The relationship between the elderly couple and Baron Longa was clearly different from that with their son-in-law, as the two elderly individuals listened while smiling at Ivan.
"This is Viscount Skaz, a former colleague of mine. When we were in the capital of Florance, the two of us were the only ones from the south in the entire department," the Baron pointed to the couple that Ivan had not met before and introduced.
"I am currently working in the Treasury Department and have met your uncle, Mr. Audrey," the introduced Viscount extended his hand to greet Ivan.
"I am Midit, a good friend of Longa. Fanny calls me uncle. Like Longa, I do not need to worry about any official duties. This is my wife and our four children," the middle-aged man across the table introduced himself.
Ivan looked at his slightly new but somewhat small suit, as well as the simple attire of his wife and children, and could easily imagine that their family's life was likely more modest than that of Baron Longa.
"Midit is currently a Viscount, but will become a Count in the future. His uncle, Viscount Feisnan, is well-known in Setherburg. The heir of the Meedin family has not yet appeared, so Viscount Feisnan is temporarily fulfilling the duties of the lord. Midit is the sole heir of Viscount Feisnan," the Baron introduced.
"Let's not talk about that. My uncle is still in good health. Besides, our family has never gotten along with him since my father's time," the middle-aged man shook his head and said.
"But you are still his only heir. The title of Count will eventually be passed down to you and your son," the chubby man interjected.
"Finally, these two are Baron and Baroness O'Neil. Baron O'Neil is my godson, and his father is another good friend of mine," the Baron introduced.
"My father has been bedridden for nearly ten years. I inherited this title and my father's position early. I am currently the Deputy Chief of the Armaments Bureau," the Baron O'Neil introduced himself. He was the most powerful among all the guests, dressed most luxuriously. The only regret was that his wife had an average appearance, but exuded a sense of pride. Ivan speculated that the reason this Baron had reached his current position might be related to his wife.
"Mr. Hyde, I heard that you have a purebred horse from the Robeck family. Is that true?" Baron O'Neil asked.
"Yes, it's a four-year-old horse. When our family moved from Ithray to Florance, we brought four purebred horses with us. The one I am currently riding is their descendant."
"I understand that these purebred horses are never for sale for any family. But could you lend it to me for a few months? Soon, my father and I will be heading to Florance together. We have a beautiful carriage, but there is no horse in the south that can match it," Baron O'Neil's wife said.
Before the banquet had even officially begun, she made this difficult request, clearly believing that Ivan would not refuse. Viscount Keweielle Egret Hyde was at best a common nobleman who made his living through commerce. His uncle held great power in the southern part of Florance, and apart from the Meedin family, who wouldn't give their family some face. Borrowing was just a polite way of saying it; if he didn't return it later, they could discuss it then.
Lady O'Neil's words, even her husband felt inappropriate to say them in such a situation. He smiled, seeming to want to step in and smooth things over, but his wife's cold glare made him retract his words. Everyone at the dining table fell into silence. Ivan speculated to himself, perhaps Mr. Hyde had foreseen this situation, another test for himself, leaving him at a loss.
At that moment, Viscount Terbol, who had a strained relationship with Baron Longna, spoke up: "Since we all know how much families value purebred horses and would never easily sell them, we should also understand that these purebred horses would not be easily lent out. Why force the issue?"
Lady O'Neil, hearing the interruption, appeared displeased and responded coldly, "Viscount Terbol, if these horses were yours, you certainly wouldn't want to lend them out, but Lord Kewei Elegret Hyde might have a different opinion. I believe he would be generous."
"No, I think that's impossible," Ivan refused without hesitation. Regardless of the consequences of offending any important figure, agreeing to lend out the horses would make it difficult to explain to Mr. Hyde. At this moment, Ivan's only concern was Mr. Hyde; he didn't care about anyone else, not even the king.
Lady O'Neil's reaction to Ivan's response was clearly angry; she never expected this young man to be so bold. Most people present thought Ivan's response was too direct, too impulsive. Even if he had to refuse, it should have been done more tactfully. It was hard to imagine how a young man so impulsive could be seen by the baron as a young diplomat with talent.
However, Ivan appeared calm and unconcerned, giving everyone present a sense of mystery. Everyone was puzzled; was this young man truly confident, or was it just youthful arrogance and ignorance?
Looking at the gazes of the others, Ivan calmly said, "Perhaps you are unaware that several people have approached my grandfather to buy or rent these purebred horses, including a high-level request from Vice Chairman Fucos, of the Elder Council.
