Since last year, Cecil's stuff has become more and more common in the city.

Wheels running over the newly built roads of the aristocratic district, the quality of the pavement and the same quality wheels almost completely offset the bumps of the vehicle, Ferdinand Wendell sat in the black magic car, his eyes swept out the window, and he saw that there were new shops in the street being renovated - between the black spires of the Aldenan-style building, a striking wide glass vitrine occupied an entire wall facing the street, the windows were unfinished shelves, and the workers were hanging signs in front of the main entrance of the shop, A few words are written on it in beautiful floral letters:

"The best dessert – Cecil taste"

“…… It's as if only Cecil knows how to make desserts. Peddinand frowned and couldn't help but mutter.

The butler sat across from him, an honest and reliable man who had served the Peer Dinan family for decades, shook his head: "Actually, it's only the locals who open the shop - the magic shadow drama has made those merchants with a keen sense of smell move." ”

"Shadow Drama?" Ferdinand repeated the phrase, which has become more and more common lately, "I've heard it...... Last winter, Cecil's merchants bought a plot of land in the south of the city and opened a new theater. But it was for civilians - the ticket was low, and almost everyone was crammed into a hall. ”

"Yes, it's a cheap play for the commoners, and no one has seen it at first," said the butler with a smile, "after all, no one knows what it is for—the upper class people are not interested, and the commoners are wary of the little change in their pockets." But more than a month ago the Cecil merchants had spent a great deal of money on advertising in the newspapers, and had kept the theatre open for free for three days in a row, and now it was all at once hot, and some shops had been ......"

The butler said, looking out the window, and the shop known as "Cecil's Dessert Flavor" had already passed through the window, and was almost out of sight.

"It is said that there are several kinds of dim sum in the plot of the new drama, and at the end there is a scene where the main characters share desserts after a safe reunion, so those desserts inexplicably arouse people's interest - the shop you just saw is actually the third one in the city."

Pei Dinan listened to the butler's words, the expression on his face was quite incredible, he frowned and shook his head: "I really can't understand...... The drama is supposed to be elegant and profound, what the hell are the Cecilians up to......"

"It's hard to understand, but the commoners seem to welcome it - after all, sweets are at least something they can afford compared to jewelry and estates, and they can show their 'decency' to some extent."

"You know very well," Pei Dinan couldn't help but glance at the housekeeper, "You have also watched the so-called 'magic shadow drama'?" ”

"I haven't seen it," replied the butler, "I'm past the age of being fond of theatre and trendy things, but my son and two daughters have gone to see it, and the young people seem to like it." ”

Ferdinand seemed to fall into a short thought, then he shook his head, picked up the newspaper that he had put aside, and continued to read the contents of it - this newspaper is Aldenan's local area, after the success of the "Imperial Newspaper" founded by Harbier Reston, the emperor gradually opened the door of the private newspaper, but the threshold for running a newspaper is still very high, to this day, there are only three or four popular newspapers in Aldenan, Ferdinand Wendell, as a somewhat old-fashioned old aristocrat, his favorite newspaper is only " Jazz Weekly" one-of-a-kind.

Unfolding the second page of the newspaper, the huge printed letters caught his eye-

It was an advertisement for Cecil Steel Investments to recruit business personnel in Aldernan.

The layout is large, eye-catching and magnanimous, and it takes a lot of money to place such an advertisement.

"Even the Jazz Weekly began to appear advertisements for Cecil's merchants," said Archduke Ferdinand, a little helplessly, "who would have dared to imagine such a thing before?" ”

"This is probably the era of economic openness......," said the butler, echoing the subject's conversation, "and it is said that our merchants have also opened many shops in Cecil City...... As long as the magic train is still speeding along the border, there will always be more and more such cases in the future, after all, no one will have trouble with money. ”

Duke Ferdinand listened to the butler's words, his expression seemed to be thoughtful, but he didn't say anything more.

