Between the Hilton family and the noble alliance, the attitude of the City Lord's Palace, or the Grand Duke of Mattesias, was inclined towards the former.

Of course, as the supreme ruler of Edinburgh, the Lord's House needs to maintain an image of an impartial judge. As long as the two sides of the conflict did not violate the laws formulated by the Grand Duke, the City Lord's Mansion could not openly declare who it supported, let alone directly suppress or support either side.

However, in many cases, a fair and just competitive environment is already a very powerful and rare support and assistance. Because nobility is synonymous with privilege. Even the City Lord's Mansion, even the Grand Duke, can't just hold this umbrella for anyone.

For some weak people, newcomers, and latecomers, a fair and just competitive environment is so important.

And in the aristocratic circle in the city of Edinburgh, the top-level realm of the pyramid of power, the Hilton family happens to occupy all three things: "the weak, the newcomer, and the latecomer".

It can be said that in addition to the efforts of the Hilton family itself, as well as various internal reasons of the Fontaine family and other old nobles, the attitude of the City Lord's Mansion is the most powerful guarantee for their rise and growth.

Therefore, while being dark, Count Silvio was also a little worried. It would be too bad to worry that Anthony would really provoke the Grand Duke.

And things really seem to be going in the direction that Count Silvio least wants.

"According to your wishes, the business road will be occupied by your family, and no one else will be allowed to pass it?" The Grand Duke's face turned pale.

"How can Your Excellency the Grand Duke say that. We were able to get there, but we paid the toll. If other families want to pass, can't they just pay the fee? Anthony was not afraid.

"How much?"

"How do I know, I have to let them talk to those bandit leaders."

"And how much do you Hilton pay?"

"Hehe, this is a trade secret, and the Grand Duke shouldn't inquire at will."

"Humph! I don't think those thieves are all doing what you tell them to do. ”

"Wronged, Lord Duke! Where do we have the ability to make the thieves obedient. ”

"Why else is it only you who can pass?"

"Because we paid for it."

“……”

“……”

Everyone next to them looked at the old and young people in amazement, just like the unnutritious bickering between the vendor in the vegetable market and the woman buying vegetables.

This is His Excellency the majestic and iron-blooded Grand Duke?

This is the incredibly talented Mr. Anthony?

Belch~

Everyone turned their heads, some looking out the window, some studying the pattern of the carpet, and some thinking about the hidden mystery of the ceiling.

Ultimately......

"In any case, you Hilton family have to find a way to let others pass through the trade road safely. Yes, that's it! The Grand Duke said angrily, and threw himself into the chair with the big back.

"Don't submit tolls!" At the end, I added a sentence viciously.

Today he really made this kid angry enough, and he finally understood how those people who were against this kid felt like him. Now that I think about it, the Fontaine family is actually quite pitiful.

Anthony shrugged his shoulders and spread his hands to look at Count Silvio.

The Grand Duke played a scoundrel, and no one could do it.

However, he can force the Grand Duke to play a scoundrel regardless of his face, and it is really because he has no problem with Anthony.

Antony retreated bravely, and Count Silvio had no choice but to face it bitterly.

"Lord Duke, this is a little inappropriate, isn't it?"

Grand Duke Mattesias glared: "What's wrong." ”

"This, this ......," the Earl did not know what to say.

Seeing the Hilton patriarch's deflated appearance, the Grand Duke was much more relieved.

"We all know the situation on the other side of Shangdao, and you don't have to play stupid in front of me. Of course, neither the nobles nor I have definite evidence, and all this is just speculation. But proof of this kind of thing, hehe! If I really want to have it, am I afraid that I won't? ”

Count Silvio's heart was shocked.

Even a marquis family like Fontaine dared to do it behind his back, and afterwards it was nothing more than a lawsuit in the aristocratic senate.

And Grand Duke Mattesias, who has a higher title, more power, and a heavy army, is not easy to destroy a small earl family in his own territory.

As for the evidence, isn't the material submitted by the Noble Alliance ready-made evidence? As long as the Grand Duke believes that it is evidence, then it is indisputable evidence!

The key is whether he wants to do it or not.

Thinking of this, Count Silvio only had a helpless smile left.

"So, what does the Duke mean?"

The Grand Duke said: "This trade route is of great importance to the commercial development of the city of Edinburgh. I hope you can communicate with the bandits, so that all the caravans in Edinburgh can pass through safely. ”

Count Silvio's smile grew bitter.

In this way, the advantages of the Hilton family can be said to be lost.

Elder Andres on the side looked anxious, but he didn't know what to say. He was good at fist-waving fights, but he couldn't help at all with negotiations and representations at the conference table.

Luckily, there are people here who can help.

