Zuo Si rolled his eyes in annoyance: "I know this even if you don't tell me.

In the continent of Faerun, there are not many people who know about the Entangled Symbol, and even fewer who are willing to take the huge risk of going to war with a group of legendary undead spellcasters.

After I go back and collect and organize some information, I should be able to lock down a rough range.

But considering that it is indeed a good idea to drag the entire Masked Mages Guild into the water.

So I think the advantages of an alliance with Zelanora clearly outweigh the disadvantages.

What's more, this "Book of Sandstorms" does record a lot of interesting magic.

For example, you can directly dehydrate a creature to death, or stir up a small-scale sandstorm to block the enemy's vision, or let the high-speed flying sand tear a creature into pieces alive. "

"My dear master, you are too easily bribed." The little devil pouted and complained.

Through several months of observation, it came to understand how low Zuo Si's resistance to spells, knowledge, and various strange magical items was.

Many times, the other party only needs to pay a few books and notes to win the favor of his master to a certain extent.

But Zuo Si shrugged his shoulders and said, "You have such an illusion because you don't understand the value of knowledge.

Every spell invented, no matter how powerful or weak, embodies the creator's unique understanding and cognition of magic.

Through learning, I can draw inspiration and broaden my horizons and knowledge.

Compared to what we get, those compromises and concessions are nothing.

and……

Who says you can't turn against someone after you've received benefits?"

Hearing these words, the little devil was instantly shocked by his master's evil, meanness, shamelessness and greed.

You have to know that even the devil from hell will not turn against you immediately after getting the benefits.

Even if they fall out, they will find a more "legitimate" excuse.

But what about Zuo Si?

I'm too lazy to even find an excuse.

All of a sudden, the little devil finally realized the gap between himself and his master. An expression of admiration even appeared on his face, and all kinds of words of praise came out of his mouth.

Unfortunately, Zuo Si ignored his magical pet, but quickly put away the "Book of Sand Storm", put on his hood again, and walked straight out of the sewer entrance.

Now that he was out, he decided to go to the administrative building first to get his remuneration from the six-member council, and by the way, take a look at the latest developments of Bernard and the Chamber of Commerce he ran.

According to Wilmes' report, this young businessman who was making great strides in his career had a conflict with some guys of unknown origin not long ago, so he borrowed the half-orc Rhett and the pyromancer Alena.

Since there was no follow-up, Zuo Sixiang wanted to go and find out who was tired of living and dared to make trouble for him.

Passing through the bustling Woking shopping mall area and the chaotic bridge area, Zuo Si soon arrived at the Municipal Building.

After identifying himself to the guard, he was immediately led by the guard to an independent office on the third floor.

As soon as he walked into the door, he found that the person sitting inside was his "old acquaintance" Sir Crispian.

Without saying anything, the lawful evil noble stood up and gave Zuo Si a warm hug, then laughed and said, "Sir Soth, you are finally back. You know, the Council of Six has repeatedly told me to prepare a grand celebration banquet for you."

"banquet?"

Zuo Si blinked in confusion.

"That's right! A party!"

Sir Crispian touched the two small mustaches on his lips and explained: "Although I took all the credit for myself, the Council of Six obviously has its own intelligence channels.

They know that you were the one behind everything, from the attack on the envoys to the successful crackdown on Baldur's Gate's trade.

In particular, the method of forcing opponents to make concessions without starting a war has made many nobles and large chambers of commerce see another possibility.

Therefore, there are many powerful family leaders in the government who hope to exchange ideas and experiences with you in person.

Of course, in return, you will also gain the friendship of these families and even the Chamber of Commerce.

In addition, everyone attending the banquet must spend 10,000 gold coins to purchase an admission ticket.

And after the banquet, all this money will become your private property."

"I see! No problem, I'd be happy to share some of my experience in this area."

Hearing that there were plenty of gold coins to be won, Zuo Si agreed without even thinking about it.

What a joke! That's 10,000 gold coins per person! Even if there were only a few dozen people present, he could count the money until his hands cramped.

What's more, you can get to know many of the top ruling classes and dignitaries in the country of Amn.

Only a fool would disagree.

"Hahaha! I knew you wouldn't refuse. The date will be set for three days from now, and the venue will be a manor in my family's territory. Coincidentally, the castle that belongs to you is quite close to my manor, and it only takes most of the day to get there on horseback."

