"Withdraw your shares?" Xu Yi was stunned. "Why? My lord, even if you leave, you can still keep your shares. I promise you won't miss out on any annual dividends! Is there any need to withdraw? I think..."
"Hear me out." Viscount Leslie raised a hand, cutting Xu Yi off. "Xu Yi, let me ask you something. You originally leased my land, then used that little slave as an opportunity to deliberately offer me shares because you wanted to get close to me-or, more precisely, to the family behind me. Am I right?"
"Well..." Xu Yi had never expected Viscount Leslie to ask this question. Although both of them understood what was going on, people generally never said such things outright to each other.
Looking into Viscount Leslie's serious eyes, Xu Yi considered for a moment, drew a breath, and slowly nodded.
"Yes. My lord, since you've asked, I'll answer honestly. Yes, my aim was to get close to you and your family. Our Xinfei Merchant Guild is a small guild built from nothing. Without any powerful backing, I thought it would be difficult for us even to survive in Bunta City, let alone grow. When I learned that you were from the Stark Family, I immediately decided to find a way to get close to you. Whether it was leasing your land or later giving you shares in the guild, I wanted to build a good relationship with you and eventually gain the Stark Family's support."
Viscount Leslie smiled faintly. "Then you must have been quite disappointed when you visited Anvilmar City last time and couldn't meet my father through me?"
Xu Yi nodded honestly.
"Yes. If I could meet Duke Stark, perhaps he would take notice of our Xinfei Merchant Guild, and we might gain the Stark Family's