Chapter 82 Afternoon Tea at the City Lord's Mansion: Hope Trading Company Blackrock City Branch...
Hope Trading Company Blackstone City Branch.
In just over ten days since its opening, this place has become the most magical and bustling place in the entire city.
Every morning, before dawn, long queues would spontaneously form in front of the shops. The queues included ragged, emaciated poor people, mercenaries carrying swords and weathered faces, and occasionally, a few furtive servants of wealthy merchants sent to gather information.
Their goal was remarkably consistent: that ever-hot, enticingly salty soup of hope, which could be drunk to one's heart's content for just one copper coin.
A bowl of hot soup can not only dispel the chill of the morning, but also provide the most basic and warm energy for a whole day of work and running around.
For mercenaries and artisans who have a little more money, a stamina recovery bento box with high-quality ingredients, rich flavor, and the option to take it away has become the best choice for replenishing their energy at noon.
Hope Bank, in an extremely brutal yet incredibly gentle way, swiftly tore open a hole called Hope in this lifeless city.
That noon, Lin Yue was sitting with his legs crossed, munching on Mia's newly developed spicy rabbit meat sandwich, while listening to Kaven's teasing, which was half jealous and half excited.
“Mr. Lin,” Carvin said in a low voice, his tone tinged with sarcasm, “if you keep selling this soup like this, every tavern and restaurant in Blackrock City will probably have to close down. I’ve lived half my life and I’ve never seen business done like this; you’re practically leaving no room for anyone else to survive.” He paused, then leaned closer, “Seriously, with unlimited refills for just one copper coin, aren’t you losing more money the more you sell? Are you here to do business or to do charity?”
Lin Yue chuckled, about to retort with "This is called initial investment and strategic loss, what do you know?" when he saw a group of uninvited guests. A man dressed in the uniform of a servant of the city lord's mansion arrived at the shop entrance, escorted by a group of fully armed city guards.
Unlike the thugs from last time, the head servant was unusually respectful. He pushed through the crowd, strode to Lin Yue, bowed deeply, and then presented him with a beautifully crafted invitation made of fine parchment and stamped with sealing wax.
"Excuse me, are you Mr. Lin, the owner of Hope Trading Company?" The servant's tone was humble and polite, but his eyes were subtly observing Lin Yue and the surrounding environment. "Our young master Ryan has heard that you have opened a unique trading company here and is very curious about you and the magical products you sell. He has specially prepared some tea and would like to invite you to his residence for a short visit this afternoon. Would you be so kind as to grace us with your presence?"
The surrounding diners were too frightened to speak when they saw this scene, and they all lowered their heads and drank their soup in large gulps, afraid of getting into trouble.
Lin Yue raised an eyebrow, took the finely crafted invitation, which felt slightly heavy in his hand and carried a faint scent of ink.
Upon seeing Lin Yue accept the gift, the servant bowed again and then quietly withdrew, surrounded by a group of guards. The entire process was conducted with impeccable manners and propriety.
As soon as he left, Kavin immediately approached, looking at the invitation with a serious expression: "Mr. Lin, be careful, this is probably not a simple tea party."
"Oh? How so?" Lin Yue slowly finished the last bite of his sandwich, licked the chili oil from the corner of his mouth, and asked with great interest.
“You don’t know,” Carwin said, a fine layer of cold sweat beading on his forehead, “this young master Ryan, although he is the Duke’s second son, has no real power in Blackrock City and looks like an exiled idler. But anyone with connections in the city knows that this young master’s mind is a hundred times deeper than his good-for-nothing brother who only knows how to fight and kill.”
He swallowed hard and continued, "When he first arrived in Blackrock City, everyone thought he was a pushover. But what happened? In less than six months, the leaders of the city's biggest gangs either mysteriously disappeared or suddenly died. And the vacated territories and businesses eventually ended up in the hands of a few unknown but obedient little guys. From then on, no one dared to underestimate him anymore."
"He invited you over this time, ostensibly for tea, but who knows what his true intentions are? In my opinion, he probably sees our business is booming and wants a piece of the pie, or even... he wants to swallow us whole!"
Lin Yue thought to himself, "Good heavens, isn't this a typical smiling tiger? He's playing mind games. Just like those two-faced clients I encountered in my past life, they'll call you brother on the surface, but they'll stab you in the back faster than anyone else."
However, there's no escaping it; I have no choice but to drink this cup of tea.
"Alright, Mr. Carwin, don't be nervous." Lin Yue patted Carwin on the shoulder, a relaxed smile on his face. "It's just a cup of tea, what are they going to do with me? Maybe they really see something special about me and want to be friends?"
