His plans to write a book were interrupted by an unexpected development.
Calling it entirely unexpected would not have been quite right. Once he learned that Viscount Leslie would be leaving Bunta City, this event-or rather, this person-had been certain to arrive. The only unknown had been when.
In late April, a convoy arrived in Bunta City from Anvilmar City.
Traveling with the convoy was Viscount Leslie's successor, the new lord the Stark Family had sent to take charge of its territory in Bunta City-Baron Billier Stark.
The Xinfei Merchant Guild leased one hectare of land from the Stark Family, so as its president, Xu Yi was obliged, both as a courtesy and as a matter of propriety, to pay a visit at the earliest opportunity.
However, when he requested a meeting through Butler Wenlai, who had not left with Viscount Leslie, he was told that the baron had only just arrived in Bunta City and had many important figures to meet. He had no time to see Xu Yi for now, so Xu Yi would have to wait.
Xu Yi was taken aback. Frowning, he asked Butler Wenlai, "Were those the baron's exact words?"
Butler Wenlai answered expressionlessly, "Yes."
Xu Yi's frown deepened.
If Butler Wenlai had repeated Baron Billier Stark's exact words, then the newly arrived baron either looked down on Xu Yi completely or was deliberately displaying hostility toward him.
Neither possibility was something Xu Yi wanted to see.
From the Xinfei Merchant Guild's perspective, however, Xu Yi would rather the baron looked down on him than harbored some inexplicable hostility toward him.
Contempt would mean, at worst, being ignored and treated arrogantly. Hostility could cause real trouble.
With that in mind, Xu Yi asked again, "Butler Wenlai, has the baron mentioned my name or our Xinfei