Become their wicked yet gentle lord.

Hayden gave a cold laugh: "So you're not killing me, you're just using this as an excuse to detain me, is that it?"

With a threatening smile, Ryusha said, "I've been polite enough to you, Mr. Hayden. If you don't cooperate, I have plenty of ways to make things less dignified."

"Torture? Mental magic? Ha!" Hayden scoffed. "How do I know you won't kill me after I give you the information you want?"

"You can give it to me slowly. I only want your plans in Sochi this time. I'm not interested in anything outside of Sochi province. As for the other intelligence, keep it as your bargaining chip. I might need to ask you about it sometime."

Ryūsha casually told Hayden of his fate of being a prisoner for a long time, and didn't forget to add a sarcastic remark:

“You’re a smart man, Mr. Hayden. I’ll win whether you're here or not, and no matter how I win, the rest of the Chamber of Commerce will think you betrayed them. But if you cooperate with me obediently, you’ll still have a chance to return to the Chamber of Commerce with dignity in the future…”

Returning to the Chamber of Commerce with dignity? What does that mean? Before Hayden could react, Ryuga had already gestured for him to enter. This made Hayden's lips twitch. He knew that if he didn't go out, he might very well be thrown out the window by the boy in front of him.

The owner and staff of Silver Lion Trading downstairs watched Hayden walk down in front of Liuxia, looking silent, and then they all gathered around him.

"Mr. Hayden, what exactly is going on..."

"He has been arrested."

Liu Xia answered first, and with a command, the city guards at the gate immediately surrounded Hayden and escorted him out through the main gate of Silver Lion Trading Company.

This was a bustling commercial street, and Liu Xia's appearance had attracted many passersby and merchants, who wanted to know what the young governor was doing here, or perhaps find an opportunity to strike up a conversation and become acquainted. But no one expected that when Liu Xia came out, the city guards would also bring out a 'prisoner'.

"Who is this? Someone from Silver Lion Trading?"

"Fool! This is Mr. Hayden! He's from the Golden Dragon Merchant Guild, the supplier of Silver Lion Trading! He's a prominent figure within the guild alliance! But how could he be..."

Hayden remained silent, knowing that if he said anything at this moment, Ryūka would take it as a coded message to the outside world, so he simply kept quiet and let Ryūka have his men read out the reasons for his arrest.

He glanced at the members of the Chamber of Commerce lurking in the crowd, praying that the people behind them would be quick-witted and not really mess things up.

In the Miller family estate, a newly built three-story villa gleamed beautifully in the sunlight. The orange tiles on the roof contrasted against the azure sky, and the paint on the wooden planks was applied evenly, creating a stylish color scheme. The foundation and the load-bearing structure of the first floor were constructed using cement produced in Sochi, with steel bars inside for insulation and sturdiness.

While it can't compare to the centuries-old mansions of nobles, everything in northern Sochi starts from the ground up. Three months isn't enough time for the northern nobles who have settled here to enjoy luxurious residences. Fortunately, it's summer, and ordinary wooden houses are sufficient for daily needs. Meanwhile, many commoners who have migrated here are still making do in temporary tents and simple prefab houses, busy every day building mansions for their lords.

Therefore, the Miller family's new residence was exceptionally outstanding, and immediately became a popular gathering place for noble ladies from the surrounding territories after they were able to move in. Not to mention the enormous profits its owner, Esther Miller, made through her economic cooperation with the Governor of Ryukyu, which made the room's decor more fashionable and charming than the luxurious style favored by traditional nobles.

"A mansion where you can completely control what you want—that's so enviable! My father doesn't even allow me to arrange my own room!"

At a tea party for aristocratic young ladies, a girl let out a sigh, which was echoed by Esther's other guests. The ladies chattered about topics common to young girls, occasionally praising Esther.

"And the decorations in this drawing room! Oh my god, they're so cute! The pink and white wall coverings and these cloud-like carvings! Esther! You have to tell me where you bought them!"

Esther smiled contentedly and gently raised her chin: "I designed it myself, then had it produced by the lumber mills in Sochi. I also chose the colors myself."