Sir Crispian laughed and gave the exact time and place.

It can be seen that he is very concerned about this matter and can't wait to make it a fait accompli.

After all, inviting so many of Amn's top dignitaries to one's own territory is itself a symbol of identity, status and prestige.

In addition, this negotiation resulted in a favorable contract that surprised countless people, so it can be said that his political future is bright.

Zuo Si also smiled and responded: "I am very happy to be your neighbor. You may not believe it, but I have not yet visited my own territory."

"Oh? That's really wrong.

You should know that the castles and manors that Bernard transferred to you are the most fertile and prosperous places around, with complete water resources and irrigation systems.

Even dams were built along the river to prevent floods.

Moreover, as a noble, they had to live in their own territory for at least a few months a year to fully enjoy the leisurely pastoral life, hunting and social activities.

In addition, as a lord, you can exercise many privileges on your land, and even decide the life or death of a servant or peasant who has made an error.

The feeling of having the power of life and death is something you will never experience in the city of Askatla.

A powerful spellcaster like you can even organize the young men and militia in the manor to hunt nearby goblins, orcs, orcs and gnoll tribes..."

At this point, Sir Crispian paused for a moment, then lowered his voice and whispered into Zuo Si's ear, "In fact, we can also capture those wild elf tribes hiding in the woods and mountains. As far as I know, the Ronor family has been secretly hunting elves and then selling them to Calimshan in the south to make money."

The Ronoel family? Hearing this name, Zuo Si's DNA instantly moved.

Because the other party really did not leave a good impression in his mind.

Smuggling, drug trafficking, slave trading, collision with evil forces, and using marriage contracts to seize the territories and properties of orphans and widows.

It can be said that the Ronor family basically does nothing that has anything to do with people.

Although in Amn, where money is paramount, there are many nobles and merchants doing illegal business.

Especially smuggling, almost every family is involved in it to some extent.

But I'm afraid there are not many people who can be as purely, thoroughly and inhumanely evil as the Ronor family.

After all, Faerun is a country with gods.

In addition, Athkatla also has a law enforcement agency called the Knights of the Burning Heart, which is composed entirely of paladins.

Most nobles and wealthy businessmen would pay some attention to the social impact when doing immoral things.

This is why they are keen on donating to various charities.

Thinking of this, Zuo Si's eyes flashed with a hint of amusement that was not easily detected, and he said with a smile: "Please be sure to invite the Ronor family to the banquet. I am very, very interested in them."

"No problem! In fact, Duke Farsington Ronoel has wanted to reserve a seat with me for a long time. But his family is not qualified to participate in banquets of this level, so I have not agreed. But if you nod, I can open a small backdoor for him."

Sir Crispian apparently did not realize what Zuo Sixiang was going to do, and agreed happily.

Of course, even if I knew, I wouldn't care too much.

Although the Ronor family has the title of duke, it is actually just a small family that has just transformed from a traditional aristocracy to a commercial aristocracy.

He is not at the top in terms of wealth or influence.

When the country of Amn was first established, there was a large-scale distribution of noble titles in order to win over landowners who owned large territories and private armies.

Regardless of whether they were nobles before, as long as the family controlled a sufficient amount of land and had a certain number of militias, a document proving their "legal" status could be obtained from them.

The direct consequence of this behavior is that titles such as duke and earl, which should have belonged to high-ranking nobles, have become rampant and are the least valuable among all the countries in the entire continent of Faerun.

Therefore, the emerging business aristocrats who hold real power prefer to call themselves "Sirs" in order to distinguish themselves from the traditional "country bumpkins".

After finalizing the details of the banquet, Sir Crispian quickly paid the bonus promised by the six-member council.

Not only that, he also gave an additional +3 magic protection ring as a personal gift to his savior as a thank you.

Taking the reward he deserved, Zuo Si declined Lord Crispian's invitation to dinner, left the government office building and walked straight towards the Bernard family residence.

Since both places were in the administrative districts with the best public security, he did not encounter any trouble along the way and soon arrived at his destination with ease.

The guard obviously knew the relationship between Zuo Si and his employer, so he chose to let him pass.

Passing through the garden in the front yard and entering the living room on the first floor of the house, Zuo Si immediately saw the half-orcs Rhett and Alena sitting on the sofa and drinking.

