Lord: Starting with Summoning the Regular Army of Earth

Chapter 101 The Storm Is Brewing

Matthew's face remained impassive, but a hint of surprise still flashed in his eyes. He had considered many possibilities, but he had never guessed this outcome. This woman was so shrewd that he was somewhat afraid of her.

Although Conrad tried to remain calm, his hand unconsciously reached for the hilt of his sword at his waist.

Lina held her breath, watching Matthew nervously.

Matthew remained silent, exchanging a brief glance with Eleanor.

The other person's gaze was sharp and honest, carrying a confident understanding of the facts rather than tentative suspicion.

He suddenly chuckled softly, neither admitting nor denying, but instead asking, "What makes you say that, Madam?"

Eleanor's expression also turned serious. She first stood up and bowed: "First of all, please forgive my rudeness, sir. Although I have never sent anyone to follow Mr. Morpheus, all of the Black Bear Merchant Guild's transactions have always been under our close surveillance, especially large clients who handle large transactions. In the past period of time—"

Eleanor truthfully explained how she guessed Morpheus was Matthew, though she held back some details, everything she said was honest and frank.

She also truthfully stated her ability to identify people by the details of their palms.

"Therefore, before I came to Emberstone Ridge and met you, my lord, I wasn't sure about my guess. It wasn't until I saw you up close just now that I realized that my pointing this out was not for coercion or boasting. On the contrary, it is precisely because I have confirmed your identity that I am even more certain that coming here today was the right choice. The person I have come to visit today is not Mr. Morpheus, but the lord of Emberstone Ridge."

She looked intently at Matthew, her gaze devoid of any businessman's calculations, replaced only by pure admiration and decisiveness.

"I, Eleanor, and the Plantagenet Merchant Guild behind me, have never cared about the profits from a few bars of soap."

Those things are certainly tempting, but they're merely icing on the cake. What we truly value is you—your wisdom, your abilities, and your future.

"The Kingdom of Augustus is currently rife with undercurrents and a storm is brewing. We must prepare for the worst and gamble on a future with greater potential."

"Therefore, I have come here today with the sincerity of the Golden Flower Merchant Guild, not to seek a business deal. Rather, I hope to become one of your, and one of the earliest and most steadfast supporters of Emberstone Ridge."

"We do not seek short-term profits, nor do we covet your core technology. We are only willing to contribute our modest efforts to your development through the Chamber of Commerce's channels, funds, and connections. What we hope for is long-term cooperation, to witness and participate together in the rise of a great territory and even a broader future."

"I can even say outright that I hope that one day when Ironrock City welcomes a new master, the Golden Flower Merchant Guild will still be here, and even more prosperous than it is now."

She frankly revealed her core intention, which was a bold political investment, and even touched upon Matthew's ambition.

Lina, standing to the side, was completely stunned. She never expected her sister to so bluntly bet the future of the entire business association on a "fallen prince".

What I never expected was that she would think that Emberstone Ridge could one day swallow Ironrock City; such flattery was a bit too much.

A tremendous storm raged within Matthew's heart.

Eleanor's words were completely unexpected to him.

He had anticipated various business negotiations, but he did not expect that the other party would skip this stage and elevate the cooperation to the level of a strategic alliance and future investment.

What I didn't expect was that this woman had seen through my own ambitions and the future situation.

This woman is truly terrifying; not only is she sharp-eyed, but her courage is also astonishing.

She was gambling with the fate of the nation, gambling with Matthew's future.

And she clearly has a good eye.

A long silence fell over the study.

Matthew remained silent, his mind racing with options.

The power of the Golden Flower Chamber of Commerce is undeniable. In the long run, it is more useful than local bullies like the Black Bear Chamber of Commerce. Its chambers of commerce are spread across multiple provinces, and its backing is extraordinary.

If a deep and reliable cooperation can be established with them, it will be a huge boost to the development of Jinshiling.

However, being associated with such a shrewd force also means enormous risks and political entanglements.

He is still in the early stages of his career, and any premature decision to take sides could lead to his demise.

After a long while, Matthew slowly raised his head, his gaze returning to calm, but with a barely perceptible scrutiny in its depths.

He neither confirmed nor denied the identity of "Morpheus," but instead chose the most pragmatic response.

