Alien world

Chapter 1845, Chapter 478: The Three Little Pigs
"Prince Doyle was regarded as the heir to the kingdom from a very young age. His two older brothers were either unambitious or infertile. His younger brothers, on the other hand, were very ambitious, but they were all overshadowed by Doyle."

Franning recounted the royal history of the Kingdom of Dimon with great familiarity.

Annan nodded in agreement. He hadn't yet realized how capable the third prince was, but he was a very sincere young man.

Since it was chosen by the old king, it must be perfect.

Of course, with Grand Marshal Galkin in charge and the Empire keeping an eye on things, there's no need to worry that Prince Doyle will turn into a mad dog like the old Aidan.

Franning returned the conversation to Annan, his tone tinged with admiration: "It's remarkable, Annan, time seems to have sped up for you. We've met twice or three times? But each time, you've undergone a complete transformation..."

"I thought you businessmen would hate change the most."

Annan guessed why Frannin had deliberately waited for him there, and engaged him in conversation.

"That's true. Merchants consider themselves superior, but they're no different from farmers. What's a heavy rain for a farmer is a major change for a merchant; it's all about circumstances over effort."

As expected of the finance minister who outlasted several interior ministers, his insights into capital surpassed those of everyone Annan had ever encountered.

“You are different, child. You are embracing change, and you are succeeding.”

"Because people can't earn money beyond their own understanding. Ordinary people can earn money by farming or doing manual labor, while merchants at a higher level can earn money by trading and making money from price differences."

Franning countered, "You consider yourself superior to them?"

"Given the current situation, yes."

You can stand on a road trodden by countless others and laugh at someone walking a thorny path, but you cannot laugh at their courage.

Frannin remained noncommittal, glancing at the succubus behind Annan, and paused slightly. There were some things he needed to discuss with Annan privately.

"What are you looking at me for?"

A demon is a demon after all; she didn't understand the half-elf's meaning and asked in bewilderment.

Annan sighed helplessly, his hard-earned momentum completely shattered by Russ. He turned his head and said, "Go find me a watermelon, pea pod, and blood-fruit dragon milk flavored drink."

Ruth understood this sentence, muttering to herself, "Just tell me to go away, why make it sound so convoluted?" and walked away.

Annan withdrew his gaze: "What do you want to tell me?"

“Child, I know you still resent the mistakes the duchy made back then, and those nobles paid the price for their arrogance. I can make them apologize, pay a greater price, as long as…”

“Mr. Frannin, you know I don’t care about an apology,” Annan interrupted him.

Face is everything for nobles, but it's not that important to Annan—otherwise, if he had backed out in the Elven court, the ridicule from all over the world would have been like snowflakes, and Annan would have buried his head in his elder sister's arms for three days and three nights in shame.

In this respect, he is more like a purely shrewd businessman—who prioritizes profit.

He would even auction off his virginity if the profit was right...

At first, Franning thought that was just how Annan was, but how could a purely self-interested businessman care so much about the lives of ordinary people? Before setting off, Franning read through Annan Reeves' history of how he made his fortune, and he seemed to understand a little.

What he really cares about seems to be his own territory.

He was willing to collude with Chaos for profit, all for the sake of Free City. He cherished the lives of ordinary people, ensuring they had clothes to wear, food to eat, and shelter to live in, also for the sake of Free City.

But from the perspective of a nobleman, this doesn't make sense—nobles develop and amass wealth in order to perpetuate their families, but what's the point of Annam distributing all the glittering gold coins to the poor?

The lords merely selected suitable candidates to become knights and pledge their loyalty. Annan, however, shifted his focus to the common people… Could the loyalty of ten poor men be worth the loyalty of one knight?

"Then what do you want?"

Franning adopted a very humble posture, and his thin figure hunched over slightly, making one's heart ache.

Annan stepped aside, avoiding Frannin's attempt to kidnap him: "What I want isn't the key point. The key point is, why are you looking for me?"

"Shouldn't the task of protecting the Middle-earth be left to the Empire and the other High Kings? Free City is just a small power."

“You are not a minor power. The Elven Court is blinded by arrogance, and the kings are led astray by prejudice. But I can see the potential and glory within Free City…”

It must be said that such praise from a politician who has served for hundreds of years would certainly make one's vanity soar, but Annan knew that agreeing to it would mean that the people of Free City would risk their lives to satisfy their vanity, so he still refused to budge: "That's only in the future, isn't it?"

"What if the Principality of Keating were willing to help you shorten the process? You know, as a trading nation, we have accumulated a great deal of wealth. Even now, with the war raging, we still possess a substantial amount of riches."

Annan was tempted, but still shook his head, saying, "Mr. Frannin, you should try to persuade the Empire rather than me. After all, if you can convince the Empire, we will follow."

Franning shook his head and said nothing, seemingly having already run into a wall with the Empire.

He sighed, "Do you remember? I bought 50 spinning machines from you back then."

"Of course I remember. You helped me a lot. To repay you, how about I buy 500 units now?"

Annan, unmoved by reason, looked at Russ and said, "Someone, for—"

“I’m not threatening you, it’s just… please help those innocent people, okay?” Frannin’s face visibly darkened. “I am half-elf, half-human, half-elf. But I was born into a human family, my friends are human, my teachers are human, and I have always considered myself human.”

“I have lived in the duchy for seven hundred years; it has become a part of my life. If it perishes, I will have no reason to exist…”

Moved by Frannin's sincere emotions, Annan remained silent for a moment before saying, "Have you heard the story of the Three Little Pigs?"

"The Three Little Pigs...?"

"A story in Annamite Fables tells of three little pigs who built three houses to defend themselves from a big bad wolf. The laziest little pig built a thatched house, which the wolf blew down in one breath. The diligent little pig built a wooden house, which the wolf knocked down. The clever little pig built a stone house, which the wolf blew and knocked down, but he couldn't break through it and had to leave in disappointment."

“Three little pigs, three factions…” Minister Frannin muttered to himself, thinking of the current situation in the Duchy. “Are you telling me that the kingdom’s chance to survive is to unite and not give Chaos the chance to defeat it one by one?”

"No, what I meant was that the three little pigs didn't have a stone house, and even if they got together, the only difference was that the big bad wolf would eat until he was half full or full."

(End of this chapter)