Once word got out that Leo intended to meet with merchant representatives, the merchants nearly came to blows again.
Did they think this was merely about being a representative?
No. It was not only an honor, but also a source of profit.
Who could guarantee that this position would only be temporary?
Even if it were temporary, would they tell anyone? How many benefits could they reap under the title of representative? How many country bumpkins could they bluff? How many people would willingly hand over their family fortunes just to meet Leo once?
In the past, merchants had no channels whatsoever through which they could meet leaders such as the Five Elders, Sengoku, or Imu.
On the Revolutionary Army's side, the highest-ranking people they knew were the Ace brothers. Perhaps Sabo, who occasionally came out to have some fun, was the highest-ranking Revolutionary Army official they could ever come into contact with.
But in truth, they still lacked channels and means to directly speak with the Revolutionary Army's upper ranks on an official level.
Until now, when that channel appeared.
Leo had opened the door and intended to hold in-depth talks with them—talks that might concern the future of every merchant in the world.
Whether for honor or future profit, they could not possibly back down.
To be honest, as the head of a major government that held the merchants' lifelines in his hands, it would have been far too easy for Leo to control them. In a situation like this, he could have used a two-peaches-kill-three-scholars ploy to sow discord among them, then swallowed up the last remaining forces.
But if he did that, how would he be any different from feudal monarchs or slave societies?
After all, he still needed to make use of the merchants' resources