The sound of the conference room's wooden door opening and closing startled the nobles sitting around the conference table.

When they looked in the direction of the sound, they saw Martin walking steadily towards them on the thick carpet.

The leading noble was the first to break the silence, a meaningful smile curling his lips. "Look, our protagonist has finally appeared."

The other people all smiled knowingly, and their eight eyes were focused on the new viscount.

After Martin took his seat, the leading noble pointed to the four people across from him and said, "Viscount Martin, these four distinguished guests have come from the Shadow Intelligence Guild to discuss the sale of intelligence personnel. As for me, I'm here to discuss business cooperation. I'll discuss a big deal with you later."

Martin nodded slightly in thanks, then turned his dark eyes to the four nobles across from him: "I wonder what specific plans you have for the intelligence transaction?"

The oldest, silver-haired nobleman rose and performed a standard noble salute. The amethyst emblem on his chest shone coldly in the candlelight. "I've long heard of your name, Viscount Martin. I'm Viscount Cha Ming of the Central Realm. I've come to negotiate at the request of the elders of the Shadow Intelligence Guild branch."

He sat down again, tapping his fingertips on the table as he began to speak. "We offer three modes of cooperation. In the first, you pay a fixed amount of gold coins to the guild each year, and general intelligence will be provided immediately. If you require confidential intelligence, there will be a price increase."

"Secondly, you provide the funds and personnel, and we will be responsible for targeted training, but you will need to pay a considerable additional training fee, and we are not responsible for the subsequent personnel management risks."

"The third one is the most cost-effective - as long as you join the Shadow Espionage Guild, you can enjoy intelligence sharing without paying a penny."

Martin lowered his eyes in thought, the candlelight flickering in his eyes.

He rejected the third option without hesitation. He had suffered losses from free things in his past life, and he had suffered a lot. The experience of suffering losses many times made him know that "free things should not be touched."

Once you join a guild, it may seem like you can save a lot of gold coins, but in fact you will have to pay a heavier price.

As for the first option, even if you can barely gather enough gold coins, you should prioritize using them to improve the combat effectiveness of your knights, as that is the key to consolidating the foundation of your territory.

After careful consideration, the second option, which can build a dedicated intelligence force, is undoubtedly more valuable in the long run.

"I choose the second option." Martin raised his eyes and said to Viscount Cha Ming.

"Are you sending someone over here, or should I send someone over?"

A subtle flash of disappointment crossed Viscount Cha Ming's eyes, but he quickly regained his professional smile. "In seven days, Viscount Martin, please prepare fifty men and fifty thousand gold coins. We will then send someone to receive them. One month later, these trained intelligence officers will be returned to your territory intact."

Martin was secretly astonished. He could earn 50,000 gold coins after only one month of training. This intelligence business was indeed very profitable.

Just as he was sighing, Viscount Cha Ming pulled out a strangely shaped communication crystal. A faint blue pattern swirled across its surface. "This is a communication crystal specially made for the guild. If you need any information in the future, you can simply communicate with us directly."

Martin nodded and motioned Eric beside him to come forward and take the crystal.

Seeing the deal finalized, Viscount Cha Ming and his three companions once again performed an elegant, aristocratic salute. "In that case, we will not disturb you any further. We look forward to further cooperation with Viscount Martin."

After saying that, the four of them turned and left.

After the four people left, Martin turned his attention to the remaining four nobles with different expressions.

The middle-aged nobleman who had acted as the introducer spoke first, his eyes behind the gold-rimmed glasses showing some tentativeness: "To be honest, Viscount Martin, we would like to discuss a cooperation with you. Please listen first." Martin nodded, motioning him to continue, and then the middle-aged nobleman told the story again.

It turned out that the family behind these four controlled some of the trade routes between the Southern Territory, the Royal Territory, and the Central Territory. They made a tidy profit from trading goods, but the annual protection fees they paid were also staggering. The middle-aged nobleman's intention was to ask Martin's dragon knight to provide him with protection—and that from now on, they would only pay Martin the huge protection fee.

Martin tapped the table with his fingertips, neither fast nor slow, and the gilded candlesticks stretched his shadow long on the wall.

After a while, he chuckled softly, his voice shrouded in ice. "Is it that simple? You're using me as a pawn, yet you're hiding something? Do you believe I can turn this 'gun' around and let you test its effectiveness?"

The four nobles looked at each other, whispering to each other.

The leading middle-aged noble wiped the sweat from his forehead and took a half-step forward, "Viscount Martin has misunderstood! Actually... all you need to do is send your dragon knights on a symbolic tour of our territory. No physical effort is required! We'll take care of the rest, and you'll receive 800,000 gold coins from the profits!"

Before he finished speaking, Martin stood up, straightened his clothes, and signaled Eric and the two dragons to leave.

Martin thought to himself, "What a way to divert trouble to the West! The Duke in the South hasn't solved his problems yet, and now you want to push all the trouble onto my West?"

Just as Martin was about to reach the door.

The middle-aged nobleman in the lead said hurriedly, "I'll tell you everything, but after I tell you, I hope Viscount Martin can help me."

After hearing this, Martin turned his back to them with a smile on his face, but when he turned around, the smile disappeared.

As he walked back, he said, "I'd really like to hear what problems these four wealthy families can't solve."

After returning to their original seats, the leading nobleman hesitantly began to speak: "Sometimes, gold coins can't solve everything. Some people want to punish you and they will punish you. Our family has been punished so often that we gradually got used to it."

"Until later, during the Western War."

Martin interrupted, "Is it the Western Frontier War from a while ago?"

The leading noble nodded and continued, "Although our four families have earned immense wealth, we have almost no high-end combat power. Whenever a family member reaches the level of a Golden Knight or Mage, they die inexplicably. The reason is well known to everyone, and even faking their death is no longer an option. We have no choice but to pay protection fees to the powerful noble families along the way to open up trade routes."

"However, the emergence of the Western Frontier War broke the rules."

"The king and the powerful local noble families are raising protection fees to compensate for their losses due to the Western Territory War. Originally, we were making some money, but now, based on their fees, we're essentially working for them. We've considered resisting and have contacted various guilds, intending to use gold coins to hire Sky Warriors or Gold Warriors."

After a pause, he continued, "It was useless. After only a few days of employment, the employment would be terminated for inexplicable reasons, and the gold coins would be returned."

"We subsequently spent a large sum of money to purchase intelligence from the Shadow Espionage Guild. Only then did we learn that it was the pressure from the king and powerful nobles that prevented anyone from accepting our offer. There were those who dared to accept our offer, but they died within a few days."

"We attended the Duke's dinner this time because we wanted to make friends with you. After all, you have a dragon knight, so those powerful nobles will at least give you some respect."

After hearing this, Martin fell into deep thought.