N-M #594 - Don't put rabbits and eggs in the same cage
#594 - Don't put rabbits and eggs in the same cage
"Hey, hey, cheer up."
Sitting in a private room on the third floor of the tavern, Venisay shook Abazi's shoulder, but Abazi was listless.
Brushing off Venisay's hand, he leaned his head against the wool tapestry on the wall, sighing repeatedly.
Black sugar refining technology, the Royal Trading Company—these two phrases together could only spell trouble.
The nobles of Red Leaf Hill drove out the lord, and the nouveau riche of Lilac Corridor poisoned four royal agents, all for sugar.
The nobles of Red Leaf Hill and Lilac Corridor even formed an alliance, basically monopolizing the entire empire's sugar trade.
But now, the Royal Family of Fran quietly opened a gap in Thousand River Valley, and even miraculously came up with a black sugar refining technology.
The good days were gone, never to return.
Leaving aside whether they could climb up by clinging to the Lakin family, it was questionable whether they could even maintain their current position.
"Have you noticed that Lufiel's attitude towards that Armand has been a little strange lately?"
"A kid whose beard hasn't even grown in… what are you being so paranoid about?" Abazi, annoyed, pushed Venisay away and continued to pore over the booklet.
Seeing that he couldn't persuade Abazi, Venisay sat down in a huff.
At this moment, Lufiel walked in from outside: "Catherine-jie said she will be late, she has to deal with the church property auction."
In fact, the Galen Guesthouse where they were was originally the Saint Galen Monastery of the church.
It was once used by the local church to serve foreign nobles and bishops, and the monks were famous for their superb brewing and cooking skills.
The internal facilities of the monastery were even luxurious, comparable to the banquet halls of noble families.
When Horn and Moria entered Flystream Fortress, according to the principle of 'church property belonging to the public,' the two sides divided the church's remaining property.
Moria obtained a large number of workshops, real estate, and manors outside the city, while Horn mainly divided the church's real estate and shops.
This high-end place, where you couldn't enter without a title, was now open to everyone, and the hall was full of workshop owners and ordinary citizens from all over Thousand River Valley who came to try something new.
"This place is not the same as before," Lufiel wrinkled her nose. "It has lost the chanting of hymns and the melodious choir, and only has folk tunes and shrill bagpipes left."
However, this was the only restaurant in the city that barely met Lufiel's requirements.
If it weren't for Catherine, Lufiel and the others wouldn't even be able to book a room on the quiet third floor.
Venisay chuckled softly: "This can't be blamed on others. The Holy Grandson's eyes are on gold, and the psalms are naturally lying at the bottom of the box."
As soon as Venisay finished speaking, Lufiel glared at him with an unkind look: "Today is embarrassing enough. If you continue to be rude, I won't say a single word to you for the next year."
"I promise," Venisay quickly swore.
As the three whispered, they heard a waiter gently knock on the door: "Three distinguished guests, the two gentlemen have arrived."
After giving a threatening look, Lufiel asked the waiter to open the door. First to enter was Armand, wearing a beige shirt and a wine-red linen jacket, followed by René, wearing a long-sleeved, dark blue thin woolen jacket in late spring and early summer.
Along with them came the sound of their conversation.
"Jana's recent actions have been a little strange. She actually thinks that the Despot Duke and His Holiness the Pope are too close."
"Maybe Jana's magical power is growing too fast, and the pressure on her nerves is getting more and more serious."
"She's not even twenty years old yet. Shouldn't there be a problem with magical power overflowing and pressing on her nerves?"
Seeing Lufiel and the others stand up to greet them, Armand and René immediately put on their trained polite smiles and nodded to the three.
"I almost forgot to introduce you. This is René, René Garal, my friend." After the five sat down, Armand took the lead in introducing René to them.
"Garal… Ah, you must be a member of the Orphan Guard from 'The Holy Grandson's Expedition'?"
René simply nodded politely: "Yes."
Lufiel and the others all looked at this unremarkable teenager. He had shaved temples, was neither tall nor short, neither fat nor thin, but when you were stared at by those eyes, you always felt uncomfortable all over.
"Are you very interested in 'The Holy Grandson's Expedition'?" Armand interjected appropriately.
"Yes." Lufiel picked up a small book from the side. "I just finished reading this book. It's very interesting."
Venisay interjected: "Like a story told by a country bard."
Lufiel elbowed Venisay in the ribs under the table: "I don't seem to see you in 'The Holy Grandson's Expedition'?"
Armand laughed: "I was too young at the time. There are only five characters in this book, so of course it wouldn't write about a nobody like me."
"Cough." At this time, Abazi couldn't help but suddenly asked, "Monk Armand, is the black sugar refining technology real?"
