After news spread that Blue Sky City was officially complete, nobles and merchants from across the region poured into the new city in a steady stream within less than half a month.
The first to arrive were barons and viscounts from several small cities around Nuoding City.
They were already nobles from territories under Alfred's rule and old acquaintances of Lan Tian. Under the pretext of offering congratulations, they came to sound out what this new city had to offer.
Lan Tian received the first group of visitors in the reception hall of the City Lord's Mansion. Zhou Heng, the baron of Liuhe City east of Nuoding City, sat in a guest chair and took a sip of tea. His gaze swept over the vast green Medicine Field outside the windows, and genuine admiration colored his voice. "City Lord Lan, you certainly built this city fast. Three months ago, this was still wasteland. Now you have a city, fields of herbs, and even a Pill Workshop up and running. You won't find anyone else in the entire empire who could match that speed."
Seated at the head of the room, Lan Tian smiled and waved a hand. "Many hands make light work, and the terrain was good to begin with, which saved us plenty of effort. Baron Zhou, you didn't come just to offer congratulations, did you?"
Zhou Heng set down his cup and rubbed his hands together, getting straight to the point. "To be frank, I have a few herb shops. We used to buy small batches from all over, so the quality varied, and we couldn't keep costs down. I heard your fields are extensive and your quality consistent, so I'd like to sign a long-term supply contract with you. You set the price. As long as it's