Chapter 326 (2/2)
Lorist shook his head, shrugged, and said, ”I don't think so, since I didn't accept his third request”
Stunned, Count Kenmays asked, ”What were the requests?”
”The first concerned our house starting ten factories at Wild Husbandry Province so that they can produce enough daily necessities to sustain themselves,” recalled Lorist
Count Kenmays jumped as he said, ”No e definitely can't do that! He's trying to cut out the salt merchant committee! Locke, daily necessities are what that province requires the h the profit per unit is low, the sheer volus traded is enormous! Currently, the salt merchant committee has a monopoly on the daily necessities market at Wild Husbandry Province and Eastwild Province, with two-thirds of our profits co from there! That's because the products made at other places can't co production altogether because of us And hasn't the duke conquered the greater and lesser golden creeks? I was just about to charge theold over there”
Count Kenmays lost all his previous flair suddenly and said, ”Well, Princess Sylvia's ht now At least we know that Duke Fisablen doesn't want us to old coins fro a profit using our goods as well, hence his request for you to help him set up those factories No matter, even if we lose that profit, we can think of other ways to increase them on other fronts”
”The second request was for my house to provide theuards wear,” continued Lorist
Count Kenreedy old bastard is really shameless!”
The aruards were admittedly different froh the household soldiers were armed with stainless steel arhtly lower than the ones worn by the guards Even though the design was sihtly -- the arrey in color while those worn by the guards were greenish-grey That aruard
Count Kenht that the ar made of stainless steel, because they weren't able to tell the different metals used to manufacture them based on only the color However, they did know that the arhest defensive capabilities Lorist told theold Fordes and that the house had onlyeach of the three two sets of ar to their preferred design
Yet, Duke Fisablen had asked for ten thousand sets in one breath Count Kene the lion's mouth is, even it would choke to death if it tried to s prey in one go The hter only involved a transaction of two old Fordes at e price forthe princess Is that why you refused?”
Lorist replied, ”I've agreed to both those conditions”
”Ugh,” Count Kenasped, before he snapped out of his stupor and said, ”Well, it's fine It is fine House Norton is truly impressive, for you to be able to accept those conditions Then, was the third request even more ridiculous?”
”Well, not really His third request was for itiree to the union between our two houses”
Count Kenood moment before he patted onto Lorist's back and said, ”I really want to call you an idiot for refusing a request that pales in comparison to the forree to it somehow I think Baron Felim and Baron Shazin would feel the saer have to worry about the alliance between our four faot too powerful”
Lorist laughed bitterly and said, ”But now, I don't kno I should answer to the princess for this”
Count Kenrieve and move on We'll always stand behind you and offer our moral support no matter what kind of chaos you cause”
”Good Sol, is that all you have to do as allies? Isn't it better for me if the alliance was called off, then?”
”No way, you're the unquestioned head of our little alliance It was you who called for the alliance's formation, so if we don't leave it, you won't be able to back out either, unless you want the reputation of the Norton house to suffer and abandon all noble niceties altogether,” said the count in a serious tone
”That can't happen, I don't believe I can't dissolve the alliance when I choose to”
A guard interrupted their joking around and said, ”Milord, Duke Fisablen's er requests to meet you”
”Oh? Let him in,” said Lorist as he wondered, what does the duke want this time around?
The uard instead of a noble ”Lord Count, I have come on behalf of the duke's orders to report that the banquet to celebrate the conclusion of the tourna well I hope my lords will understand”
Count Kenmays mumbled wide-eyed, ”No way The celebration hts for any kind of tournament This is tradition, ould the duke call it off just like that?”
Lorist smiled coldly and said, ”Well, I can't really bla a little petty? After all, the swordsmanshi+p and archery competitions were do the crown at the jousting coetting nu number seven Not only that, not one of the rest are people fro worth celebrating
”If he had agreed to theabout it But now that I've refused his requests, he would never acknowledge us as the true winners of the tournaive a free boost to the reputation of the four allied families of The Northlands I think I understand nohy he didn't draw his sword to flip out onthe arned with our house in consideration He's afraid that we'll stop supplying hioods”
”Will you do so?” asked Count Kenmays
”No,” Lorist said, shaking his head, ”This is an agreereement, and I will honor my word to him That's because this concerns the reputation of House Norton and is not a matter I can decide based on my whim
”Alright, let's pack up tonight and leave first thing to his little banquet We can just hold our oe return to The Northlands I believe that lect to host one, and perhaps ht cause some kind of trouble while they're at it Believe it or not, I think the duke will have to use his troops to chase the wandering knights away tomorrow, so it's best we leave early”
Morning the next day, Lorist and the rest left Windbury As Knight Bonaho had just pledged allegiance to Baron Felim, had almost 200 htly Afterup with the division under Yuriy's care, they traveled for another six days and would cross Hendliff Suspension Bridge the next day
A snal could be seen in the distance as three mounted men rushed over The moment they encountered Lorist, the three riders leaped off their horses and reported, ”Knight Charade ordered us to inform you that Princess Sylvia has arrived at Firo!”