In the lord's room, Landen looked at Pete, still kneeling on the floor, and finally decided to let him manage White Tree City's underground market for now. He would find someone to keep him in check later.
Pete's situation was hardly unique in the territory. Now that the fighting had died down, Landen's second brother, Obert Gallop; Jenny Gallop, who managed the Elven Chamber of Commerce; Sally Flying Dragon, who ran the academy's exchange business; Mace Frost-Wolf, who handled the territory's trade with the Eastern Region; and Gatsby Lanyuan, who controlled the Black Market in Dragon Tooth City, had all made a fortune.
Their business ventures went beyond trade. They also used their family's Knight Orders to escort caravans, smuggled sensitive goods, bought into businesses, and even issued loans. One could say they had all turned into masters of making money.
The only difference was that Jenny, Obert, and Mace handed all their accounts to Redbird for inspection and turned over some of their profits to Landen. Sally, Gatsby, and Pete Bristle-Wolf, on the other hand, preferred to stay out of Landen's sight and quietly make their own fortunes.
Landen often reminded his subordinates to rein in any business practices that violated imperial law. But reports from the merchant caravans and the statistics compiled by Redbird and the others all showed that Pete Bristle-Wolf and Gatsby Lanyuan, who controlled several major cities, had the widest trading networks and the most sensitive clients. That was why Landen had specifically decided to give Pete a warning.
Still kneeling on the carpet, Pete glanced at Landen. His lord had already made a gesture dismissing him, but Pete did not leave at once.
"My lord, there's one more thing I must report to you!"
"Go on!" Landen looked expectant, curious what else this subordinate