"I must have been rude."

  Chanton Sussew spoke in a rather slow tone.

  But there was no word of apology.

  He knew it was rude, but he didn’t regret it.

  "……Come in."

  Gallahan said, pointing to the sofa in the office.

  "Thank you."

  Sitting face to face with Chanton Sussew, Gallahan suddenly realized that his office felt narrow.

  It was not really like that.

  It was just that the ordinary office capture the large size and presence of Chanton Sussew.

  Chanton Sussew, who looked around Gallahan’s office with curious eyes, told Gallahan.

  "I thought at least you come to greet me once as Lord of Sussew. It’s hard to see your face, Lord Gallahan Lombardy."

  Chanton Sussew was now berating Gallahan for not greeting him first.

  Cheshire was awarded to Gallahan and became independent, no longer a part of the Sussew, but it was still a territory surrounded by Sussew land.

  "Of course, I understand that you’ll be very busy working with Cheshire estates and Gallahan Clothing Store that is spread across the continent."

  "……Thank you."

  "It’s only when you’re less busy, isn’t it?"

  Chanton Sussew’s lips drew a smile, but Gallahan only became more uncomfortable.

  That was the atmosphere of Lord Sussew himself as an individual, but above all, the fact that he was the person of the Empress made Gallahan nervous.

  Nowadays, the Empress introduced Chanton Sussew everywhere she went.

  As if there should be no one in the Empire who did not know that the Lord of the West was a close aide to the Empress.

  To be honest, Chanton Sussew was a very reluctant person to Gallahan.

  Sure enough.

  The Lord of Sussew asked.

  “I heard that a port is opening in Cheshire. Is that correct?”


  For a moment, Gallahan resisted the urge to say no.

  The Port of Cheshire was so precious.

  And Gallahan’s instincts were saying Chanton Sussew was the one who would threaten it.

  "That’s right."

  Inevitably, Gallahan’s words stretched out.

  "Then Cheshire Port would be the starting point for inland supplies to move along the river."

  Lord of Sussew was already grasping everything.

  "……That’s right."

  Gallahan answered one beat slower.

  Then Chanton Sussew said, lifting one eyebrow.

  "But why do I know that now?"

  "I don’t know what you’re talking about……"

  "If inland supplies are to reach the Cheshire port, they must all pass through the land of West Sussew."

  Rattle.

  Gallahan paused with the sound of his heart sinking.

  The Cheshire port is surrounded by the land of West Sussew.

  It was a pretty nice threat.

  Hos green eyes, gradually turning into hostility, asked, looking directly at Chanton Sussew.

  "In what sense should I accept that?"

  "What do you think it means?"

  Chanton Sussew said, looking for a moment at Gallahan, who did not say anything with a stubborn face.

  "It looks like you’ve worked hard with the investment from the Pellet Corporation."

  It was an awful dry yet slow tone.

  Chanton Sussew leaned forward, resting his knees with his elbow.

  A large shadow moved along with him.

  "One word from me could turn it out to be a bubble."

  There was silence in Gallahan’s office.

  On top of the tight tension, Chanton Sussew slipped in his energy.

  The overwhelming feeling of commanding hundreds of Imperial Knights overwhelm Gallahan.

  Under the same circumstances, as Viese Lombardy, Gallahan’s older brother, make him could not breathe properly.

  Later, he even hiccups in surprise.

  Joy flashed through Chanton Sussew’s eyes recalling that time.

  However.

  "What do you want?"

  Gallahan Lombardy asked without hostility.

  "……Ha."

  The one who was surprised was Canton Sussew.

  He took his energy out again and stared at Gallahan.

  Looking at the complexion, it doesn’t mean that he wasn’t affected.

  The enmity in bright green eyes has never abated at all.

  "How can you be sure that there’s something I want?"

  "Otherwise, you didn’t have to come and take the trouble to break my spirit, but you could have locked up the gate of Sussew so that the goods wouldn’t come in after the Port was opened. That could do a bigger disservice to Cheshire."

  Gallahan said calmly.

  "So stop being childish and tell me. What do you want?"

  "……Sometimes rumors are true."

  Gallahan slightly frowned at the word ’rumor’."

  "I don’t know what that ’rumor’ is, but please tell me your terms quickly. I have a place to go."

  "Ah, did it say that today is the birthday of the Lord of Lombardy? He doesn’t hold banquets or accept gifts every year, he only gathers family members and vassals and spends them simply. Then you better hurry."

  Chanton Sussew nodded.

  And he said, looking straight at Gallahan.

  "Priority to allow Sussew’s ship to enter the Cheshire port at any time. How?"

  Gallahan was a little surprised.

  Of course, he thought he would charge a toll to pass through Sussew’s land.

  There is only one reason why priority is required.

  "Do you intend to build your own ship?"

  "If it’s used frequently, it’s not like we can’t make it."

