I'm in Terra

The secretary nodded and walked out of the office with a swaying cat-like gait. A moment later, a middle-aged man, seemingly well-off, walked into the office with a smile on his face. "Mr. John, Happy New Year! I thought you'd have a rare couple of days off after working so hard these past few days, so I didn't bother you. I've been putting it off until today to visit you, so please forgive me if I'm being impolite."

As he spoke, Robert took out a list from his pocket and handed it to Earl John: "It's just a small New Year's gift, just a token of my respect."

"You're quite thoughtful." Earl John opened the list, took a look at it, and handed it to the secretary beside him with satisfaction: "I'll arrange for someone to pick it up later. Remember to avoid those guys' eyes."

The secretary nodded, took the documents and left the office obediently, not forgetting to lock the office door before leaving.

"Tell me, why did you come to see me this time?" Earl John spoke again until there were no more spies in the office.

"It's like this." Robert walked over to John and, somewhat panicked, pulled out a piece of scribbled paper from his bosom. "Isn't it New Year's Day? I originally wanted to tell you at the dinner the day before yesterday, but I didn't expect you to be so busy, so I decided to come here in person. This is the Chamber of Commerce's account record from last year, and it even includes your dividend."

Earl John took the manuscript and glanced at it casually. "Why didn't you send the accounts and money, but a draft instead?"

"This is a long story." Robert subconsciously reached into his arms, then realized he didn't have a handkerchief with him and quickly wiped the sweat from his forehead with his arm. "To put it simply, the last batch of goods for the end of the year hasn't been processed yet, and the Chamber of Commerce's cash hasn't returned yet. I'm afraid we'll have to wait a few more days to record the accounts and distribute the dividends."

A general's success: 3 commercial centers (annoying)

The atmosphere suddenly turned cold, and the curve of Earl John's mouth was unconsciously smoothed out. He carefully examined every detail of Robert's face, until he saw Robert sweating and his expression twisted.

"Give me a reason, considering that you have made great contributions to the development of Woden Town over the years."

As soon as he said this, Robert breathed a sigh of relief. He wiped the sweat from his forehead again and explained in a panic, "Master John, please listen to me. At the end of the year, all the chambers of commerce in Woden Town held a meeting to share their secrets. This was to ensure harmony and prosperity for everyone in the town, and it also helped the town identify and address any shortcomings. Because merchants are most afraid of dishonesty, these meetings have been held in Woden Town for nearly twenty years."

"I know." Earl John closed his eyes and leaned heavily on his chair. "You mean to say that someone broke the agreement?"

"I'm afraid it's even worse than that." Robert took a deep breath. "I'm not very talented, but I do have some connections with the various chambers of commerce. So, during the year-end meeting, I managed to secure almost all the fish orders. As you know, I often travel to the small town near Lake Ladoga in the west, and I have some reputation there."

"But just as I was returning with a cart full of frozen fish, ready to make a small profit, a strange guild of merchants arrived from the west and beat me to the punch by dumping a large batch of fish. As a result, the frozen fish in my hands are now stuck, and I'm afraid I'll have to wait until after the New Year to slowly return the funds. This is a trivial matter that I shouldn't bother you with, but I heard that the guild of merchants is backed by that noble from the west, and coupled with the recent chaos in Woden Town, I dared to speak up."

After saying that, Robert lowered his head, looking as if he was letting John do whatever he wanted.

"The one in the west? Do you mean that this was done by that guy Rossia?" Earl John suddenly opened his eyes, with a fierce light in his eyes.

Robert lowered his head even more. "I dare not say more, but if this continues, I'm afraid the market order and basic rules of Woden Town will be completely disrupted. Besides... I've always been curious how a chamber of commerce that has never been to Woden Town can accurately grasp the town's material needs and even negotiate deals before I can. This kind of thing is a bit too far-fetched."

