Lord: My Shop Connects to Modern Times

Sig left, carrying a full load of goods unique to Grayrock Town, and embarked on his journey back to the capital.

However, Lynn still needs to process and resolve the information he brings her on her own.

Lynn watched Sig's carriage drive away until it disappeared from sight before turning back to the lord's manor.

He returned to his study, sat down, took out paper and pen, and carefully recalled what Sieg had said.

First, there's the issue of public opinion. Lynn had some expectation of this, but she didn't expect it to be this serious.

This is clearly illogical; a wild and untamed place would be the legendary "Lingnan" in this era of Earth.

Even though they themselves had been exiled to such a place, the territorial dispute between the two viscounts had managed to cause such a stir in the capital in such a short time.

Lynn would never believe it if you told him there was no one stirring things up or interfering behind the scenes.

Who is the key person?

This question isn't hard to guess; there are only two possibilities.

First, there's Karl and the forces behind him.

Secondly, there are the noble families that the Cole family doesn't get along with in the capital, such as some families in the North.

They were the first to make a fuss and demand that Lynn be exiled.

The leader of this group was Soren Lund, Duke of the North.

Of the two suspects, Lynn felt that the former was more likely.

For no other reason than factors such as time and purpose, Count Karl just happened to be in perfect sync.

Even now, Lynn strongly suspects that there may be more to the story than meets the eye regarding her past dereliction of duty.

However, now that the northern forces, led by Soren, have had almost no contact with Lynn after he was exiled, they have become increasingly isolated.

The only person with whom they have now fallen out and have had indirect contact is Carl Booth!

They just haven't completely broken off relations yet.

Lynn wrote down the opinions on a piece of paper, then circled them, linking them to the name Carl.

The characters have been roughly identified, so what is the purpose of the other party doing this?

To further isolate myself in the South? To make it difficult for me to trade? Or to vent my anger by smearing others after a defeat?

Lynn shook her head.

None of these are likely true. Count Karl is not a fool; rather, the people behind him are not fools.

They knew these things wouldn't have much practical impact on them; they possessed strong moral character and produced excellent products—things that would stand the test of time.

Moreover, the core conflict between us and them is not these things at all.

Lynn tapped her pen lightly twice on the table.

Could it be that this is just a way to label himself?

Lynn recalled the details of his previous encounter with Gavin, as well as Gavin's vague statements about the Cole family's secrets and the motives of the person behind them...

Lynn's pen hovered over the paper, then stopped.

Public opinion, isolation, labeling.

Assuming that all this public opinion is orchestrated by Karl or the forces behind him, then their ultimate goal is still themselves, or rather, the Cole family bloodline itself.

But if the other party just wants to make it impossible for me to stay in the Southern Territory, there's no need to go to such great lengths.

They could just unite with a few lords and attack—after all, when nobles annex each other's territories, as long as the aftermath is handled properly, nobody cares in the capital.

But they didn't do that.

After Gavin's failure, Carl opted for political suppression, economic blockade, and smear campaigns, but did not send troops again.

This is not normal.

Lynn wasn't arrogant enough to fight against thousands of men with his musketeers.

Although gunpowder has been improved and the musketeer corps has expanded to a size of one hundred men, this is still not enough.

Moreover, according to Gavin, a force that can make Count Karl so subservient and has intricate ties with monsters must be something extraordinary.

At least not just the position of Duke.

If they really wanted to send men to fight them, and gathered a few more Earls A, B, and C, and assembled an army of several thousand men, it should have been a piece of cake.

unless……

Lynn's eyes lit up.

Unless the other party is completely unable to deal with me right now!

He recalled the organized monsters in the Eastern Territory, the "red-eyed commander in armor" described in Kai's letter, and the three messengers Gavin sent when he attacked Grayrock Town—all wearing armor, with red eyes, and dissipating into black mist after death.

The monster tide in the Eastern Territory and the attack on Grayrock Town both used the same type of "commander".

