Become their wicked yet gentle lord.

"I've heard that Linhu County has been squeezing the interests of officials and landlords, these 'gentry,' while paying immense attention to vagrants, serfs, and runaway slaves! You, young man, although you are a governor, are still a commoner! How dare you speak to an older nobleman in such a tone! Ha! You wouldn't happen to be one of those rumored 'progressives,' would you?"

Godfrey's words immediately created a tense atmosphere in the room.

The so-called "progressives" or "progressivism" is a new trend of thought that has emerged among scholars in the capital, much like the nascent ideas in Ryūka's understanding.

Therefore, nobles naturally turned pale at the mere mention of these words.

Was it too obvious...? Ryuu lowered his eyes. No matter how he integrated into this world, his core thoughts remained different, and his unintentional policy orientations naturally appeared extremely strange to others.

The development of everything must conform to the historical trend. However, some of the policies of the Ryukyu Kingdom are even more "progressive" than "progressivism." If we were to be serious about it, it is estimated that 99% of the ruling classes in the world would not agree with them.

Standing at the forefront of the times can bring benefits, but being at the very front of the tide will leave you stranded on the beach.

In the future, I'll probably be facing the entire world, but until I have absolute power, I still need to blend in with the disguise...

Just as Liu Xia had gathered her thoughts and was about to speak again, a pair of warm hands touched her shoulders.

“Viscount Douglas, please do not speak to me, the ‘Consul,’ in such a manner. All policies in the Linhu Territory are my will as the lord, and he is acting on orders.”

Hetia gracefully stood behind Ryūsha, her arms wrapped around him, making no attempt to conceal their intimate and ambiguous relationship. After refuting Godfrey, she smiled at the assembled nobles.

"I'm truly sorry. It seems that you've been too intimate with me in your daily interactions. The Governor of Ryukyu is used to speaking to nobles in this way; it's my fault."

Upon seeing Hetia's intimate gesture, some of the noblewomen and young ladies present exclaimed in surprise and envy.

Hetia earned her noble status through her own sword; she had no family backing her, so no elders arranged her marriage, and she made all the decisions about her own marriage…

The handsome young man Hetia was standing close to was even more outstanding than her, the 'genius knight,' and he would be sixteen next year…

I see... In other words, Ryūka might become a nobleman next year, which is why he spoke so presumptuously.

Everyone smiled with 'understanding'. As for the specific policies of Linhu Territory, they interpreted them as the new 'lord and his wife' wanting to suppress the local gentry and treat the lower classes well to establish their rule...

Ryūka had already figured out how to deal with Godfrey's accusations. But faced with everyone's 'misunderstanding,' he didn't need to refute them, after all, Hetia was trying to help him.

However… seeing the disappointed looks in the eyes of some young ladies, Ryuka felt as if some possibility for tonight had been blocked…

Hetia, you have to make up for the wonderful encounter I missed...

Chapter 9 Hayden's Servant

"I cannot accept Lord Douglas's accusations. I am merely a country-born martial artist and do not understand the 'progressives,' but I do yearn for the academies in the capital."

Ryusha laughed and denied Godfrey's claim about the hat.

"As for the phenomenon of refugees fleeing disasters, it often happens in Linhu Territory. In previous years, when there were disasters, many civilians would flee to Sochi City to make a living."

As rulers of our territories, this is a challenge we all face, which is why we should help each other even more, right? We also hope that Lord Douglas can receive everyone's assistance..."

"You!" Godfrey was about to retort when an unexpected figure appeared and interrupted him.

"Godfrey Douglas. Are you trying to break the peace treaty between the two territories?"

Megan Payne's tall and glamorous figure appeared in the banquet hall, eliciting gasps from the crowd. Every man present turned pale and began to tense up.

“Miss Payne…I…I’m not…” Faced with Megan’s downward gaze, Godfrey was like a wind-up toy, extremely nervous.

How did she end up here? Everyone knows that this young lady is always tyrannical and ruthless, and her cruel methods make all men tremble with fear.

Regarding Megan's long absence from Sochi, there are many different opinions, and some truths are circulating privately, but these are not credible amidst the various rumors. After all, no one would believe that a great knight would lose.

"No what? It was precisely to prevent this situation that I was sent here to serve as the ambassador for both territories."