She was captivated by the gasps and compliments, unaware that the group of elegantly dressed young ladies had drawn inspiration from Liu Xia's clothing designs, both in terms of color and style.

"If you'd like, I can try to get you a good discount."

Esther's lips curled slightly. That kid, Ryusha, although always arrogant, really understood girls' preferences and knew what could make them rich. Besides her paper-based cooperation with him, using what she learned from him, plus the production from the Miller family's invested workshops, this was another new avenue for making money.

However, she would not share this profit with him. Esther watched as the noble girls in front of her vied for her attention and couldn't help but snort inwardly.

In the past, when she was poor, almost no noble girls were willing to associate with Esther. But after she became successful, she went from having no shortage of suitors to having no shortage of 'friends', which Esther found very interesting.

She sipped her black tea, her eyes sweeping over the noblewoman before her like a female leopard surveying her hunting grounds from the grass. Their casual chatter always revealed glimpses of family matters, and Esther, based on her own understanding, was able to further ascertain what had transpired.

By handing this information over to Ryūka's shadow guards, that's considered Ryūka's share of the profits.

Esther gently set down her teacup and sighed. Even with ice, it still couldn't compare to the iced fruit tea she'd had at Liuxia's last place. Thinking of this, she couldn't help but share it with the group of noble ladies:

“That’s wonderful! But… my family won’t let me go to Sochi. They say that as a nobleman from the North, I should stand with Prince Clovis…”

"Even when I came here, it was just an excuse to see Susan, right, Susan?"

“Me too, I had to make an excuse to go out with Judy to come here! Father is such a stubborn old man! Look! Look how good it is to follow Esther and Lord Weston, to follow that young governor! Economic support, manpower support, agricultural support... they can even get the special cement used for road construction in the province! They built such a sturdy and beautiful new house so quickly! Even the roof tiles are like works of art! Not to mention the beautiful clothes and fabrics produced in Sochi!”

"Oh my god! Don't even mention it! Last time I only bought one! My father threw a tantrum at me for ages, saying it was a betrayal of the camp!"

These girls, no more than sixteen or seventeen years old, immediately began to grumble and chatter, even discussing sensitive matters such as which visitors had recently come to their house and what the territory had been busy with lately.

Esther silently noted in her mind which northern nobles wanted to switch sides to Ryukyu, and which remained stubbornly resistant, including their current financial and territorial situations.

At this moment, a noblewoman suddenly steered the conversation toward Esther with a mischievous grin.

"Estelle~ I've heard that young governor is incredibly handsome~ You two are so close~ It can't be that..."

Her words immediately made the surrounding girls' eyes light up. Some were interested, while others grinned mischievously, and they all started asking questions at once:

"I heard that although he is young, he is very flirtatious and has many lovers. Is that true?"

"Esther~ have you and him... um?"

"What does he actually look like? I heard his photos are really popular in Beijing! But we're in Sochi, and we haven't seen a single one!"

"There's a rumor that he'd be prettier than anyone else if he dressed up as a girl. Is that true? Surely he couldn't be prettier than you, Esther?"

"Ahem! What are you talking about!" Esther couldn't help but cough lightly, and she used her usual excuse again.

“Our family simply accepted the orders and requests for cooperation from him as governor, and it was mostly my father who handled things on his behalf. I actually only met him a few times. My daily work involved dealing with his secretaries and the finance minister, and they were all women…”

This was, of course, a lie. Everyone knew that Esther's father was constantly traveling to Sochi. But he spent his time in various workshops, observing how mages used magic for all sorts of production and the novel magical machines. As for Esther, although she spent most of these three months developing her own territory, whenever she went to Sochi, she would secretly check on what Ryusha was up to and whether he had come up with any new ideas. But this couldn't be said to outsiders. She had to pretend among the Northern nobles that she and her father were only cooperating for mutual benefit, not that they were 'traitors' and that their hearts were still with them.

