*Priiittt*
Eve blew the whistle, "Okay, that's enough. Still not good Adam. Even Ural can do better than that."
"What did you expect? I'm just a newbie in this battle ball stuff," Adam was lying on the ground. Sweat wet his clothes.
"So do they. You know, Ural has already learned how to pass the ball. It's all about your motivation. Stop whining and focus."
"Ugh, I was wrong okay. I am still thinking about how the progress in Walker's side."
"He has already arrived," Eve said.
"Hey, you should tell me earlier," Adam then stood up and walked toward the backdoor of the hotel.
***
In Adam's room, Adam was resting his hands on the tables, in front of him, Walker was standing and said,
"Basically, the Silverpool government prefers us to buy those lands than foreign merchants. Because, if we used the resident permit, although they will get not too much revenue at first. But as local noble, they believe you will keep the money circulates in this city and this Kingdom. Not like those merchants that will take most of their profits to their countries."
Looking at the still contemplating Adam, Walker continued, "Furthermore, your readiness to spent your merit, to exchange with the resident permit, will please The Duke. He has some projects that require some merit to buy the blueprint."
Listening to Walker's explanation made Adam felt guilty toward Torres. He was sorry to doubt him, "Okay, we will try to buy as much as we can get. Walker, how many golds do we have now?"
"Your gold in my hands only 35. But we have more than 500 gold in the Goldenpaw bank and just now Lord Ryan sent us few checks with total value 1,000 gold," Walker then handed over a letter to Adam.
"I'm sorry, I haven't given it to you earlier young master, "Walker bowed his head with a thin smile on his face.
Looking at not too sincere Walker, Adam sighed. Adam then opened the letter and read it.
His father was glad he made a breakthrough. he also advised Adam to not become arrogant after getting such an achievement.
His father also agreed to make Mike and his friends joining their family as employees. But, they didn't need to go to Elbaz Town to pledge of allegiance to the Viscount. They could do that in front of Adam as the heir of the Elbaz family.
His father also sent 1,000 gold worth checks to him. He said to use that money renting a rather large place as the trade point of the Elbaz family. his father had planned to open two more mana crystal mines beside the first mine that had already operated for more than 50 years.
Adam remembered, in the former Adam's memory, his father often complaint in front of him that the price of raw mana stone getting lower and lower for these three years.
So his father wanted to open a mana stone purification factory in their fief. But because the technology was new, it was pretty expensive.
His father didn't want to loan at the bank. he thought, rather than he must pay a high interest of the bank, he preferred increasing Elbaz production. In a few years, he can get enough capital to buy the technology.
Adam knew the mana stones were less popular in these few years because of the invention of the technology that could mass-produce mana crystals from raw mana stones.
This invention hit the market of mana stones. Mana stones getting cheaper and cheaper, with many new devices that were designed to use mana crystal. So the consumers started to use devices that used mana crystal because mana crystal was more safe, clean, and efficient than mana stone.
Adam also agreed with his father's decision. Technology modernization was a must if their fief wanted to get more benefits.
Adam wondered if a dwarf and an elf could learn the principles of the technology in the academy. In many fantasy novels, Dwarf was said as a talented race for crafting and elf is talented in alchemy. If he could make them learned manufacturing the machinery, "Hehehe~."
Looking at the grinning Adam, Walker wondered if the letter said good news from the fief. Then he remembered something.
"Young master!"
Adam was woken up by Walker's voice, "Yes?"
"I just remembered, Mr. Dell offered us if we wanted to lend a communication chamber to communicate with Viscount Ryan. I'm sorry, to tell you late."
Then a wide smile blossomed on Adam's face, "A timely rain. Hahaha... thank you, Walker. You saved me much trouble."
Walker could only nod with confusion in his eyes.
***
The city hall of Silverpool was across the Duke Valle' mansion. Well, between the two buildings, there was a pretty large park.
Adam and Walker were walking through the crowd when Adam smelled a good aroma of food that was sold by a street vendor. So he decided to have dinner there.
"Young master, if you are hungry, we can eat at some restaurant around here. It is unsightly to eat here," Walker said in low voice.
Some people who could hear his statement frowned.