"Fucos's status in Floran is well known, but my grandfather adamantly refused to sell, much to Fucos's displeasure. He wields great power, but even he couldn't obtain any of the horses. Some things cannot be forced."
Ivan's words may have seemed cryptic, but at least those present understood one thing: the mysterious power of Lord Kewei Elegret Hyde, which even Vice Chairman Fucos couldn't overcome, let alone a small noble from the south.
"I seem to have heard of this incident; Vice Chairman Fucos had his eye on several purebred horses but failed to acquire them. For years, he has not forgotten, praising the beauty and excellence of those horses, unaware that it was your grandfather, Lord Kewei Elegret Hyde, who thwarted him," said Baron Brown, seated next to Ivan.
"Vice Chairman Fucos is a true equestrian enthusiast, known to all in Floran," added the chubby man.
"Indeed, the Vice Chairman owns six horse farms and nearly a thousand excellent horses. If he's not at the Elder Council, you'll find him at the stables. It's said that giving him a good horse can solve any problem. It's best to discuss matters with him on horseback; that's when he's in the best mood," continued Baron Brown.
Their conversation was a reminder to Lady O'Neil that even if Lord Kewei Elegret Hyde found himself in a predicament, simply giving a purebred horse to Vice Chairman Fucos would render Lady O'Neil's support powerless. Lady O'Neil was not foolish; her face darkened as she sat in silence.
"In the upstairs lounge just now, we tasted Baron Longna's tea, which was truly exquisite. I heard that this tea was a gift from Mr. Hyde. Does the lord run a tea business?" Elderly Baron Hendred changed the subject.
"No, the tea trade is only occasional, unless there are exceptional teas, my grandfather will only get involved in a few. Most of the time, it's more of a half-sale, half-gift, catering to some special customers. In fact, my grandfather cannot be considered a pure businessman, and our family does not make money through buying and selling goods," Ivan explained.
"How could someone be so wealthy if they're not a businessman?" the chubby man asked.
"Brother, your question seems a bit impolite," the Baroness reprimanded.
The Viscount de Bouffon seemed quite afraid of his sister and immediately fell silent.
Ivan didn't mind, as that was actually his area of expertise. Audrey once mentioned a peculiar business method that Mr. Hyde made a fortune from, but due to the high risks involved, it was never attempted again. This method could be seen as a form of fraud in one aspect, but completely legal in another. Ivan had spent a full two days trying to understand this unique business approach.
These were likely unheard of topics for the nobles present.
Ivan continued, "The timing of trading goods is crucial. Wool after rain and charcoal in summer are obviously difficult items to sell. A family that has been established in the south of Florin for a century and a newly settled family here cannot be compared in terms of reputation and popularity. Therefore, my grandfather only engaged in some trading in the early days, not solely to accumulate wealth, but more importantly to get to know the key figures in this channel. Do you all know how much the price difference is between glass in Ithra and in Florin?"
"Probably five times," Viscount Scars said.
"Yes, by the time the glass is loaded onto the ship, it's already doubled, which is the tax that must be paid to Ithra, along with the fees collected by the Ithra Commercial Guild. By the time it reaches Florin and unloads at the port, it doubles again. All this money goes into the national treasury. Therefore, what the merchants toil hard for is merely a trade for profit. This doesn't take into account losses and unexpected damages, so often the sinking of a ship can bankrupt several wealthy merchants," Ivan explained.
"Is there no tax evasion?" the chubby man interjected.
"True, almost every household in South Port evades some taxes. However, it's impossible to get rich this way. South Port is governed by a consortium of merchants who do not want to see overly blatant tax evasion, as it would be unfair to most merchants and could lead to trouble.
"Therefore, merchants at most shift losses and unexpected damages into the tax system. The consortium turns a blind eye to this. However, the merchants' profits still don't reach fifty percent, as they have to pay wages and ship rental fees.
"My grandfather didn't focus on this trade route. He spent a great deal of effort and cost to open up several channels in Ithra, West Bay, and Florin. Take the glass from Ithra, for example. My grandfather bribed two glass factories and an official in charge of glass exports in the Ithra Commercial Guild. My grandfather would turn the needed glass production into orders, have the glass factories produce it in advance, and consider that batch of glass already purchased. Then, my grandfather would take the order to the merchants in South Port, have them bid, and sell to the highest bidder.