"A fairy tale?" Earl John chewed over Robert's words and suddenly sneered. "Don't remind me so obliquely. I know they have been planting spies in my place. Let me give you a chance. Make a list of those who are not in compliance with the Chamber of Commerce. As for the dividends, they must be collected before the spring. I will only give you one chance. Understand?"

"Thank you for your forgiveness, Lord Earl!" Robert bowed deeply, his eyes filled with uncontrollable ecstasy.

"Okay, that's it." John waved his hand, signaling Robert to get out. Robert naturally didn't dare to stay any longer, and quickly got up and said goodbye.

After Robert disappeared and the secretary re-entered the office, Earl John slammed the table. "Rosia, you bastard, you're going too far! Do you think I can't beat you?"

The secretary was about to speak to comfort him when Earl John ripped off his coat and pushed him onto the table.

A moment later, screams and groans echoed throughout the well-soundproofed office.

On the other side, Robert left the office with a bright smile on his face and couldn't wait to return home.

In his home, a man in civilian clothes was sitting in his living room sipping coffee. Upon seeing Robert return, he smiled faintly and said, "What? Did you escape from danger?"

It wasn't until he got home that the smile on Robert's face suddenly disappeared. He quickly walked up to the man, took a glass of warm water and gulped it down. "I almost thought I was going to die, but fortunately, it was worth it. John also asked me to hand over a list of suspicious merchants. If I use this stuff well, I can make a fortune."

Seeing Robert's fearful expression, the man chuckled and shook his head. "Don't worry. Didn't I tell you? John's tax revenue from the village has stopped, and Warden's finances are in the red due to the conflict between the two sides. Under these circumstances, he's unlikely to kill the merchants who provide him with wealth."

"That's easy to say, but adding firewood to a powder keg is truly exciting." Robert rolled his eyes, poured coffee into his cup again, and took two sips. "Hmm? Why doesn't it taste right?"

The man raised his cup and smiled. "They're coffee beans from northern Luxembourg. Due to the poor environment, the yield is low and the bitterness is noticeable. I haven't had it in a while, so I brewed some to revive it."

Robert shrugged, but continued to drink: "I have repaid the favor I owed you. Don't ask me to do this kind of thing again in the future."

"Of course, but I just happened to have a business deal on hand. I wonder if you'd be interested?" The man reached into his arms and pulled out a document. "Those fish you have aren't going to be easy to sell, are they? Are you interested in taking a long trip and avoiding the chaos in Woden?"

"You want to take it?" Robert raised his eyebrows. "You haven't been thinking about me from the beginning, have you? Tell me, where are we going?"

"North of Luxembourg, in Norvinsk," the man replied. "The entire south is in chaos right now, but the north is peaceful and quiet. It might be a better idea to evacuate there before the situation escalates."

Robert was a little confused: "Novinsk? I remember that place was declared a blockade. The kind that only allows entry but not exit."

The man raised the document in his hand, a smile on his face that was plain yet meaningful: "Passport."

Robert was startled. He quickly took the document and carefully looked through it. The more he looked, the stranger his expression became. "It doesn't look fake, but we're all businessmen. I don't believe you would give this document to me for nothing. Tell me, what is it about me that you're thinking about? Let me tell you, I won't be doing you any favors this time."

"Don't be so nervous, it's just a document." Seeing Robert's nervous look, the man couldn't help but laugh. "I don't intend to cut your flesh, but before you leave, how about I borrow that list? Don't worry, when you come back, I promise you won't be implicated in any way."

"As expected of Malfoy Bush." Robert smacked his lips. "I've never seen you lose money doing business with you."

The man adjusted his hat, raised his coffee cup with a smile, and said, "Thank you."

A successful outcome: 4 a notification

"The land of Ursus is vast but barren. Therefore, as the divide between cities deepens, the army is the fist of a city, but merchants are the blood that nourishes this land."

"Paul has fulfilled my instructions very well. With Qiao Luoyi's intervention, Earl Rossiya will definitely not sit idly by and watch Woden Town be handed over in vain. Given the distance between Rossiya and Woden Town, opening a trade route is the simplest and most efficient way."

