Translator: Cinder Translations
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In October, when the land in the northwest of Aldor turned a golden hue, Alden Town welcomed a few unexpected guests—Quill Foster and his older brother, Gaius Foster.
"Welcome, gentlemen from Horns Bay!"
Paul hosted a banquet for them in the lord's manor and called for Malon to join.
As for Quill's older brother, Paul had only heard his name before. According to Quill, Gaius was far more accomplished than his younger brother, managing almost all the family business, which allowed their father to fully dedicate himself to politics.
"What brings you to our humble abode?"
In previous correspondence, Paul had learned that Quill had joined the Niceport Guard under his father's arrangements, limiting his ability to roam freely.
Quill laughed and said, "Naturally, it's because I missed my little brother dearly."
Paul chuckled at this, considering it a joke.
The Foster family's business in the Northwest Bay was managed by Christopher, and sending the family's eldest son here surely indicated something significant.
While Quill conversed with Paul, Gaius carefully observed the two lords before him, especially Earl Paul Grayman.
From his distant view of Frand Port to Alden Town, he had encountered too many surprises.
Previously, he had thought the so-called Northwest Bay was just a remote area of the Aldor Kingdom, perhaps recently yielding some peculiar goods. But there were precious furs and medicinal herbs hidden in the sparsely populated mountains and forests. How could a place barely known suddenly flourish overnight?
Yet, the bustling cargo ships in the port, the expanding docks, the constant flow of merchants, the excellent security, and the wide, sturdy roads connecting the cities had significantly overturned his previous impression of this land.
Perhaps it was still a distance from what he considered "prosperity," but it was undoubtedly vibrant. This was something absent in his homeland, where Horn Bay had experienced over a hundred years of prosperity. Even with further development, it remained stagnant, never experiencing that feeling of upward momentum.
What surprised him at this banquet was that Earl Grayman had even invited his ally, Earl Malon Ganard. Based on prior intelligence, he had speculated that the Ganard family's territory had been partially absorbed by the Grayman family, and though Malon still held the title of lord, he was merely a puppet.
However, it now seemed otherwise. If Malon truly was a puppet, Paul would not be so eager to let him interact with an outsider like himself. Moreover, Malon appeared relaxed and unrestrained in front of Paul, showing no signs of coercion.
Perhaps, just as his brother had said, the two had united due to their shared ambitions.
As Paul and Quill's conversation came to a close, Gaius smiled slightly and, in fluent Aldorian, said:
"Earl Grayman, although a long time has passed, please allow me to thank you once again for saving my brother."
"Haha, you're too polite. Is there an important matter that brings you personally to the Northwest Bay, Mr. Gaius?"
Subtlety was not Paul's strong suit, so he asked directly.
Gaius remained silent for a long moment, seemingly contemplating his words, and finally spoke softly: "I indeed carry a mission."
Seeing Quill's serious expression, Paul became intrigued and leaned in closer.
"Um…"
Gaius glanced at the accompanying Malon.
Paul noticed his concerns and explained, "Rest assured, just speak your mind."
Only then did Gaius say, "As far as we know, the 'Northwest Industry' led by the Earl has played a significant role in the internal conflict in Aldor. So, I came here to conduct an on-site inspection, and I wonder if I could get some assistance."
Paul glanced at Malon, and they exchanged a knowing smile. It seemed the reputation of Northwest Industry had already spread.
Paul replied, "Of course, we can assist. But what exactly is Mr. Gaius's purpose? You should know that our main products at Northwest Industry are... weapons!"
Gaius stood up and said, "I won't hide it. I have come to the Northwest Bay representing the entire Horns Bay Alliance to purchase weapons."
"Ah?" Paul was taken aback, not expecting this.
"The Alliance has sent me to reach a long-term cooperation agreement with the Earl. In the future... if things go badly," Gaius hesitated, "we may need a large quantity of weapons, including various arms and armor."
He quickly added, "But rest assured, our purchase of weapons is definitely not aimed at Aldor."
A big business opportunity!
Paul felt a surge of excitement inside. Is the Horns Bay Alliance planning to start a war?
"However, Earl... could you keep this confidential?"
Paul patted his chest and assured him, "You can rest easy. Maintaining client confidentiality is one of our service commitments."
Gaius continued, "Then I need to confirm whether you have sufficient production capacity to meet our needs."
"Could you let me know the quantity the Alliance requires?"
"At least ten thousand sets of infantry armor, ten thousand long swords, thirty thousand spearheads, and fifty thousand arrows!"
This… this… Paul and Malon were stunned! If they secured this order, it would amount to over a million silver coins in business.
"This is just the initial requirement. Considering the losses and replacements that may occur once the war starts, we will place additional orders."
"Haha!" Paul tried hard not to drool, overwhelmed with joy. "So, when do you require delivery?"
"Within a year and a half!"
"Not a problem!" Paul patted his chest. "Northwest Industry has over fifty workshops and factories of various sizes, a large number of skilled craftsmen, and ample supply of raw materials. We will certainly meet your needs. Moreover, due to the previous rebellion in the south, we still have a lot of stockpiled materials."
After hearing Paul's introduction, Gaius felt somewhat reassured and said, "But I still hope to see your production facilities in person."
Paul nodded. "How about this? Tomorrow I will take you to a workshop near Alden Town, where you can see what you want."
"I'm very grateful for that!" Gaius raised his glass to toast Paul. "I sincerely hope we can reach an agreement on this cooperation."
Paul immediately raised his glass in return, and their glasses clinked, producing a crisp sound. "That is also what I hope for."
After downing their drinks, Paul asked, "Uh… if it's convenient, could you reveal what kind of threat the Alliance is feeling?"
The Foster brothers displayed awkward expressions.
"Earl, please forgive our rudeness. There are indeed some matters we cannot disclose."
"Haha, then let's just discuss business."
Paul smiled brightly. In fact, combining the information Cecil provided about Horns Bay, he could roughly guess what the high-ups in Niceport were preparing for.
(End of the Chapter)
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