"Little Donald, what is this red drink? Maple syrup water?"
At Baron of Red Maple's question, Donald smiled and explained:
"Lord Ernest, this is a drink we mages make. I call it Black Tea. It was originally just an ingredient in alchemical potions, but consuming it has certain benefits for the body. I came up with this way of drinking it myself. Why don't you two give it a try?"
The Baron of Red Maple hesitated, then took a small sip. Sir Jesse, on the other hand, drank without hesitation.
At first, the Black Tea left a faint bitterness on their tongues, making both nobles frown slightly. But soon, a fresh and distinctive flavor filled their mouths and delighted their taste buds. After half a cup, warmth spread through their bodies, and even their spirits lifted.
"What a fine drink!"
"Indeed! No wonder it's a mage's drink!"
Sir Jesse and the Baron of Red Maple praised it in turn. The former had recognized how extraordinary the drink was. It was a beverage reserved for mages; once word of it reached the Royal Capital, the royal family and nobles of every rank would surely clamor for it.
The middle-aged merchant, meanwhile, immediately spotted the business opportunity. His expression shifted, and he asked Donald with a genial smile:
"This drink seems to have real commercial value. I wonder if you'd consider selling some. I could handle the sales for you, giving you more time to focus on your studies as a mage!"
Donald wasn't surprised by the Baron of Red Maple's question. He had planned to introduce Black Tea ever since Moonlight Wine had become a success. In his previous life, tea had been a major commodity in trade between East and West. From what he remembered of his middle-school history textbooks, annual tea trade had amounted to at least hundreds of millions of silver taels around the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.
In this world, he intended to make Black Tea an essential luxury for nobles and wealthy merchants. He hadn't studied economics, but he knew the profits would be enormous.
So when the Baron of Red Maple spotted the opportunity, Donald had no intention of letting it go to an outsider. He replied with a hint of apology:
"I'm terribly sorry. Although I invented this drink, its sales rights, just like those for Moonlight Wine, have already been entrusted to the Mage Association in Giant Stone City. If you're interested, Lord Ernest, you can speak with Mage Madri, who's in charge of it!"
"I see! In that case, never mind. Mage Madri is a very shrewd merchant himself. With him as your agent, I'm sure you won't be taken advantage of, Little Donald!"
What a pity! Ernest sighed inwardly. He and Madri, a mage-merchant, had known each other for years and done plenty of business together. Madri was just as crafty a businessman as he was. Negotiating with him would never bring much profit.
And the Baron's response made it clear that Donald wouldn't give him a share of the Moonlight Wine business.
Donald knew this noble merchant wasn't genuinely concerned about him. He was only interested in the immense profits Donald's products could bring. So he changed the subject and asked the other guest:
"What do you think about this Orc invasion, Jesse?"
Sir Jesse's expression brightened. Then he said with some longing, "Those small Orc raiding parties have always been a great opportunity for nobles' younger sons like us to advance! It's a pity I have neither military talent nor great personal strength. But you're a powerful mage, Donald. You should be able to earn merit on the battlefield with ease!"
Donald shook his head. "I'd like to take part and earn some military merit, but the royal family hasn't said a word. It's frustrating. The Orcs might arrive only to be driven off by the border garrisons before we get there!"
Sir Jesse slapped Donald on the shoulder and laughed. "Don't worry, Donald! We'll probably hear something soon. Even if the royal family says nothing, the noble sons in the Royal Capital won't pass up a chance like this to earn merit and rise in rank. The powerful figures behind them will certainly push for it, and His Majesty the King can't ignore the wishes of the influential nobles and council elders."
Though Sir Jesse had left the Royal Capital, he was an official overseeing the nobles of a region. He must still have some reliable friends there, which explained why he remained so well-informed.
The confirmation pleased Donald. He turned to the Baron of Red Maple and asked:
"What are your plans, Lord Ernest? Do you intend to bring the honor of the Red Maple Territory to greater heights?"
The middle-aged merchant was taken aback, then smiled.
"I know how to manage an estate, but I'll leave marching and fighting to you young people. Besides, I have only one daughter. I can't send a young lady to the battlefield. Still, I'd be quite happy to choose a young noble who distinguishes himself in battle as my son-in-law and heir to my Red Maple Territory!"
As he spoke, he glanced at Donald, seemingly without meaning to. Donald pretended not to notice the Baron's unmistakable hint.
He didn't have anyone he was interested in yet. And even if he were to choose a woman as a lover, there were plenty of noble ladies in North Shire. The daughter of this old merchant would hardly be his first choice.
Ever since the Baron of Red Maple had ignored House Merlinar's plea for help all those years ago, Donald had wanted nothing more to do with him. He didn't hate the man, but he certainly wouldn't grow close to a merchant—or his family—who put profit above everything else.
The conversation soon ground to a halt. The old and shrewd Baron of Red Maple realized he couldn't keep up with the two young men's discussion. After praising the banquet, he tactfully took his leave.
After seeing the Baron of Red Maple off, the two young nobles returned to the reception room. They exchanged smiles, both feeling much more at ease.
Donald was the first to speak. "Jesse, how many Orcs usually invade, and how is military merit calculated? You came from the Royal Capital, so I imagine you know a lot about this. Could you explain it to me?"
"You're too polite, Donald. Every noble knows this. It's no secret."
Sir Jesse gathered his thoughts, then explained everything he knew.
"Based on past experience, small Orc raiding parties are usually made up of one or two Orc tribes, numbering a few thousand Orcs in total. They cross the mountains and hills to reach our kingdom's borders, then split up to raid the food and supplies of border villages and towns before rejoining their main force and returning to the Northwest Wasteland."
As soon as Sir Jesse finished, Donald asked, "How strong are the Orcs in battle?"
"From past experience, each Orc squad has somewhere between ten and fifty Orcs. It generally takes more than three human soldiers for every Orc to defeat those savages!"
"No wonder. It seems an individual Orc is at least three times as strong as an ordinary human."
"Of course. Orcs breed quickly, and they're powerful. If they weren't so dim-witted and hadn't lost the protection of their true god, there'd be no room left in this world for any other intelligent races!"
After a sigh, Sir Jesse continued:
"Usually, killing an isolated Orc earns only a bounty, not military merit. Those who enlist are credited with merit only after wiping out an Orc squad. Destroying about five Orc squads is enough to earn the title of an untitled Honorary Knight. If you want a noble title or an estate, Donald, you'll need to kill at least a thousand Orcs."
"Enlisted nobles and Professionals are rarely denied the merit they earn. As for commoner Adventurers who take part in the fighting, the requirements are stricter. That's why so few commoners have ever been granted noble status—unless they're powerful Professionals."
"Of course, if you're confident, Donald, you could also hunt down the spellcasters among the Orc forces—the Shaman Priests. The head of a low-ranking Shaman Priest is worth as much military merit as wiping out a thousand ordinary Orc warriors, if not more! And if you can kill or capture a mid-ranking Shaman Priest, that's enough to make a commoner a hereditary landed noble!"
Sir Jesse stayed at Donald's manor until evening. At last, he set down his empty teacup and bid his host farewell. He rode back to Giant Stone City by carriage, arriving before the gates closed.
His conversation with Sir Jesse helped Donald refine his thoughts and plans. Now all he could do was wait for word from the Kingdom.
But before he went to the battlefield, Donald still had to consider how to keep his estate secure and developing in his absence.
Once the Kingdom's conscription order arrived, he would have to leave the estate for the border battlefield, leaving the manor completely unguarded.
Before you continue