When Stille returned to the Outer Residence after the Salank Merchant Guild's luncheon, she found Xu Yi hunched over a table, his head lowered as he studied a map intently.
"What are you doing?" Stille asked curiously.
"Oh? You're back?" Xu Yi looked up and nodded toward the map. "I'm studying the terrain of the Stantin Duchy."
"The Stantin Duchy?" Stille tilted her head and thought for a moment, recalling what she had learned about the duchy neighboring the Lampari Kingdom in her Continental Political Science elective at the academy. "Oh, that duchy caught between other countries. Why are you suddenly studying its terrain?"
"Because I might be making a trip there before long. I thought I'd study it first so I'd be prepared," Xu Yi replied.
"You're going to the Stantin Duchy?" Stille was even more surprised. "Why?"
Xu Yi gave Stille a rough account of what had happened at lunch. After listening and thinking it over, the first concern she raised was completely unexpected.
"Well, the people of the Stantin Duchy really are pitiful. Back when I studied Continental Political Science, our teacher mentioned that their average life expectancy wasn't even forty. They're much worse off than we are in the Lampari Kingdom. Now they even have to sell the copper mines in their duchy. It sounds like the Grand Duke of Stantin really can't hold on much longer."
Xu Yi's expression turned a little odd. "Stille, when you put it that way, why do I feel like some shameless invader taking advantage of their plight?"
Stille smiled with pursed lips. "If it were another merchant, they'd definitely be taking advantage. But a good person like you would never do that, Xu Yi. Am I right?"
"Don't give me the 'nice guy' line..." Xu Yi couldn't help muttering.