"Lady Jemima, there's no need to worry. We've always traded extensively with your territory..."
Olmedo was speaking with a lord when she noticed Annan return.
"Excuse me," she told the head of the Jemima family, then went to meet Annan.
"How did it go?"
"She agreed to look into it for us."
Annan couldn't understand how the Stuen Ratfolk had put up with it. If someone had stolen the fruits of his victory and smeared his name, he could think of nine ways to get revenge. Nine!
If the Stuen Ratfolk were biding their time and plotting revenge, that was one thing. If not... even he was tempted to push them around.
Cathy was eating her fill at the banquet with the little Blue Dragon, drawing looks from the guests, while Lily brought Dianyin over to nuzzle Annan.
"Meow~"
"Did you get into a fight?" Annan asked as he picked up Lily.
"Some children were chasing cats. Cathy chased them off."
"Good job, Cathy." Annan rubbed Lily's head.
Annan didn't want to be bothered by tedious guests, so he went over to Idelia and chatted with his eldest sister about family matters.
But the knight from Franco's Territory came over again and struck up a conversation. "Lord Annan, Lord Franco also sent me in the hope of establishing trade with Free City."
"Trade... Talk to Olmedo. She handles external affairs," Annan said coolly.
Bro, suddenly all deference after his earlier arrogance, bowed and walked away.
"You finally look like a lord," Idelia said with satisfaction.
Annan's cool demeanor vanished at once. "Really!?"
He had only wanted to dump the hassle on Olmedo... Was that what a lord was supposed to do?!
"Just then..."
That night, the gathering of powers from the western fringes of Middle Earth came to an end.