"Clink~" A gold crown fell onto the large round table covered with a tablecloth. On the front of the gold crown was the national flower of Brittania—a lily, and on the back was the portrait of the First Knight King Arthur, inscribed with Arthur’s birth and death dates.

"I must say, Lord Laine, you really have no talent for this game." A shiny-faced merchant with bright eyes sat across from Laine, with red wine and a stack of gold crowns placed on the table: "Just as you said."

"...Yes, you’re right, Mr. Oliver, I truly have no talent for this game." Laine looked somewhat enviously at Oliver’s "tower" made of nine gold crowns stacked vertically, then lightly laughed and conceded: "Alright, I admit defeat."

The tower of gold crowns was toppled over.

Though Laine maintained a smile on his face, Oliver could clearly feel a trace of Laine’s dissatisfaction at losing to him. The renowned merchant, known throughout the Old World, wisely shifted the topic: "King Belgar’s trade station is already under construction, my Count. Our guild has secured the best position within the trade station. Duke Hagen has also granted us the freedom to trade and unified customs duties. It seems that the Jisoleox Duchy has already joined our alliance."

"Very good." Laine nodded, lowering his head into silence, and Oliver, smart enough to hold his tongue, knew all too well the immense influence this man in his thirties wielded throughout the country and even the Old World.

When his caravan arrived for trade in the Midland Territory, the White Wolf Prince-Elector Boris Todbringer and the White Wolf Pope Emil Wager personally met with him. Oliver was not foolish enough to think that, as a merchant, he had the status to warrant an audience with such powerful figures, even within the Empire.

Unless one was a High Elf guest of honor or a Dwarf Supreme King merchant envoy, a merchant merely meeting with the Company Commander of the White Wolf Knight Order would be considered the highest level of reception.

Indeed, they even dined together. Even though that meal wasn’t quite to his taste, after that dinner, Oliver no longer faced difficulties from the obstinate nobility of the Midland Territory.

After much contemplation, Laine raised his head. He focused his burning gaze on Oliver, patiently awaiting his reply: "Dear Oliver, don’t you feel uncomfortable? We must yield much of our painstakingly established trade station to Duke Hagen’s clueless subordinates, and we have to share profits."

"Hogging all the benefits isn’t a wise choice, my Count." Oliver understood this well: "I imagine you know better than I do; making money together means sharing risks as well. When you encounter problems, those who profit alongside you will naturally extend their help, forming an invisible alliance."

"More importantly, both Duke Hagen and Duke Fulcard will inevitably owe me a favor." Laine stood up and gestured for Oliver to join him: "Are you interested in going out for a walk, Oliver?"

"Of course, as long as you need." Oliver cooperatively smiled.

Laine was a nostalgic person. Oliver had already established an excellent cooperative relationship with him before he rose to fame, and Oliver naturally poured all his efforts into maintaining it. That’s why he became one of the foremost wealthy businessmen in the Old World for good reason.

"Oh? Mr. Oliver, you’ve come? Welcome." As the two had just left the room together, a mature and beautiful figure blocked their way. She was drying her wet, long, golden curls with a towel. Her deep green tight leggings accentuated her long, slender legs. Her high-necked knight’s attire, with gold tassels and black leather knee-high boots, exuded heroic energy. Her swan-like neck featured delicate, smooth skin.

"Oh! Indeed, Lady Surya." Seeing her, Oliver was noticeably restrained and quickly bowed: "You look beautiful today."

It was widely recognized throughout the Count’s Domain that compared to the Count himself, his lady was even less to be trifled with. Surya gracefully managed her adversaries with a captivating smile, which was no longer news. Laine often went on campaigns, and most internal affairs were managed by Surya, who did so exceptionally well. She just lacked an heir now.

"Thank you, Oliver, thank you... Laine, are you heading out?" Surya had just finished her daily riding and swordsmanship practice. The lady knight bathed, changed into a new outfit, and saw the two men intending to leave. The Countess was curious: "Where are you going in such cold weather?"

"Oliver and I have some matters to discuss, Surya. Why don’t you join us?" Laine smiled and took his wife’s delicate hand: "Let’s invite Oliver’s family as well; we could go for an outing somewhere."

"An outing, of course, sounds good. But where should we go?" Surya gently replied: "We can’t very well leave Mr. Oliver and his wife and child to wait in the snowy wilderness while we hunt, can we?"

"Of course not." An idea struck Laine as he suddenly grinned mischievously: "We’ll go to my brother’s place and see if there’s anything good to eat."

"Whatever you say, my husband."

Thus, thirty minutes later, at Red Fish Village, Angerong’s house:

"Oh dear, my brother has too many fish. We shouldn’t need as much. Let’s cook some." Laine used a fishing net to scoop up several fish.