"This way, my grandfather would make a deal, pay taxes properly, and receive the money. The merchant would then go to Ithra to bring back the goods, and any losses in between would be their responsibility, but they wouldn't need to pay any taxes as they were already settled. Later on, my grandfather became more and more renowned, with a better reputation. He no longer needed to place orders with the glass factories in advance. Both the glass factories and the merchants were willing to advance the money. That's how my grandfather became wealthy," Ivan explained.
The Viscount Scars pondered for a while and suddenly exclaimed, "Wait a minute, in that case, your grandfather didn't actually make any money. He was essentially working for that merchant for nothing. The merchant spent money to buy the glass, bring it back, and pay taxes. If the glass didn't increase in price, the glass factory in Ithra didn't reduce prices, and the merchant refused to take a loss, your grandfather couldn't have made a single penny. Even if he made a small profit, it wouldn't have made your grandfather so wealthy."
"Exactly," the chubby man also realized.
Ivan had long suspected that these people would react this way, because he himself had initially thought the same. Ivan explained with a smile, "There are many ways to make money in this. Apart from the price difference, joint ventures are the simplest method. My grandfather used half of the goods as capital to do business with that merchant, sharing the profits equally and reducing the risks. Most businessmen are willing to do this.
"There is another way to make money. Prices of goods fluctuate in different seasons, and the key to real wealth for my grandfather lies in seizing this opportunity. Take these tea leaves, for example. They are not produced in Ilaya and are imported from abroad. The season with a large influx of tea leaves is from March to May during the monsoon season. At that time, tea leaves are relatively cheap, so my grandfather buys a batch and stores them. However, for Folanshi, tea leaves are expensive throughout the year, so no matter who he partners with, he can make money.
"Another reason for making money is that as the business grows, much of my grandfather's capital is owed or advanced by others. This has two advantages. Firstly, my grandfather's capital increases invisibly by ten times, twenty times, or even a hundred times. Remember, one penny of capital equals one penny of profit, and the extra capital increases the profit. Although this capital is virtual, the profit is real.
"The second advantage is the true source of our family's wealth. With my grandfather's way of doing business, as soon as the first deal is done and the goods are not yet loaded at the port of Ilaya, we can start the second transaction. Even though the profit from each of our family's businesses is much smaller than that of ordinary merchants, the speed at which our capital returns is thousands of times faster than other merchants. Other merchants take about three months from shipping to return, but my grandfather can close a deal in just an hour."
"Right, right! Impressive, impressive!" The chubby man nodded repeatedly. "Your grandfather is truly a genius to come up with such a sophisticated way of doing business. However, this method seems quite risky. In case of any setbacks, the capital could be stuck."
"Yes, that's why my uncle is planning to gradually diversify the business to reduce risks, or invest in several reputable merchants. He is too busy to handle everything alone, and our family's wealth has already accumulated significantly."
"Alright, alright, you guys are talking too professionally, we can't understand it at all, it's a bit boring," Lady Lorna, the baroness, interrupted the conversation that was making the ladies feel bored.
"Yes, it's better to consider the ladies at the dining table and talk about some light topics," the chubby man said while chewing on a salad with cream.
Seeing Ivan not reaching for anything, the beautiful young lady picked a few refreshing and appetizing cucumbers, mixed them with cream, and placed them in a clean plate in front of Ivan.
Following the strict diet plan set by Audrey, there were some foods that Ivan couldn't eat at all, so he just symbolically touched his lips.
"Brother-in-law, what's the deal with your mansion? The thunderstorm was so intense. If it weren't for Mediet going to the city to bring back workers, that big tree might have trapped all of us outside your mansion," the chubby man said.
"This is indeed very strange. Ever since the mansion was renovated seven years ago, there has been a thunderstorm every few months. This mansion was built by our ancestors after settling in Piton, and such a strange phenomenon has never occurred before. But seven years ago, when my wife and I decided to move here, mysterious thunderstorms started to occur frequently, damaging quite a few trees. Fortunately, no injuries have occurred, and lightning has never struck near the mansion, so we didn't pay much attention to it," Baron Lorna said.
"Could there be monsters in the woods?" Viscount Scars asked. "I heard Elder Folay say that some monsters, when they reach a certain stage of growth, can cause abnormal weather."
"Monsters? Then aren't we in great danger?" the chubby man's wife said worriedly.
Ivan listened to everyone discussing the topics that interested him, thinking about how to take the opportunity to get Baron Lorna to provide some clues. After much thought, he realized that making everyone believe he was an expert in this field was the best approach. Audrey had once taught him a strategy called "pretending to be a tiger to eat a pig," saying that such a simple strategy often had the highest success rate in deception. Moreover, he wasn't completely without skills; at the very least, he had a magic teacher, which was absolutely true.
