“So you understand what you and your criers have to do, guild master Ronald?” I asked the old man.
He is Reggie Ronald, the leader of the criers guild.
“Yes, adviser. I will thoroughly prepare my people for it,” he replied. “You better; any mistakes and both of us will not like the consequences,” I said, and a small, mirthless smile appeared on his face.
“It will not happen, adviser,” He said.
“Start the preparations; I will personally come at night to check on your progress,” I said to him, and his expression froze for a moment before a strained smile appeared on his face.
I don’t want to pressure him, but I want tomorrow and the entire week, perfect.
I want to people to hear about trading with the undead so much, that they would think it is natural. Though I would not bombard them with it, the messaging would be subtle.
It is not only for the city but also for me.
I have a personal stake here and I will damn. If I let anything or anyone mess it up.
“See you tonight, adviser,” he said and walked out of the room.
He is not the first person I have met since I came from the establishment. Before him, I had met the chief editors of the three newspapers and told them about tomorrow's agenda.
I will also go there at night, to check the final draft of newspapers.
The next few days are going to be very important; I need to shape the opinion such away and it needs to be smooth; too much and the public will not accept it.
It will be a challenge, but there is a big hope.
Nearly everybody is aware that the merchant cities trade with undead and we use many of the things that come from there.
Thankfully, I had made the preparation nearly a month ago; the day I come to know about the diplomatic mission and trade negotiations that will happen there.
The newspapers have been publishing articles about it. Not our trade, but of merchant cities and other kingdoms and how many of things we use come from there.
There has been a reaction, but it had been controlled.
After he left, I closed my eyes for a couple of seconds, before opening them again and looking at the file in front of me.
I am in my new office, which is good; not as big as the one I have in the city, but still big enough. The furniture is amazing, better than I had in both of my offices.
I worked for an hour before he went to Lancel’s office and from there; I went to Count Darrow’s.
I updated him on my progress and took a few permissions before going to the merchant guild. Where I have a meeting with Guildmaster Hardt and other stakeholders of the merchant guild.
The merchants are a powerful force with an enormous influence; used wisely and they will be able to do the wonders.
“Adviser Silver,”
They stood up and greeted me as I entered the conference room, where all the seats were filled. I had asked everybody to be present and was happy that nobody was absent.
I looked at all of them. The Guild-master, vice-guild masters, and other important people of the merchant guild are sitting there.
A few months ago, I used to sit among them; not in the main seats, but behind them where the staff is seating.
I could see all of them focused on me, wearing a smile on their faces, but many of them has jealousy in their eyes. There are some who are feeling it, with an unnatural intensity.
The biggest is Damon Hardt, Guild-master of the merchant guild. He wanted the position I have and even interviewed for it.
“Gentlemen,” I said to them, all men, before sitting down. They followed after me.
“We have established trade relations with Navr. If flourished, it will bring our city, region, and whole empire riches beyond imagination, but for it to succeed, we need to sell this idea to the people,”
“And no one could compete with us merchants when it comes to selling things,” I said, drawing the laugh from many faces.
“Wise words adviser,” said vice-Guild-master Soren, and immediately Guildmaster Hardt looked at him.
There is a deep anger in his eyes, which is hiding underneath that smile.
The old man wants Hardt’s position, and he did not hide it.
Count Darrow is aware of it, but he is not doing anything and I don’t think he will do till Hardt does something he didn’t like or something changes with his family.
I wouldn’t interfere either, despite me preferring the old man.
I know what I could do, and what I shouldn’t do; interfering here is not something I should do. My position isn’t strong. I need to make myself invaluable before I start meddling with these things.
Making these things go smoothly will help me achieve that goal in a big way.
“I have a plan and I hope you all will listen to it,” I said and started, telling them, while taking the questions. Answering each and every one of them and taking inputs and changing the plans, if it is better.
I am not omniscient, and there is nothing wrong with accepting others' ideas, if they are better.
These are experienced people who have decades of experience in what I want them to do. I am learning a lot as I talk with them; sucking up the wisdom they have.
Little over two hours later, I am finished and now, 60% of ideas are mine and even among them, 25% have been changed, while 40% are from them.
“Thank you for your time, gentlemen,” I said, as I ended the meeting.
One by one, they left. I talked to each one of them, a few words. Including Damon Hardt. We might not like each other, but we understand our position and know we couldn’t afford to fight each other.
Remaining cordial in our best interest.
“You are flying higher and higher, Remus,” said Locke as I walked out with him from the conference room.