Kaven: "..." He looked at Lin Yue's carefree attitude and stomped his feet in frustration, but there was nothing he could do.
“Grey,” Lin Yue turned to Grey, who was silently wiping his spear in the corner, and said, “You’re coming with me this afternoon. Remember, we’re going for tea, not to fight. So… don’t bring your spear, it’s too conspicuous. Just bring your short sword.”
Gray nodded, wrapped the gleaming spear in a cloth, and put it away.
In the afternoon, Lin Yue changed into a relatively decent dark blue linen long gown and carried an exquisitely designed food box containing a return gift he had specially prepared for this meeting.
Gray changed into a set of ordinary mercenary leather armor, hid his short sword behind his back, and silently followed beside him.
Following the address on the invitation, the two arrived at a courtyard located in a secluded corner of the city lord's mansion.
In contrast to the opulence and imposing grandeur of the city lord's mansion, this small courtyard exuded an extraordinary elegance and tranquility. A path paved with smooth pebbles meandered through a meticulously tended bamboo grove. In the center of the courtyard was a small lotus pond, its water crystal clear, with several koi swimming leisurely within. Beside the pond, beneath a pavilion carved from a single slab of white marble, a young nobleman dressed in white casual clothes stood with his back to them, intently preparing tea.
It was Ryan.
Hearing footsteps, Ryan slowly turned around, a perfectly gentle smile on his face.
“Mr. Lin, we meet again.” He stood up and said in a friendly tone, “I’m glad to meet you this time. It’s more relaxed than the last time we met at the city wall.”
"Young Master Ryan, you're too kind." Lin Yue returned the greeting, but inwardly he was thinking, "Keep acting. I don't believe you're really a serene and artistic young man."
The two sat down at the stone table. Ryan personally poured two cups of fragrant black tea for Lin Yue and Gray.
"This is a specialty red leaf tea from the emerald rainforest of the south. It has a mellow taste and is refreshing. Give it a try."
Lin Yue took a sip and nodded: "Good tea." Then he placed the food box in his hand on the table and pushed it over.
"Since this is my first visit, I haven't prepared anything decent as a gift." Lin Yue smiled as he opened the food box. "This is just a small token of our appreciation for the business. It's nothing special."
The food box was lined with clean leaves and contained two items.
It consisted of several crystal-clear moon jelly pieces. They emitted a faint glow in the sunlight, and their sweet fruity aroma was simply delightful.
The other item was a few slices of honey-roasted rock-baked potato chips, baked until golden brown and crispy, and as thin as cicada wings.
Ryan looked at the delicate pastries, a hint of curiosity flashing in his eyes. He picked up a potato chip, put it in his mouth, and the crisp texture and unique sweet and salty flavor made him raise his eyebrows slightly.
"An interesting taste," he commented, then took another bite of the moonlight jelly. The bouncy, smooth, and melt-in-your-mouth texture, along with its peculiar energy that seemed to have a subtle yet powerful calming effect, made his eyes light up.
“Boss Lin, or rather Mayor Lin, you always manage to surprise people.” Ryan put down his silver fork and looked intently at Lin Yue. “Whether it’s your food, your business practices, or… you yourself.”
"Young Master Ryan, you flatter us." Lin Yue waved his hand modestly. "We just want to make a living in this chaotic world."
"Just trying to make a living?" Ryan chuckled and shook his head. "I don't think so. To be able to build a town on the edge of the Cursed Lands where hundreds of people can live and work in peace, and to have many crops containing strange energy, and to make my foolish brother go back in disgrace, Boss Lin, if you're just trying to make a living, then most of the lords in this world would probably starve to death."
Lin Yue felt a chill run down his spine; this young man understood him far better than he had shown.
"Haha, since you've put it this way, young master, I won't beat around the bush anymore." Lin Yue also put away his smile. "I wonder what brings you here today, young master?"
Ryan looked at Lin Yue, remained silent for a moment, then sighed deeply, his eyes revealing a weariness that was beyond his years.
"I wouldn't call it giving advice," he chuckled self-deprecatingly. "I just want to find an ally."
He even took the initiative to reveal his situation, recounting his awkward status as the second son of a duke, his mother's humble origins which led to him being ostracized in noble circles from a young age, and the huge differences in governance philosophy between himself, his father, and his brother. He advocated recuperation and treating the people kindly, while they only knew how to wage endless wars and exploitation.
“I was sent to this city, ostensibly for training, but in reality, it was exile.” Ryan’s voice turned cold. “They wanted me here to be devoured by those entrenched forces, or assimilated by the endless despair of this land. But they were wrong. I will not give up. I hate this city because it is full of filth and sin. But I also want to change this city.”
