It has been about 2 weeks since that deal, or rather, deals. Toric has successfully convinced his brother in arms to accept the deal, which is to be expected.

My request to begin a subsection of Red Gold and the acceptance of a total of 897 men Brotherhood and their family that was sent to my father also has been replied. The Republic of Iodeal also enjoy much autonomy than other subjects of the Kingdom so this deal only needed to be approved by the head of one of the major patrician house.

In the short letter, he congrats me on my progress to build up a stable trade route and in his own word “we will always accept those who wish to work into the Republic” even though one of the restrictions which I have placed upon them is that they must live in Fortra as long as their work is in Fortra. Not much people complained, after all, I am forcing them to stay at their homeland. Though some do want to settle their family to the much less unstable and more peaceful Iodeal before returning for work.

I had moved out of Linvart to Inlan a week after the deals. Using the former town center as my base of operation as offered by the village elder. A much smaller building than the halls of the lords, but enough to house my office and bedroom. As I had suspected beforehand, the village itself is struggling to survive. Not only because business is hard to find and crops untended due to danger and lack of manpower but also to feed the Brotherhood had taken on quite a toll for the village. It won’t be long before starvation strikes if they try to hold out.

The office they had provided me with is much smaller even to the sleeping quarter that Kai had provided me with; the only thing which I managed to fit there is a table and chair set. The room is off to the side on the second floor, the wooden wall ran down, and the only thing that can be considered to be a decoration that is here is the solid wooden window. But oddly I feel much comfortable here with the only thing on my table being the ink bottle, my quill pen, and the wax stamp of Blood Silver which my father had sent me along with the letters.

“Hey, boss, the shipments have arrived.” Toric bust into my office with a grin on his face. The guy sure has familiarized with me since that incident. I had made him the Steward of Blood Silver soon after to keep the others in check. Unlike the time we met on the field, his plate armor is missing and replaced by simple tunic though his sword is still by his side.

“Right on time as promised. Has the counting finished?” I asked. This shipment is one of the first steps to cement my position in Fortra.

“Yes sir, enough grain to feed everyone for quite some time along with some drinks. Just need you to sign the papers.” Toric searched around a bit before pulling out a scroll out of his bag.

“54,000 pounds of grain, 12,000 gallons of ale…” I sorted through the list before something interesting catches my eyes. “10 barrels of wine?”

“Ah yes boss, I ordered that when you placed the other orders since you get much better deals than I ever will. You see, I thought we do have a little celebration for the occasion since the last 3 weeks have been quite busy. Don’t worry, we will chip in part of our weekly wage.”

“Just tell me about it in the future. I really dislike things placed in my name without my approval. As for the cost, I will cover it. Just this once.” I said.

I will just add the wine cost with the rest of the food. These expenses will be paid for by my house. In exchange for these, I have gained the ability to use the warehouse that is now being built without any obligation of rent.

“Thanks, boss, so when can we…” Toric trails off while staring at me with his grin that had yet subsided.

“We can talk about that when you are finished with your duty’s today.” I extend the signed scroll to him.

“Got it. I’ll tell the boys to move the goods.” Toric dashed out of my office just as fast as he had arrived.

“What do you think?” I asked Ulrike who had found herself a spot on the side of the room.

“I supposed he is not as dense as he liked to act. He also does make a good practice dummy. Most importantly, his men trust him.” Ulrike said with total seriousness while checking her mace.

“I would agree. He probably knew that I would cover it when he acted. As for the practice dummy part… how did that went?” I shift a glance at Ulrike.

Ulrike had a duel with Toric when they are introduced to each other. Let’s say that they had some different view upon the world and how it operates under the current kings. The duel itself had been approved by Kai, who had also provided the practice gears. I had missed the duel due to some heavy workload on my side, but Toric returned with a bruised chin and sullen shoulder so I can guess the result without much problem.

“He relies too much on instinct and raw strength, a complete novice in terms of swordplay. He might as well been wielding a stick, perhaps that would be more effective.”

“You really can’t fault him for that. He is mobilized and sent to the front at a moment’s notice.” I replied to Ulrike’s harsh judgment.

“Then he should do himself some good and learn to fight properly.”

As soon as she finished her sentence, there are 3 soft knocks on the door. A maid walked in slowly with a letter on her hand.

“Sir Leonhard, there is a message from you from Timei.” She bowed her head slightly before placing the letter on my table.

“Thank you, Kwann.”

“If you would, excuse me.” She exits the room gracefully, almost like she is nothing but air. It is the normal teaching of servants. They are supposed to never do more outside of their job. They are to act like air, to never disturb their masters. I found that it provides peace when I needed it, but at times I also find such teaching a bit lonely.

The letter she handed me is seal with the red wax as all noble letters are accustomed to. What interest me is the seal of the wax. I had expected to see the seal of House Lomn. However, the seal is not of that. In fact, the seal seemed foreign to me. The design of the seal involves a gauntlet holding up the head of a lion.

To Sir Leonhard Zieten “The Merchant” of Iodeal, from Marguerite of House Bertillion, liege of Tillbert,

Greeting Sir Zieten, though we have yet to formally introduced to each other, your achievements have already arrived in Timei, where I have stayed to meet Lord Lomn. I must congratulate you on not only solve the problem without bloodshed but also turn your enemy to your ally. However, the purpose of this letter is not only so.

After hearing your achievement I could not help but wish to have a conversation with you. As you might know, the County of Ingran, which had been under the control of House Helprin and their partisans before the war, is now separated by 6 Barons and Baroness with House Bertillion the youngest and of common origin.

Though it is somewhat of shame for I could not extend my hospitality to you in Tillber, I would like to invite you to Timei, I have been led to believe that Lord Lomn should also extend an invitation similar to this one. Should you find the time and care for a discussion of the world and people, I shall patiently await you in Timei Castle for as long as I will stay. Perhaps, we could even establish a mutually beneficial agreement before the day’s end. And, as a gift to celebrate your recent accomplishment, rumor has it that the third son of House Ridder has landed in Kidan.

For now, I await your visit and wish you good health that you are deserving of.

I do not like any part of the letter. I have nothing against the paper and the ink which had formed the words and given meaning to it. I do, however, hate the fact that House Ridder had decided to muddle in my business, quite literally. It doesn’t help that House Ridder had always been in a rival position with my house.

The Republic is divided into 6 major houses, being the most influential and held the backing of many District Magistrates of the Republic. Currently, the Doge of Iodeal is from House Sabisch, the “true rival of House Zieten” as my father so kindly described, who had the backing of House Ridder. Though that being said, House Ridder is one of the more limited houses in Iodeal, being much smaller in size of operations regarding trade. Even so, their wealth is nothing to scoff at, and if I am not careful I could find myself losing my foothold in Fortra.

I am not familiar with House Ridder, but from where he decided to land it is not hard to see what he is trying to do. Kidan is the port city located in the North West of Fortra, considerably closer to the capital Ostaburg than Linvart. Without a doubt, they are trying to appeal to the king of this land. Otherwise, there is little reason to start there as the West being much less resource-rich than the East, lacking the mines in the Tilesi Mountain range present in the East.

As for the House Bertillion… her goal is hard to grasp. A major factor of how a noble will act is depended entirely upon how ambitious they are, how far they are willing to go. Though at the moment, she sounds as she wants to establish House Bertillion in Tillber permanently, she might very well aim to reunite the County of Ingran in the long run. Which then means she will have to deal with 5 other Barons or Baroness.

She does speak truly in some parts. I had already planned to visit Timei for various reasons. Fine-tune the deals, greeting old Count Lomn and meeting Siara. Just thinking about it gives me a headache.