"Walk with me, Mira." Althea said, getting out of her study.

"Of course, your grace." Mira replied, moving to walk beside her as the entire squadron of executives followed suit.

"The nobles?" Althea prompted.

"A seventy percent decrease in order confirmations as compared to last year, your grace." Mira replied. "Zerolian and Reh have both refused to buy any crops from us, and other nobles are acting hesitant. Leria duchy and the Garron family have increased orders.

The Serenor and Meria duchies are keeping their orders the same, likely signalling neutrality in this conflict. The others appear to be considering, but are likely to buy the crops if no suitable alternatives present themselves."

Althea paused. "Where did the Garron family get the gold to buy crops?"

"I think they used the money they borrowed from us, your grace." Mira replied. "I suppose they are relying on their sales exceeding the interest."

"How clever." Althea began walking again. "The crops will be worth far more once there is a shortage of food.”

"Yes, your grace." Mira replied. "Are you sure about your policy? There are already rumors of a famine running about, there might be a lot of fingers pointed at us if we refuse to sell the crops."

"Aren't they the ones refusing to buy?" she asked.

"As that may be, they will use the increase in price due to the excess of Grade 2 crops as an excuse. And the recent aristocratic financial crisis." the Steward interrupted.

"The nobles are the ones with issues, not the commoners. And the issues are purely because they insist on importing during a war." Althea said.

This was a new development, the Steward participating in these discussions. But a welcome one. The Steward had an understanding of noble society that she didn't.

"I suspect they will demand food for free when there is a famine." the Steward said.

"Keep enough of a store to loan the food on demand. And increase the number of shops on the borders of unfriendly nobles. That will cause a movement of merchants to buy and resell the crops. The black market will be very profitable after all." Althea said.

"On that note, your grace, there have been offers to act as an intermediary by several prominent trade associations." Mira said. "The nobles are blocking our companies, they may not block others-"

"No, we maintain the monopoly. Diery counties food will only be sold through the Diery mercantile company. If they want to buy food elsewhere, then they can buy it directly from the county."

That would mean merchants coming to the county, and likely bringing more goods with them just to sell them here.

"Of course, your grace." Mira said.

"And tell the council to prepare a proposal for the law we talked about." Althea said.

"I am still not sure about that, your grace." the Steward interrupted. "The nobles will be very unhappy."

"I know." Althea replied. "I don't care. The nobles were going to side with Duke Zerolian either way. This way they cost the duchy. "

The entire group moved into the stairs, Althea picking up her dress as she walked. Wearing a ball gown to meet with the Duke had pained her, literally, corsets were monsters, but it was worth it.

"Ask the college students to meet me, I have an offer for them." Althea said to a maid. This was a good time to use those titles, there really wasn’t much time to waste.

"Yes, your grace." A maid ran off as Althea turned to the Steward.

"Have you contacted your friends?" Althea asked.

"Yes, your grace. There is still a significant amount of hesitancy. And the Duke is actively working against us. Three more prospects were recruited by one of his academies." the Steward said.

The Steward had agreed to be the Dean, but only on a temporary basis. So she had to find an alternative as soon as she could.

"Is there anything else?" Althea asked.

"Not yet, your grace." Mira replied, and then looked at the documents before her, hesitating. "Viscountess Vanessa's letter should be reaching the Zerolian duchy soon, but delays are common. I would expect it will have some impact if your guesses to its contents are correct."

"Hmm, yes, that is there." Althea said. "I shall deal with that as it comes. Has there been any resistance over the prices?"

"No, your grace.'' Mira said. "Thankfully, it would seem that we got lucky. The news about the nobles cancelling the orders has spread among the populace. The farmers were afraid that you would refuse to buy, so they did not fuss over the prices."

"That is good."

The decision to reduce the buying price for Grade 2 crops was a necessary one. Now that there weren't enough Grade 1 crops coming about, the populace would have to live off the Grade 2 ones.

But the original prices took into account that it was a rare crop for aristocratic and wealthy families, not normal ones. If the prices were kept the same, the general populace would not afford it. Not to mention the significant cost of buying so many crops. Althea would have to liquidate some of her jewels to afford it.

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"Put up both grades of crops for sale, but make it clear that we have a far larger stock of Grade 2 crops. The Grade 1 crops will be the first to run out, only then will people buy Grade 2 ones." Althea said. "Use most of the Grade 1 for export, Grade 2 lasts longer and is more nutritious. That will help if the nobles try to keep up the blockade for as long as they can."

"Will that not stretch the commoner's finances, your grace?" Mira said. "If it is revealed that we exported most of the Grade 1 crop during a recession…"

"This ain't a recession, Mira. The goods rising in prices are foreign goods, not things growing in the Empire. The commoners that could not afford imported goods to begin with won't be very affected by the increased costs." Althea replied.

"Perhaps, but that won't stop the nobility from trying to sway public opinion against you." Mira said. "What if we-"

"Mira, we can talk about this later, but I have to go now. " Althea said, interrupting her as she walked into her bedroom.

The college students were waiting for her inside her garden. The conversations stopped as she stepped in, the students turning to stare at her. Althea stopped the greetings before they started.

"There is no need for formalities." she said, stepping into the middle of the garden, under Pulsie's shade. The plant had grown even larger lately.

