Kingdom Crisis 1

After visiting the shipyard, Paul and Queller strolled along the beach, enjoying the scenery. The weather was pleasant, with a slightly salty sea breeze that refreshed the spirit.

Queller suddenly asked curiously, "What are you planning to sell?"

"Some novelties. A new type of paper, cheap and plentiful, unlike expensive parchment. And also a beautiful kind of vessel, you'll absolutely love it."

Paul said with a hint of pride. Thinking of the Europeans' craze for porcelain, he was confident he could make a fortune.

He took out a sheet of paper and handed it to Queller, saying, "This is the paper I'm going to sell. I'll be returning to Lakeheart Town in a few days. Would you like to come and see the vessels? They're really much more beautiful than the pottery we use."

"Sure, I'll definitely go." Queller took the paper and exclaimed, "You mean this kind of paper can be mass-produced?"

The Southern Nations were economically developed, and daily commercial activities required a large amount of paper. Contracts, accounting, correspondence, and other activities consumed countless sheets of paper every day. Economic prosperity brought cultural prosperity, and the cultural industry was a major consumer of paper. If there really was a new type of paper that could be supplied in sufficient quantities and at a low enough price, there would be no shortage of sales channels.

"Yes, in my workshop, with the same manpower and time, I can increase production to dozens of times that of parchment." In fact, Paul was just making this up. He didn't know exactly how many times higher it could be, but given the abundant raw materials and the possibility of hiring more people if there weren't enough, he figured that thirty or forty times higher shouldn't be a problem.

He suddenly thought of another idea and slapped his forehead. "Ah! Right, I've heard that your Southern culture is highly developed, with countless great writers and playwrights?"

The young master put his left hand on his hip and smoothed his hair with his right hand, revealing a hint of pride. "You flatter me! Although we in the South are not as strong as you in the North in terms of military force, when it comes to literature and art, we really can't be too modest. Haha!" His expression was as if he himself were a great literary master.

Paul immediately put on an expectant expression. "I've long admired this. Could you send me some popular literary works, such as novels and poems, after you return?"

Queller's heart was filled with pride. "Easy, easy! Hahahaha—"

"But why are you using sea transport? There are relatively few ports on the west coast of the Auldo Kingdom that can be used for docking and resupply, right? What if you encounter extreme weather or the ship breaks down?"

Paul said helplessly, "There's no other way. You've been held by pirates for several months, so you probably don't know that our country's south is at war, right? Speaking disrespectfully of His Majesty the King, this war could go on forever. I don't want my trade caravans to pass through war-torn areas, in case they get robbed. Even if there's no war, there are checkpoints everywhere along the way, and taxes alone would strip off several layers of skin."

Queller put on an understanding expression. "I just heard about it. It's 'Greedy Wolf' Giles, right? He's a dangerous guy, even 'famous' in our area. But he's much better than the other lords in your country. By lowering tariffs and treating merchants favorably, he's monopolized trade between Aldo and Horn Bay, and he's made a lot of money."

Queller suddenly remembered something. He paused, looked around, and whispered in Paul's ear, "I'll secretly tell you a secret, but don't tell anyone else."

Seeing him so mysterious, Paul's curiosity was piqued, and he nodded in agreement. "Don't worry, I'll keep it a secret."

Queller whispered, "It's estimated that your country's royal family is in grave danger this time. Giles has a powerful force supporting him."

"What did you say?" Paul looked astonished, as if he had heard some incredible news.

"I'm saying that your Auldo Kingdom is very likely to change dynasties!" Seeing his friend stunned by the secret he had told, Queller felt a little satisfied.

Paul looked incredulous. "Don't lie to me. Giles launched the rebellion after you were captured by pirates. How do you know he has someone supporting him? And with enough power to overthrow the royal family?"

"You don't think Giles just came up with the idea of rebelling a few months ago, do you? He's been preparing for it for several years. The upper echelons of various countries are well aware of this. But I only learned about him having someone supporting him not long before I left home. It's probably this force's support that made him finally decide to rebel."

"And how did you 'unintentionally' find out?"

"Have you forgotten that my father is a member of the Council? I secretly looked at some documents in his study. It seems that some merchants from the Horn Bay Alliance are transporting supplies to Giles' territory through the sea for that backing force, a large amount of military equipment, grain, and so on, the amount of which is staggering. That's why I said your King is in a bit of trouble this time."

"Hmm—" Paul frowned. If that was the case, as a lord, he would have to carefully consider which side to take. The Greiman Family was kicked to the Northwest Bay because they had chosen the wrong side in the past.

Queller seemed to see what Paul was thinking and put his hand on his shoulder, saying, "If you don't have the strength to protect yourself, just be a fence-sitter for a while, and then take a stand when the situation becomes clear. If things really get to the point where nothing can be salvaged, come to Horn Bay and find me. You saved my life, and I'll protect you for the rest of your life."

Being a fence-sitter also requires some strength, Paul thought to himself, but Queller's words were touching.

He looked up at Queller's sincere eyes. "Thank you, Queller." He then asked curiously, "Which side does your Horn Bay Alliance support?"

Queller immediately replied, "Since its establishment, the Horn Bay Alliance has adhered to the diplomatic principle of 'armed neutrality'. We just want to do business quietly and will not get too involved in the internal disputes of other countries. If we bet on the wrong side, we might not be able to do business at all."

"Uh…" He changed the subject. "At least that's the official stance. As for what happens in secret, I'm not interested in politics and know very little. After all, a country that has existed to this day probably isn't as simple as it seems on the surface."

He continued, "Horn Bay's laws do not prohibit third-party businesses like transporting supplies. If your King also places an order, our merchants will accept it without hesitation."

"Then do you know who is behind Giles?"

"As long as it doesn't harm the Alliance's own interests, the Council has no right to investigate commercial secrets. The documents didn't say who it was. But the range of guesses isn't large. Aldo isn't a small country, and there are only a few forces capable of interfering with you. Moreover, I remember that those merchants do business around the east side of Horn Bay."

That's a good idea. Transporting by sea makes it easy to hide things, and the volume is huge. Since it's a large amount of military equipment and grain, it's probably a national-level action.

The east side of Horn Bay? Isn't that the Tria Sea? Close to the Tria Sea and capable of supporting Giles, it's probably only the Holy See and the Gabella Empire.