of cooperation might be more favorable.

This Lord Karl seems to be not only skilled in battle, but also adept at navigating social situations.

Grimm bowed again, his tone filled with gratitude and affection. "Thank you again for your kindness and concern, Grimm! I will remember this kindness! I will definitely bring her with me next time so we can meet again."

Karl took in Grimm's reaction and understood what was going on.

He smiled slightly, changing the subject and smoothly steer the conversation back on track. "A small gift, nothing special, Mr. Grimm. Let's talk about your investment plans in Carnford, shall we?"

"Yes, yes, yes! Business is of utmost importance! Please allow me to explain in detail, my lord..." Grimm's smile faded slightly, replaced by a more pragmatic tone, even tinged with concern for the nation's fate, as he said, "Lord Karl, we all know that although Carnford achieved a glorious victory, it also suffered considerable losses, and everything is in ruins."

"Our chamber of commerce has come here hoping to contribute our modest efforts to help the kingdom stabilize this crucial Northern Territory defense and to do our part in its reconstruction."

Upon hearing this, Karl maintained a faint, polite smile on his face, but couldn't help but chuckle inwardly.

It's only natural for businessmen to pursue profit; this nice-sounding rhetoric of "helping to build up defenses" is nothing more than a pretty facade.

However, he didn't point it out. Instead, he went along with the other party's words and said with a hint of "gratitude," "I thank Mr. Grimm and your esteemed business association on behalf of Carnford. May I ask... how exactly do you plan to assist us?"

Seeing that Karl seemed to accept this view, Grimm perked up and immediately presented his carefully prepared plan. "My lord, you are wise! We believe that what Carnford urgently needs right now is nothing more than food, cloth, ironware, salt, and various daily necessities. These are the lifeblood of maintaining the territory's operation and the livelihood of its people."

He paused, then his tone became impassioned. "Our Chamber of Commerce is willing to set up several dedicated shops in Carnford City to provide a stable supply of these necessities to our citizens and officials at prices lower than those in the kingdom's borders! This will certainly greatly alleviate your current pressure and help Carnford overcome its difficulties more quickly and smoothly!"

Grimm spoke with such sincerity that it seemed he was truly acting out of a sense of public duty.

Karl's expression remained unchanged, still bearing that faint smile, as he quietly looked at Grimm, even nodding slightly, as if seriously considering this "well-intentioned" suggestion.

However, beneath his calm exterior, he was already inwardly sneering.

Would a merchant be so kind as to willingly engage in a loss-making business? That's simply a pipe dream. He instantly saw through Grimm's, or rather, the true scheme of the merchant guild behind him.

Grain, ironware, salt... what are these? They are strategic resources and the lifeline of tax revenue that any regime or Lord must firmly control!

The points raised by Grimm are all Carnford's weakest and most critical areas at present.

This isn't "help" at all; it's clearly an attempt to take advantage of Carnford's weakness, using low prices as bait to seize control of these core industries' distribution channels and markets!