At this very moment, King Charles VI happened to be "seriously ill," which made him unable to handle the requests for aid from the east, and caused the Ministry of War's approval to be delayed again and again.

Lynn tapped her fingers lightly on the table.

This is no coincidence.

Someone is playing a very large game. The entire Dawn Empire is the chessboard, and you yourself may not be a nameless victim, but rather the "king" that the opponent ultimately wants to capture!

It wasn't that Lynn overestimated his position in the other party's heart; what Lynn overestimated was the Cole family bloodline that Gavin was so eager to obtain!

Having read many conspiracy theories in his past life, Lynn had to think the worst possible way.

What will the other party do next?

Continue to smear him, leaving him completely isolated and helpless? Then wait for the right moment—when the Eastern Territory is free to act, when the capital is completely out of control—before gathering real power to crush Grayrock Town in one fell swoop?

Lynn opened his eyes, an idea forming in his mind.

He now needs to prepare for both possibilities.

Lynn put down her pen, stood up, and walked to the window.

The afternoon sun shone brightly in Gray Rock Town. Several children held popsicles in their hands, eating and laughing as they played on the street.

Those were children taking a break at lunchtime, coming out of school to rest.

He looked at it for a while, then sat back down in his chair and unfolded a new sheet of paper.

The first thing: intelligence.

Previously, the territory had few people, so there was no emphasis on it or the energy to put effort into it.

Besides Bray leading the hunting party on reconnaissance missions, Leah occasionally helped out, but only in the vicinity. The intelligence network was too narrow and not systematic enough.

Not anymore.

The enemy lurks in the shadows, in Frostfire City, in the distant capital, and even in the East.

These are all places Lynn couldn't reach.

We must establish a dedicated intelligence department!

He slowly wrote three words on the paper: "CIA". That's a good name; it has that feel to it.

After a moment's thought, Lynn picked up a piece of paper with the words "CIA" written on it, stood up, and walked towards the public treasury.

Before they even reached the public treasury, Lynn spotted Lydia in the distance, under the shade of a large tree beside it.

The half-elf girl was squatting under the shade of a tree, her back to Lynn, holding a twig and drawing something on the ground.

Lynn smiled, and suddenly an idea came to him.

He lowered his pace and slowly walked towards Liya.

The half-elf girl under the shade of the tree was completely unaware.

She squatted on the ground, one hand supporting her knee, the other holding a small twig, intently drawing something in the mud.

Sunlight streamed through the gaps in the leaves, dancing and shimmering on her pale golden hair.

When Lynn was three steps behind her, he could see what she had written.

They were two crooked characters—more like patterns drawn from something than characters.

"Eve".

Lynn read it aloud without thinking.

Lia shuddered, and the branch almost poked her in the instep.

She turned around abruptly, her amber eyes wide open, and she leaned back like a startled cat before losing her balance and falling to the ground with a thud.

"Lynn!" Her face flushed red. "Why...why do you walk so quietly!"

Lynn couldn't help but laugh: "You're just too careless. What, in Grayrock Town, did you subconsciously feel there was no danger?"

"I didn't!" Lia retorted indignantly.

"What should I write?"

Lia quickly smeared the two words on the ground with her palm, turning them into a muddy mess.

"N-nothing," she said, turning her face away, her ears burning red. "I was just doodling."

Upon hearing this, Lynn did not ask any further questions.

He crouched down to be at eye level with Liya.

"Did you hurt yourself?"

"No." Leah patted her skirt and stood up, pretending nothing had happened. "You were looking for me?"

Lynn also stood up and nodded: "I have important business to attend to."

Lia blinked, her expression changing from embarrassment to curiosity.

"Come with me," Lynn said.

The two walked to a shady spot a little further away, where there was no one else around.

"Lia," Lynn looked at her, "I need you to do something for me."

Lia tilted her head, waiting for what was to come.

"I'm going to set up a department specifically for intelligence," Lynn said. "The name is tentatively set... CIA. You'll be the head of the department."

