Lord: Starting with Summoning the Regular Army of Earth

When Groom heard the words "higher-end sample," his eyes lit up instantly, and he stared intently at the carefully wrapped soap in Matthew's hand.

This soap is completely different from the previous pale yellow soap. Its color is a warm milky white, and its texture is as delicate as fine cheese, with a slight translucency.

The soap body is cleverly shaped into a flower, with the texture of each petal clearly visible, making it a true work of art.

What's even more striking is the delicate, lasting floral fragrance with a hint of cool sweetness that slowly permeates the air, instantly overpowering the incense in the room and invigorating the senses.

"This is..." Grum's voice trembled slightly as he unconsciously leaned closer, took a deep breath, and his joy deepened.

"Soap," Matthew explained succinctly. "In addition to cleansing, it contains special fragrances and nourishing ingredients. Not only is it more effective at removing dirt, but with long-term use, it leaves a light and lasting fragrance on the skin and also has a certain moisturizing and nourishing effect."

Groom's breathing suddenly became rapid.

As a seasoned businessman, he almost instantly sensed the enormous business opportunity it contained, one that was several times more terrifying than that of ordinary soap.

Ordinary soap had already gained favor among the nobility, especially the ladies and young women.

Soaps that simultaneously offer cleanliness, fragrance, skincare benefits, and an artistic appearance are sure to be highly sought after and will undoubtedly become a more high-end luxury item, a symbol of status.

This soap will probably be more popular than that magic cleaner.

He could almost see those wealthy ladies bidding frantically for a limited-edition bar of soap.

The profits... he simply couldn't imagine them.

"My God..." Groom murmured to himself, carefully holding the bar of soap in both hands as if it were a priceless treasure. "Mr. Morpheus, this is simply a masterpiece of God."

He looked up abruptly, his gaze fixed intently on Matthew, his voice hoarse with excitement: "Sir, how many of these soaps do you have? The price? No, no matter how many, no matter the price, our Black Bear Merchant Guild will take them all!"

Matthew was not surprised by his reaction and calmly replied, "The manufacturing process is very complicated, the output is extremely low, and the price is expensive, so I only brought a sample this time."

"Only one bar?" Groom was a little disappointed, but he knew he couldn't rush things. As long as they reached a cooperation agreement with this Mr. Morpheus, the future market for this soap box and soap would belong to their Black Bear Merchant Guild.

"If I can sell them for a good price, maybe I can bring some with me next time I come," Matthew said.

"How about three, no, four gold coins, Mr. Morpheus?" Groom asked tentatively.

"Yes, President Vinton has indeed shown great sincerity." Matthew did not hesitate. The cost of this soap was not much higher than that of regular soap. The only difficulty was the mold and the process, but the price had doubled, which was already very profitable.

He couldn't ask for too much; he had to give the Black Bear Merchant Guild some profit, otherwise it would be like cutting off their lifeline.

Moreover, the help and role that Groom and the Black Bear Merchant Guild can bring to me in the future are more important than gold coins.

"I hope you can bring more soap next time, sir. Oh, by the way, how much soap did you bring this time? The ladies and young women in the city are all waiting for it." Groom looked at Matthew expectantly.

"One hundred and fifty dollars." Matthew patted the bulging backpack.

Groom was overjoyed: "Great! I'll have Bard go get the gold coins right away!"

"Wait a minute, Mr. Groom, besides gold coins, I also need magic crystals or magic cores." Matthew knew that the Black Bear Merchant Guild must have these precious resources.

"Magic crystals?" Grum was a little surprised, but didn't think much of it and nodded. "No problem, how many do you need?"

The transaction was successfully completed. Matthew declined Groom's kind invitation to lunch and left the Black Bear Merchant Guild with Groom's attentive escort.

Just then, an elegant and graceful figure stepped out of a luxurious carriage parked at the entrance.

She was a woman who would immediately attract everyone's attention no matter where she was placed.

She looked to be around thirty years old, an age that combines the vibrancy of a young girl with the charm of a mature woman.

Wearing a well-tailored deep purple velvet gown, she perfectly accentuated her curvaceous figure, which resembled a ripe peach. She was voluptuous yet not bulky, and every step she took carried a natural sense of rhythm.

Her face was extremely beautiful, her skin was as white as snow, and her slightly upturned peach blossom eyes seemed to hold a pool of spring water. In the flow of her eyes, there was both the shrewdness of a businesswoman and a touch of nonchalant languor.

Beneath her high, straight nose, her lips were full and rosy, with a natural, slightly upturned corner, giving her a half-smile that made it impossible to discern her true emotions.

