Xu Yi was somewhat disappointed.
When he had learned from Ambassador Hakane that the Candel Empire's Military Department would send someone along with him to the Stantin Duchy to inspect the Xinfei Merchant Guild, Xu Yi had been delighted. He had thought his earlier efforts had finally paid off, and that the Candel Empire had at last begun to take notice of the Xinfei Merchant Guild.
Moreover, Lord Russell, who had accompanied Ambassador Hakane this time, was the deputy chief of staff of the Naval Staff Department under the Candel Empire's Military Department. His standing, status, and official rank all matched what Xu Yi had anticipated, leading Xu Yi to believe that sending this man represented the Candel Empire's attitude perfectly.
It was neither an excessively high-level delegation nor a dismissive one.
Xu Yi had originally thought that this contact with Russell would draw more official attention to the Xinfei Merchant Guild and make the Candel Empire take it more seriously. It could open the door to cooperation between the guild and the empire, allowing the guild to enter the Candel Empire's vast market smoothly.
Yet after spending time with Russell in person, Xu Yi realized that he had been far too naive.
Although Lord Russell was a senior figure in the Candel Empire's naval establishment, he had not come carrying any official mandate from the empire. He could not even represent its Military Department or the Imperial Navy. He had come entirely in a personal capacity.
According to Russell himself, his sole reason for coming to the Stantin Duchy to inspect the Xinfei Merchant Guild was to take a look at the Xinfei Merchant Guild Guards Fleet. He had no other purpose.
Naturally, Xu Yi was disappointed by this, but on second thought, he felt that it was only