Lord: Starting with Summoning the Regular Army of Earth

At the Black Bear Trading Company, Bard practically stumbled and crawled into Groom's office, his face flushed red with excitement and his voice trembling as he cried, "Master! He's here! He's here!"

Groom jumped up, knowing what Bard meant by "he," and immediately rushed out the door, almost running down the stairs.

At a glance, I spotted that familiar figure in the Chamber of Commerce hall—still wearing an inconspicuous travel cloak and a leather mask that covered most of his face.

Overjoyed, he hurriedly straightened his expensive silk coat, took a few deep breaths to calm his overly excited expression, and strode forward: "My dear Mr. Morpheus, you've finally arrived! Please come in! The finest tea is ready!"

He eagerly stepped aside to lead the way, his posture extremely humble, as if he were greeting not a merchant, but a high-ranking official traveling incognito.

Matthew nodded slightly as a greeting, and silently followed Groom back into the inner room.

She personally pulled out the chair for him and even used her sleeve to wipe the already spotless chair surface.

However, Matthew did not sit down immediately.

He stood in the center of the room, his gaze beneath the mask calmly fixed on Groom's oily face, glistening with excitement, without uttering a word.

The silence carried an invisible pressure, causing Groom's smile to gradually stiffen, and his inner elation began to be replaced by a sense of unease.

"Mr. Morpheus?" Groom called out tentatively, his tone questioning.

Finally, Matthew spoke. His voice, coming through the mask, was flat and emotionless, yet it pierced Groom's eardrums like an ice pick: "President Vinton."

"Yes! You said it!" Groom quickly replied.

"After I left you last time..." Matthew said slowly, each word crystal clear, "you arranged for two gentlemen to follow me. Were you planning to protect me secretly?"

boom!

Groom felt a chill run from the soles of his feet to the top of his head, and his mind went completely blank.

The thing he feared most and was most afraid of still happened.

Mr. Morpheus did indeed notice, and could sense that the other party was very unhappy.

Groom forced himself to remain calm, gave a dry laugh, and his mind raced as he considered various reasons and solutions. But reason and experience told him that admitting his mistake and being honest were the only way out at that moment.

He bowed deeply and said sincerely, "It was my mistake. I apologize to you, Mr. Morpheus. I, Groom Winton, was blinded by greed. I was worried that you would contact the Plantagenet Merchant Guild again afterward, and I was afraid that I would not be able to contact you again. But I had no ill intentions whatsoever, I swear to the gods! Sir, you are a magnanimous man, I hope you can forgive my foolishness!"

Matthew remained silent, his eyes behind the mask still revealing no emotion. He stared at the bent-over Groom for a long time until beads of sweat trickled down the other man's forehead and fell onto the carpet. Only then did he sit down in the chair.

Seeing this, Groom breathed a sigh of relief, straightened up, and quickly signaled the steward to serve tea.

"I hope there won't be a next time," Matthew replied to Groom after taking a sip of tea.

"Understood! Understood!" Groom nodded vigorously, "There will never be a second time like this. I guarantee it with the Black Bear Merchant Guild's century-old reputation!"

At this moment, Groom Vinton's mindset completely changed.

He no longer thought about controlling the other party; his tricks were completely ineffective against him. Right now, he could only show absolute sincerity and completely bind himself to this "soap merchant."

Moreover, the fact that the other party did not choose to cooperate with Goldenleaf despite my offense proves everything.

Seeing that things were going well, Matthew knew the time was right, so he said calmly, "We can continue to discuss our cooperation, but this time, I need more than just gold coins."

Groom's heart tightened; he knew the main event was about to begin. He cautiously asked, "Sir, is there anything else you need? Anything from the Black Bear Merchant Guild, we'll have no problem with!"

Matthew leaned forward slightly, his gaze seemingly piercing through Groom's soul as he looked through the mask: "What I need is the convenience provided by the Black Bear Merchant Guild."

"Convenient?" Groom asked, somewhat puzzled.

“That’s right,” Matthew said slowly. “I also do business with the tribes in the Wind-Eroded Highlands. I often need to purchase some… special supplies, and some goods need to be transported there. You know, some goods may be subject to stricter controls, and having the Black Bear Merchant Guild’s help might make things much easier.”

Groom immediately understood that the mysterious seller had his eye on the Black Bear Merchant Guild's channels and capabilities in Ironrock City and even the western provinces, as well as its powerful background.

He wanted to use the Chamber of Commerce's network and authority as a springboard to trade with the tribes of the Wind-Eroded Highlands.

It seems this soap might have originated from there.

However, it would be difficult to find supplies in such a dangerous place on one's own. At present, a deeper cooperation with Morpheus is the best option.

Although it requires some investment of resources, it also means that the connection between the two parties will be closer and the cooperation will be more solid.

Groom made his decision almost instantly—this deal was worth it.

"I understand!" Groom's smile returned, this time much more sincere. "Sir, you want to utilize our Chamber of Commerce's channels and resources? No problem! I dare not say much about other areas, but in Ironrock City, and even in the western provinces, our Black Bear Chamber of Commerce still has some influence!"

He went behind the desk, opened a hidden compartment, and took out a badge the size of a baby's palm, made of obsidian and mithril.

The badge is shaped like the head of a roaring black bear, with two small rubies inlaid in the bear's eyes, and a complex rune engraved on the bear's forehead, emitting a faint magical fluctuation.

Groom presented the badge to Matthew with both hands, his expression solemn: "Mr. Morpheus, this is the 'Dark Bear Emblem' of my Black Bear Merchant Guild. Seeing this badge is like seeing me in person. With this badge, you can seek assistance at any Black Bear Merchant Guild stronghold, mobilize the guild's caravans and warehouses, and the guild's personnel will do their best to provide you with information and convenience. You can also be exempt from taxes and inspections when entering and leaving Ironrock City. Of course, any related expenses will be deducted from subsequent payments, giving you the most favorable rate."

He paused, then added, "This emblem also represents that you are our Chamber of Commerce's most distinguished partner. In the western provinces, there are no more than five people who possess it."

Matthew took the heavy, cool-to-the-touch badge. He could feel the faint magical energy contained within it at his fingertips; it seemed to be some kind of anti-counterfeiting and authentication device.

He examined it carefully, a barely perceptible gleam of smugness flashing in his eyes. He had achieved his goal. With this, it would be cheaper and more discreet for him to purchase and transport resources to Jinshi Ridge in the future.

Furthermore, we can leverage the Black Bear Merchant Guild's channels to do more things and obtain more intelligence about Ironrock City in the future.

In short, this true local tyrant of Ironrock, backed by Count Kress, was definitely his best pawn.

For Matthew, today's negotiations are not just a transaction, but a strategic move.

"Very good. President Vinton is indeed a wise man." Matthew's tone seemed to soften slightly. He put away the emblem and then picked up his backpack: "This time I brought one hundred and fifty bars of soap, as well as a more high-end sample. I think you will be very interested."

……