Ivan pretended to be lost in thought and asked the Baron's daughter sitting next to him, "Miss Fanny, have you ever excavated statues, stone slabs, or anything like that? Perhaps, during the renovation of this villa, you encountered things of unknown use." The beautiful young lady blinked her eyes and tried hard to remember, but that was seven years ago, when she was only eleven years old and didn't understand much.
"Any insights, Ivan?" the Baron asked. "Your grandfather traveled the world, so your insights must be broader than ours. Your uncle Audrey is also knowledgeable. Many people here know that, so I'm sure you have some clever insights."
Everyone at the table turned to look at Ivan, curious to see what this highly praised young man had to offer. Although his unique and unheard-of business methods had left many in awe, not a single person fully understood them. Only a few working in the financial or tax offices grasped some of it, while others, especially the ladies, were completely puzzled and bewildered.
However, everyone was amazed at the shrewdness of the Hyde family to such an extent, no wonder such a family could thrive and prosper.
But this admiration was more for the Baron, Kewei Eley Egret Hyde, a brilliant diplomat and businessman. Ivan's performance only proved that the old man was not only a genius but also a genius educator. In the eyes of the people, the young man before them was undoubtedly the carefully cultivated heir of that old man. Although the results of the cultivation were outstanding, they should be attributed more to the wise old man.
Therefore, everyone was looking forward to seeing what remarkable performance this young man would deliver.
Furrowing his brow, Ivan pondered for a moment and said, "I just feel that the gathering of lightning elements on this piece of land is somewhat unusual. The issue lies in the land itself, not in any plants or animals growing on it. As you mentioned earlier, all the magical elements on this land were originally in balance, and the change began when this villa was renovated seven years ago.
"Did your ancestors leave any records explaining why they built this villa here? This place is a bit far from Peyton, and I imagine it wasn't very safe for your ancestors to live here alone in those days."
Upon hearing Ivan's question, Baron Lorna furrowed his brow, pondered for a while, and then said, "The construction of this villa dates back even further than our ancestral home. Originally, our ancestors bought it from a prominent figure. If you want to know the details, I'll go to the study later and carefully check the records left by our ancestors. Just by looking at the deed, we can find out who the original owner was, but I doubt how useful that would be."
"Oh, dear brother-in-law, could you please go to the study for a moment? After all, the main course hasn't been served yet. Do you want us to wait here full of curiosity, unable to satisfy our strong curiosity, and lose our appetite?" the chubby man asked.
Others at the table also urged him on.
"Yes, Father, perhaps this matter is very important. Although the lightning hasn't harmed anyone so far, it's hard to guarantee that we'll remain so lucky in the future. Since Ivan has found some clues, you should go and check it out," the beautiful daughter also coaxed from the side.
Seeing everyone in agreement, Baron Lorna reluctantly stood up from the table and headed towards the study upstairs.
After a while, he hurriedly ran down the stairs, looking anxious, clearly having made a significant discovery.
In his hand, he held a scroll of parchment, already yellowed, with a black spot forming at the edge.
"Unbelievable, I never noticed it before, it's truly unbelievable, you can't even imagine, the guarantor and witness on this property transfer document are of such high status, it's truly unbelievable!" Baron Longna gasped.
"Tell us about your discovery," Mediet urged, knowing the Baron well enough to expect something surprising.
"Yes, who would pay attention to the guarantor and witness on a property certificate? Unless they are a judge. But this property transfer document is different, the two parties involved are clearly unknown figures. My ancestors left no trace in history, but have you ever heard of Potani Leedo? I certainly haven't, but the guarantor and witness are different, our family's guarantor, my goodness, is Paul Lupus!"
"Paul Lupus? Who is he?" Mediet asked, with a puzzled look on his face.
Most of the others seemed unfamiliar with the name, except for Lord Terbol at the other end, who after a moment's thought said, "Paul Lupus was the Pope during the time of Francis V, also known as Lupus III."
"Yes, you're right, it's the esteemed Pope, and the guarantor on the seller's side is the great and noble Francis V. Oh, my goodness! This esteemed person dislikes signing, as recorded in history, there are no more than ten known signatures of Francis V. Oh, here is one," Baron Longna muttered to himself.
"And who is the witness? Tell us!" the chubby man demanded.
