"So, you're working for that Baron Rhodes now?"

Quareala is a young aristocrat from the city of Kislev, who runs the cloth business left by his ancestors, and has a property and a small farm in the city of Kislev. When Alves was the treasurer of the Ring Castle, he inevitably dealt with him. Every year, Fort Hoop takes the most goods from Kwareala. The goods involved ranged from cloth to porcelain to furniture, coal, and leather, and although the cloth business accounted for the majority of Quarella's business, the aristocratic merchants were never satisfied with the status quo. With Alves' tacit approval, he opened other trade channels.

This middle-aged nobleman over forty years old always looks happy, and a light smile never leaves his lips all the year round, so that you can't feel his true expression. Of course, Alves has dealt with him for many years and is already familiar with his personality and style of doing things.

"It's Count Rhodes. ”

Alves emphasized.

"Oh, I'm sorry, I always thought Rhodes was just a baron. ”

Quareala politely apologized, but Alves knew that the guy was definitely doing it on purpose. Nothing that came out of his mouth was sincere, and if he really wanted to do something, he would never say it.

"Closer to home, when I was in charge of the Ring Market, you were eager to open up the Northern Market, and now is the opportunity. Alves picked up the red wine glass on the ivory table and took a sip of the wine in the glass, "Blackhammer Fort is no longer the poor frontier city it used to be, on the contrary, at this moment, thousands of commoners and nobles have gathered in that small castle. The annual trade volume of the docks of the Winter Spring River even exceeds that of the Iron Ring Fort at its peak. ”

"That's right, but I don't know anything about the situation there. Old friend, I know you are interested in helping me, but I dare not go to unfamiliar places after all. ”

Quarellara whispered. He wiped the dust off the table, twisted a cluster of rose petals, put them on the tip of his nose with his fingers, smelled the fragrance on it, and made a look of intoxication.

"Don't talk nonsense, I've already opened the way for you, it's up to you whether you want it or not. I know that since the riots in Erlengrad, your business has been in shambles, the route to the north has been almost cut off, and in the south, cloth and coal have not been sold for a good price. Alves put down his glass and said with a serious face, "Old friend, we have been working together for so many years, and I know your situation very well, it is difficult for you to gain a foothold in Kislev with the little assets left by your father. Especially this time Caterina raised the trade tax again. Errengrad's war has emptied the treasury, and the Ice Queen needs nobles like you to pay her debts......"

After Alves finished speaking, Quarella's face was obviously not good. The other party did their homework and came back......

Indeed, Alves did not go straight to the home of this "old friend" as soon as he arrived in Kislev, on the contrary, he did a lot of work, first to investigate the current situation in the city of Kislev after the war, and then to learn about the current situation of Kwareala and that his business was not going well. By the time Alves came to the door in person, he already knew most of the situation. And in order to convince Quarella, the little dwarf showed a high-minded and arrogant posture. It is very important for negotiators to know themselves and their opponents.

"Tell me, what kind of person is that Laheim?"

The old nobleman let out a sigh and asked slowly.

"Someone like you. He is a young nobleman of Errengrad, and his assets are not even as good as yours before he left for Blackhammer Castle. But at the same time, he is also a daring person. He signed a contract with Rhodes to develop the local mines together, and a year later, the business grew, and while Rhodes was out to participate in the Erlengrad dispute, he monopolized part of the market in Blackhammer Fort and, for the first time, formed a personal guard. ”

Alves chatted slowly.

The sun shines through the windowsill and shines warmly, Alves loves the smell of summer, it's the most beautiful time of year in Kislev, it's lukewarm and perfect.

"A nobleman who dares to argue with the lord, heh, his age is estimated to be very young, right?" 123 Literature Network

Quarellara asked with a smile.

"Indeed, he is only in his thirties, and the hair on his mouth has not yet grown. ”

Alves replied jokingly.

"And then? Rhodes didn't just kill him?"

Quarella, who had been in Kislev for many years, knew that the nobility was a piece of fat in the eyes of the rulers, and that by listening to the Tsar, they would make you live well, and that if someone was naïve enough to think that he could disobey the Lords on his own, then he would not be far from bankruptcy and the streets. The gang that rules this country has 10,000 ways to kill you. And you're just a little aristocrat.

This is also one of the reasons why Erlengrad's group of nobles rose up against Katarina, there is only obedience, there is no room for negotiation, and this blood queen is a high-pressure faction, disobedient and immediately get rid of it, this situation can be endured in a short period of time, and after a long time, there will always be people who can't help it.

"No, Rhodes wants a more civilized way, that's why I asked you to find you. ”

Alves said, and deliberately accentuated the last word, yes, he wanted to emphasize "you". And not "you".

"Who else promised to go north to Blackhammer Castle?"

Quareara asked.

"Skagard, Clive. ”

Alves replied calmly. He saw a hint of hesitation flash in Quarella's eyes, and he quickly caught it.

"Old friend, let's be honest, I'm not here today to beg you, but for the sake of our many years of friendship, to tell you about such an opportunity. In fact, whoever is in the Black Hammer Castle situation will be willing to go north. In the city of Kislev, what is the room for the development of the little nobles? The war has just ended, and the country is in urgent need of national strength, many people are in fear, it is the wish of many nobles like you to leave the city of Kislev, but after leaving Kislev, they can't find a place to stay, and I am introducing you to this foothold. And, when you get there, as long as you don't set up your own armed guard like that Laheim, Rhodes and I will protect you, and be your backing and sword. ”

Alves sat up straight, and said urgently—

"The north is a little colder and a little barren. But it was safer there, Rhodes had cleared the surrounding tribes of beastmen, no enemy would reach there, and at the same time, the queen's hand could not reach that far. Alves blinked, "Old friend, the North is not your final destination, it is just a springboard for you, Black Hammer Fort is developing at a high speed, and there are many more opportunities than Kislev City, whether you want to give it a try or not, it's up to you." ”

When Alves finished speaking, he was about to leave, but Quarella stopped him—

"Alves, let's have dinner here in the evening, and we should get together on official business aside. ”

The old nobleman smiled sincerely, yes, Alves knew, this time it was true......