They don't want me to try anymore.

"The nearby ironworks should be able to supply some raw materials after expansion. As for the rest, such as rubber, we'll need your fleet to transport them. However, it's also very close to the port, so we can also hire alchemists..."

In this era, pneumatic tires had not yet been invented, but rubber had already been developed for many uses, although most countries used magical methods to process this type of material.

Alice nodded, then noticed another open space at the edge of her field of vision, closer to the port, with a small river nearby that was clearly suitable for transporting goods…

She couldn't help but ask, "Where? That looks more suitable."

"No."

Richard gave a wry smile: "That's Standard Fruit Company land... In fact, all the land east of here to the coastline belongs to them—legally speaking."

Alice raised an eyebrow, noticing that most of those places were still deserted.

Richard explained: "Standard fruit growers selectively plant only a portion of the land to control prices, and the rest are left uncultivated, and we can only watch... Even if Connaught suffers a disaster and people go hungry, there's no way to use the land to grow food."

As he spoke, Richard's tone turned cold.

He really wants to get all the land back right now.

But this would mean tearing up many of the past treaties between Connaught and the Empire, which would be an act of overturning the table, and the time is far from right...

Alice, listening nearby, felt increasingly heartbroken and began to understand Richard more and more.

If there weren't so many people around, she would have already been tempted to hug that handsome boy.

That said, the maids say the boys really enjoy this kind of comforting, and it's even more effective with a lap pillow added...

Hmm, I'll definitely try it when I'm alone later!

If we don't take more initiative, we'll really be crushed under that giant cow!

After a brief moment of reflection, Richard continued to discuss other issues with Alice.

Meanwhile, Katyusha, along with a few others, temporarily booked a clean restaurant nearby, intending for Richard and Alice to rest there later.

She checked the restaurant environment and, after confirming that everything was in order, went outside to get the dessert.

Just then, she suddenly noticed that sailors and dockworkers on the beach not far away were making a commotion for no apparent reason.

For safety's sake, she picked up her shield and cautiously approached.

Pushing through the crowd, she saw a middle-aged man and a little girl lying on the ground. They looked like a father and daughter who were fishing. Their clothes were tattered and they had wounds on their bodies, but their chests were rising and falling, so they were still alive.

"Where were they found? Does anyone know them...?"

Just as Katyusha was asking the people around her, the little girl woke up, grabbed her sleeve, and said weakly:

"There are bad guys and monsters..."

Chapter 129 Brain Pad Waves Really Work!

The little girl fainted again as soon as she finished speaking.

Katyusha quickly began first aid, first getting the father and daughter to cough up water, then taking out a portable medicine from her person and feeding it to them.

After the two men stabilized, she carefully examined their wounds and found that they were all strangely circular and emitted a faint ominous aura.

It doesn't seem like something a human or a fish-man would do.

Upon confirming that something was amiss, she immediately arranged for the person to be sent to the hospital, while she returned to report to Richard.

An hour later, Richard and Alice arrived after finishing their activities—Alice, as Princess of Vanderbilt, was not supposed to concern herself with such matters, but she offered to help.

On the surface, examining Connaught's healthcare and assistance system can be considered part of the investment process.

Richard immediately asked the doctor, "How are they?"

"The children are alright, but it's a different story for the adults. They've been mentally unstable, and we suspect their brains have been invaded by a curse..."

The doctor on the other end sighed, indicating that he had no solution to the situation and that it might be necessary to find a high-ranking priest.

"Thank you very much."

Richard understood the limitations of a doctor without magic in this era, so he didn't make demands. After paying the bills, he went to visit the father and daughter in their private room.

The two were lying in bed, still asleep after taking their medication. The girl looked peaceful, while the father seemed to be having a nightmare, his body trembling and muttering to himself.

He released his spiritual power to carefully sense it and indeed found traces of a curse.

"This is certainly unusual..."

In fact, this was one of the reasons why he decided to come in person instead of leaving the matter to the sheriffs below.

"Your Highness?"

Just then, the little girl seemed to be awakened by the noise. She opened her eyes groggily and then exclaimed excitedly, "Your Highness? It really is you! I'm so sorry, I was rude..."

"Relax, little sister, I'm right here, you don't need to bow."

Richard immediately offered words of comfort.

"My...my dad..."

"He'll be fine... It's just a matter of money, which I can help resolve."

The little girl breathed a sigh of relief.

She looked at Richard, seemingly finding him even gentler and more reliable than she had expected. After stammering for a moment, she finally mustered her courage, straightened her back, and said seriously, "Your Highness, I...I have something important to tell you!"

Take your time, I'm listening.

“Bad guys have broken into Connaught! They either have white powder on their faces or wear blue gloves, and they’re going to throw people into the sea to feed the monsters…”

Richard felt a jolt of excitement the moment he heard the word "blue gloves."

The little girl spoke haltingly, but Richard listened patiently and pieced together the story through a combination of reasoning and guessing.

A noble and mysterious imperial mage, along with a blue-gloved member of the church, arrive in the waters of Connaught with his men and a ship to hunt down a certain magical beast.

They encountered the girl and her father last night and used them as bait to throw them into the sea to lure their target.

However, the monster was very wary. After attacking the fisherman and his daughter briefly, it realized something was wrong and quickly fled.

They immediately went diving to give chase, but ultimately failed. Instead, the father and daughter managed to escape amidst the chaos.

After that, the girl fainted, lost her memory, and woke up on the beach.

As for the monster, because it was still dark and the environment was chaotic, the girl didn't remember much. She only said that it was about ten meters long, a dark mass underwater, and moved very fast.

Richard frowned slightly, lost in thought.

The little girl looked uneasy and asked in a low voice, "Your Highness, you can definitely defeat them, right?"

"……certainly."

Richard suppressed his hesitation and answered firmly, "I will make them pay the price."

This is the truth.

Even disregarding the potential hostility between the two sides, he would never forgive the act of using people as bait.

"Yes, I believe in you! You're the best!"

This was the first time the little girl had smiled since last night.

"Thank you for the compliment. You should get some rest now."

Richard patted the little girl on the head and left the room.

Then, Katyusha came in carrying fruit and hot milk.

After recognizing the person who saved her, the little girl's eyes widened as she said, "Thank you, sister..."

Katyusha nodded, and faintly saw her own reflection in those clear pupils.

"……May I have your name?"

“Langley, Langley Miller…”

Outside, in an empty room in the hospital.

Although he boasted in front of the children, Richard immediately looked worried after they left.

After all, blue gloves are not easy to deal with.

He certainly wanted to trip them up, but he had too little information. He didn't know their capabilities or their true intentions. If he acted rashly...

What if we attract the attention of the gods?

However, he was certain that the opponent's strength was not outrageously high, nor did they resort to any divine intervention or similar methods; otherwise, last night's operation would have been quite a spectacle and would not have failed.

"Junior?"

Alice found Richard and sat down next to him.

"Is things very troublesome?"

"It's more troublesome than I imagined."

Is there anything I can do to help you?

"It's difficult... Ugh!"

Before he could finish speaking, Richard felt a pale hand press against his forehead, pushing his head into a warm and soft valley.

"Then at least, I can make it more comfortable for you to think?"