Megan smiled haughtily and announced to everyone the identity that Ryusha had fabricated for her. Of course, Ryusha had also been secretly corresponding with Earl Duke.

Although she was privately Ryūka's utterly humiliated slave, before him she transformed into the arrogant Megan Payne, her towering figure and intimidating gaze sweeping over the crowd. Megan raised a hand to Ryūka, who then led the tall female knight to the podium, where Megan was officially announced as the resident envoy.

"Finally, I hope everyone enjoys the evening and will continue to support the development of Linhu Territory. In addition to the banquet, we have also invited performers from the original Silver Star Nocturne, whom I'm sure you are all familiar with."

Tomorrow we will be offering various safari activities, and interested guests can also climb the high mountains to the east, where it's still cool autumn and winter, and there's still snow.

After speaking, Liu Xia bowed to everyone, then smiled and blended into the crowd amidst applause.

Godfrey Douglas was ashen-faced. He had only been bribed by Mrs. Mara to cause trouble and knew nothing about Megan's affairs; after all, Mrs. Mara wouldn't air her dirty laundry in public. For a moment, he felt like a clown being used, and he could only slip away from the banquet when no one was looking.

Meanwhile, the other nobles and celebrities present generously donated their own glittering, golden gifts of kindness.

The musicians and dancers arranged by Kira entered the room, and the melodious music replaced the previous arguments. The lights outside the stage began to dim. The guests began to enjoy themselves, after all, they hadn't come here to cause trouble.

“Well done, you came at just the right time.” In a corner of the banquet hall, as everyone enjoyed the music and dance, Ryusha stood next to Megan and said.

"Thank you for the compliment, Master~" In front of Ryusha, Megan completely put away her arrogant demeanor in public. Her tall figure resembled that of a well-behaved little girl, trying to please the boy beside her.

"Well, I did pretty well too, didn't I?"

On the other side of Ryusha, there was Hetia, who was standing with her hands behind her back, looking proud and expecting praise.

"Do you want a reward?"

Standing in the middle, out of the crowd's sight, Liu Xia stretched out her hands and wantonly kneaded the delicate, fragrant bodies on either side of her. The two beauties, one in red and one in purple, bit their lower lips to suppress any soft moans.

Among the nobles present were many knights, and even with the music masking their hearing, their hearing was exceptional. The two female knights tried their best to remain silent, but Ryuka's skillful touch seemed to have a magical power, quickly bringing a beautiful pink blush to their fair skin.

"If they're so malicious, why not just use dark magic to control their emotions?"

A malicious voice rang out behind the two female knights, startling them. Thankfully it was Kania; otherwise, at such close range, even an ordinary person would have noticed that they were being toyed with by a young boy.

They were already at their breaking point without Ryuka using magic; if their senses were further manipulated...

They were afraid the control group would go crazy. But they knew that Ryūka really enjoyed doing such wicked things, not to mention that Kanya was fanning the flames.

Just as they were filled with both fear and anticipation, Ryuka suddenly pulled her hands out from under her skirt, took out a handkerchief to wipe away the bodily fluids that made the two of them feel ashamed, and made a gesture to leave.

"Let's postpone the celebrations; we have more than one opponent."

Ryuka's gaze swept through the crowd and landed on a familiar figure in a dimly lit corner.

The mage was Hayden's servant, a representative of the Chamber of Commerce. Although he was unremarkable in appearance and dressed very plainly, the way he silently observed everyone from the corner made him seem like no ordinary person.

"What a pity, Mr. Hayden isn't here?" Ryuka approached the manservant, speaking directly and casually before politely inquiring, "May I ask how I should address you?"

“Julian, Your Excellency the Governor.” The young male servant, who was over 1.7 meters tall, bowed to Ryūsha. “I am very sorry that Mr. Hayden is too busy to attend in person. However, he asked me to convey his gratitude to you and his support for the charitable cause in Linhu Territory.”

As Julian spoke, he took out a gold voucher worth fifty gold coins and respectfully handed it to Ryusha.

"This is truly... Please convey my gratitude to Mr. Hayden for me." Ryusha feigned surprise as she accepted the gift. These fifty gold coins alone were enough to recoup the cost of the banquet twice over; most minor nobles were considered generous if they donated only a dozen or so gold coins.