In addition, there was a dwarf warrior wearing a horned helmet and many golden rings on his ears and beard.

Maybe because they had just experienced a battle, their bodies were covered in blood and they emitted a pungent smell of blood.

The dwarves in particular were covered in dark red blood on their faces, armor, and the two axes hanging on their waists. They looked like they had just walked out of a slaughterhouse.

That ferocious, cruel, bloodthirsty smile could definitely scare a crying child into not making a sound.

"Cheers! I knew those bastards in the Sea's Bounty Tavern were just bluffing. They're totally vulnerable when a real fight comes. Hahahaha!" The dwarf warrior laughed wildly and raised his glass to drink it all.

The half-orc Rhett also drank a full glass of wine in one breath, then wiped his mouth, smiled and nodded in agreement: "That's right. The guy who claimed to be the leader wanted to bluff and scare us with the pirates of the Nelanther Islands. But before he could finish his words, he was hit by a fireball. When he flew up, the expressions on the faces of the other pirates next to him were really wonderful."

"You know, I don't like listening to nonsense." A smug expression appeared on Alena's face.

You don't need to ask to know that the fireball was 100% her masterpiece.

Just when the dwarf wanted to say something, Zuo Si finally couldn't help but coughed hard, then walked out from the shadow of the door and took the initiative to ask: "Can anyone tell me what happened?"

"Ahem... Master? You're back!"

Alena was obviously startled, and in her panic she choked on the wine she hadn't had time to swallow and started coughing.

I even subconsciously wanted to hide the wine glass in my hand.

In contrast, the half-orc Rhett was much calmer. He pointed at the dwarf warrior beside him and introduced him with a smile: "Master, this is Korgan, a fearless and powerful dwarf berserker.

We met by chance at the Copper Crown Inn and later teamed up to adventure together in the area around Athkatla.

As for the blood on my body, it was accidentally splashed when I helped Bernard deal with a group of pirate remnants who wanted to kidnap hostages for ransom. "

Korgan?

Zuo Si subconsciously glanced at the dwarf warrior covered in blood, and an expression of surprise appeared on his face.

You know, when he first went to the Bronze Crown Inn, he specifically asked people around him about Korgan.

Maybe it was because of bad luck, or maybe the other party had not yet arrived in Athkatla at that time, but in the end the result was nothing.

But who could have thought that the orcs and Alena, who often went to the Bronze Crown Inn to drink and gamble, would actually abduct this powerful dwarf warrior back.

"Hello! My name is Korgan. I heard from Rhett that you are a very generous master, and you have a lot of magic weapons and equipment. If you are willing to pay a salary of two hundred and fifty gold coins a month, I agree to work for you." The dwarf stated the conditions directly.

He accepted the invitation of the orcs to join the team because he was attracted by the red dragon armor worth tens of thousands of gold coins, the extremely sharp two-handed axe and the magic ring.

As an experienced adventurer, Korgan knows better than anyone how important magic equipment is to the improvement of a warrior.

If they fought naked, he was confident that he could pin Rhett to the ground and beat him up.

But if he put on his equipment, Rhett would pin him to the ground and beat him up.

There was no way! The two axes in the dwarf's hands were ordinary steel weapons, and they couldn't even leave a trace on the scales of the red dragon's armor, so this battle couldn't be fought at all.

"Okay, I agree." Zuo Si took out a small bag of gold coins from his bag and threw it to the dwarf. "Here, this is 500 gold coins, your two months' salary."

"Ha! Excellent! I like a generous employer. From now on, you are old Korgan's master. Just let me know when you need to kill someone."

The dwarf happily poured a bag of gold coins onto the table and counted them one by one with his stubby fingers.

You know, a salary of two hundred and fifty gold coins a month is already quite high.

In Athkatra, the monthly salary of an ordinary servant only costs twenty to thirty silver coins.

The salaries of housekeepers and guards are relatively high, but will not exceed ten gold coins per month.

Two hundred and fifty gold coins was already much higher than the monthly income of more than 90 percent of adventurers.

This is why the ultimate goal of many people's adventures is to make a name for themselves, and then strive to be noticed by wealthy and powerful nobles and businessmen to become retainers or bodyguards.

