The Hall Meeting

Karl led Edgar and his party through the newly renovated main castle corridor and into the Lord's Hall.

Although the interior of the hall remains simple, it has been swept away from its former dilapidation and gloom.

A roaring fire burned in the enormous stone fireplace, dispelling the chill unique to the Northern Territory and illuminating the entire hall with warmth and brightness.

A few simple flags and weapons hung on the walls as decoration, and the floor was covered with clean wooden planks, which were rough but sturdy.

A huge, heavy long table was placed in the center of the hall, surrounded by newly made chairs with backs.

Karl naturally walked to the head seat at the long table and sat down.

Brendan, Richter, Roland, and others sat to his right, representing Carnford's core management team.

Seeing this, Edgar, along with his two main assistants and the knight, sat on Karl's left side.

The two sides were separated by a long table, and although the atmosphere seemed amicable, there was a hint of a formal meeting in the air.

After a brief silence, Edgar spoke first, his tone still professionally respectful yet distant. "Young Master Karl, first of all, please allow me to convey His Excellency the Duke's concern for you once again. He is very pleased to see the initial progress you have made in the Northern Territory."

He gave a slight nod, and an assistant beside him immediately handed Karl a clearly transcribed list of supplies with both hands.

"This is a detailed list of the supplies provided. Please take a look. All items have been delivered to the outer city warehouse district, and Mr. Morr is leading a team to count and verify them," Edgar continued. "His Excellency the Duke's meaning is very clear: this is both a support from the family for your business expansion and an important assessment and opportunity."

He paused slightly, his gaze calmly fixed on Karl: "If Carnford, under your leadership, can maintain this upward momentum and demonstrate sufficient potential and value, then the family's subsequent investments will naturally flow in continuously, helping you build this place into a true fortified stronghold in the Northern Territory and the forefront banner of the Schmidt Family."

"However," he changed his tone, his voice carrying an undeniable weight, "If...the development falls short of expectations, or if we encounter a major setback that is difficult to recover from, then for the sake of the family's overall interests, such an investment may not be sustainable. After all, Franklin's resources are not inexhaustible."

These words were impeccable, demonstrating support while clearly defining the bottom line, positioning this aid as an "investment" based on interests and potential, rather than a simple family gift.

Karl took the list but didn't look at it immediately; instead, he listened calmly.

He was already well aware of his father's calculating nature and was not surprised.

"I understand." Karl nodded, casually placing the list on the table, and looked at Edgar. "Thank you for your consideration, Father. Carnford will not let this investment down; we will prove its value with results."

Edgar gave a perfectly timed smile, "Of course, His Highness the Duke has high expectations of you. To ensure a smoother and more effective connection between this and any future investments, and to provide Duke Highness with a more timely and accurate report on the true situation in Carnford, Duke Highness hopes that I..."

"We will remain in Carnford for a while to better assist you with family-related matters and to help with the receipt and allocation of supplies."

Karl understood, but put on a welcoming expression. "That's wonderful! Carnford is in dire need of many things to do and needs experienced people like Mr. Edgar to assist us. With you here, communication between me and my family will definitely be smoother. Please stay!"

The two exchanged a smile, both tacitly understanding each other's true intentions, but maintaining a facade of politeness and cooperation.

Just then, Old Morrell strode in from outside the hall, approached Karl, and whispered, "Sir, the supplies have been inventoried. The quantities of gold coins, pig iron, farm tools, carpentry tools, and ale match the list perfectly, and the quality is excellent. They have all been registered and put into storage."

"Very good, thank you for your hard work, Mr. Morr." Karl nodded.

Seeing this, Edgar turned to his two assistants and the knight behind him and said, "You're not needed here for now. Follow Mr. Morr's instructions."

"Yes, Mr. Edgar." The two assistants bowed, then bowed to Karl, and followed Morr out of the hall.

Subsequently, Brendan and Richter also took their leave, citing the need to inspect defenses and training, while Roland consciously retreated to stand guard outside the hall.

In the blink of an eye, only Karl and Edgar remained in the hall, sitting opposite each other across the flickering fire.

The atmosphere seemed more subtle and direct than before; the real conversation was only just beginning.

The firelight danced on Karl's young yet resolute face, reflecting the deep thoughts hidden beneath his calm exterior.

Edgar maintained his professional composure, but his eyes held a subtle scrutiny.

After a brief silence, Edgar seemed to feel that he, as the "guest," should break the deadlock.

He didn't continue the conversation about supplies or investments. Instead, he took out a letter from his pocket—a simple folded letter without Wax Seal —and gently placed it on the table, pushing it toward Karl.

"Young Master," his tone seemed a little gentler than before, "Before leaving Franklin, Lady Eileen specifically sought me out and entrusted me to personally deliver this letter to you."

Hearing his mother's name, Karl was subconsciously moved.

He reached out and picked up the letter, his fingertips even able to feel the faint scent lingering on the paper, a scent from afar.

Unlike the Duke, I can easily handle my relationship with Duke; it's simply a matter of mutual exploitation.