Her long chestnut hair was styled into an intricate and elegant updo, with a few wisps of hair falling beside her cheeks, adding a touch of casual charm.

She wore no elaborate jewelry, only a simple pearl necklace around her slender neck, which accentuated her noble and elegant demeanor, making her beautiful without being vulgar.

She was Lady Eleanor, the head of the Goldfinch Merchant Guild in Ironrock.

Eleanor's gaze immediately fell on Matthew.

Her sharp eyes instantly caught the lingering fawning expression on Groom Winton's face, as well as his unusually respectful attitude towards the masked, plainly dressed traveler.

Based on the reports from the Chamber of Commerce's informants, Eleanor almost immediately concluded that the mysterious man in front of her was the key "soap supplier."

A natural and friendly smile bloomed on her face as she stepped forward, her voice as melodious and pleasant as fine honey: "Sir, please wait a moment."

Matthew stopped and looked at her calmly from behind his mask.

Upon seeing Eleanor, Groom's expression immediately changed. He instinctively tried to step in front of Matthew, his tone wary: "Mrs. Eleanor? What a coincidence! What brings you here?"

Eleanor seemed oblivious to Groom's hostility, her smile unchanged, her gaze still fixed on Matthew: "President Groom, why are you so tense? I've just heard that an extraordinary person has come to the city, so I'd like to get to know him and make friends."

She spoke directly to Matthew, her tone sincere and natural: "Sir, I am Eleanor from the Goldenleaf Merchant Guild. I apologize for the intrusion, but would you do me the honor of inviting me to lunch to sample the most authentic local cuisine?"

Her invitation was direct, generous, and without any beating around the bush.

Through his mask, Matthew calmly observed the stunningly beautiful chamber of commerce president before him.

He could sense a completely different aura emanating from this woman compared to Groom—she was smarter, more composed, and more threatening.

He nodded slightly in return, his voice coming through the mask, still calm: "Thank you for your kindness, Madam. However, I have important matters to attend to and cannot stay any longer."

His refusal was swift and decisive, without the slightest hesitation.

Eleanor's smile didn't fade at all; in fact, it deepened, and a hint of barely perceptible admiration flashed in her eyes.

She didn't press the matter, nodding gracefully, "In that case, I won't force you, sir. I hope that next time you visit Ironrock City, I'll have the opportunity to extend my hospitality. The doors of the Golden Flower Merchant Guild are always open for you. By the way, this is our Golden Flower Merchant Guild's Black Crystal Card. With this card, you'll enjoy the highest level of service and privileges from our guild in any city with a Golden Flower Merchant Guild. You can even buy anything you want through our guild, except for soap!"

She handed Matthew a black card, as thin as a cicada's wing, made of polished black crystal, with a fine gold line inlaid around the edge, and a blooming broom emblem outlined in the center using micro-engraving techniques.

"Thank you!" Matthew accepted the black crystal card and nodded in gratitude.

"Golden Plantagenet welcomes you at any time, sir." With that, Eleanor stopped pressing the matter and stepped aside to make way.

Matthew said no more, put away the black crystal card, nodded slightly to Eleanor and Groom, then turned and steadily merged into the crowd on the street, disappearing after a few turns.

Groom stared in the direction Matthew had disappeared, glared at Eleanor, snorted, and turned back to the guild, inwardly cursing the woman for her clever tactics.

Fortunately, I took out the black bear insignia first, otherwise, who knows what would have happened next.

Eleanor returned to the carriage, where a neatly dressed woman, bearing a striking resemblance to Eleanor but much younger, sat. The woman frowned and asked in a low voice, "Sister, is this him? Should I send someone to follow him and investigate?"

She is Eleanor's sister and assistant, Lina.

"No need!" Eleanor shook her head gently, her gaze passing through the window to the street corner where Matthew had disappeared. Her red lips parted slightly, her voice carrying an absolute confidence: "Lina, following someone is the stupidest and easiest way to be detected. That idiot Groom has definitely already tried it, and it looks like he was thwarted."

She turned around, gracefully smoothing out non-existent wrinkles on her skirt, her eyes deep and thoughtful. "This Mr. Morpheus is a very special fellow. The fact that he refused so decisively shows that he's confident, doesn't like being tested, and hates being controlled. With someone like that, sincerity and patience are more effective than any tricks."

Lina said thoughtfully, "So we're just going to wait like this? Groom will definitely find a way to keep him tied up."

Eleanor's lips curled into a meaningful smile, her peach blossom eyes gleaming with wisdom: "That fool is certainly more useful to Mr. Morpheus, but since he accepted the black crystal card I gave him, it means we still have a chance. I think it won't be long before we find out his identity."

……

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