Because such a job not only has high and stable income, but also does not require you to risk your life fighting various monsters, beasts and robbers all day long.

Of course, considering that Korgan is a typical chaotic evil, when he gets furious and kills people with rage, he might even kill his teammates around him, so Zuo Si decided to observe for a while before making any decisions.

If nothing works, just make it a creature card.

After figuring this out, Zuo Si immediately turned around and continued to ask, "What about the remnants of pirates you just mentioned?"

Alena shrugged and explained, “The entire Sea’s Bounty Tavern is a pirate den in itself.

Some of them were placed here by pirate captains to inquire and collect intelligence on the voyages of various merchant ships, and some were brokers responsible for purchasing supplies or selling stolen goods to the shadow thieves.

In short, after the pirates of the Nelanther Islands disappeared completely, these people completely lost their backing and income.

The little money earned from the tavern is not enough to support so many idle people.

Forced into a corner, they could only start targeting the merchants, hoping to get a ship and escape to the sea to continue being pirates.

Since Bernard's Chamber of Commerce has been expanding rapidly recently, it naturally attracted their attention.

The pirates seized an opportunity and kidnapped a captain and dozens of crew members of the Bernard Chamber of Commerce, intending to use the lives of the hostages to extort a large sum of money and a ship.

At first, Bernard wanted to resolve the problem through negotiation.

But these guys were too greedy. Not only did they ask for a very high price, but they also made demands on the size and speed of the ship. As a result, the negotiations broke down and they had no choice but to resort to force.

But now, they have all been dealt with.

All the pirates in the entire Sea's Gift Tavern were slaughtered by us a few minutes ago, and not even a single one escaped.

The hostages were rescued safely.

Bernard has already taken his men to negotiate with the guards, and he will probably be back soon."

"The Sea's Bounty Tavern? Remnants of pirates? I see..."

Zuo Si finally figured out what kind of trouble Bernard was in.

In fact, this matter is closely related to him.

Because if it weren't for the arcane magic he established that launched the war to conquer and unify the Nelanther Islands, these pirates stationed in Askatla would not have suddenly become "unemployed", and would not have done such a desperate thing when they were desperate.

fortunately!

Zuo Si had left enough power in the Mage Tower.

So even though Bernard's Chamber of Commerce encountered some minor troubles, they were easily resolved.

After all, with the professional levels and equipment of the orcs Rhett and Alena, it is quite easy for them to crush a group of pirates.

Especially the latter's large-scale fire damage magic is definitely a nightmare for all enemies.

After figuring out the whole story, Zuo Si sat down on the sofa and praised with a smile, "You did a good job.

Remember, when dealing with things like blackmail, never think of compromising.

Otherwise, if the other party succeeds the first time, there will definitely be a second, third, and fourth time.

By the way, how have you been doing while I was away? "

"It's OK. Rhett, Korgan, and I have been taking on some monster hunting commissions.

You can make some money for drinking and gambling, and you can also burn something for fun.

Also, I have good news for you.

My warlock level has just been upgraded to LV10, and I have mastered a fifth-ring magic [Mark of Fire]. "

"Upgraded?!"

Zuo Si raised his eyebrows in disbelief.

You have to know that the last time they met, Alena's warlock level was only LV8.

Before long, it actually upgraded two levels to LV10. If it upgraded two more levels, it would reach the upper limit of LV4 cards.

If you want to break the restriction, you must first cancel the summon and upgrade the level of this follower card.

"Of course! It's different from when I was with you. This time, I personally killed many bandits and monsters that threatened the merchants."

Without hesitation, Alena told him the secret of her rapid leveling up.

As a follower, she is different from ordinary summoned creatures whose strength is fixed from the moment they are made into cards. She can also absorb mana through killing, thereby improving her casting level.

That is to say, if there is a planeswalker present and absorbing a lot of magical energy, the followers will gain less magical energy, thus slowing down their upgrade speed.

Zuo Si obviously realized this and immediately showed a thoughtful expression.

Just when he was about to ask for some specific details, he suddenly saw Bernard in a tuxedo walking in from outside.

After several months of working his way up in Athkatla's upper class society, this young businessman not only looks much more shrewd and capable, but also exudes an aura that is unique to a superior.

"haven't seen you for a long time."

Zuo Si took the initiative to wave and say hello.

moment!