"Your Excellency, I beg all due respect, I don't think this is a good idea."

"Humph! Tell me, where is the lack of consideration? The Grand Duke snorted.

Anthony stood up and bowed his hand, "According to what the Grand Duke said just now, assuming that the bandits on the trade road are all under our orders......"

The old magician interjected with a smile: "Don't assume, it is. ”

Anthony pretended not to hear it, and continued: "...... All businesses can travel safely and smoothly between Edinburgh City and Krakowshire. Free trade and fair competition. Is that so? ”

"That's right!" This is exactly what the Grand Duke wants to see.

"But in that case, has the Grand Duke counted the losses suffered by my Hilton family?"

The Grand Duke was stunned: "What do you have to lose?" ”

Anthony pointed his fingers and said, "How could it not be." When we purchase goods, a large number of competitors also procure, which will inevitably push up prices and increase costs; When we sell goods, there are also a large number of competitors who also sell similar goods, which will inevitably suppress the selling price and reduce the profit. ”

"I don't know much about business, but I can guess by guessing. Even if what you say is true, you can still make a lot of money in the end, right? The old magician asked suddenly.

"That's right." Anthony affirmed, "But we could have earned more." ”

"Wouldn't it be nice to have something to earn, why be so greedy. After all, the business road does not belong to your family. ”

Anthony turned to the old magician, "Dear Mr. Magician, let me tell you a little story: once upon a time there was a village next to a wasteland where no crops could be grown, and no one wanted to waste their efforts on it. There is a silly boy who is not afraid of hardships, and takes care of the wasteland every day when he goes out early and returns late. A year later, the wasteland was finally transformed into fertile land. The village chief saw that there was an extra piece of fertile land in the village, so he divided the land equally among all the villagers according to the number of people. The silly boy who has been busy for a year has only got a small piece of land in the end. ”

The old magician touched his chin and said thoughtfully: "That land originally belonged to the village, and the village chief's approach was very fair and understandable. But, well......"

"However, the stupid boy has made a lot of efforts, but in the end he has the same harvest as others, which is obviously not fair, right?" Anthony helped him with the rest of the words.

He turned to face the Grand Duke again, bowed deeply, and said with a serious face: "Your Excellency, the loss of the Hilton family is only one aspect. The loss of the City Lord's Mansion is probably even more serious. ”

The Grand Duke frowned: "What is the loss of my City Lord's Mansion?" ”

"What is lost is prestige, hearts and minds, and the development and future of the city of Edinburgh!" Anthony said categorically.

"Dare to ask Your Excellency the Grand Duke, if there is another wasteland next to the village in the story, do you think there will be a second silly boy to transform it into fertile land?"

No one answered, and both the Grand Duke and the old magician fell into deep thought.

The answer is obvious, and there is no need to answer it at all.

The Grand Duke's deputy, who had not said a word from beginning to end, suddenly asked: "If all the good land is owned by the stupid boy, for the village, whether that piece of land is good land or wasteland, it will not benefit in the slightest, what difference does it make?" On the contrary, because of the stupid boy's sudden abundant harvest, the villagers' jealousy and resentment were increased, resulting in hidden dangers to public security. ”

Anthony smiled and shook his head: "How can there be no difference?" The stupid boy can't eat enough food, so he can exchange something else with someone, right? Isn't that how business comes in? Besides, when the stupid boy has money, he no longer has to work in the field himself, he needs to hire the laborers of the village to work, don't those villagers also have food? Isn't that a good development? ”

"As for the issue of public security hazards...... The wealthy men of Edinburgh are ranked first in the entire glorious empire, and this gentleman thinks how safe and secure the city is? ”

The deputy nodded and said, "Taught!" Mr. Anthony Xie explained. ”

And then he said no more.

The Grand Duke said a little irritably: "Although your kid has sharp teeth and sharp mouth, what he said also has some truth. It's just that cities can't be compared with villages, and there are a lot of things to manage, so we must not take them lightly. If you are allowed to monopolize the trade road like this, even if I protect you, those red-eyed nobles will have to make trouble sooner or later. ”

Anthony nodded.

The Grand Duke's concerns were justified. In a short period of time, monopoly can make huge profits, and it also makes the nobles come together to get some light. But after a long time, it is inevitable that there will be jealousy, and the Hilton family will once again become the target of public criticism.

There was a moment of silence before Anthony spoke slowly.

"I have a proposal, and I would like to ask the Grand Duke, the Patriarch, and you to consult it together to see if it is feasible."

"In the future, the Hilton family's convoys through the trade road set aside a certain number of carriages for other families to transport goods. And to use our carriages, you need to pay 10% of the income as the cost of the rental. ”