Elena first asked the merchants about the country where they wanted to start their business. And all three of them replied that Riplanica Republic would be their optimal choice. This was a nation primarily run by a council of elders. There was no King to rule this nation. Some even call this country a mercantile nation as merchants really had very high authority there. Elena could easily guess why they chose this nation.
The Republic was situated at the northern border of the kingdom but Elena didn't have any contacts there. So she asked for Theodor's help. She didn't like to take help from someone for free so she made an exchange with him.
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