Especially when dealing with these aristocratic ladies whose mouths were as wide as the Sochi River, she was unwilling to admit anything, lest a whole host of terrible rumors spread. Besides, they were currently only saying they were interested in gossip, but in reality, the sparks of jealousy in their eyes were practically jumping out at her face. If she were to actually admit or hint at anything, she might be cursed with some kind of dark magic that very night…

That guy... he's really popular...

Just as Esther was thinking about Ryusha, a maid came in carrying a silver tray and presented her with a letter.

"Miss Esther, there is a letter for you."

"Oh~ Could it be that young governor's? Esther~ Let's see!"

"Stop joking, it's just a letter from the family's workshop in Sochi."

Esther chuckled and changed the subject. She glanced at the inconspicuous lace on the envelope, then ordered the maid to leave, saying she needed to entertain the guests first. After spending some more time exchanging pleasantries with the noble ladies over tea and desserts, she finally excused herself to use the restroom and left the drawing room.

"What about the letter?"

Esther moved into another room protected by magic, opened the envelope with the Shadow Guard's secret pattern, and read the letter that Zona had sent her in an instant, her eyes following the lines of characters as they flashed rapidly.

"Wow~ That guy has already made his move, and in this way at that, which means..."

Esther returned the letter to the maid, who was not Esther's personal maid. Her slightly dark skin looked like it had been tanned by the sun, but only Esther knew that it was due to her very thin dark elf bloodline.

Although not a formal shadow guard, this maid undoubtedly works within Ryūka's intelligence network. Having such a maid by his side is both for convenience and a way for Esther to curry favor with Ryūka.

Although not a formal shadow guard, this maid undoubtedly works within Ryūka's intelligence network. Having such a maid by his side is both for convenience and a way for Esther to curry favor with Ryūka.

“I think a distinguished guest from the Chamber of Commerce will be visiting soon. You know what to do, right?”

"Yes, ma'am."

Seeing Esther's enigmatic smile, the maid nodded slightly, then tossed the secret letter into the brazier, letting it turn to ashes in the blue magical flames...

Chapter 24 The Changes of the Vino People

Meanwhile, further north of the Miller family's territory, in the lands belonging to Weston Oliveira, his barbarian warriors, along with their families and clans who had migrated from the north, were cultivating the fields with various advanced farming tools.

Although hoes are much more difficult to use than battle axes and spears for these barbarians who are only good at hunting and fighting, the forests burned by fire a few months ago have made the soil more fertile, which is a good start for them.

Compared to the Otto people who are used to living in houses, they chose to use tents, since Sochi's climate is hotter than the North, not to mention it's summer now.

Inside the largest tent, the former chieftain, now the Imperial Viscount Bear Weston, was enjoying the fine wine sent by Ryusha, while entertaining the long-haired 'guest' before him.

"I'm so sorry, Miss Adela, although we have had a good trade relationship in the past, I cannot agree to your request for cooperation this time, considering the interests of our people."

Sitting opposite him was Adela from the Chamber of Commerce. Her long, golden hair was styled in a bun, allowing her fair neck to feel cool in the sweltering summer heat. She wore an elegant summer dress that accentuated her curves. Although she looked like a girl from an ordinary town, her refined manners and poise made her stand out from the crowd.

Despite this, when she heard Weston's refusal, the corners of her smiling lips twitched slightly, almost shattering her composed facade. But she restrained herself, gently rising to her feet and bowing to Weston: "You Mei you you wo Yongkong you Lin Zai Zai Mei...?"

“I understand. Well then, Lord Weston, thank you for your time today…”

After saying that, she left the tent without looking back, leaving behind the untouched roasted meat on the table, and boarded the carriage guarded by several knights and mages.

After she left, a shaman girl emerged from behind the tent screen; she was Weston's daughter, Paruru.

"Why don't we just capture her and hand her over to Ryukatsu, Father?"

Weston chuckled: "The guards she brought aren't to be underestimated. How could the Golden Dragon Merchant Guild, one of the giants of the Merchant Guild Alliance, let their young lady be unguarded? Besides, that kid Liu Xia said we should just remain neutral. Let him fight the Merchant Guild Alliance. If we presume to know his thoughts, it will only disrupt his plans..."

