When the Saintess Arrives, No King Exist-Chapter 776 - 731: Mental Focus, No Loss of Points

The morning light was faint, and the iron sign swung in the wind.

The mahogany bar of Old Eddie's Cafe shone with a waxy glow under the fluorite lights.

These fluorite lights were the latest high-end products from the ry Court Barracks. The light was soft, bright, and stable, much better than ordinary oil lamps or candles.

Originally, an attendant without mana couldn't operate the fluorite lights.

But, soaking the fluorite in the newly released concentrated light water from Dragon Language Alchemy University also produced a lighting effect—

The citizens of Rapids City had long since dispelled their previous fear of alchemical products.

Because according to Holy Path theology, to love is to live, it's allowed by the Holy Father.

Even the Saint's Grandson was taking the lead in using them, so why not? If the Holy Father gets mad, the Saint's Grandson would take the blame.

At the L-shaped bar, twelve copper-clad high stools were fixed to the floor, each seat imprinted with the recesses of past customers' buttocks.

The walls were covered with yellowed ship insurance papers, with the sheets soaked and dried again, slightly curling in the moist air of the harbor.

Senior partner of Meigedi Commerce Association, and the owner of Old Eddie's Cafe, Eddie Crow placed the silver spoon on the edge of the coffee cup and silently watched the rising steam.

The oil film in the cup fractured into gold flakes under the lamplight, always reminding him of the days twenty years ago when he wrote shipping lists for merchant ships.

Back then, he was just a small clerical worker, living a life more bitter than the sediment in his coffee cup.

Now, he was already an insurance magnate in Rapids City, even in Lower Reif County and Kasha County.

The insurance industry has long existed in Windmill Land, essentially because the maritime technology was poor and the costs were too high; an accident would ruin a family.

So, a group of citizens came up with a good idea in a tavern, asking those setting out to sea to pay ten percent of their cargo's value.

If the ship capsized, they would be fully compensated; if the ship didn't capsize, the money wouldn't be refunded.

As long as over ninety out of a hundred ships returned, there was profit to be made.

And the geographical factors of the Thousand River Valley created a high demand for shipping, likewise giving rise to insurance exchanges like Old Eddie's Cafe.

"Good morning, Old Eddie." Brandon Raines, a partner in Meigedi Commerce Association's lottery business, brushed off the dust on the stool unceremoniously and sat down.

This merchant in his thirties had a baby face, his open-collared shirt and gilded watch chain wrapped around his fingers made him look as carefree as a twenty-something lad.

This demeanor was naturally related to his background; Brandon was previously a manager at Meigedi Commerce Association's gambling halls.

However, later on, Meigedi Commerce Association responded to the City Hall's campaign for a civilized movement by shutting down all "legally operating" casinos and brothels, completely cutting off this business.

Although there were still small gambling halls and brothels nowadays, they weren't as scaled as before.

Compared to other peers, Brandon was quick-witted and turned fringe lottery games into weekly lotteries.

Of course, there was a reason Brandon could turn casino games into a public-oriented lottery.

The key was that he introduced alchemical materials from ry Court Barracks as anti-counterfeiting labels, otherwise how would he prevent others from counterfeiting the lottery?

Brandon's lottery business rapidly expanded because Catherine used Brandon's lottery to raise funds for the rebuilding of Rapids City.

The gambler roughly took a coffee from the attendant's hand, placed it in front of himself, added sugar with a teaspoon, and then asked the attendant to add hot milk.

Eddie glanced at the clock in the corner, the sound of brass gears meshing oddly reminded him of the interrogation tools in Cheka's examination room.

"What time was the appointment with His Grace?"

"Nine in the morning." Deliberately taking out the gilded pocket watch from his pocket, Brandon raised it high, even making his voice sharp, "It's only eight!"

Stirring the blue coffee that was gradually turning bluish-green, Old Eddie deliberately avoided looking at Brandon. "Should we be setting off?"

"No need to hurry." Brandon blew on the steaming coffee, "Besides, what's the harm if he waits a few minutes? Am I afraid of him?"

Unknowingly, Old Eddie's stirring of the coffee grew faster, "Aren't you afraid of him?"

"Are you afraid?" Brandon continued to blow on the steam on his coffee.

"Who said I was afraid?"

"The Saint's Grandson is pretty scary, aren't you afraid of that?"

"If you're not afraid, what would I be afraid of?"

"Alright then, neither of us is afraid. Keep your spirits up!"

"Yes, we're not afraid!"

As soon as the words fell, the teaspoon in Old Eddie's hand slipped and flew out, while Brandon blew a large mouthful of coffee over the cup.

"This teaspoon is too light."

"Your coffee is filled too full."

The two spoke while picking up their spoons and wiping the table.

"This Saint's Grandson, coming from a farmer's background, is obsessed with money." Stirring his coffee, Old Eddie coughed, "Give him a few coins, and he'll be obedient."

"Envy doesn't come with such envy, do you butcher the hunting dog once you catch the hare?" Brandon echoed, "We haven't been making money for long."

"However, we respect the Saint's Grandson's status; whatever he says must be important, otherwise why call both of us?" Old Eddie coughed, "So, Brandon, my well-informed younger brother, any specific news?"

"Yes, very much so." Brandon took a sip of coffee, "How about you, don't you?"

"I do, plenty. I just want to ensure whether you have it." Old Eddie looked reassured, "I thought you didn't; since you do, I don't need to say any more."

"Oh..."

"Hmm..."

Swallowing the nearly tongue-scalding coffee, Brandon looked at the nonchalant Old Eddie beside him and felt anxious.

"That Horn came from a farmer's background and might lack etiquette, but we are civilized people and shouldn't lack civility." Brandon checked his pocket watch again; it was already eight fifteen.

While Old Eddie leisurely finished his last sip of coffee, wiped the coffee stains from his chin, face, and neck, and tersely said, "Yes, it's time to go."

The two picked up their walking sticks, calmly and leisurely walking with some attendant bodyguards towards Rose Mansion where Horn was.

They passed the Treasure Guardian Beast sculpture reduced to its base, counting thirty-seven steps to the third floor.

Initially, two bedrooms faced each other, one converted into Horn's office, and the other had its walls taken down and converted into a waiting room.

On the dark oak benches, five textile industry representatives who had arrived earlier sat silently like damp wool, while two farmer representatives from the Advisory Council chattered in an incomprehensible dialect.

Sitting on the second-row bench, receiving the register from the gray-robed monk, Brandon attempted to slip two bonds into it, only for the gray-robed monk to pull them out and return them.

"Require the representatives of South Mangde County's wool textile industry to be seen!"

Five representatives quickly stood up and, following the gray-robed monk, entered the study, emerging later with grim faces.

"Require the representatives of Lower Reif County farmers to be seen!"

The two farmers nervously went in; this time it took slightly longer, and they emerged grinning.

Finally, the gray-robed monk glanced at the register and stood by the door: "Request the appearance of Meigedi Commerce Association partners Eddie Crow and Brandon Raines!"

"Old Eddie, we're decent people and should appear civilized."

"Stand firm and spirited, lest the Saint's Grandson looks down on us!"

The two took a deep breath, displaying a calm and collected demeanor, and stepped into the small office.

"You…" Horn looked up, his cold gaze directly meeting theirs.

"Thud!"