"Walker, don't say like that. Don't you smell the delicious smell? The food here is definitely tasty. I want to eat here. You can eat somewhere else if you don't want," Adam said.
"Ugh," Walker could only follow him.
"Wellcome," A woman in 30th greeted them, "May I know what do you want to eat?"
"I want whatever you are cooking. It smells delicious," Adam said.
The woman only smiled, it seemed many people had said that. She then asked Walker the same question.
"The same please," He seemed was still disgruntled. Asam could only smile.
Adam then ordered soga and walker ordered Ginger ale for the drink. After that, the woman got away without saying anything else. She seemed busy, as another customer called her. It made Walker snorted.
Adam then found that all of the tables were occupied. then he found a table that only a man used it. So, Adam walked to the table.
"Excuse me, may I and my friend sit here?" Adam asked the man in 20th who wore glasses and a leather hat.
The man then looked at Adam and Walker. He nodded and then continued having his meal.
Looked at the indifferent man, Walker raised his eyebrows, but he didn't say anything.
After waiting for about five minutes, what they ordered came. In front of them were two bowls of grilled meatballs and potato with many thick sauces and the drinks they were ordered.
Adam then shoveled a meatball into his mouth, and the taste made his eyes opened wide, "So good! This is the first time I eat food like this."
Hearing that, Walker's interest was piqued, he then tried the meatball and his eyes gleamed. he seemed to like it.
"Are you guys from inland? You seemed not from around here." the glasses man asked.
looking at the man, Adam just realized, the man had red hair, reminding him of Ruby, " Yes, from the South."
The man nodded, "From whose fief?"
"Elbaz town. Have you heard it?" Adam said while shoveling a slice of grilled potato into his mouth.
"Of course. I have some ornaments from the barbarians. I heard the merchant got it from Elbaz fief."
"Yeah, the barbarians usually barter them with food in the mid-fall. I had a tribal drum and an artistic spear from them."
"Wow. I'm jealous. I like to go there this fall. I am a fan of their products," He said with enthusiasm.
"Of course if I have a chance. Usually, there are many documents in the fall," He sighed.
Adam sympathized with him, "It must be tough to be a bureaucrat."
"No joke. You don't know how many documents I had to handle every day. Wait, how can you know?" The man said.
"Lucky guess. I'm Adam by the way," Adam held out his hand with a smile on his face.
The man then shook his hand and smiled slightly, "Ares."
"And he is...," Adam actually wanted to introduce Walker. But looking at Walker who ate heartily, could only smile, "Walker, you really like it, huh."
Walker blushed, "That's not it, young master."
"Young master? Are you a noble Adam? Wow~," Ares looked surprised but not much.
"You seemed not too surprised," Adam smiled.
"This is Silverpool City. You can saw a noble every 100 m here. So study?" Ares said casually.
The two of them were chatting while having their dinner. After their bowls were empty. Ares wanted to pay for them. But Adam refused, Area insisted, "This is my treat for my new friend. I'm the host by the way. Don't refuse it."
Adam sighed, "Okay, this round is yours. I will treat you next time."
"But It won't cheap you know. Don't regret later," Ares said.
"Please spare me. Hahaha."
"Hahaha...,"
After paying, they left. Then they turned left.
"I will go there," Ares said.
"We do too," Walker said.
"Alright?" Ares said with hesitation.
Ares then explain some food vendors that he liked. Adam and Walker listened with enthusiasm. After being conquered by the meatballs, Walker's opinion about food vendors turned 180°.
After they reached a crossroad, Walker turned left followed by Adam. Ares followed with hesitant steps, "Are you sure going in this direction?"
"Yeah, Is there any problem?" Adam asked with doubt.
"No, of course not."
Ares then told them about attractive spots around Silverpool. Then at a point, they stopped. In front of them was the city hall.
The building was majestic. It was designed like a miniature of hanging garden. It had five floors, each floor was planted many trees and other plans outside the rooms. Its white marble looked glowing because of the lighting from lanterns, magic lamps, and some flowers that gleamed bluish light.
"Wow, is it really the city hall of Silverpool?" Adam asked with his mouth agape in excitement.
***