Weston held no goodwill towards the Merchant Guild Alliance. The Alliance had long maintained contact with the northern barbarians, the Vinos. Although the Vinos maintained tense relations with the Otus Empire, this didn't hinder the Alliance's trade with them. Furs, rare treasures, weapons, and grains were common trade items, but the difference lay in the fact that the Vinos traded with them primarily for survival, while the Alliance profited immensely. The various specialties of the northern snowfields and materials from magical beasts could easily fetch astronomical prices once transported inland!

Especially when relations between the Empire and the barbarians were tense, the merchant guilds that controlled smuggling routes made even more money. This was not only because their goods were scarce, but also because the Vino people had to trade with them at lower prices to obtain enough food during the war blockade. This was true not only for Vino chieftains like Weston who had already submitted to the Ottus Empire, but also for other Vino tribes that were still hostile to Ottus.

But after Weston acquired the title of Otus and the territory in Sochi, the old rules of the game changed. In particular, Weston's cooperation with the Ryukyu Kingdom naturally had a significant impact on the trade of the merchant guilds.

Adela now offered better terms, hoping Weston would remain cooperative and continue acting as their intermediary guarantor with the other Vinos. But Weston was unwilling to risk being accused of 'colluding with barbarians' within Ottus, even though he himself was, which made him even more cautious.

Not to mention, Adela's offer was too good to pass up. She was clearly testing Weston's attitude, trying to secure his support in the upcoming conflict by binding them together, rather than making him an ally of Ryukyu.

That's why she seemed so unhappy when Weston refused.

“Sigh~” Paruru looked at her father and sighed softly, saying in a somewhat amused tone, “You’re becoming more and more like an Ottoman, too shrewd.”

Weston raised his thick eyebrows, burst into hearty laughter, stood up, pulled Adela's untouched piece of roast meat over, pulled out the knife, and began to slice and eat it like a piece of fruit, displaying with unrestrained manner that he was still a Vino chieftain.

Paruru was just joking. To think like enemy and prey—that was the motto of their Vino warriors. Her father was simply becoming more and more like an Ottus, but deep down he remained a bold and direct warrior. It was only his position as chieftain that forced him to learn to think and judge, leading his nearly extinct tribe to submit to Ottus's rule, leaving their homeland to settle here and survive.

In exchange, they received warm and fertile land, advanced Ottusian technology, a stable life, and the opportunity to profit from the infighting among the Ottusian nobility...

And of course, the long-lost Holy Spirit of Vino was also found...

"Where is the Holy Spirit? How are things going with you two?"

Paruru immediately looked dejected at Weston's gruff question.

After she helped Ryukatsu deal with Hinatil, Ryukatsu kept his promise and let her meet the white-haired girl.

Although she only possessed half the bloodline, Vitris was undoubtedly the Holy Spirit she had been searching for. The Snow Spirit immediately felt a natural affinity for the shamanic aura emanating from Paruru, but gaining her trust was no easy feat. It took Paruru three whole months of continuous visits to Sochi Castle, and with the help of Ryusha, she spent time with Vitris before finally earning the opportunity to invite her to her territory.

But Paruru soon encountered a tricky problem.

"The Holy Spirit can eat so much..."

Their territory was newly established, and everything needed rebuilding. Neither agriculture nor animal husbandry would see any improvement until at least next year; until then, they couldn't afford to eat their fill. But Vitale… she ate the rations of seven or eight strong, grown men as if they were snacks! And it had to be meat! Even Paruru's father was afraid he'd choke to death seeing that amount of food!

Although skipping a few meals won't kill Xue Ling, the relationship between Paruru and Vitris is still in the process of slowly building a bond, so feeding her is the most effective method. If the Holy Spirit isn't full, she immediately cries out that she wants to go back to Ryūsha, which makes Paruru miserable, leaving her no choice but to obediently offer up her precious livestock…

Paruru began to suspect that Ryūka had deliberately sent Vitris here to exploit them into poverty, so that they would remain cooperative...