"Mrs. Eleanor, your frankness and foresight surprise and impress me. The friendship of the Plantagenet Merchant Guild carries great weight. But—"

He then shifted his tone, becoming extremely calm: "Trust needs time to build, and cooperation requires strength. As you can see, Jinshiling is still in its initial stages, and its primary task is to solidify its foundation. I am open to the broad future you have described. But before that, perhaps we can start with some more concrete and practical mutually beneficial cooperation? For example, could we use your chamber of commerce's channels to procure some urgently needed but controlled supplies for Jinshiling? Or, could we engage in limited information sharing?"

He was not blinded by the other party's empty promises, but instead gave a cautious, pragmatic answer that left ample room for maneuver.

They accepted the goodwill without making any substantive commitments, thus firmly controlling the pace of the cooperation.

A knowing glint, and even a hint of admiration, flashed in Eleanor's eyes.

This is the composure and caution that a hidden dragon should possess.

If Matthew immediately and excitedly agrees, she will have to reassess her investment.

"Of course." Eleanor nodded gracefully, her smile regaining its brightness and sincerity. "Cooperation should proceed gradually and steadily. The Golden Flower Merchant Guild is always ready to provide all possible assistance to Emberstone Ridge, whether it be supplies, information, or funds. Please accept this thousand gold coins as a token of our sincerity; no conditions are required."

She understood that today's objectives had been exceeded: stating a position, establishing initial contact, confirming key information, and paving the way for future in-depth cooperation.

All that remains is to wait and earn the true trust of this future rising star through concrete actions.

The meeting lasted a little longer, and the atmosphere eased considerably. However, both sides tacitly agreed not to delve into sensitive topics and instead discussed some rumors about the kingdom's political situation.

For example, the natural and man-made disasters in the White Forest of the North, and the increasingly rampant cults there; and then there's Robert's sister, Lanny, now the wife of the Grand Duke of the South, who, after the Duke's death, under the guise of assisting her young son, has actually completely taken control of the South.

Recently, she has been frequently interacting with the Second Prince, and the troop movements and supply reserves in the Southern Territory have also been unusual.

Rumors also circulated that she had neglected the capital's decrees, and that the powers of taxation and trade were rapidly becoming her personal fiefdom.

In fact, she was talking about these things to demonstrate the intelligence capabilities of their chamber of commerce, and also to remind Matthew that the Kingdom of Augustus was not peaceful at the moment, with undercurrents surging and a storm brewing, and civil war could break out at any time.

However, troubled times produce heroes, which is why she is betting her future on this.

When Eleanor rose to take her leave, Matthew personally escorted her to the gates of the lord's manor.

"Please wait a moment, my lord." Eleanor turned around in front of the carriage, smiling as she extended an invitation. "If you ever visit Ironrock City in the future, please do me the honor of visiting the Golden Flower Merchant Guild. Let me, your host, extend my hospitality. Our guild has a collection of wines from the South, with a rather unique flavor that I'm sure will not disappoint you."

"If I have the time, I will certainly pay you a visit." Matthew nodded slightly, accepting the vague invitation.

The carriage slowly drove away from Jinshi Ridge and disappeared at the end of the road.

Matthew stood at the door, gazing intently in the direction the carriage had gone.

Eleanor is a smart, bold woman with a keen eye for investment.

Her appearance, and the power she represents, is both an opportunity and a challenge for Emberstone Ridge.

"Will, what do you think?" Matthew asked softly.

Will hesitated for a moment, then cautiously replied, "This woman is no ordinary person; she has a sharp eye and astonishing courage. But—the more intelligent a woman is, the more wary we must be. We must remain cautious until she proves her sincerity and worth."

Matthew nodded, a faint smile playing on his lips. "Yes, one can never be too careful. However, making good use of the Goldfinch Merchant Guild's resources will indeed be of great help to our development." Matthew knew very well that, as Eleanor had said, the impending storm was indeed an opportunity for Emberstone Ridge.

However, time is of the essence, and he does need more resources to strengthen his own capabilities.

"Will, take a bar of soap to visit Lady Eleanor tomorrow and tell her that the day Ironrock City is transformed will be the day the Golden Plantagenet becomes her sole partner," Matthew said to Will, enunciating each word clearly. "But before you go, we need to carefully consider how to best utilize the Golden Plantagenet Merchant Guild's resources."

"Yes, sir!" Will replied respectfully, but before he could finish speaking, another communications soldier ran over to report the situation.

"Harold's here again?" Matthew frowned, but this was within his expectations. Ever since he accepted the gifts from Renault, he was destined to be entangled with these flies for some time.

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