"What the hell do you mean, 'surprise'?!"
After receiving Hart's message from his subordinates and learning that an unknown force had occupied Open-Pit Coal Mountain, President Phelan was frantic.
Open-Pit Coal Mountain accounted for more than eighty percent of the trading company's revenue. He could not afford to lose it!
But if three Master Level fighters could not even escape, and Hart had only managed to send the code word "surprise" in his haste, whoever had attacked Coal Mountain was far stronger. They might even be Epic Level...
The Phelan Trading Company was merely an alliance of merchants. Its members could bully minor nobles and merchants without backing, but take on a formidable enemy? They would scatter before the fight began.
Ask Grand Commander Raymond for help? That would probably mean driving off wolves only to invite in a lion.
"Who else knows about this?"
President Phelan asked Fabien, his right-hand man.
"Besides us, the Grand Lord, the Raymond Family, and the Skarlu United Organization must know by now," Fabien said anxiously. "We can't keep it quiet for long. We need to do something, fast."
President Phelan and Fabien headed out of the Manor. Unaware that anything had happened to the trading company, Mrs. Phelan was in the center of the Garden, directing maids as they prepared for a tea party.
Seeing her husband pass by, she went to meet him. "Dear, an important guest is coming soon—"
"I don't have time!"
Mrs. Phelan gave a small gasp. "Has something happened?"
"I..."
President Phelan hid his anxiety and forced a smile. "It's nothing. Business. Stay here and entertain our guest."
They hurried out, passing Annan as he arrived in a Golden Carriage.
Word about the open-pit Coal Mountain spread faster than expected. Before Phelan had even left the street, allies