"Oh, right, the witness, not as prestigious as the two guarantors, but equally famous, Francis Parode."
"The founder of the Holy Knights, the swordmaster of Francis V, the 'Holy Knight'!" Lord Terbol quickly shared all he knew about this name.
"If this document is indeed authentic, it's truly an amazing discovery. Each of these three signatures is worth at least two thousand gold florins. If you're willing to sell, I can introduce you to Duke Domne or Duke Orbon, they would surely be interested in these signatures, especially that of Francis V, which is incredibly rare," Baron Brown, next to Ivan, suggested.
"Thank you for your kind offer, but this is a family heirloom, I won't sell it," Baron Longna quickly declined. "I even hope you don't mention it to those two gentlemen, otherwise they might come to rent this document from me, and that would give me a headache," he added with a smile.
Everyone at the dining table understood the implications of his words.
Baron Longna was clearly in a great mood, and he loudly ordered, "Bring out the main course, it's time for the main course. Quickly, bring the good wine!"
The servants hurried to the kitchen upon his command, and soon, freshly cooked dishes were brought to the table.
The butler went around the table asking guests for their drink preferences, while a maid followed behind, arranging the cups as requested.
The wine was brought out, with Ivan's bottle being the most prominent.
The bottle was opened, and each person who wanted to drink was served a bit, with some left over after the round.
In reality, there weren't many drinkers at the table. The ladies naturally abstained from alcohol, the old baron seemed controlled by his wife and could only have some ale, the young boy was given milk, and Ivan himself also refrained from drinking.
"Great wine, truly excellent wine!" the chubby man exclaimed repeatedly.
"Absolutely exquisite wine, the 'Fondan Wine' from the renowned Robeck family, usually only served to the Pope and their own relatives," Lord Terbol said.
"How did you know all this?" Lady Terbol asked.
"Count Old Medin is very interested in wine, he has a collection of many wines, as his personal secretary, I have had the opportunity to learn about these. The unique taste of Fondan Wine, coupled with the Robeck family crest on the glass bottle, sets it apart," Lord Terbol explained.
"By the way, you mentioned earlier that the lightning element here is somewhat unusual, how did you find out? Are you a magician?" Lord Terbol asked.
"I wouldn't call myself a magician, but the path of magic attracts me. After fulfilling my grandfather's wishes, I plan to study magic under my mentor Mr. Lavash, who has graciously accepted me as his apprentice and gifted me this sapphire ring," Ivan revealed.
Ivan's words once again captivated those present.
"I never imagined, Ivan, that you and your uncle had kept such a secret about your future as a magician. This is truly remarkable. Why wasn't it mentioned before?" Baron Longna asked.
"It was originally my personal wish, but I have not received approval from my grandfather and uncle yet. My uncle is busy with family matters and hopes I will inherit the family business. Despite this, my passion for magic persists, and my mentor, the esteemed magician Lavash, has agreed to guide me. He gave me this exquisite sapphire ring," Ivan explained, handing the ring to Baron Longna.
Baron Longna carefully examined the gem, acknowledging its value.
The chubby man sitting next to him tugged at his brother-in-law's sleeve, indicating that he should also take a look.
As the ring passed among the guests, although the hidden mysterious power within the ring remained undiscovered, the large, flawless sapphire deeply attracted everyone.
When the ring reached Lady O'Neil's hands, her eyes sparkled, seeming reluctant to let it go, clearly considering the idea of borrowing it temporarily again.
Fortunately, her husband knew very well that anything belonging to a magician was absolutely untouchable. For these special individuals, authority was completely ineffective, especially considering their mysterious powers. If they were to provoke their retaliation, the law would be powerless to protect you from their catastrophic wrath.
The ring eventually reached Baron Brown's hands. This well-connected and knowledgeable man carefully examined the ring, deciphering the intricate spell inscriptions on it, nodding in approval and saying, "This is indeed a rare magical ring, containing powerful forces unknown to me. The spell inscriptions on this ring are more intricate and detailed than any other magical item I have seen.
"And, you see, the metal used to forge this ring is Mithril, a divine metal so rare that even our esteemed King does not possess such a ring. All the Mithril he has can only be used to craft a flat disk half a centimeter in diameter. Our King embedded that piece of Mithril inside the ring, wearing it on the ring finger of his right hand alongside the famous 'Heart of the Angel' ruby ring."
The Baron's words undoubtedly confirmed the value of the ring and also revealed Ivan's identity as an apprentice magician.