Eastern mythology system

Chapter 77 Discussion
Between the Hilton family and the noble alliance, the attitude of the City Lord's Mansion, or the Grand Duke Mattesias, is inclined towards the former.

Of course, as the supreme ruler of the city of Edinburgh, the City Lord's Mansion needs to maintain an image of a fair referee.As long as the conflicting parties do not violate the laws formulated by the Grand Duke, the City Lord's Mansion cannot publicly declare who they support, let alone directly suppress or support any party.

However, in many cases, a fair and just competitive environment is already very powerful and rare support and assistance.Because nobility is synonymous with privilege.Even the City Lord's Mansion, even the Grand Duke, cannot open this umbrella for anyone casually.

For those who are weak, newcomers, and latecomers, a fair and just competitive environment is so important.

And in the aristocratic circle in Edinburgh, the topmost field in the power pyramid, the Hilton family happened to occupy all three of the "weak, newcomers, and latecomers".

It can be said that in addition to the Hilton family's own efforts, plus various internal reasons of the Fontaine family and other veteran nobles, the attitude of the City Lord's Mansion is the most powerful guarantee for their rise and growth.

Because of this, Earl Silvio was also a little worried while he was secretly happy.It would be bad if Anthony really angered the Grand Duke.

And things seemed to be going in the direction Earl Silvio least expected.

"According to what you mean, your family will occupy the business road, and no one else will be allowed to pass through it?" The Grand Duke's expression became serious.

"Your Excellency the Grand Duke, how could you say that? We were able to pass, but we had to pay the toll. If other families want to pass, just pay the toll?" Anthony was not afraid at all.

"How much do you have to pay?"

"How do I know, I have to let them talk to those bandit leaders."

"Then how much do you pay Hilton?"

"Hehe, this is a commercial secret, and the Grand Duke shouldn't inquire about it at will."

"Hmph! I think those thieves are not all following your orders."

"You are wronged, my lord duke! How can we make the thieves obedient?"

"Otherwise, why are you the only ones who can go there?"

"Because we paid the fee."

"..."

"..."

Everyone around looked at the old and the young in dumbfounded, bickering like a peddler in a vegetable market and a woman buying vegetables.

Is this the majestic and iron-blooded Grand Duke?

This is the extremely talented Mr. Anthony?
uh~
Everyone turned their heads, some looked at the scenery outside the window, some studied the pattern of the carpet, and some thought about the mystery hidden in the ceiling.

finally……

"In any case, your Hilton family has to find a way to allow others to pass through the business road safely. Yes, that's it!" the Grand Duke said angrily, throwing himself into the big back chair.

"You are not allowed to submit tolls!" At the end, he added viciously.

He really made this kid so angry today, and he finally understood how those people who were against this kid felt.Thinking about it now, the Fontaine family is actually quite pitiful.

Anthony shrugged, spread his hands, and looked at Count Silvio.

The Grand Duke played a rogue, and there was nothing anyone could do about it.

However, the reason why the Grand Duke was able to force the Grand Duke to play a rogue regardless of his face was really because he had nothing to do with Anthony.

Anthony retreated bravely, and Count Silvio had no choice but to face it bitterly.

"My lord, this, this is a bit inappropriate, isn't it?"

Grand Duke Mattesias stared: "There is nothing wrong."

"This, this..." The Earl didn't know what to say.

Seeing Patriarch Hilton's deflated look, the Grand Duke calmed down a lot.

"We all know the situation on the side of Shangdao, and you don't have to play dumb in front of me. Of course, neither the nobles nor I have any definite evidence, and all of this is just speculation. But evidence, hehe ! If I really want to have it, am I afraid that I won’t have it?”

Count Silvio was shocked.

Even a marquis family like Fontaine dared to do something behind the scenes, and afterwards it was nothing more than a lawsuit in the aristocratic Senate.

As for the Grand Duke Mattesias, who has a higher title, greater power, and a large army, it is not easy to play if he wants to destroy a small earl family in his own territory.

As for the evidence, isn't the material submitted by the Alliance of Nobles just ready-made evidence?As long as the Grand Duke considers it to be evidence, then it is indisputable ironclad evidence!

The key is whether he wants to do it or not.

Thinking of this, Count Silvio only had a helpless smile.

"So, what does His Excellency Duke mean?"

The Grand Duke said: "This commercial road is extremely important to the commercial development of the city of Edinburgh. I hope you can communicate with those bandits so that all my caravans in Edinburgh can pass safely."

Earl Silvio's smile became more bitter.

In this way, the advantage of the Hilton family can be said to be gone.

Elder Andres on the side looked anxious, but he didn't know what to say.He is good at fighting with fists, but he can't help at all when negotiating and negotiating at the conference table.