But Karl really didn't know how to treat this unfamiliar mother.

I can feel her deep love for me, but what about me? Do I also have the love a son should have for his mother?

Karl was stunned for a moment, then came to his senses and said, "Is Mother alright?"

Edgar observed the change in Karl's expression and slowly nodded. "Madam is doing well, please rest assured. She still lives alone in the house by the birch grove on the west side of the manor, living a peaceful life, but... she often misses you."

He paused, then added, "She was very relieved after receiving your previous letter, and her spirits seem to have improved considerably."

Upon hearing this, Karl's tense shoulders relaxed slightly. He carefully put the letter into the inside pocket of his coat, intending to read it carefully by himself later.

"Thank you, Mr. Edgar, thank you for telling me all this, and thank you for bringing the letter."

"It is my duty, young master." Edgar bowed slightly.

After another brief silence, Edgar gently rubbed the tips of his leather gloves, seemingly considering his words.

The firelight cast long shadows of the two people onto the stone wall, swaying slightly.

"Young Master," Edgar spoke again, his tone more casual, as if it were just a casual conversation, "On this journey north, when I passed through Fran City, I heard some...interesting rumors."

Karl looked up at him, said nothing, and simply waited quietly for what was to come.

"It seems... that Earl Rochefort, the new governor of the Northern Border Province, holds you in high regard?" Edgar's tone carried just the right amount of curiosity, neither overly inquisitive nor lacking in interest. "I've even heard that you're acquainted with the Count's daughter, Miss Charlotte Rochfort?"

Karl understood; he knew this was one of the core questions Edgar truly wanted to probe.

The Schmidt Family would not be content with merely sending supplies; they would certainly want to ascertain the relationship between Carnford and Earl Rochefort, the de facto ruler of the Northern Territory, as this directly relates to the family's investment strategy and potential political gains.

He smiled, his expression frank, neither denying nor exaggerating. "The Earl Rochefort is a shrewd and pragmatic governor. As the frontier of the Northern Territory, Carnford naturally needs to maintain good communication with the Governor's Office. Count Excellency is willing to provide some support to any force that can stabilize the Northern Territory defenses. As for Miss Charlotte..."

Karl paused, then said naturally, "I met her a few times in Fran City. She is an exceptionally skilled and brave knight. We even fought side by side in the previous battle at Icewater Creek, so we were... comrades in arms."

His answer was watertight, acknowledging the connection with the Rochefort Family while characterizing it as a business matter based on the shared interest of securing the Northern Territory.

He limited his relationship with Charlotte to the level of "comrades-in-arms," downplaying it lightly, yet leaving enough room for imagination.

Edgar carefully considered Karl's words, trying to discern how much was true and how much was a cover-up.

He could tell that this seventh young master was no longer the boy who could be easily seen through.

"I see," Edgar nodded, a look of understanding on his face. "To establish a good relationship with the Governor and his beloved daughter is undoubtedly extremely beneficial to Carnford's development. If the Duke knew that you have not only gained a foothold in the Northern Territory, but also befriended such an important figure, he would be even more pleased."

This statement seemed to be both an acknowledgment and a further probe, testing the extent of Karl's relationship with the Rochefort Family and whether this relationship could be used by the Schmidt Family.

Karl, of course, wouldn't reveal his secrets easily. He skillfully changed the subject, his tone becoming pragmatic. "Carnford's development cannot be separated from the support of various parties, whether it's the family or the Governor's Office, but ultimately, it still depends on ourselves."

"Mr. Edgar, since you're staying here for some time, what are your thoughts on the future development of Carnford? I've heard that you were renowned in Franklin for your business acumen."

He threw the question back to Edgar, thus avoiding further discussion of sensitive topics, expressing respect and expectation for the "assistant's" abilities, and at the same time probing Edgar's true role and intentions on this trip.

Upon hearing this, Edgar's eyes flashed with a sharp light, realizing that the young man before him was far more difficult to deal with than he had imagined.

He smiled and smoothly steered the conversation to a more practical level, "I wouldn't presume to offer such insightful opinions, but based on my observations along the way and what I've just seen, I feel that Carnford is vibrant and has enormous potential."

"The most urgent task at hand is perhaps to make full use of this batch of pig iron and tools to further strengthen military equipment and production capacity. At the same time, the construction of the new district at the foot of the mountain also needs to be accelerated. Only when the population gathers can greater prosperity be brought about. Perhaps I can start by assisting Mr. Morr in optimizing the management and allocation of materials?"

"Excellent!" Karl nodded. "Then Mr. Edgar will be in charge."

The two exchanged a smile, and in the firelight, their first private meeting, filled with witty exchanges and probing questions, came to a temporary close.

Both sides have obtained some information and have also kept more cards up their sleeves.

Edgar confirmed that Karl did indeed have ties to the Rochefort Family, and that Karl himself was by no means incompetent.

Karl, on the other hand, initially stabilized the family's "special envoy" and guided his work towards the relatively neutral area of materials management.