Ancient and majestic, this is the first impression Heidelberg made on Hathaway.

Walking into the city, you will be greeted by quaint blue-brick buildings on greystone foundations, most of which are not tall but built very wide, and many of them have carved characters from myths and legends on their doors or walls. Most of the walls are covered with ivy, and except for the windows, they look like rooms woven with vines, and the blue-gray wall tiles inside can be faintly seen through the green leaves.

The road is paved with bluestone, and the main road is very smooth because it is renovated every year. But the bluestones in those alleys have been sunken high and uneven because of age, and the carriage will bump along with the road when they walk on it.

The tallest buildings in the city are, of course, the Royal Palace and the towers of the Magi, which are built on a square in Vermont, and the Mage Towers in Heidelberg, which make Hathaway feel like she is looking up at a forest.

"Miss, someone over there has come to pick you up." Barthes. Willy rode his horse to the window to report.

Not far away, a young man of about twenty years old noticed their convoy and walked over quickly, and the mercenaries immediately stopped him vigilantly.

"Excuse me, it's Hathaway in the car. Miss Bell? ”

The young man was in moderate health, polite, and seemed to be quite cultivated, and he was still smiling in the face of the mercenary who looked bad.

"It's Petro. Mr. Hughes? "Barthes. Willitzer asked immediately.

"Yes, you are...... Lord Willie, right? ”

Petro. Hughes hurriedly asked Barthes. Willie bowed, "I am at the behest of my father and my mother. Hathaway is here to greet her. Miss Bell. ”

In the carriage, Hathaway had already remembered the origin of this young man...... Before going to the Academy of Magic, Hathaway hired a tutor, Sullivan. Hughes, Petro, who was eight years older than her, was the eldest son of Mr. Hughes, remembered...... He seems to have a younger sister.

"Petro, long time no see."

Hathaway opened the window and poked her head out in greeting.

"Miss Bell, you've had a hard time." Petro. Hughes greeted with some restraint.

"Petro, we don't need to be so polite. It's called the same as before. I remember that you were still pulling my braids at that time, and you were very bold, why are you polite now? Hathaway laughed.

Petro. Hughes was stunned for a moment, and then a relaxed smile appeared on his face: "Hathaway." You're going to be the Count. I don't dare pull your braids anymore. ”

Hathaway listened. There was a smile on his face: "I haven't officially attacked the knighthood yet, you can try." ”

"My father told me that it was better to provoke the nobles. Don't provoke the magician, I won't be fooled. "Petro. Hughes gave a snort, came to the car, and greeted the coachman and Stilwell. Ponson said hello and stood beside them to show them the way.

In Petro. Under Hughes's direction, the convoy drove some distance on the main road, then turned into the side alley, and after a few detours, stopped in front of a house...... There were about people looking in front of the door all the time, and when the convoy stopped, the gate opened, and more than a dozen men and women came out of the door, led by a middle-aged man with an elegant temperament.

Barthes. As the carriage stopped, Willy came close and opened the door, and Hathaway stepped out of the carriage in a homely dress.

"Hathaway, I didn't expect you to grow so tall, it must be the road, right?" The middle-aged man took a few steps forward and said cordially.

He was Hathaway's former tutor, Sullivan. Hughes, a very learned man.

"It's alright, Mr. Hughes, you look good." Hathaway bowed slightly, as a gesture of politeness.

Although there is a gap in the identities of the two sides, Sullivan. Hughes was her teacher, and that was enough to earn her respect.

After the two of them finished greeting, Sullivan. Hughes introduced her to her family.

Mr. Hughes's wife, who was a beauty when she was young, is now more mature, but Hathaway doesn't care too much. Instead, it was her daughter who caught her attention.

Mr. Hughes's daughter, Cecia, has beautiful long fiery red hair and always has a confident smile on her face, which greatly touches Hathaway. She feels completely different from those noble women of superior origin, and this is what attracts Hathaway...... She is about to govern a territory, although there is no discrimination between men and women in this world, but most of the officials are men, she is a female lord, she can't rely on those male officials for everything, there must be some female officials under her hands, and this Cecia. Hughes's first impression was good, but whether she had experience or not was secondary, after all, she didn't have experience as a lord.

