City of Desire [Kingdom Building]

Chapter 97: Reward

“So, this is a final list?” I asked, looking at the names of the people on the list. She had handed me. “Yes. These are people who agreed. They promised they will not change their mind,” replied Ina.
 
I don’t think I had been as busy in my life as I had been in the past week. I did not get any time to focus on my business.
 
Thankfully, I have Carla. She is handling everything while I am busy with my city’s work.
 
“I really hope so. If they dared to change their mind one more time, they will pay,” I said, and the warning is not empty. There are some serious things I could do; things they would not like.
 
“I had warned them about the consequences,” said Ina. I had asked her to do that.
 
A week ago, there have been one hundred and thirty merchants ready to come with us to Navr, but through the week. Many backed down, and what is more frustrating than it is, that many of them came back on board before backing down again.
 
We are leaving tomorrow and with us are coming many people. Including these thirty-six people from the different businesses.
 
Of the thirty-six, only four are from the major business house. The others were from small merchant houses, but the majority of them were from individual businesses.
 
I thought many individual merchants would come. The business world is cutthroat and monopolized by the business houses.
 
Seeing this golden chance at a new market, these small businesses would leap at it, but it seemed like I was wrong. Many merchants are having the same fear that business houses are having.
 
The reputational damage.
 
The undead are considered anathema and those who trade with them are prosecuted in the empire.
 
The empire had exempted business with Navr through the official channels, but the people are still fearful.
 
It is something that could damage their reputation, which is most important in the business. Unlike them, I do not think it would be a big problem, especially for the local merchants.
 
People are used to it; it is common knowledge that the merchant cities trade with Navr and many of the things we buy from them come from Navr.
 
I have made sure to highlight it every day through the newspapers.
 
It had caused a minor scandal, and some people had boycotted some goods from merchant cities, but it was over within a few days.
 
As these things are essential and people can’t live without them.
 
In a month, nobody would bat an eye at this.
 
It would have been great if the merchant from other cities could come. We have invited them, but they have made various excuses to not come.
 
They want to see how this trip would go. How people would react to it.
 
We have framed it as a peace mission, which it actually is, even so. We have to be careful with perception, with enemies trying their deceptive campaigns, against us.
 
They are doing it sneakily, because the emperor is watching, but we still see the signs.
 
“Sent this list to Robin,” I said after looking through the list. “Ok,” she said and put it into the envelope, before walking out of the office.
 
I am taking Ina with me; I could not take Jill or Clair. They are too young, and it will be dangerous. 
 
Not physically dangerous, but politically, and there, I could not take any risks.
 
Ina is the best choice; she is the most politically aware person I trust. She is as good as Carla. There is another one who is as good as her, but I do not trust her enough. 
 
Hours passed as I kept working, and soon it was evening and I needed to leave for the banquette.
 
“Sent this Carla,” I said and handed Ina the letter, before getting up and walking out of my office through the door on the left and entering my room.
 
Of course, there is room, and in this past week, it had become quite useful. I had slept in the office for three days. It was late, and I didn’t want to go back to the house, just to sleep.
 
Though, when it is the day of establishment, I went there, no matter how late it was.
 
As I walked into my room, I undressed and stepped into the shower. Fifteen minutes later, I came out feeling refreshed.
 
I changed into the suit, which is waiting on my bed, since morning, and readied myself in the mirror before stepping out of my room.
 
As I did, I saw two women in my room talking.
 
“You are looking nice,” said Valentina as she turned to me. “You are not looking bad yourself,” I said to her.
 
She is wearing a low-cut violet gown and diamond jewelry which rested squarely in the valley of her breasts.
 
“Shall we go?” I asked her, to which she nodded and got up.
 
Soon, we were in the carriage, moving toward the palace. “Thank you for the permit. Without your intervention, it would have taken me at least a week to get it,” she thanked me. 
 
She had hired over two-hundred workers from the merchant cities. Such things require a permit, which I was able to get for her within a day.
 
“It was nothing,” I replied.
 
“I heard Navr is a beautiful place if you forget the undead,” she said with a smile after a minute of silence. 
 
“Don’t joke about it. I am very worried about it,” I said, looking at her. “You shouldn’t. It is one of the safest countries in the world, at least for those who entered it with permission,” she said reassuringly.
 
“I am not worried about my safety,” I said and sighed. I have a feeling this diplomatic mission wouldn’t be as simple as the Count is saying it to be, especially after the appearance of those five people.
 
Yesterday, five people arrived; they are the prince's men. They will accompany us to Navr. As for what is their purpose, I don’t know. Nobody does, except for Count Darrow and Lancel.
 
They did not tell any of us advisers.
 