"But if this happens, the local businesses in Woden will inevitably be impacted and suppressed. Therefore, it is your task to win over those merchants with good reputations. Mr. Malfoy, I know your skills and wisdom. This matter cannot be handled without you. We only need to win over a few merchants who are willing to cooperate, and the trade routes between the north and south ends will be opened. Then..."

Victoria's soliloquy did not continue because a graceful lady fell from the sky and landed on the balcony of his room.

"Kasheina, it's not polite to come out from the balcony at night."

"I know. I just suddenly thought of something interesting, so I couldn't sleep." Kashiena glanced at Victoria, who was alone in bed, and pursed her lips imperceptibly. "Sure enough, Miss Dorothy has already left. Isn't there still a month before spring? Why are they starting now?"

"It's just advance preparation." Victor stared at the gauze-like pajamas on Kasheina and asked thoughtfully, "What's the matter with you that keeps the great Black Snake awake all night? Would you be interested in sharing it?"

"Aren't you asleep too?"

Noticing Victor's gaze, Kashiena chuckled, opened her arms, and spun gracefully. Her snow-white skin flickered as she danced, sending even Victor into a frenzy of excitement. Kashiena, however, seemed completely oblivious to Victor's lustful gaze, gliding briskly to the edge of the bed.

"Forgive me, I'll tell you~~~"

Hearing the whispers of the beauty in front of him, Victoria frowned, pinched Kashena's chin and kissed her fiercely. As their tongues intertwined, all the air was plundered by the young man, until Kashena was about to suffocate, the young devil calmly pushed the beauty away.

"I forgive you and I won't do it again."

Kasheina rolled her eyes coquettishly, kneeling on the bed and panting. "Hahahahahaha, what an unreasonable and overbearing man. I've already thought through the plan you mentioned last time. I have to say, it's a truly groundbreaking and bold plan. Taking every step carefully, gradually nibbling away at your enemies, is not your style at all."

Victoria remained unmoved. "As long as we can be the ultimate winner, that's the best strategy. All other rules and regulations are just fools' self-binding. Well, your curiosity has been satisfied. Don't you want to go back to bed?"

After saying that, Victoria didn't wait for Kashena's response. He got out of bed and left his room before Kashena. A few seconds later, Victoria knocked on the door of the next room, followed by the exclamation and low moan of the hunter bee.

"What an unromantic guy." At such a close distance, Kashena could clearly see Victoria's erect dragon. Her temptation just now had a remarkable effect.

But what she didn't expect was that Victoria would rather go next door to find his lover to deal with it than execute her here.

As expected, it's because I'm wary of her...

Kashiena stretched, unbuttoned her gauze-like pajamas in a few seconds, and then crawled into Victoria's bed like a cuckoo occupying a magpie's nest. Feeling the gentle warmth in the quilt and the strong scent left by Victoria, Kashiena's eyes gradually became blurred, and her slender hands, like works of art, unconsciously hugged her body.

"What a shame. Even though we're both black snakes, 'I' still quite fond of you as my brother."

Tonight's snow is unromantic, but tonight's blood is destined to never stop.

Frost Star watched expressionlessly as the scalding blood in her hand gradually froze under her body heat. Then, with a look of disgust, she flung it to the ground. Scattered footprints and shocking scarlet were everywhere on the pristine white snow, revealing the enraged slaughter.

The businessman named Ian had accurate intelligence. Although the town of Woden had already declared martial law and suspended taxation in various villages, these greedy black bugs would not give up so easily.

For these greedy insects, the town's martial law order gave them an opportunity to put the tax revenue into their pockets in an honest way.

These insects would often secretly set out at dusk, at the end of their shift, bribe the city gate guards, and then rush in droves towards the nearby villages. They didn't dare to confront the infected guerrillas head-on, but they were eager to make a quick buck from the nearby villages. As long as they could return to their posts before the next day's inspection, they could pocket all the taxes collected that night.