“I am different from them. I grew up in the countryside and saw firsthand how farmers toiled under heavy taxes and still couldn’t get enough to eat; my mother had to endure unwarranted contempt and bullying simply because she was born a commoner. I don’t want this city to become another meat grinder in my father’s territory that only knows how to exploit. I want to change all of this, I want everyone living on this land to live like human beings, not like livestock.”
He raised his head and looked directly into Lin Yue's eyes, his usually gentle gaze now burning with a long-suppressed flame: "I need power, I need allies. And you, Mayor Lin, and the Hope Town behind you, are the forces I see that could change all of this."
Lin Yue listened quietly, his initial wariness of Ryan gradually turning into a sense of sympathy and high vigilance.
This guy is a natural orator and politician. What he says might be true, but it's bound to be mixed with calculations to win people over. He doesn't completely believe it, but he doesn't completely disbelieve it either.
He didn't immediately agree to cooperate, but instead recounted the story of Hope Town's rise from nothing. He told the tales of the displaced refugees, how they went from having nothing to firing their first brick and growing their first crop…
All of this is thanks to the immense power that people can unleash in despair, in their struggle to survive and to live with dignity. He shaped Hope Town into an independent force that is self-reliant, united, and possesses unique survival wisdom, rather than a vassal that can be manipulated at will.
“Dignity…hope…” Ryan murmured, repeating the two words over and over.
He discovered that the mysterious young man before him was remarkably similar to what he himself was pursuing deep within his heart.
“Boss Lin,” Ryan’s tone became more serious than ever before, “I need your help. I need your food and ironware to win over the hearts of the people, to give those starving civilians a glimmer of hope for survival, and to arm those warriors who are willing to follow me in resisting tyranny.”
“In return,” he looked at Lin Yue with a firm gaze, “I, Ryan von Kaslan, am willing to forge the strongest alliance with Hope Town in my own name. I will become your strongest backing in Blackrock City and throughout the entire Duchy. I will provide you with protection, clear away all obstacles to your business, and even in the future, help you obtain a truly recognized and legitimate territory that belongs to you.”
This is a tempting offer, especially the last one, but it is also fraught with risk.
Once they agree, Hope Town will be completely drawn into the internal struggles of the Caslan family. But this is also an opportunity that Hope Town must seize if it wants to truly grow and prosper.
“Young Master Ryan,” Lin Yue pondered for a moment before speaking, “I have sensed your sincerity. In principle, I agree to cooperate with you. However, before we discuss the specific transactions of grain and ironware, I need you to do me a favor first.”
"Please speak."
"I need you to help me make connections with the worst-reputed, most infamous, and most eager-to-sell-goods small slave owners in the city."
"What?!" Ryan stared at Lin Yue in disbelief. "Boss Lin, you...you want to buy slaves? Didn't you say...you wanted to give everyone dignity and hope? How could you...how could you get involved in such a sinful transaction?!"
"Calm down, Master Ryan. I'm asking you, what was the ultimate fate of those slaves locked in cages?"
"...they will be sent to the sulfur mines in the south, or to the logging camps in the Black Forest in the east...where they will be tortured to death."
“Then tell me,” Lin Yue looked him straight in the eye, “would it be more humane to let them be beaten to death, starved to death, or die of disease on the streets of Blackrock City in their so-called freedom, or to send them to the mines to be tortured to death? Or, would it be more humane to temporarily buy them as slaves and take them to a remote place where they can at least eat and dress warmly and live like human beings while waiting for true liberation?”
Ryan was speechless after Lin Yue's question.
He knew Lin Yue was referring to a harsh reality.
“I understand, I promise you. I will use my position to contact the slave owners who are most eager to ship their slaves and to secure the most favorable terms for you. But I hope you can promise me that you will treat them well and give them a new life, just as you said.”
"On behalf of everyone in Hope Town, I assure you," Lin Yue said solemnly.
As Lin Yue was leaving the city lord's mansion, Ryan called out to him.
"Mr. Lin, please wait a moment."
He nodded to the captain of the guard behind him, who stood like a statue.
The captain of the guards immediately stepped forward and knelt on one knee before Lin Yue: "Boss Lin, from today onwards, I, Renault, and my squad will be responsible for your safety in Blackrock City on Young Master Ryan's orders, and will act as your liaison between you and the young master."
Lin Yue glanced at the composed guard captain, then at the several equally impressive guards at the courtyard gate in the distance, and knew that Ryan was showing him his sincerity and a portion of his strength.
"Then thank you very much, Young Master Ryan." Lin Yue did not refuse.
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