Chapter 392 - 140: Return to the Royal Capital

Chapter 392: Chapter 140: Return to the Royal Capital

In May, Barishik was bustling with people.

The Frank Kingdom was clearly in a state of war, yet the Royal Capital was more prosperous than at any time in the past thirty years.

The reason was simple: with all parties’ interests balanced, the Human Alliance had, for once, acted with rare efficiency.

Of course, it was also possible that if they hadn’t acted efficiently, the Frank Kingdom might just have fended off the Beastmen on its own.

Marshal Grantham was reporting one victory after another. According to some analysts within the Human Alliance, if things continued like this, the Beastmen would probably collapse on their own before the Alliance’s army even arrived.

After all, the Beastmen couldn’t conjure food out of thin air.

This wouldn’t do. The Franks’ war against the Beastmen, which occurred once every thirty years, had always been an arena for various powers to compete. It was a rare opportunity for them to "reap the autumn wind" on the grasslands—a chance for some legitimate plunder.

...

Sitting in the carriage, Robson felt like it hadn’t moved in ages.

It was hard to imagine this was one of the Royal Capital’s main thoroughfares.

After dealing with Chris County, the two remaining counties in southern Auric were much easier to handle.

People have a herd mentality; once they saw their neighbors surrender, they naturally felt there was no point in holding on to their own moral scruples.

Having resolved matters in Auric Province, Robson immediately rushed to the Fengman Domain, where he boarded a Fengman Clan carriage and hurried toward the Royal Capital.

There was no time to waste. The Royal Capital was teeming with opportunities that only came once every thirty years. If someone had stockpiled grain a month ago and sold it now, their fortune would have quintupled!

Robson glanced to the side. Valentino was gazing out of the carriage, and at some point, Huang Na had flown onto her shoulder.

’It’s true,’ he thought. ’No matter the race or era, girls can never resist the allure of a bustling crowd and a chance to look around.’

Sensing Robson’s gaze, Valentino turned back. Seeing him looking at her, a faint blush crept onto her cheeks.

"When will Fengman City be like this?" Valentino asked.

Robson also peered through the window.

It was lively, sure, but that was all. ’In my past life, even a small city had a population of over a hundred thousand,’ he thought. ’No matter how impressive Barishik is, it can’t escape the limitations of its era.’

"It will be, sooner or later."

As he said this, Robson thought of the iron mine he had hidden deep in the mountains, and of Falan, his human drafting machine.

"And it won’t be long."

...

Though the Royal Capital had many main thoroughfares, the Fengman Clan, as a former top-tier power and still a first-rate one, fortunately had enough clout to navigate them.

After leaving the main thoroughfare, the carriage was guided onto a dedicated lane, proceeding without any obstruction.

However, the carriage wasn’t heading toward the Fengman Clan’s estate, but straight for Edward Manor.

The reason was simple: dusk was falling, and Robson and Valentino had arrived in the Royal Capital just in the nick of time.

And tonight, an important banquet was being held in the Royal Palace: Prince Noah had returned to the kingdom!

The steward of the Edward family had received the news well in advance.

As soon as Robson and Valentino stepped out of the carriage, the steward had a Mage cast a cleaning spell on them before whisking them away to their rooms to change.

Within Edward Manor, there was a wing specifically reserved for members of the Fengman Clan.

"Well? How do I look?"

After getting dressed, Robson opened his door and found himself face-to-face with a magnificently attired Valentino.

’Have to admit,’ he thought, ’the Fengman and Edward families have some excellent genes.’

In armor, she was a valiant female general; in a red dress, a graceful and stunning beauty.

Robson hadn’t expected the young lady to be bold enough to tease him. As a veteran with decades of experience, he reacted instantly, wrapping an arm around Valentino’s slender waist.

"Of course you look good. Much better than in your Swordsmanship Uniform," Robson said with a smile.

Having only recently come of age, Valentino had little life experience. Robson’s bold move left her completely flustered and unsure how to react.

"L-Let go of me first..." Valentino said shyly. "I just wanted to show you. I have to change into something else."

Just as Valentino had said, she had only put this on to show Robson. As beautiful as the dress was, tonight’s banquet had another leading lady.

