"Gulp."

Another sound echoed as Joan, who was serving Simon his meal, couldn’t help but drool. This girl had always been a foodie, and the irresistible aroma of the braised chicken was too much for her to resist.

Even in the palace, she had never tasted such a novel dish.

Braised chicken was not a dish found in the Eldorian Empire. In fact, stir-frying had only recently become popular in the empire, so the variety of dishes was still limited. At the very least, his cook had never prepared this dish before.

It was only after Simon personally instructed him that the cook managed to learn how to make it.

Moreover, the ingredients for braised chicken were readily available here. Green onions, ginger, and garlic were all common in the Eldorian Empire, and soy sauce and vinegar were also not in short supply. The only regret was the absence of chili peppers, but the use of prickly ash as a substitute for spiciness made up for it to a large extent.

Eating braised chicken around a warm iron pot during the cold winter was undoubtedly a rare pleasure. Simon picked up a piece of flatbread soaked in the sauce, noticing the longing looks in everyone’s eyes.

"My Lord, Jack Walker is here to see you."

Just as Simon was about to taste the flatbread, Ysabeau walked in. As she spoke, she sniffed the air, her eyes immediately drawn to the braised chicken in front of Simon.

"Jack Walker?" Simon remembered this man vividly. The first transaction in the merchant guild had been conducted through him.

Moreover, he was the wealthiest man in Burrow’s Town City. While Simon wasn’t particularly interested in Jack himself, he was always intrigued by the richest individuals.

Seeing that Simon was in the middle of his meal, Ysabeau said. "My Lord, should I send him away? After all, you’re..."

"Let him in. Also, prepare an extra set of utensils." He spoke.

Ysabeau acknowledged the order and instructed a servant to fetch the utensils while she went to bring Jack in.

Simon was dining in the outer room of his private quarters. Soon, he saw Ysabeau leading Jack across the stone bridge to where he was seated.

"Jack Walker pays his respects to Your Highness!" Jack bowed.

"At ease. Have you eaten yet, Sir Jack?" Simon stirred the braised chicken, picking up a piece of meat and taking a bite. The flavour was exquisite.

The free-range chicken, which fed on insects, had a naturally delicious taste, far superior to the flavourless, factory-farmed chickens of the modern era. The meat was tender yet firm, bursting with flavour.

Jack glanced curiously at the iron pot in front of Simon, thinking to himself how peculiar it was for the prince to eat directly from a pot. However, he maintained his composure and replied respectfully. "My Lord, I have not yet eaten. I am returning to Burrow’s Town City soon, but after seeing Your Highness’s ox-powered waterwheel, I was so impressed by its ingenuity that I decided to pay my respects before leaving."

"Oh? Since you haven’t eaten, why not join me for dinner?" Simon offered with a smile.

Jack declined. "I am but a lowly merchant. How could I dare to share a table with Your Highness?"

Simon had tried this before. Even Baldwin, his trusted advisor, had refused to sit at the same table with him. So, he no longer insisted. "In that case, Joan, serve Sir Jack some food."

Joan acknowledged the order and scooped some chicken and a few pieces of flatbread onto a plate, handing it to Jack. "Sir Jack, please."

Being served food by the prince was an honour, and Jack dared not refuse. He bowed and spoke. "Thank you for your generosity, Your Highness."

With that, he began to eat.

However, after the first bite, his earlier scepticism vanished. The highlight of the braised chicken was the flatbread stuck to the sides of the iron pot. Soaked in the chicken broth, the flatbread was soft and flavourful. Despite having tasted many delicacies, Jack was thoroughly impressed.

From then on, he ate without hesitation.

"How is it? My braised chicken isn’t bad, is it?" Simon asked with a smile.

Jack laughed heartily. "Having travelled across the Eldorian Empire, I have never tasted anything so delicious. This has truly been an eye-opening experience."

Simon nodded in satisfaction. It seemed that good food transcended time. "If you like it, Sir Jack, you’re welcome to visit Brambleford often. I can have my cook prepare it for you."

Jack was momentarily stunned. Having amassed great wealth, he was no fool. Simon was clearly trying to win him over.

He replied. "Your Highness is too kind. However, after this trip to Brambleford, I must return to report to Prince Gerad."

Simon raised an eyebrow. Jack was subtly reminding him that he was aligned with Prince Gerad. "In that case, please convey my regards to Uncle Gerad when you return."

"Yes, Your Highness," Jack replied, though he seemed to hesitate.

Simon noticed and spoke. "If you have something to say, speak freely."

Jack said. "I came here to ask if Your Highness would be willing to sell the iron ring on the ox-powered waterwheel."

"Do you not need the rest of it? Have you already figured it out?"

"Yes, I... No, not exactly..." Jack instinctively replied but immediately realized he had fallen into Simon’s trap. He quickly denied it, beads of sweat forming on his forehead.

Having joined the merchant guild, he was well aware of the Patent Office’s functions, one of which was to prohibit the unauthorised replication of registered patents. The ox-powered waterwheel had already been registered, and the Patent Office had posted notices everywhere.

However, like many other merchants, Jack believed that the Patent Office, being a strange institution, could only enforce its rules within the prince’s domain and had no jurisdiction outside it.

Thus, many merchants had brought craftsmen to secretly sketch the ox-powered waterwheel and replicate it back home.

However, while the craftsmen were confident that they could build the waterwheel, they were completely baffled by the strange iron ring.

Simon inwardly sneered. When Jack mentioned the waterwheel, he immediately understood. "This iron ring is called a rolling bearing. I can sell it to you, provided the price is right."

Jack breathed a sigh of relief. The wealthy families of the Eldorian Empire valued land above all else. With vast estates under their names, they were naturally very interested in irrigation tools like the waterwheel.

"How much does the rolling bearing cost?"

"Three hundred caps of silver each," Simon said, naming an exorbitant price. The entire waterwheel cost only three hundred caps, and he was now selling the bearing for the same amount.

"This..." Jack hesitated. He knew that the prince was aware they only needed the rolling bearing and would have to build the rest themselves, hence the inflated price.

Simon continued eating. He needed merchants to revitalise his domain, but he also understood their profit-driven nature. Thus, he chose to be lenient when necessary and strict when required.

After some internal struggle, Jack decided to proceed. His vast estates required more manpower to cultivate additional land, and the ox-powered waterwheel would free up labour for this purpose.

Moreover, he owned over a dozen mines that also needed such waterwheels for water extraction. He said, "Your Highness, I will need five hundred for now."

"Very well. I’ll make a note of it. Tomorrow, I’ll have the Machinery Department start forging them for you." Simon said. While the rolling bearings wouldn’t bring in huge profits individually, the sheer volume of sales would make the venture lucrative.

Additionally, the bearings had a limited lifespan and would need to be replaced when they wore out, ensuring a steady stream of business.

After seeing Jack off, Simon finished his meal. He had only eaten half of the braised chicken.

He turned to Ysabeau and spoke. "Stop drooling. Ysabeau, share the rest of the braised chicken with everyone."

"Thank you, Your Highness." The servants said, their mouths watering once again.