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“I am just doing the job Lord Count had handed me,” I replied to him and he just rolled his eyes.
“How was your trip to Navr?” he asked. “Great. It is so different from what I had expected,” I replied, and it is. Despite reading about it, I had expected to see a horde of undead and gloomy cities.
Instead, I saw one of the most beautiful places in this world and also the most terrifying; I shudder whenever I think about the unholy temple.
“It was such a regret that my family didn’t give me permission,” he said and sighed.
He wanted to send the representative, but couldn’t, as his family had declined his request.
Locke is quite independent here; the business he has is from his own money, but he is still a member of the house and enjoys the privileges that came from it and that come with strings.
He needs to take permission, before forming a relationship with kingdoms like Navr; that has the potential to harm the house’s reputation.
I have the same strings attached to me, but I have been provided a lot more freedom. I had informed the house about my intentions and no objection came from it.
They did not give me permission explicitly, but the no objection is permission itself. It will help them, throw all the responsibility to me if things were to go wrong.
Still, I am quite grateful for the house. They could have stopped me, but they did not.
“Don’t worry. You have not lost the chance, but if things went well, I will introduce you to a few people who will help you,” I said, and he looked at me gratefully.
“Thank you, Remus,” he replied, and I smiled.
I consider Locke a friend. Most importantly, he has potential and he would be very helpful in the future, or even now with the things I am going to ask him about.
“Locke, I hope you could help me with a thing,” I said. He opened his mouth but stopped and looked at my face, which had become serious.
“If it is in my power, I will do it,” he said after a second.
“I need information about witch class and its working and bonding rituals. I had collected some information, but it is not enough.”
“I want to see if I do could something about the bond,” I said and looked at him hopefully.
“Getting you those books won't be a problem, but I hope you will be careful with them,” he said after a moment of silence.
“Don’t worry, I know they are restricted. I will return them to you after I finished with them,” I replied.
“Ok,” He replied.
A few minutes later, I was in the carriage with a smile on my face.
I don’t feel bad about asking Locke for the restricted books. I have done him countless favors, and it is time; he does something for me and it is not something big for him.
His house deals in books and related stuff and has a license to keep some restricted books.
Even if they didn’t have the license, they would have kept it. The House of Silver also has an extensive collection of restricted books, which only the trusted can read them.
I would have asked the house, but the house doesn’t send out the restricted books, even the copies.
Locke is the best choice to get it.
I went back to my office in Count Darrow’s mansion and work there for some time. Before I received the message, I was waiting for.
I got out of the office and sat in my carriage, and I was at the port. Walking toward the spot where the boat from the other side will stop in the company of the port official.
I talked to him as I waited, and soon, I saw the boat and people sitting on it.
A minute later, the boat was docked, and people had come out.
“Uncle Thompson, Gerald, Uncle Raymond, welcome back to the Greltheaven,” I greeted.
I don’t want to greet my uncle; I hate that bastard, but I didn’t want to show the family differences in the open.
“Remus, you didn’t have to welcome us personally,” said Uncle Thompson. “I wanted to,” I replied and took them to the carriage.
Soon, the carriage is moving toward my place.
“I didn’t get a chance to ask yesterday, but how was Navr?” asked Gerald. “Good, better than you would expect, and extremely prosperous,” I replied, Gerald nodded and look at the two men.
I felt the skill activate and even the green ring on Uncle Thompson's finger activated, covering the carriage in a green light.
“The house wants to set up a branch in Greltheaven,” Gerald informed. “I had asked the house to do that months ago; Greltheaven has huge potential. If the trade with Navr worked, it will be even bigger,”
“They have everything our house will be interested in,” I said.
“Navr is complicated, we will start with merchant cities first,” he said and I smiled. I could understand the hesitation; it could have been a great repercussion if things went south.
“Your grandfather is asking when you would be interested in running the Greltheaven branch?” asked Uncle Thompson and could see the surprise and then anger appear in Uncle Raymond’s eyes.
It seemed like grandfather didn’t fill him on that.
“I can’t Uncle Thompson; there are too much responsibilities on me already. I am in no state to handle another one.” I declined the responsibility.
They didn’t seem surprised at hearing that. I had declined the barony, compared to it, the branch head is nothing. Though, Uncle Raymond is a different reaction than them.
The branch head is an enormous responsibility. As it will come with responsibilities of the whole region.
There are some investments in the Renwell region, but not a branch. The branch head will be responsible for the whole region and if they did well, they might gain that position officially.
I am sure the wrangling and lobbying had already begun, and I planned to stay away from it.