Hearing Paruru say that, Weston's eyes widened: "That kid Ryūsha, didn't he just send over a batch of trade goods? There was grain, livestock, and..."

At this point, Weston paused, subtly shifting his position to block the several empty barrels of liquor behind him with his massive body.

Paruru's eyelids, painted with dark blue eyeshadow, drooped as she looked at her father and said irritably:

"The Holy Spirit only eats meat! But every animal is incredibly precious now, as they will produce offspring next year! This is not a waste! Besides! You think too highly of your people!"

Although they and the Miller family were among the first northern nobles to cooperate with Ryukyu, the two groups were quite different. Under Esther's guidance, the Miller family quickly transformed from a lordly family with little control into a benevolent ruler in the eyes of their people. Their various businesses brought them immense wealth, and the commoners of Otus were more adept at business and production than the Vino people.

Therefore, the Miller family and Ryūsha are currently in a mutually beneficial partnership, but the situation is different for Weston. Simply put, Ryūsha is constantly providing them with resources… after all, it will take considerable time for these Vino people to adapt to life here. Human and material resources need to be continuously invested in the early stages, which is why Weston sides with Ryūsha. After all, apart from this incredibly wealthy young governor, other nobles, even if they wanted to help, couldn't, let alone those who didn't…

“Oh, my dear daughter, as the most promising and wise shaman in the tribe, I believe you will have a way.”

Seeing Weston's somewhat awkward smile, Paruru coldly took away the plate of roast meat in front of him and left a sarcastic remark:

“I’m going to give these to the Holy Spirit! And also, my father! Since you came to Sochi, your belly has been getting bigger and bigger! It’s summer now! It’s not the time for bears to store fat! You should do as Ryūsha said and personally lead the people to learn new farming techniques and craftsmanship skills! After all, his help to us will last until next year! You don’t want us to go hungry then, do you?”

Weston touched his large, somewhat embarrassed body.

Many people in the tribe had gained weight, as Paruru had said. And it wasn't just him; many others in the tribe were also subtly puffing up. Even the poorest members of the tribe no longer went hungry. The transition from luxury to frugality was difficult, which made him think that Ryūsha's help to them might be a form of domestication, just like how they had tamed wolves into their most loyal companions…

"Tsk! Damn barbarians! Dirty tents! Greasy roasted meat! And they have to tear it apart with their hands and knives to eat it! Are you kidding me! I've already offered more than enough! And these so-called warriors of the snowfield, they'll betray the northern camp and wag their tails on the other side as soon as that little governor gives them some scraps! They're like dogs!"

Inside the unassuming carriage was brightly and luxuriously decorated. Adela abandoned her dignified demeanor, biting her thumb and muttering curses under her breath.

Her maid, Yulina, cautiously advised, "Miss... keep your voice down, we haven't left their territory yet."

Just as Adela was about to have an outburst, a guard outside the carriage suddenly knocked on the window and handed her a crystal ball.

"Miss, there's urgent news from Sochi..."

Chapter 25: Should we gamble? And what will the price be?

“Miss Adela, I saw it with my own eyes, and many others saw it too. Mr. Hayden was taken away in the street… Everyone is terrified! They’re all guessing that the governor is going to take action against the chambers of commerce! To completely expel any merchants who aren’t his from Sochi! Miss Adela! You need to make a decision quickly! People from several other large chambers of commerce have also come to us, saying that our Golden Dragon Chamber of Commerce is corrupt! If we implicate them, we’ll have to bear the losses!”

At one end of the crystal ball, a man urgently recounted the events of Sochi to Adela. Adela's expression grew increasingly grave in the image, and after a cold "I understand," the image disappeared from the crystal ball.

"Is this... okay?"

The man put down the crystal ball and turned around cautiously. He was the shop assistant who had disappeared from across the street from Silver Lion Trading earlier.

In his blind spot, a masked girl held a poisoned dagger to his back; it was Nemi. Inside the small room, several other people were also being subdued by shadow guards dressed in civilian clothes, while standing in the center of the room was the masked Zona.