Hathaway's look did not escape Sullivan. Hughes's eyes, according to his original intention, were to hope that his son would have a good relationship with Hathaway, but he didn't expect Hathaway to have a good impression of his daughter, although it was a little unexpected, but this was also a good thing...... In fact, Cecia. Hughes's academic performance was better than that of her brother.

With the help of the servants, Hathaway and the others' luggage were put into their rooms. Alia. Vergou and Barthes. Willie and the others were housed in Mr. Hughes's house, but the mercenaries could not, and their employment was effectively over by the time they arrived in Heidelberg.

"Thank you very much for taking care of you along the way, Mr. Cancy, and I hope to be able to hire you for a long time if I have the chance."

At the time of the breakup, Hathaway said sincerely.

"You mean to make us family mercenaries?" Sgart. Cancy looked at her thoughtfully.

"That's what it means."

Hathaway nodded: "I'm not saying how safe it is, I'm sure you can understand that this kind of family mercenary is no less dangerous than you have to deal with robbers or monsters." The only good thing is that the income is more stable. ”

"Let me think about it."

Sgart. Cancy pondered for a moment and said, "Miss Bell, I won't be leaving the capital anytime soon, if you want to find us, go to the Mercenary Guild." Or I'll come to you. ”

After dinner, Mr. Hughes wanted to give the young people a chance to get to know each other better, so he suggested that the siblings Cecia and Petro accompany Hathaway to the back garden. Unfortunately, though, he miscalculated, Petro. Hughes wasn't good at talking to girls, but it was Hathaway and Cecia. Hughes had a great conversation.

Soon after, Petro. Hughes unwittingly left the two girls who were talking passionately and came to Mr. Hughes's study.

Mr. Hughes was in his study and saw Petro. Hughes came in, surprised.

"Why, come back so soon, Hathaway?" Mr. Hughes asked in surprise, he would never have thought of Petro anyway. Hughes had come to him in half a magic hour.

"She's in the garden with Cecia."

"This kid doesn't entertain guests well." Mr. Hughes said that he did not know whether he blamed his daughter or was helpless about his son's poor dealing.

"I don't think I've seen what you're looking at." Petro. Hughes was a little curious when he saw what his father was intently recording intently.

"I'm helping someone reconcile the accounts, would you be interested in this? You can take it and see it, but I'm sure you'll put it down right away. Mr. Hughes sent a copy of the document to Petro. Hughes in his hands.

Petro. Hughes couldn't understand the consequences after taking it, and he had not been exposed to these professional and strong business records. In addition to the name, quantity, price and so on, he can see it, but of course he can't understand the specific situation inside, unless he is a guy in the shop.

"Dad, people say you're amazing, especially in business, and I'd love to hear about your business." Although he couldn't understand it, it reminded Hathaway of another question that he had wanted to ask but had never had the opportunity to ask.

"What, would you be interested in knowing the Dao?" Mr. Hughes asked in surprise, he had asked his son to pay attention to this aspect of learning before, but he did not dare to be interested at all.

In the Empire, a merchant has no place in the Empire, and if a successful merchant has no background or someone behind him, his wealth will soon be jealous of others, and most likely he will be confiscated by the local officials who arrange a trumped-up charge. For example, it is the crime of espionage and the crime of treason. If a civilian wants to make a difference in the government, he must either join the army and get military merit in the war; Either enter a certain college, graduate with excellent grades, and get the recommendation of the college or a nobleman, then you have the opportunity to become a government worker.

Petro. Hughes was an excellent college student, but he had always disliked the study of business and focused only on some subjects that dealt with government affairs...... In the words of the earth, it is more serious.

"Of course, do you think I'm a joker?" Petro. Hughes asked, puzzled.

"Finance is the foundation of dealing with government affairs...... Mr. Hughes did not ask his son what would change, but explained it seriously. This time, Hughes listened with relish.

In the back garden, Hathaway and Cecia were having a heated discussion: "...... Material civilization is the foundation of social stability, no matter what race, even if the sheep can't eat, they will riot. If you want a territory to develop in a stable and orderly manner, the most important thing is to let everyone have bread that can feed their necks, otherwise it is useless for you to paint a good prospect for him......"

The discussion between the two girls was not finished until Mrs. Hughes urged them to rest. (To be continued......)