As for whether they would encounter infected guerrillas? They didn't believe that the infected guerrillas would dare to go so deep into the towns, nor did they believe that they would be unlucky enough to encounter these death gods.

People die for money and birds die for food. This is what is called the mentality of taking chances, right?

"It's a shame these scum never imagined that the guards they bribed would betray their whereabouts for a mere two pieces of red gold." A thin man with a complicated look in his eyes approached Shuangxing and bowed deeply to the girl. "Thank you all for helping me avenge my daughter. If you need any help in the future, just come to me, Ian."

"As long as you can fulfill your promise," Frost Star nodded sympathetically at the man. Then, curiously, she asked, "According to what you said, these black bugs sneak out at night to collect taxes. Doesn't that mean there are still several groups roaming around?"

Ian nodded. "It's like this. According to the information from the gatekeeper, there are about forty or fifty people sneaking out tonight. They should be divided into four teams and collect money from four directions. Any questions?"

"No problem." Frost Star shook her head, but the corners of her mouth curled up slightly. "I just feel that the blood of the sacrifices in tonight's memorial isn't enough. Since they dared to disobey orders and leave the town without permission, let them pay the price for their greed. Everyone, speed up and try not to let any bugs go back tonight!"

"Hula!!!" The snow monsters' eyes were so bright that it was frightening.

PS: After discussing with the editor, the novel will be released this Friday. However, Hokusai plans to start the pre-release update this week to thank all the readers for their support.

From today until the release date, the basic daily updates will be three. If the sales are good during the first few days of the release, Hokusai can grit his teeth and strive for four updates per day after the release.

As for the bounty, if you want to see more of it, Hokusai can also offer a capped bounty after the release. The bounty will be added to the three daily updates, and how many more will be added depends on your enthusiasm.

Thank you again for your support and comments.

(bow)

A General's Success: 5 Unavoidable Measures

"Master John, something happened."

The next morning, Earl John, who had just climbed up from his secretary, received good news.

"The patrol team had some problems today. Some soldiers failed to report in time." Earl John's deputy and adjutant stood straight in front of him, looking at everything, as if it had nothing to do with him.

"Some soldiers failed to report?" Earl John frowned. "What about their captain? Did they not react when their soldiers disappeared?"

The adjutant shrugged, "Apparently, their captain is among some of them."

Hearing this, Earl John was still unaware of where these missing soldiers had gone: "How many are missing? Have they all returned?"

"Fifty-six people," the adjutant reported in a low voice, "and there was no news until I arrived."

"A bunch of bastards! How dare they? Do they think that little bit of money is more important than my orders?" Earl John clenched his fists, resisting the urge to smash the table.

Woden was equipped like any other town, with the exception of the barracks, which were run by Earl John himself. The police station and patrols were all set up according to Imperial law. Even in a prosperous town like Woden, the patrols could not exceed a hundred men.

Excluding those nominal relatives and minor nobles, the entire patrol team of Woden Town had only more than 80 people. More than half of them were missing, which naturally made Earl John shocked and angry.

"Send a squad of soldiers to find those bastards! I want to see who started this and dared to openly disobey my orders!"

"They've been sent out." The adjutant raised an eyebrow and expertly brewed a cup of coffee for Earl John. "If nothing goes wrong, they're on their way back now."

Before he finished speaking, the adjutant's communicator began to beep.

The adjutant put down his coffee and turned to look at Earl John. Earl John nodded, indicating that he should answer the call quickly.

The adjutant answered the communicator without further ado: "It's me... Are you sure? How many people are there? Ten? Have the brothers change their route and try another direction."

In just a few words, the adjutant's composure faded into a sullen expression. He hung up the phone and said succinctly, "Sir, something terrible has happened. If nothing unexpected happens, I'm afraid none of the patrol members will be able to return to see you. Soldiers discovered the bodies of a group of patrolmen on the southern side of the road. Their heads had been severed, their bodies riddled with signs of beatings and abuse, and their belongings had been stripped clean. It's safe to say there are practically no meaningful clues left at the scene."