"I have given serious consideration to Mr. Hayden's suggestion last time. There are some specific matters I would like to discuss with you. I wonder when Mr. Hayden will be able to return?"

Faced with Ryukyu's money-grubbing enthusiasm, Julian responded with a dignified smile: "I don't know for now, but Mr. Hayden said that he would allow me to discuss this with you gentlemen first."

"Is that so? Then I will visit Mr. Julian in a few days." Ryuga observed the young servant. Was the fact that the Merchant Guild had entrusted him with handling this matter entirely due to a lack of respect for Linhu Territory, or did this young Julian possess a value exceeding his expectations?

"I am but a servant, Your Excellency, there's no need for honorifics. Simply send someone to summon me; I'll be at the inn in Linhu Town."

Julian's attitude was extremely humble, and his demeanor was impeccable. This made Ryuka even more serious. If any servant was a magician with such an attitude, then the Merchant Guild Alliance was no ordinary organization.

At least, the sense of oppression in Ryusha's heart far exceeded that of the Sochi Territory and Lady Mara who were right in front of him.

Chapter 10 Kira's Confession

Shortly after seeing Julian off, Kira pulled Ryusha aside, holding a glass of red wine.

"Guess what we'll achieve tonight."

Kira smiled broadly, her perfume carrying a hint of alcohol, and raised an eyebrow at Liu Xia.

"300 gold coins?" Ryuga estimated the number of people who came and handed the gold notes in his hand to Kira.

"424 coins, if you're talking about donations. But that's just the tip of the iceberg. Their main expenses in the following days are accommodation and entertainment. These upper-class people are more willing to spend money on these things..."

Kira smiled, seemingly keeping something a secret, but finally spoke after being prompted by Ryusha's gaze.

"Alright~ The key point is the trade cooperation reached. Several families are willing to invest in our territory's mining resources and provide labor. They'll be satisfied with a 15% monthly share of net profit... Also, several families are very interested in our high-quality timber, but they don't have enough cash on hand and want to settle in grain... Ryusha, this is the grain you value most..." (The rest of the text is a jumbled mess of characters and doesn't form coherent sentences.)

Looking at Kira's animated expression, which was completely different from her usual calm demeanor, Liu Xia realized that only victories in the business world could bring out this side of her.

"Well, it seems you've won big tonight, Miss Kira." Ryusha helped Kira, who almost lost her balance. Warm body heat emanated from beneath her cool, silky silver dress. Under the influence of the lights, music, and alcohol, Kira's eyes were much less composed than usual.

"It's a great victory for us, little governor~" Kira took another big sip of wine and boldly lifted Ryusha's chin with her slender fingers.

Little brother? It seems that besides Hetia and Luminova, another name should be added to the list of people who are not allowed to easily come into contact with alcohol, Ryusha thought with a wry smile.

"But that's not the key point. You know, how many wealthy ladies are envious of these dresses we're wearing? How many gold coins would they be willing to pay for one of your designs?"

Kira pulled Ryukatsu into the shadows of the corridor, boldly lifting the hem of her skirt to reveal her smooth, long, light brown thighs and silver high heels, displaying herself to Ryukatsu like a passionate model.

"Uh... 2 gold coins? That's already twice the cost."

"Two? Ha~" Kira's mouth dropped open, revealing an exaggerated expression. "Believe me, they'd be willing to pay 50 or even a hundred gold coins~ We just need to slightly improve the materials and accessories..."

"Are you crazy? This is no small sum for some minor nobles, and others can easily copy this design... Wait, you mean..."

Ryuu had never understood women's spending habits, but looking into Kira's ambitious eyes, he realized that she wasn't lying anymore.

“That’s right, they also have your name on them. All they need to do is establish you as a design master, and they’ll pay any price they can for that title. It’s not just Sochi; wealthy women throughout the entire eastern part of the empire would be eager to own a dress designed by you, and…”

Kira cupped Ryusha's face in her hands and laughed: "My lovely governor, you must be interested in more than just pretty clothes, right? Accessories, handbags, or other art-related things?"

So this is what luxury goods operations are all about? Looking into Kira's ambitious eyes, Ryusha immediately understood her thoughts.

"But I don't have that much energy. You know, developing hard power is the priority..."

"Who said you have to do it yourself?"