Bernard became extremely excited and walked over quickly, laughing and saying, "It's been a long time. Welcome back, Mr. Soth."

"How did you handle the matter of the Sea's Gift Tavern? Did you encounter any trouble?"

Zuo Si asked casually.

"What kind of trouble could there be? This time we caught the perpetrator red-handed!

Moreover, the ones killed were a group of pirates who had caused huge losses to countless chambers of commerce in Athkatla.

The captain of the guard even prepared to hang their bodies on the wall of the dock for public display.

In addition, after giving the Attorney General three hundred gold coins, he also gave me the Sea's Gift Tavern as a reward for helping the people get rid of harm."

As he spoke, Bernard pulled out a stamped deed from his pocket.

The fact that he could speak openly about the bribery shows how many shady behind-the-scenes deals there are in the judicial system of the business empire of Am.

You should know that the Sea's Gift Tavern is not the dilapidated Crooked Crane Inn in the City Gate District.

It has one underground floor and two above-ground floors, covers a fairly large area, and is located right next to the main road.

Almost all sailors, captains and first mates who have just landed or are about to set sail will go in and have a drink.

Even if you just sell the land, it will cost at least several thousand gold coins.

But now, the merchant got it easily with only three hundred gold coins.

Looking at the deed on the table, Zuo Si asked meaningfully, "How do you plan to use this tavern?"

Bernard pushed the deed forward gently. "Of course I'm giving it to you as a gift. After all, it was thanks to your two followers that we were able to resolve this hostage crisis. I don't have the nerve to take it for myself."

"Thank you. I won't be polite then." Zuo Si put the deed directly into his pocket.

Because taverns and inns are different from other businesses and have a very significant intelligence gathering function.

What's more, the building directly opposite the Boon of the Sea Tavern is the headquarters of the Harper Alliance in Amn.

Regardless of his purpose, he had sufficient reasons and motivations to make the Sea's Bounty Tavern his own territory.

"Are you planning to open another high-end restaurant in the Eastern Continent's Karatu style?" Bernard asked in an uncertain tone.

Zuo Si immediately smiled and shook his head: "No, of course not.

The main customers of the Sea's Bounty Tavern are sailors and shadow thieves who operate around the docks.

They don't have that much money to spend on high-end consumption.

Therefore, I think it would be enough to just expand it a little and do some simple renovation.

In addition, you can hire a few dancers who are dressed slightly revealingly and perform some seductive dances to attract energetic guests to make additional purchases.

As for the chef...

Let's see if Welby has produced one or two worthwhile apprentices in the meantime."

As he said this, Zuo Si subconsciously took out the two Shapeshifter cards, a playful smile appearing on his face.

It was obvious that he was planning to place these two guys in to make money for himself while collecting intelligence and monitoring the movements of the Harpist Alliance.

After all, after solving the problem of loyalty, the shapeshifter is definitely the most perfect spy in the world.

It's a pity that Zuo Si only has two Shapeshifter cards on hand.

Otherwise, they could follow the example of Sarevok and use a large number of shapeshifters to infiltrate Athkatla.

"Speaking of Chef Welby, you probably haven't eaten at the restaurant he opened yet, right?" Bernard asked tentatively.

Zuo Si shook his head slightly. "No. I've been so busy lately that I've even reduced my sleep time to exactly eight hours, not even a minute more. How can I have time to take care of other things? How is the restaurant doing?"

“It couldn’t be better.

The net profit in the last few months alone has reached 70,000 gold coins, an average of about 20,000 per month.

Now all the nobles and merchants in Askatla regard being able to book a private room in your restaurant for the same day as a way of showing off.

Even the public dining seats in the lobby on the first floor are available for purchase at high prices.

As for the limited daily home delivery service, as well as takeaway snacks and pastries, they are basically sold out as soon as they are put on the table.

Many people would even come to me through the back door in order to reserve a spot.

As a result, I got to know many people who hold important positions in various government departments.

Even my good friend Babette has become a loyal customer of this store.

According to his own words, after eating the oriental food made by Chef Welby, he couldn't swallow the local food of Amn at all. "

Bernard immediately became excited when talking about the restaurant's business.

Because he really gained unimaginable huge benefits from it.

The benefit is not money, but the ability to make more powerful friends and protect your chamber of commerce and business.