Fortunately, there are people here who can help.

"Your Excellency the Grand Duke, please forgive me, I think this method is ill-considered."

"Hmph! Tell me, why didn't you think about it?" the Grand Duke said angrily.

Anthony stood up, cupped his hands and saluted, "Just as the Grand Duke said just now, assuming that all the thieves and bandits on the business roads obey our orders..."

The old magician laughed and interjected, "Don't assume, it is."

Anthony pretended not to hear it, and continued: "...All businesses can travel between Edinburgh City and Krakow County safely and smoothly. Everyone trades freely and competes fairly. Is that so?"

"That's right!" This was exactly what the Grand Duke wanted to see.

"But in this way, has the Grand Duke calculated the losses suffered by my Hilton family?"

The Grand Duke was taken aback: "What loss do you have?"

Anthony pointed his fingers and said: "Why not? When we purchase goods, a large number of competitors also purchase, which will inevitably push up prices and increase costs; when we sell goods, there are also a large number of competitors who also sell similar products. It will also inevitably suppress the selling price and reduce profits.”

"Although I don't know much about business, I can guess it by guessing. Even if what you said is true, you can still make a lot of money in the end, right?" the old magician asked suddenly.

"That's right," Anthony said affirmatively, "but we could have earned more."

"Isn't it enough to make money? Why are you so greedy? In the final analysis, the way of business is not your family's private property."

Anthony turned to the old magician: "Dear Mr. Magician, let me tell you a little story: Once upon a time there was a village, and there was a piece of wasteland next to which no crops could be grown. No one wanted to waste their energy on it." There was a foolish boy who was not afraid of hard work. He went out early and returned late every day to take care of the wasteland. After a year, he finally transformed the wasteland into good farmland. Distributed to all the villagers. The foolish boy who has been busy for a year only got a small piece of land in the end."

The old magician rubbed his chin and said thoughtfully, "That land belongs to the village, and the village chief's actions are fair and understandable. But, um..."

"However, it's obviously not fair for a fool to put in a lot of effort and end up with the same harvest as others, isn't it?" Anthony helped him say the following words.

He turned to face the Grand Duke again, gave a deep salute, and said with a serious face: "Your Excellency, the Hilton Family's loss is only one aspect. The loss of the City Lord's Mansion is probably more serious."

The Grand Duke frowned: "What is the loss of my City Lord's Mansion?"

"The loss is prestige, people's hearts, and the development and future of Edinburgh City!" Anthony said decisively.

"Dare to ask Your Excellency the Grand Duke, if there is another piece of wasteland next to the village in the story, do you think there will be a second fool who will transform it into fertile land?"

No one answered, the Grand Duke and the old magician were lost in thought.

The answer is obvious and there is no need to answer it.

The deputy of the grand duke, who was silent from the beginning to the end, suddenly asked: "If all the good land belongs to the idiot, it doesn't matter to the village whether the land is good land or waste land, so what does it matter?" The difference? On the contrary, because of the sudden bountiful harvest of the foolish boy, the envy and resentment of the villagers has increased, creating hidden dangers to public security."

Anthony smiled and shook his head: "Why is there no difference? The idiot has so much food that he can't finish it, so he can exchange some other things with others? Isn't that how business comes about? Besides, when the idiot is rich, he doesn't have to go to the fields himself. To work, you need to hire labor from the village to work, don’t those villagers also have food to eat? Isn’t this a good development trend?”

"As for the hidden dangers of law and order... the rich people in Edinburgh are ranked first in the entire Glorious Empire. What does this gentleman think about the law and order in the city?"

The assistant nodded and cupped his hands, and said, "I've been taught! Thank you, Mr. Anthony, for clarifying the confusion."

Then no more words.

The Grand Duke said a little irritably: "Although you have a sharp tongue, what you say makes sense. It's just that a city cannot be compared with a village. There are thousands of things in management, so we must not take it lightly. If you just let you monopolize the business, Even with my protection, those jealous nobles will make trouble sooner or later."

Anthony nodded.

The Grand Duke's concerns are well-founded.In a short period of time, the monopoly can make huge profits, and the nobles have joined in to gain some glory.But after a long time, jealousy will inevitably arise, and the Hilton family will become the target of public criticism again.

After a moment of silence, Anthony spoke slowly.

"I have a proposal, and I invite the Grand Duke, the Patriarch and everyone to discuss it together to see if it is feasible."

"In the future, the Hilton family will set aside a certain number of horse-drawn carriages for other families to transport goods through the convoy of the business road. To use our horse-drawn carriages, we need to pay [-]% of the proceeds as the rental fee."

(End of this chapter)