Plop————

Earl John, who had just stood up, sat back down abruptly upon hearing the news. He suddenly felt his blood rushing. The adjutant was right; this was indeed a meaningless clue, as they all knew who was responsible.

"The guerrillas... they really dare!"

The adjutant pursed his lips, looking somewhat helpless. "Because of what happened to those two, too many people have infiltrated Woden Town now. People from Luxembourg, people from Rossia, and those small nobles in the east. I wouldn't be surprised if there are a few more guerrillas now. In my opinion, the most urgent task now is..."

"Enough!" Earl John interrupted the adjutant before he could finish his words. "I know what I should do, but if we don't think of a solution, these bastards will ruin Woden's finances! Even if a so-called legion commander emerges, do you think he'll help us rebuild the city? Dream on! He'll just become the high-handed governor and command us to pay even heavier taxes!"

"That's true," the adjutant sighed, forcing himself to straighten his back. "But with all due respect, I'm afraid neither Warden Town nor you possess the ability to compete with those individuals. What we can do at this stage... is probably quite limited."

"Then let's do what we can within the limited space." Earl John slammed the table, his eyes blazing with anger. "Issue a notice! An extremely vicious case has recently occurred in Worden Town, where several public officials have been assassinated by unknown individuals. To maintain the safety and honor of the town, a curfew will be imposed in Worden Town starting tomorrow. The police will be fully mobilized for high-intensity patrols, and two teams of soldiers will be stationed in the town to reinforce the police force. Whether they are rats in the gutter or scumbags from all walks of life, I don't care who is behind them. Once you enter my town, you have to follow my rules!"

The adjutant's eyes lit up, but he warned with some concern, "That's a good idea, but I'm afraid it won't last long. Furthermore, these methods can only deal with those scoundrels. They probably won't have much of an impact on those individuals and the forces they support."

Earl John nodded, picked up his coffee and took a sip. "I know that. I've already assigned people to deal with those foreign chambers of commerce. The most urgent task now is to rectify the atmosphere in Woden Town. Only then will we have a chance to expand the scope of Woden Town's security. Allowing guerrillas to roam our territory is too dangerous. We must find an opportunity to teach them a lesson!"

"Understood!" The adjutant nodded. "I will continue to follow up on the patrol team's matter. I will inform you as soon as there is any subsequent news."

Earl John raised his coffee cup and signaled his adjutant to go to work on his own. "Go ahead. Today's patrol will be temporarily suspended."

After the adjutant left the office, Earl John relaxed in his chair, staring at the ceiling in a daze: "Robert, Robert, I hope you can seize the opportunity I give you."

Putting aside the furious Earl John, the guerrillas had gained a lot after a fierce battle. Although they had been running and fighting all night, no one looked tired.

Opportunities to hunt black bugs were rare, let alone this time they killed three birds with one stone. After this battle, the guerrillas not only gained the aid of a merchant but also improved their favorability with the surrounding villages. While they didn't dare openly stationed in the villages near the town, they had reached agreements with most of them.

Help each other, survive together, and most importantly, help drive out the black bugs. Although the village chiefs said they were the people of Ursus, they honestly sent a lot of food to the guerrillas.

With this new help, the guerrillas could even consider starting the mine cleanup again.

But when Frost Star brought the tired snow monsters back to the village, a sudden piece of news made her temporarily suspend this idea.

A single glimpse of success: 6

It was a letter from Norvinsk, and the person who delivered it was naturally Victoria's secretary, Miss Dorothy who had once teased Frost Star.

Frost Star had never been educated at the time, so it was difficult for her to understand ideology, and naturally she had no idea what Miss Dorothy's Originium skills were. Of course, she couldn't guess it now, she could only vaguely sense that Dorothy's Originium skills were a technique that others couldn't comprehend.

But these are all insignificant little things. What really made Frost Star take it seriously was the letter sent by Victor.