"It sounds interesting. How about... we go to the restaurant for dinner?" Zuo Si suggested, touching his chin.

"Okay! I've been wanting to go for a long time."

"Fun person" Alena immediately waved her arms and cheered loudly.

The half-orc Rhett recalled the delicious food he had eaten before, swallowed his saliva subconsciously and said, "There should be a lot of customers if we go there at this time, right?"

"It's okay. I asked the manager to reserve two or three private rooms for emergency use, so you don't have to worry about not having enough space."

After saying this, Bernard stood up and winked at his butler.

The latter understood what he meant and immediately asked the coachman and guards to prepare an oversized four-wheeled carriage.

In this way, a group of people rode in a large carriage and marched towards the city gate area.

After a while, it stopped at the door of the restaurant.

Different from the ordinary square buildings around it, this restaurant designed by Zuo Si himself looks full of oriental atmosphere.

Whether it is the lanterns hanging at the door for lighting, or the pillars, attics, screens, windows, carvings, tables, and chairs, they all present a style that is incompatible with the surrounding environment.

Especially the plates and bowls for serving dishes, as well as the vases for decoration, all of them are made of unique porcelain.

Needless to say, this was also mass-produced by Zuo Si using his creative abilities.

After all, the "kaolin" used to make porcelain is, to put it simply, a mixture of silicon dioxide and some other trace elements.

With a few tries, it's easy to find a recipe that works.

Although I can't create those exquisite designs and patterns, it is still no problem to fool the natives of this world.

Anyway, as long as it is labeled as "Specialties from Karatu of the Eastern Continent", no matter what it is, its status will immediately soar.

In order to create the so-called "immersive" experience, all the waitresses wore long silk skirts with oriental characteristics, and even received professional training and could speak a few simple greetings from the Karatu continent.

"You made all this?"

Zuo Si stared in amazement as he watched the well-trained maids deliver trays to the dining table one by one and greet the guests skillfully in the language of Karatu. He felt a strong sense of unreality.

You have to know that he only provided the design of the architecture and decoration, as well as a certain amount of porcelain tableware, but definitely did not include the clothes, dress and language of the waitresses.

Bernard responded proudly, "Yes! These are all custom-made clothes made by a tailor after consulting a scholar of Oghma, the god of knowledge.

Every waitress working here must undergo at least five days of training before taking up the job.

It is with this kind of meticulous service that guests who are willing to pay a high price can experience the dining experience they want.”

"You are truly a genius in business." Zuo Si couldn't help but sigh.

As the saying goes, details determine success or failure.

If it weren't for the businessmen's attitude of striving for perfection, these waitresses would probably be wearing a low-cut white shirt and an earth-colored linen skirt, which would be a real eyesore.

This kind of dressing will inevitably cause all the guests who come to dine to have a strong sense of visual tearing.

But now, the last flaw has been perfectly made up.

"Thank you for the compliment. Come on, this is not the place to talk. Let's go to the private room on the upper floor."

Bernard took the lead and walked in through the main entrance. Soon, accompanied by the manager, he came to a reserved empty private room on the second floor.

Just after crossing the threshold, Zuo Si noticed that a copper stove was emitting white smoke outside, filling the whole room with a faint fragrance.

Out of curiosity, he walked closer and looked through the gap in the copper furnace. He saw a small piece of gray and white, stone-like substance being heated and burned. He immediately asked in an uncertain tone: "Is this ambergris?"

"Yes. As part of the additional services in the VIP room, it can provide a better dining environment for those nobles and wealthy businessmen. How is it? Does it feel good?"

Bernard picked up the teapot and poured himself a cup of hot tea.

"It's really good. The service is impeccable. The next thing is the taste of the food."

After saying that, Zuo Si walked to a chair and sat down.

As soon as he sat down, the door of the room was pushed open and a short man ran in from the corridor outside.

"Hey! Look who's here! I thought you forgot about me!"

Following the familiar voice, the halfling Welby jumped up and gave Zuo Si a warm hug.

Yes!

With Zuo Si's current height, the chef would need to jump up to reach his neck.

There's no way, the halfling is only about one meter tall.

"Sorry, I've been too busy lately and haven't been able to pay attention to this."

Zuo Si patted the man's back hard, then took it off his neck.

