"So, what exactly is this sword?" Ethan prompted, seeing Angelina hesitating.
"It should be the Oath Sword of the Watcher, gifted by the Elven Queen to the Grand Duke of the North," Angelina said, her expression complicated. "Uthiris, as mentioned in the inscription, is the Elven Queen's self-designation, meaning 'the Devout Guardian Deity.'"
Ethan raised an eyebrow. "Elven Queen? Oath Sword?"
Angelina nodded. "What else did you think it was?"
"You can read Elvish?" Ethan found it hard to believe that the Duke would give him such a symbolically significant sword, so he pressed further to ensure there was no mistake.
Angelina shook her head. "I don't know Elvish, but I recognize this phrase. It's clearly documented in our family's historical records. About forty years ago, when the previous Grand Duke of the North suddenly died, the current Grand Duke took over. At that time, the North fell into chaos, with internal strife and external attacks from orcs. In the midst of this turmoil, the Elven Queen sent this Oath Sword to express respect for the new Duke. Accompanying the sword was a regiment of elven warriors, the Duke's private Second Magical Corps. This incident was so significant that I remember the Elvish phrase well."
"Wow, now I get it," Ethan said, smiling wryly. "But since I've already accepted it, I can't just give it back. Also, what does it mean that the Duke gave me such a sword?"
"I'm not sure," Angelina shook her head. "You should have asked the Duke directly at the time. But since you didn't know its significance, you probably wouldn't have asked. Maybe you should ask Sophia; she might know why."
Yes, he could ask Sophia. Despite her cunning and cold-hearted nature, she had a keen eye for these things. Ethan decided to wait until the evening for their scheduled meeting to discuss business matters. Originally, the meeting was set to occur a couple of days earlier, but Ethan's sudden summons by the Duke had delayed it. Now that he was back, it was time to proceed.
After dinner, Ethan immersed his mind into Annie, the yellow owl, and projected himself as a small holographic figure into Sophia's study. Besides Sophia and Saberly, there was a handsome man present. Ethan was struck by the man's resemblance to a young Leonardo DiCaprio. For those unfamiliar with Leonardo, a quick search would reveal that this guy once auditioned for a movie role at the Empire State Building, causing all the women in the building to flock to see him.
Seeing someone even more handsome than himself made Ethan's mouth twitch involuntarily. Don't be surprised by this reaction; while women might adore good-looking men, men often react with disdain when they encounter someone more attractive, using contempt to mask their discomfort. It's a primal instinct encoded in their genes.
As Ethan wondered who this man was, Sophia smiled and said, "Knight Ethan, you're finally here. Now that you've arrived, let's begin." She then glanced at the DiCaprio look-alike.
The man caught the cue, stood up, smiled, and introduced himself, "It's an honor to meet you, Sir Ethan. Since this is our first meeting, please allow me to introduce myself. My name is Papalia, and I've been appointed by Miss Sophia to oversee this project. I'll be managing all aspects of the plan."
Ethan looked at the handsome man and then glanced at Sophia with suspicion. Was this a pretty boy in a position of power? But seeing Sophia's expressionless face as she sipped her coffee, he couldn't be sure.
"Nice to meet you, Sir Papalia. I understand. If we're ready, let's begin," Ethan said.
Papalia nodded, seeking Sophia's approval. Seeing her nod, he walked to the center, picked up the plan, and began explaining, "I've completed the preliminary cost assessment. According to the revised plan, we will invest a substantial amount of money upfront to promote the coffee business. In the first phase, we'll open 46 stores simultaneously in Maro City, Veron Port, Barsa City, Taimidal City, and Milan. Specific locations have been selected, and we've estimated the costs for materials and labor. The first phase will require an investment of around 42,000 gold coins. Excluding the contributions from Sir Ethan and Sir Saberly, Miss Sophia will cover the remaining amount. Therefore, the shares are as follows: for the coffee business, Sir Ethan and Sir Saberly will each receive 10%, and for the other ventures, Sir Ethan will receive 25%, Sir Saberly 5%, with the rest belonging to Miss Sophia. Any objections?"
Saberly, delighted with his 10% share, couldn't hide his smile and had no objections. Ethan, however, felt disheartened by his mere 10%. He wanted to protest but realized that given the plan's expansion and his own modest investment of 600 gold and a simple plan, he couldn't. He feared losing even that 10%. Moreover, seeing the 25% share in the other ventures, Ethan understood that Sophia wanted him to focus on expanding those. Overall, she had been considerate and sincere, so Ethan agreed without further complaint.
Papalia, seeing their agreement, smiled. "I'll draft the contract based on these shares and start executing the plan immediately. Let's go over the specifics now."
As the discussion turned to profits, Ethan listened intently. The overall plan remained true to the original but on a much larger scale. Sophia seemed uninterested in heavy assets, excluding that part from the plan. She aimed for a straightforward coffee business. Although Ethan wanted to argue, Papalia anticipated this and explained the drawbacks of heavy assets, which, without the necessary power, could become liabilities rather than assets. Convinced, Ethan did not persist further.