"I am sure you are wondering why I have called you here." Althea stated. "Do you have any guesses?"

The students looked at each other, quickly taking their seats. A hand hesitantly shot up. Isa.

"Yes?"

"The Countess just came from a conversation with the Duke of Reh. I am sure this has something to do with what you gained from that meeting."

Althea laughed. "Now, now, that is abusing your position to answer questions, Viscountess.

"Does anyone else want to try?" she asked.

"Yes…" Althea went through her head quickly, trying to remember who it was. To be honest, she had already forgotten most of the college students' names. "Terren?"

"I think you have a task for us, Countess." Terren said.

"Oh?" Now Althea was curious. That was her intent. But how did he know?

"The Emperor just revealed the list of territories sending candidates for the Human cup." Terren continued. "Viscountess Isa, Viscountess Vanessa and Nathan are sure to be members, but teams are traditionally of nine. That leaves six slots still to be filled. The people gathered here are the most likely candidates for the position."

The boy looked quite proud to be announcing it. Althea could see why, it was quite a clever prediction. An incorrect one, but still, commendable.

"That is incorrect." Althea replied. "First, I will also be participating in the Human cup. That leaves five, not six slots. Second, the minimum cultivation to participate in this competition is late-Journeyman, and if we want to win, Master stage."

Terren's face became serious as soon as her words dropped. The Master stage was a barrier. The stage at which commoners were granted nobility, where one's body transformed to enhance the mage's lifespan. At that stage, one could finally claim to be established in the world. A powerhouse, at least on the local level.

The late Countess was the only Master stage cultivator to come out of Diery county in the last century. The ones following Althea right now were all foreign. And she could hardly call them subordinate to her.

The Elves were more loyal to Elder Bel and Verest. The Emperor's guards to Steward Ven and the Emperor. Althea still did not have a force that was loyal only to her.

"The reason I called you here is to give you an opportunity." Althea said. "If you succeed at these, then it is possible that you could establish yourself in the continent."

The students looked at each other, the tension increasing. The opportunity was tempting. But these kids had grown up in this world. There was no such thing as a free opportunity here.

"I have a few deeds of titles." Althea continued. "The deeds do not have a name on them, and can be granted to any person present here."

The students looked at her eagerly. Nobility. The higher class of this world, something every child dreamed to be. And now here was a chance to become one.

"If I may be so bold, our grace." Terren asked, gulping as he tried to speak formally. And succeeded splendidly. "What is the catch?"

Althea grinned. This kid had potential.

Wait. This kid was also older than her. Perhaps she shouldn’t be calling people kids yet.

"Baronies in the Serfa Empire, Merlen Kingdom and Relmia kingdom. Baronets in the Solmer Confederacy and Gerlan Kingdom." Althea said. "This is what I can give you."

The students looked at her, a few discussing among each other while others, notably the Nathan trio, frowned. There were a few of them that had relatives in high enough positions to know a little about these things.

"Now, does anyone know the problem with these titles?" she asked.

Three hands went up. Isa, Terren…and Nori? Hmm, that was the girl who had been a bit active in the mana sensing class. Althea had mostly forgotten about her after that.

"Nori." she said, pointing to the girl.

"The titles are in foreign nations." Nori said. "That means the Countess has reduced influence there, and the local nobles could be hostile to us. More than that, we could be interpreted as spies and face ostracization and even assassinations."

"Yes." Althea said. "The noble titles and the name of the Solerian Empire will protect you to some extent. But you will represent the county and the Empire, and may face threats due to this. The continent is at war, and the titles we have here are not in the best of places."

"Three of those titles will be going to people today. "Althea said. "The first, the title of Baron in Merlen. The barony is close to the kingdom's capital, relatively fertile, and-" Althea waited for dramatic effect. "Currently under enemy control.

The Kingdom was invaded by the Solmer Confederacy since they still had easily accessible grain reserves, and has been forced to retreat to the coast. The King is still alive, but is expected to die by the end of the month."

"The task assigned to you will be to go to the Kingdom and bring as many capable people as you can find. Merlen was an agricultural country, and we are an agricultural county. The skills of the people are vital to us. There is no limit to the number of people you can bring, we can take the entire kingdom if we want to. The county is physically larger than the kingdom.“

Althea looked at the students listening with rapt attention, and then continued.

“There is a catch. As a representative of the Empire and the county, you must not make enemies of either Merlen, or the Confederacy. That would be terrible diplomacy"

The students were silent once finished her speech. Terren stared at her with visible confusion, while Nori looked worried.

"I- um- isn't this a bit much for us to…" Nori half mumbled, half spoke.

Althea smiled. That was quite a valid point she was hoping someone would make.

"I know. That is why you will not be going alone. A Master stage half-elf, several diplomats and experienced merchants will be with you. In truth, you merely be the representative, the talented face of the county. The decisions will largely be left up to me and the merchants you travel with.”

“But even if you take precautions, you will be the representative. The one that will meet the nobles and speak for the county. There is a very real danger of death in this. Of course, the rewards are plenty.

The person that succeeds at this will be granted a viscounty in the county, where they can settle the people of Merlen. The size of said land will be decided based on the amount of people you bring with you.”

Althea tried to give the students her most reassuring smile. “So, what do you say?”