Because even though this half-man in front of you is not tall, his weight is quite amazing. He is basically a round ball of meat.

"Haha! It doesn't matter! I'm doing fine now, and you've kept your promise."

Welby's character was as cheerful as ever.

In other words, most halflings have a very good mentality and do not take the setbacks and difficulties encountered in daily life seriously at all.

Zuo Si undoubtedly liked this nature of the halflings very much. He poked the chef's bulging belly and chin with his fingers and said with a smile: "From the extra fat on your body, anyone who is not blind can see that you are living a very comfortable life. But I have to remind you that you'd better control your food intake and lose weight appropriately. Otherwise, you may die of obesity in a few years."

"Damn it! Don't mention weight to me. As a halfling, I would rather die of obesity than look at delicious food in front of me and not be able to eat it." Welby argued plausibly.

But soon, he changed the subject and asked in an expectant tone: "What are you going to eat today? If you don't mind, how about letting me make the decision?"

"Can."

Zuo Si gave a straightforward affirmative answer.

He believed that after such a long period of influence and training with his recipe, no matter what dish the halfling chef made, it would definitely not be bad.

"Great! Give me some time. In forty minutes at most, I promise to serve a sumptuous and delicious dinner."

After saying this, Welby ran out quickly with his short legs.

Only at times like this could one vaguely see a glimpse of his past as a thief in his youth.

After sending the halfling away, Zuo Si immediately asked without turning his head, "Regarding the restaurant's revenue in recent months, have you given Welby's share?"

Bernard quickly replied: “As you requested, it was given that month.

Not only him, but also the bonuses promised to the kitchen helpers and waitresses were all paid out in full.

However, Welby entrusted me to send most of the money back to Zazespur, intending to use it to help the refugees displaced by the civil war in the Kingdom of Tethyr.

I don't think it's a good idea though."

"It doesn't matter. This is Welby's own money. No matter how he chooses to spend it, it is his personal freedom. We shouldn't interfere. But when donating, be careful not to give money directly. It's better to distribute food and clothes to avoid being used by people with ulterior motives." Zuo Si reminded indifferently.

In fact, when the caravan stopped in Zazesipo, he noticed that although Welby's inn was not doing well, it still insisted on preparing some food for the refugees every day.

So I wasn't too surprised to hear that the halfling gave away most of the money he earned.

And it is easy to see from this action that Welby's camp is chaotic good.

"I understand. I will arrange everything. In addition, I have another important thing to inform you. That is, I am getting married soon."

Bernard went around in circles for a long time and finally dropped this bombshell.

"Marry? To whom?"

Zuo Si turned around abruptly, his face full of surprise and surprise.

Because he originally thought that, at the age of around 30, the businessman should have been married a long time ago, and might even have one or two children, but he just hadn't moved into this house yet.

"She's Babette's sister. Our two families have always been very close and have signed an alliance more than once. This time, Babette and I have decided to take our relationship a step further, that is, marriage."

Bernard did not hide anything and openly stated the purpose of his marriage.

Because there is nothing to hide.

Everyone in Askatra who was not blind knew what this marriage contract meant.

"Congratulations! I guess I'll have to spend some time preparing a gift." Zuo Si offered his blessings in a half-joking tone.

"Thank you. I would like to invite you to my wedding. What do you think?" Bernard asked cautiously.

Zuo Si nodded without hesitation: "No problem. Give me a specific time and place, and I promise that I will be there on time no matter how busy I am."

Hearing this promise, Bernard immediately showed a happy smile: "Thank you very much. I feel much more at ease with you here. As for the wedding date, I will discuss it with Babette later and try to set a date that is relatively close."

"Why did you get married so late? As far as I know, the children of Amn nobles and wealthy businessmen should get married very early." Zuo Si asked in confusion.

Bernard explained with a wry smile: "It's all because of my father.

He wanted his illegitimate son to inherit the family business, so he deliberately delayed finding suitable marriage partners for me and other siblings.

In this way, we will not be able to gain support from external forces through marriage.

Similarly, other families have no excuse or reason to intervene, and can also prevent the birth of the next generation of heirs with legal inheritance rights.

But it's not too late to get married now.

I am only thirty years old, in the prime of my life.

As long as you work hard, giving birth to a few sons shouldn't be a problem…”

(End of this chapter)