Soon, the carriage passed through the gates of the palace and stopped at my reserved spot.
 
“It is nice when you have the reserved spot,” said Valentina as we got out. I smiled and took her hand as we walked toward the palace.
 
“Adviser Silver, Mage Valentina, welcome,” said the head butler. I nodded, and we entered the ballroom. It is big, the biggest one in the entire city, and despite being early, there are already quite a few people inside.
 
We had just entered when a soldier walked toward us. “Adviser, Count had requested you to his study,” he informed. I nodded and turned to Valentina apologetically.
 
“I am sorry,” I said, to which she smiled. “Go, I can mingle on my own,” she said. “Thank you,” I said, and I walked toward the study.
 
I knew I had to go meet with the Count for the one last meeting, but I think it would be after the party.
 
It is a good thing; it is before the party. This way, I will be able to sleep early.
 
“My lords,” I greeted father and son and bowed as I entered the library. Aside from them, there is Robin, and the High Mage York is also present.
 
“Remus, how are the preparations?” asked Count Darrow directly. “Thirty-six merchants have agreed to be part of the delegation, and I have personally seen through the contracts that will sign between the merchant guilds, among other arrangements.
 
“Will any of your merchants back down from the at the last moment?” asked Lancel, putting the blame on me.
 
“I have warned them what will happen. If they try to do it,” I replied. They had the chance to decline. If they still do it, I will really make those bastards pay.
 
“Remembers, the goal of this diplomatic mission is to open the channels. If we are able to get any no-arms agreement; it would be a grand victory,” Count said, and immediately, a smile appeared on the faces of Lancel and others.
 
A smile with no mirth.
 
Navr is notorious for not signing any type of these agreements. There are three known instances where it had signed those agreements in its over two thousand years of history.
 
“We will try our best for it, my lord,” replied Robin, but seeing Count's expressions. Even he didn’t believe something like that would happen.
 
“Remus, I had called you for a different purpose,” said Count and placed something on the table, seeing that my eyes couldn’t help but light up.
 
“You have done an exceptional service to the city. For it, I am giving you this. As long as you are in the city's service, you will keep this,” he said and placed a beautiful brown leather bag.
 
Seeing it, my eyes couldn’t help but widen. 
 
It had a simple design of a small emblem of lightning. Made by the enchanters of the storm tower.
 
It is a precious thing that I very much wanted to buy it using my grandfather's gifts, but I had controlled myself. This thing was important, but there were other important things, the plot next to mine.
 
It is a good thing I controlled myself as I have not only got the plot but also this.
 
“Thank you for the generous gift, my lord,” I said and took the bad.
 
This is called the bag or iles bag, because of the material from iles monster which is essential to crafting this bag. It is a precious thing, which costs around a million imperials.
 
Because this tiny bag could hold many times its size.
 
Seeing it is basic, it has around one cubic meter of space. It could store anything, aside from things with high magic radiation. 
 
A few minutes passed, and we discussed a few other things, but I barely participated in it. It is mostly Count asking the questions and Robin answering them. 
 
Lancel is a leader only in name. It is Robin who is responsible for everything. 
 
It took an hour to finish everything when the Count got up and walked out of his study. While we all followed behind.
 
“My Lord,”
 
Greeted the people in unison as the Count entered the ball. There are over a thousand people, and not all from the city. 
 
More than half of the guests are from outside the city. From merchant cities and the cities of renwell.
 
“Thank you all for comin…” 
 
Count Darrow started the speech, and while I with others, stood behind him respectfully. Watching the crowd as they listen to Count Darrow’s speech, most of them have expressions of attentiveness but are utterly bored.
 
Thankfully, the speech was not long and finished within ten minutes. 
 
For little more than half an hour, I followed behind Lancel, till he relieved me, and I walked toward Valentina.
 
“I have to say, Mage Valentina, Adviser Silver, suits you well.” Said an old man with blue hair, as I appeared beside her. “Thank you, Vice-Guild-master Alvar,” she said, with flushed cheeks and ecstatic eyes.
 
All fake, but one could hardly be able to tell seeing how good she is at acting. She may even have a class related to that or something she learned out of necessity.
 
Likely out of necessity; given the consequences, if people were to find out.
 
“Vice-Guild-master Alwar; it is such a regret you could not come. With you, the mission to the Navr would have been more successful,” I said to the old man, from the Deerpond.
 
“Truly a regret. Adviser Silver. If not for the prior commitments, I would have joined you on the trip to Navr,” said the old man.
 
The surrounding cities have never outright rejected our proposal but used the excuses as prior commitments and other whatnot.
 
So, this way, when the chance comes, they could hop on it with no problem. As they have never formally rejected the mission with Navr, they were just too busy at that time to come with us.

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