  So, what are the things that Sussew is trying to bring to the East?

  Gallahan, who was thinking for a moment, said.

  "……You intend to take the grain of Sussew to the East and sell it. And that’s in personally."

  Chanton Sussew replied with a shrug.

  "Did Lord Lombardy know that the grain of Sussew is sold at the lowest price in the Empire?"

  "We understand that the production volume is high and the price is low."

  "Right, and I can’t wait to see what the farmers West Sussew have produced with their blood and sweat being sold at bargain prices."

  Chanton Sussew’s voice was chilling.

  Then Gallahan asked.

  "So you joined hands with Angenas in the West? To easily target the West, where there is always a lack of food?"

  Lord of Sussew smiled and replied.

  "I won’t deny it. Over the past few months, the people of the West have become accustomed to the relatively inexpensive provisions of our West Sussew."

  "And you’re thinking of going to advance to the East through water trade that starting in Cheshire."

  "Because of you opening up a new market called East, Lord Gallahan Lombardy."

  Chanton Sussew, it’s not normal.

  Gallahan swallowed dry saliva from the tension inside.

  He underestimated him just because he was the ’Former Imperial Knight Commander’.

  He’s the one who used to grab the sword.

  But when he met him in person, he was like a bear.

  He’s big and slow, so he looks dull at first glance, but he’s actually very sharp and has a strong instinct.

  "So, accept my offer, Lord Lombardy. Don’t just let me stand in your way."

  He won’t disturb him if he just listens to what he asks.

  It was a sweet temptation not to turn him into an enemy.

  Gallahan, staring at Chanton Sussew for a moment, nodded and rose from his seat.

  And he said, asking for a handshake.

  "I’ll do that. A detailed description of the berth charge will be sent to the mansion as soon as possible."

  Chanton Sussew, who was holding Gallahan’s hand satisfactorily, stopped.

  "……berth fee?"

  "Then did you try to get a ship for free? Don’t worry. Sussew is our neighbor, so we’ll make it much cheaper."

  Chanton Sussew’s sharp eyes glared at Gallahan.

  But Gallahan did not shy away.

  Chanton Sussew and his father Lulak Lombardy were similar.

  He should not be weak against this kind of strong man.

  He has to put his head up a little bit and face it.

  That’s the way to survive.

  Fortunately, Chanton Sussew, who sees Gallahan, spread laughter around his eyes.

  And said.

  "Lord of Cheshire says so, and I must believe it. All right, I’ll wait for your call."

  Chanton Sussew has left the office.

  Left alone, Gallahan collapsed on the sofa.

  "Whoa……"

  His heart thumped and a tired sigh came out.

  He seemed to have managed to protect the Cheshire port from predators.

  Then he remembered the words that came and went during the conversation.

  "And I can’t wait to see what the farmers West Sussew have produced with their blood and sweat being sold at bargain prices."

  He had a lot on his mind.

  "……Isn’t he such a bad person?"

  Gallahan, who was washing his face dry, muttered sickly.3

  * * *

  The Lord of Lombardy’s birthday can’t really pass quietly, though it’s a small dinner.

  The Eleanor Hall, a huge banquet hall of Lombardy’s mansion, was filled with only direct family and Vassal family.

  Now it was time for people to walk around freely and talk after dinner.

  Next to Lulak, the owners of the vassal family, and Shannanet and Viese sat around to talk about one thing or another.

  "As the North stabilizes, the price of the mineral……"

  "At this time, Lombardy should also invest a little more in Western real estate……"

  Lulak twirled the glass, listening to the conversation in and out of one ear.

  There is a limit to procrastination.

  Now the time was approaching to point out a successor.

  Lulak looked intently at the vacancy of Shannanet, Viese, and Gallahan.

  Shannanet will, of course, be a great householder.

  There is no problem under Imperial law as she protected Lombardy’s mansion and the twins received Lombardy’s name.

  If she had not repeatedly said, ’I have no intention of becoming the next Lombardy householder’, Shannanet would have been a perfect successor.

  And Viese.

  "If you look at it, you’ll see it."

  The Western tourism business of Angenas is on the verge of stepping up.

  As Viese said, whether the business will succeed or not depends on the future.

  Lulak’s gaze finally reached Gallahan’s vacancy.

  He didn’t think this day would come, but it was Gallahan, the youngest, that Lulak’s heart is most swayed these days.

  He knew his intelligence from the time he grew up, but he ran a Gallahan Clothing Store and proved himself that his head was not just a display.

  He also showed his boldness as a Lord when he recently built a port on the Cheshire estate.

  But the biggest reason was not Gallahan’s intelligence, nor his experience as a Lord.

  That’s right.

  "Grandfather."

  A bright and cheerful voice awakened Lulak’s thoughts.

  "Happy birthday, grandpa!"

  It was his granddaughter, Florentia.