……

"No one is at a loss for money," said Viscount Hermeer, sitting comfortably on the soft red sofa, gently swaying the fine white mountain wine in his hand, with a pleasant, sunny smile on his face that seemed to be contagious and would make everyone who faced it happy, "Of course, we used to say that no one could have a hard time with gold coins - but times have changed, Count Hallmark." ”

A middle-aged gentleman with a thin build, a high nose, and short blond hair clinging to his scalp sat opposite Viscount Hermir, who also held a wine glass in his hand, but his posture was obviously more dignified and conservative than that of the young Hermir.

He was one of the economic ministers appointed by Rosetta Augustus after the reorganization of the empire by Holmmark, a member of Aldernan's high society, and unlike Duke Severn, who was also the Minister of Economy and was responsible for the establishment of the Imperial Bank, this conscientious and cautious count was in charge of the Empire's foreign economic activities - since last year, he has been in charge of commercial negotiations with the Kaolin Kingdom and the Silver Empire, and has achieved great results.

"Paper money has a unique advantage – and when used correctly, it brings us closer together with our business partners." The Count of Hallmark showed no displeasure in the comparatively frivolous behaviour of Viscount Hermeer, and as a sophisticated socialist, he always dealt with any visitor with the most appropriate attitude.

"Yes, our business collaborator," Viscount Hermir nodded, expressing his appreciation somewhat exaggeratedly, "I have heard about your business negotiations with the Silver Empire, and it is a wonderful model of negotiation, even if I only look at some written records, I would like to praise your quick thinking." I've worked with elves and know how hard it is to change their mindset - they can be more elegant, friendly and polite than any nobleman, but that doesn't mean they'll buy your stuff. ”

"The Silver Empire is a difficult fortress to conquer, as their society almost completely needs Typhon's industrial products - advanced technology allows them to live without worry, and there is a kind of arrogance in their bones, but in the end our progress in the Kaolin Kingdom opens the way for the whole negotiation process," Count Hallmark said unhurriedly, "The elves still need goods from the Human Empire, mainly enchanted paper and alchemical substrates...... It's a lot smaller than I thought it would be. ”

"But this at least gives us one more trade route to the south of the continent," Viscount Hermir said with a smile, "It is said that the merchants of the Cecil are already doing business with the Oguray tribe and even with the dwarves of the far west of the continent, and they are one step ahead of us in terms of commerce. ”

"Not only," Hallmark shook his head, "they even have ties to the Silver Empire. ”

Viscount Hermir's eyes widened in surprise.

"Silver Empire? Cecil? The young viscount couldn't help but exclaim, "How did they do it?" I mean...... There's such a vast wasteland in the middle that not even a bird can fly over......"

"Of course it's not a commercial activity like ours, but the relationship between the Silver Empire and the Cecil is indeed very close," Count Hallmark said in a serious tone, "I've heard from the Kaolin Kingdom that the Elves and Cecils came together back when the nations worked together to repair the Great Wall. Of course, that wasteland hindered their direct commercial activities, and only a few goods would start from the Moss Forest through the long land trade routes, through the territory of the gray elves and orcs and elves, through the rift zone in the southwest of the continent and the fringe forests of the Kaolin Kingdom, and finally enter the territory of the elves......"

Speaking of this, the middle-aged nobleman frowned and gently turned the wine glass in his hand: "This kind of circulation is not large-scale, and commercially, it does not pose a threat to us, but who knows what the future holds?" The Cecils are too good at creating the unexpected, and they put a lot of effort into maintaining their connection with the elves, so they must have a plan for the future. ”

Viscount Hermir's slightly flirtatious smile slowly retracted, he got up from the sofa, paced slowly as he thought, circled twice and then returned to his place, and after taking a sip of the wine, he finally said as if he had made up his mind...... The market in the south of the mainland will become a 'battlefield' sooner or later in the future......"

"Even if the Cecil people don't intervene, the markets in the south of the continent will become battlefields, Hemir, you should know how many things our factories can produce in a day - short-sighted people only think about selling those things to their neighbors and countrymen, but long-term people will realize that the farther the goods are sold, the more long-term and lucrative profits will bring."

Count Hallmark said, smiling at Hermir.