"Of course." Armand looked up and down at this Earl youth. "I just went back to Jeanneburg and the Holy See last month. Five sugar-making workshops have been built around Jeanneburg and are recruiting workers.
When the black sugar raw materials from Black Serpent Bay arrive after the summer, production can begin."
Abazi still couldn't believe it: "We've been researching black sugar purification for hundreds of years. You've researched it in such a short time?"
"The Holy Grandson has a divine gift." Saying it deliberately, Armand's eyes turned to Abazi's face. "It doesn't hurt to tell you, it's an alchemical method. In the world of alchemy, everything has upper and lower attributes. It is difficult for you to purify black sugar by simply using the lower attributes."
Sure enough, it was an alchemical method!
Abazi even felt a little weak. If it was another method, they could send commercial spies to steal the recipe, but alchemy, damn it, they were using alchemy!
Looking at the sweating Abazi, Armand suddenly laughed, "Mr. Abazi, does your family handle sugar trade?"
"Uh." Abazi opened his mouth, but still didn't hide it, and smiled bitterly, "My father is in this industry."
"Is that so?" Leaning back in his chair, Armand pretended to wipe the sweat from his nose and looked at René next to him, who had already narrowed his eyes and fixed his gaze on Abazi's profile.
Several large-scale projects are under construction in Langsand County, and funds are already stretched. Moreover, His Holiness the Pope does not want to put all his eggs in the basket of the Fran Royal Trading Company.
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And this Abazi is obviously the descendant of a nouveau riche who rose up through the sugar trade. No wonder Catherine invited them here.
René silently remembered Abazi's face and name.
Lufiel's gaze swept back and forth between Armand's and Abazi's faces, her eyebrows furrowing slightly.
Generally speaking, as the only daughter of the Lakin family, she was always the protagonist of banquets and parties. Why were these two people's attention all on Abazi?
"I heard that the family has recently been handling tobacco business, which is said to be as profitable as white sugar," Lufiel tried to guide the topic back to herself.
"Does Mr. Abazi have any ideas about going to Jeanneburg to take a look? Maybe he can guide our sugar-making workshops."
Lufiel didn't believe it: "Where is Jeanneburg? I thought the Salvation Army's headquarters were in the Holy See."
"Jeanneburg is the Salvation Army's headquarters, and the Holy See is the Patriarch's headquarters. The two are not far apart. I dare say that the Holy See is the only city in Thousand River Valley with classical revivalism and a very strong commercial atmosphere. If Mr. Abazi is interested, I can personally accompany you."
"…My dowry is 25,000 gold pounds." After suddenly uttering a sentence, Lufiel regretted it as soon as she said it. She didn't even know why she would say this.
"Oh?" Armand glanced at Lufiel, whose ears were red, in surprise, and nodded. "It is indeed a huge sum, almost exceeding Langsand County's annual tax revenue. However, according to our current development plan, doubling it in two years is not difficult. Mr. Abazi, what do you think?"
In Venisay's gleeful expression, Lufiel inexplicably began to overheat, but the overheating was interrupted by the sound of the door opening.
"I'm sorry, everyone, I'm late." Catherine smiled and took off the large hat on her head. "It's a bit hot, open the window—look, Lufiel's face is all red."
"We heard Mr. Armand say a lot about the Holy See," Lufiel quickly changed the subject in order to divert Catherine's attention.
"Are you interested in the Holy See? Anyway, Leia is in civil war, and you can't go to school, so why not go take a look?"
Go to the Holy See to take a look? Lufiel recalled the content mentioned by Armand and Abazi in their conversation and the slang taught to her by Catherine.
A city where wizards and alchemists can act openly?
While Lufiel hesitated, Catherine had already walked to the table, and she quickly followed and sat down.
"I'm really sorry, Lord Armand, I was very rude at the meeting today." Catherine pulled out a chair and sat down. "Lord René is here too."
"Haha, I'm just here to freeload a meal." René squeezed out a smile.
Armand waved his hand: "It's nothing. Even if they don't ask, I will take the initiative to say it."
"Your Excellency is really generous. Sure enough, the Foreign Minister's stomach can hold a fleet."
"Hahaha, I haven't reached that level yet."
After a few words of conversation, Catherine sat down.
Lufiel, who was at her side, couldn't help but hold up the menu, leaned over, and whispered: "Catherine-jie, why do you call them 'Your Excellency'? Aren't they members of that Orphan Guard?"
"Oh, I haven't had time to introduce you yet." Smiling and raising her head, Catherine pointed to René with her right finger. "This is the Chief of Cheka of the Thousand River Valley Patriarchal Region, Lord René Garal."
"This is the Chief Privy Councillor of the Thousand River Valley Patriarchal Region, Lord Armand-Jean Richelieu Corset."