It wouldn’t do to steal the spotlight from the princess.

Robson smiled and released her. A joke was a joke, but if they took it any further... A young man and woman, dry tinder and a burning flame—it was a dangerous combination.

The Franks were rather traditional, after all, believing that certain activities should be saved for the wedding night.

Besides, they had a banquet to attend.

"I’ll head downstairs first, then," Robson said with a smile.

"Mhm..."

...

As Robson descended the stairs, a voice called out.

"Ha! Robson!"

Robson looked toward the source of the voice and saw it was none other than Marquis William.

After a moment’s thought, Robson immediately understood the reason for his presence. ’In the end, my actions on the eastern front were too significant. They’ve already attracted the attention of Marquis Oscillate and the others.’

It was practically an open secret in the kingdom that Marquis William was the second-in-command of the southern faction.

As one of the faction’s leaders, William naturally had to take a look at this rising star from the south.

"Marquis!" Robson exclaimed in feigned surprise.

"I never expected to see you here!"

"I came specifically to see the new young lad from our very own Lait County! And you are indeed as handsome and promising as they say!" Marquis William said with a laugh.

"And dispense with the ’Marquis.’ It’s too formal. After all, I am Valentino’s uncle. I fought alongside her father back in the day."

"Uncle, my meager accomplishments are nothing to speak of. I owe it all to your guidance!"

Switching his form of address came as easily as breathing to Robson; he felt no mental block whatsoever.

Besides, according to the Edward family’s genealogy, the man wasn’t wrong. In terms of generation, Robson was indeed Marquis William’s junior.

"Excellent! Excellent! My dear nephew, you’re too modest. I just came to see how you are. Tell me, do you face any difficulties out there beyond the pass? I’ve heard it’s not exactly a pleasant posting, and yours is particularly remote. If you need anything, just tell me or Marquis Oscillate. Don’t be a stranger," Marquis William said.

’So these are the benefits of a marriage alliance,’ Robson thought.

Before arriving, Robson had been wondering how he could convince the kingdom’s major merchant families to send more caravans to his domain.

With Everton’s help, the magical beast industry in the Affleck Domain was booming.

Furthermore, Robson had a large stash of spoils of war he hadn’t been able to sell, worth at least several thousand Gold Coins.

And now, the leader of the merchant family with the most extensive logistics network in the kingdom was offering to help him directly.

Since Marquis William was offering help, it would be churlish of Robson to refuse out of politeness.

Favors are a two-way street; relationships are built on this kind of give-and-take, eventually turning into alliances that last for generations.

"To be honest with you, Uncle, that place beyond the pass is truly desolate. After the recent war, no merchants are willing to go there.

"I have a few businesses out there related to magical beasts..."

"Magical beasts? Excellent! You really are a capable young man. Ephes, arrange for a few caravans to be permanently stationed there. Purchase all of Viscount Robertson’s magical beast materials and anything else he has at market price."

Robson hadn’t even finished speaking, and Marquis William had already arranged a massive order with a seemingly unlimited budget.

’Is this what it feels like to be carried by a pro?’

"Our Guterres Family has always been on friendly terms with the Fengman Clan. My dear nephew, feel free to command the caravans we send.

"If your domain is lacking anything, just mention it to them. Weapons, grain, Peasants... what doesn’t a developing domain need?

"Evers, tell those caravans to sell goods to Viscount Robertson at fair prices. The Guterres Family does not produce profiteers."

"As you command, my lord."

"Oh, and you must have acquired quite a haul from your battles beyond the pass, right? Just sell it all to us. War materials are scarce right now, so I’ll buy it at double the price..."

Before Marquis William could finish, a man approached and whispered a few words in his ear.

Marquis William nodded, then turned to Robson with an apologetic look.

"My dear nephew, something has come up, so I can’t stay. If you need anything, just tell Evers.

And here, take this. You’ll find it useful at the Guterres Family’s trading houses."

Marquis William handed a token to Robson, gave a few brief instructions to Evers, and then hurriedly departed.

Robson was practically blinded by the gleam of gold. His mind was filled with the jingling of Gold Coins, and he’d been reduced to a nodding machine.

’So, this is what a mega-rich patron is like?’