"Hermir, we have opened the trade route to the Kaolin Kingdom and the Silver Empire, and the Southern Investment Company of the Empire has already begun to grab gold, just like every new field, the first to gain a foothold in it will always earn the greatest profit."

"Of course," Hemir put down his glass, he breathed a sigh of relief, and a sunny smile appeared on his face again, "so I am willing to fully support your 'Southern Investment Company', and I am willing to invest 100,000 in the initial stage...... No, 150,000 pounds. Monsieur Earl, I'm sure you'll put the money to good use. ”

"Hermir, my friend, you can wait at home for a good reward," Hallmark stood up, a slight smile on his face, and held out his hand to Hermir, "Shareholder returns will prove your keen eye today." ”

Hemir also reached out and grabbed the slender and thin palm of Count Hallmark: "Actually, I don't have a keen eye, I just found a trick and have been following it-"

"Oh?" Hallmark couldn't help but wonder, "Would you like to share this know-how with your new business partner?" ”

"It's very simple - whatever the Cecil does, I will follow," laughed Viscount Hermir, "they invest everywhere, and I follow - in this age of new things and new fields everywhere, I don't need to do the first, just the second." ”

Hallmark looked at the young viscount who was smiling happily, and was dumbfounded for a moment.

After a pleasant conversation, the aristocratic rising star, who had been in the limelight for the last two years, took his leave and left.

Count Hallmark, who was emaciated, with a high nose bridge and short pale blond hair, returned to the reception room, looking at the two wine glasses on the small round table and the sofa where Viscount Hermir had sat before, the expression on his face did not change, but he still couldn't help muttering: "Hey, impetuous young man......"

The servant entered the room and began to pack up the contents of the room, and the butler also walked in, waiting for further instructions from his master.

"What do you think Viscount Hermir is?" Hallmark turned his head, looked at the old butler who had served him for many years, and asked casually.

"I shouldn't judge a nobleman." The butler replied scrupulously.

"An impetuous young man, but too talented to ignore," said the Earl of Hallmark, not caring for the butler's response, but to himself, "and it was not by luck that he had become the richest of the young nobles in a few years—though many thought that he had just been lucky enough to meet the craftsman named Martin, and to meet the Angray loom." ”

Speaking of this, Count Hallmark couldn't help but shake his head: "I admire such a young man, but like other young people, he only focuses on what interests him, and in his position as a nobleman of Typhon, he has a ...... for Cecil What is it? ”

His eyes were suddenly drawn to what a servant was packing up from the table, and he couldn't help but ask—what looked like a thin book, with a colorful cover and a cheap-looking binding, and it wasn't until the servant brought it over that he could see the letters on the cover—

"Magic Life"

"Magazine...... "Hallmark was not a closed man, he recognized that this thin book was actually a "magazine" that had become popular in recent years, but this magazine was not something he subscribed to in his house, "It was left by Viscount Hermir?" ”

The butler came over to take a look and nodded, "It seems that yes." ”

"A decent nobleman probably wouldn't care about such a thing, but send someone to him later," Hallmark said, flipping through the first few pages of the magazine casually, "Hmm...... This is what the Cecil did? ”

"Yes, sir," replied the butler, "these are the last magazines run by Cecil's merchants, and they are devoted to the way of life in the age of the Magister—mainly the way of life of the Cecil, of course. It was very popular among the decent burgher class during these two months, as many of the magic devices mentioned in the magazine were hot commodities on the market. ”

"Decent citizen ......"

"Yes, decent citizens who can buy a magic freezer a year, such as lawyers and doctors. Of course, many young aristocrats also liked this kind of magazine - they liked the new and interesting machines. ”

Count Hallmark snorted, and then asked, seemingly casually, "Does anyone in this house subscribe to it?" ”

"Yes, as far as I know, Mr. Richard, the chef, has been subscribing to it - he's been talking a lot lately about his plans to buy a magic speaker in his home......"

"Tell Mr. Richard—and others, that if they bring something like that into this house, they can cancel all their shopping plans," said the Earl, with a grim face, "and we are not without our own magazines. ”

“…… Yes, sir. ”