Kira glanced at the crowd on the banquet dance floor, then brought her delicate red lips close to Liuxia's ear: "You just need to draw some rough sketches; I'll have someone else do the details. You just need to take care of the lower realm then~"

Looking at the smile on Kira's face after she got up, Liu Xia wondered if this girl had even thought of OEM manufacturing.

"We need a lot of funds right now, don't we? With gold coins, we can develop our territory better and faster. Do you remember the magical weapon you took me to see before?"

Kira swayed away from Ryusha, took a whole bottle of red wine from a waiter's tray, and returned. The whole process was like a fluttering bird, and even her slightly tipsy and unsteady steps could not affect her beautiful movements.

“Those things can conquer men, while clothes and accessories can conquer women. Both contribute to your and Kania’s ambitions, don’t they?”

Hearing Kira's bold words, Ryusha glanced around to make sure no one had heard, then pulled Kira close and pushed open the side door of the banquet hall...

"Miss Kira, you're drunk."

Under the night breeze and moonlight, Ryuka snatched the wine bottle from Kira's hand, looked at the alluring beauty with seductive eyes, and said with a somewhat solemn expression.

"I'm not drunk. I'm the daughter of this tavern. Do you think this little bit of wine is enough?" Kira raised an eyebrow at Liuxia's tough attitude, but did not resist. She simply leaned her soft and slender body against the railing and enjoyed the night breeze.

"I just wanted to take advantage of the atmosphere tonight to make things clear. And I've wanted to say these things for a long time..." Kira tilted her head and looked at Ryuka beside her.

"What?"

Kira's gaze was intense: "Although I don't know your and Kania's purpose, your control over Hetia is definitely not just about becoming shadow lords, nor is it about a royal succession dispute..."

Although I don't know for sure, I can smell ambition. Especially you, Mr. Ryuka, you may not understand exactly what you want, but your ambition is huge, frighteningly huge!

Ryūka simply listened. He knew Kira was intelligent, perceptive yet discreet, quietly continuing with her work. Kira was a good subordinate and partner, but he understood that sooner or later she would blurt out the truth…

"So, you're saying all this because you want to know about us..." Liu Xia looked down at the wine in her hand and took a small sip.

"No, I don't need to know the specifics, nor do I want to. I'm afraid I'll be too scared to back down."

To Ryūka's surprise, Kira interrupted him directly. When Ryūka looked at Kira again, she was smiling, but her eyes were extremely serious.

"All I know is that you recognized my value and gave me a stage to perform. And this stage will continue to expand in the future, and there will be more and more talented people around you... So, I hope to stand firmly on your ship."

That's why I dared to expose what I'd previously pretended not to know. Wasn't that what you told me? 'If you want something, you have to get it yourself, not ask others for it.'

As Kira spoke, she met Ryuka's gaze, but her body slid softly to Ryuka's feet, and her silver-white dress slowly knelt down.

Her soft hands caressed the boy's body, feeling the supple skin beneath his clothes, and her raised eyes shone like morning stars in the night sky.

"I have fully witnessed your abilities and qualities, and I want to become one of your 'own people,' truly one of your own! I want to use your strength to achieve my dreams, and I also want to borrow some of your time and energy. I am also willing to use my abilities and talents for you; only by your side can I freely utilize them..."

“This is not a ‘request’ but a ‘trade negotiation’. If gaining your favor and trust requires some special ‘bargaining chips’, I am willing… no, I am happy to accept them.”

Ryuu was somewhat surprised by Kira's 'confession'. But feeling the warmth from her skin, he reached out and stroked Kira's smooth face, then kneaded her earlobe. Her ear, slightly more pointed than a human's, felt like it had cartilage, and it was very comfortable to touch.

"I already have a soft spot for you, but... why not take advantage of the extra profits in trade?"

Ryusha smiled slyly, easily picked up Kira's tall but slender body, and returned to the room through the back door, where she met Megan, who was standing at the top of the stairs.

It seems this 'loyal dog' has been keeping an eye on its owner's movements.

"Tell Kania and Hetia that we're leaving early tonight, so they can take over the closing ceremony."

“Yes, my master.” Megan bowed respectfully with a fawning smile, thinking to herself, ‘Looks like tonight’s reward will have to be postponed…’

Chapter 11 Resource Report of Linhu Territory