Lia was stunned.

"Me?" She pointed to herself, her eyes wide open.

"right."

"But..." Leah stammered, unusually, "I...I don't know how! I've never done anything like that!"

Lynn looked at her.

"Didn't you help me with reconnaissance before? You did a pretty good job."

"You said it yourself, it's reconnaissance!" Leah exclaimed anxiously, "It's sneaking over to take a look and then running away! This department you're talking about... it can't just be about reconnaissance, right? It must involve taking notes, writing reports, assigning personnel, and all that..."

She spoke softer and softer, finally muttering, "I can't even recognize all the words..."

Lynn suppressed a laugh.

"so what?"

Lia looked up at him, her face saying, "Aren't you just asking a question you already know the answer to?"

"That's why I can't do it!" she declared matter-of-factly. "I'm incredibly stupid. Martha taught me for days, and I only managed to remember about twenty words. Let me manage... whatever bureau, I'd definitely mess it up!"

Lynn finally couldn't help but laugh.

Lia glared at him.

"What are you laughing at!"

Lynn stopped smiling and looked into her eyes.

"Lia, do you remember when you first came to Grayrock Town?"

Lia was taken aback.

"Back then, you didn't trust anyone, always had a straight face, or you'd just fake a smile the whole time," Lynn said. "And now?"

Lia pursed her lips and didn't say anything.

"Now you can laugh genuinely, you can get angry, you can learn to read with Martha, and you can even squat down and secretly write your name," Lynn said. "What does that mean?"

Lia turned her face away: "It just means I'm becoming more and more of an idiot."

"That means you're changing," Lynn said earnestly. "Things you couldn't do before, you can now. Things you didn't know before, you're learning now. You won't stay in the same place forever."

Lia remained silent for a few seconds.

"But... I really don't have confidence," she whispered. "What if I mess it up..."

"If you mess it up, just start over." Lynn shrugged. "What in Grayrock Town can be accomplished on the first try?"

Lia didn't reply, but her ears twitched.

Lynn knew she was listening.

"And," he paused, a hint of mockery in his voice, "you really are an idiot."

Lia looked up abruptly, her eyes widening again.

"Because you didn't even think to ask someone for help," Lynn said.

Lia blinked.

"Look, there are so many people in the territory now, and there are schools too," Lynn said. "There are literate people, people who can do accounts, and people who are quick-witted. If there's anything you don't know how to do, you can ask them to do it."

"I told you to be in charge, not to do everything yourself. You can ask your assistant to do things like writing reports and compiling summaries."

Lia stared blankly at him.

"assistant?"

"Yes," Lynn said. "Go find some people. Pick whoever you think is clever and reliable. If one isn't enough, have two; if two aren't enough, have three."

He paused. "You're not alone, Leah."

Lia lowered her head and looked at her toes.

Sunlight filtered through the leaves, dancing on her pale golden hair.

"Then..." She looked up, her eyes a little uncertain, but brighter than before: "Can I really find someone to help me?"

"Can."

"How many?"

"what ever."

Who will pay the wages?

"Public treasury".

Lia was silent for a few seconds, then took a deep breath.

"I'll give it a try," she said, her voice soft but earnest.

Lynn nodded.

"However..." Lia spoke again, a sly smile on her face, "If I mess it up, you're not allowed to yell at me."

"I won't scold you," Lynn said. "But next time I find you practicing calligraphy, I'll definitely still smile."

Lia's face turned red again.

"you!"

Lynn had already turned around and walked back.

"The first step," he said without turning his head, "is to select from literate people. Go to the schools, the reform camps, and Ironstone Fortress yourself. Once you've chosen, bring them over. I'll meet them and assign you specific tasks."

Lia stood there, watching his back recede into the distance, slightly lost in thought.

At this moment, Lynn, who was in the distance, had already focused his attention on the exchange shop.

Now it's time to start preparing the second option; he needs to research and develop some new weapons!