Just as Li De was waiting to et Glory’s Light, the player who had joined the Crimson Mage Tower, a long-absent figure appeared on the first floor of the tower.
“Good day, Lord Li De.”
Wearing luxurious robes and wearing a broad smile, the figure stepped into the room and respectfully bowed with a hand to his chest.
It was Laurent Orlando, President of the Golden Wheat rchant Guild.
Li De looked at this subordinate, the first he had brought under his control after arriving in Green City, and a trace of familiarity flickered in his eyes.
With the continued developnt and growth of the Crimson Mage Tower, especially after the capable and decisive Vina had officially taken over its managent, the Golden Wheat rchant Guild had beco far less important to him.
And with Dawn City's rise, it no longer relied on external procurent to sustain its growth. Most production materials could now be sourced internally, freeing the city from the shackles of outside dependency.
As a result, the Golden Wheat rchant Guild, which once held an important place in his developnt plans, had been gradually sidelined.
To the extent that Li De hadn’t seen Laurent in months.
“How has the Golden Wheat rchant Guild been doing these past few months, Laurent?”
Hearing Li De’s question, Laurent, who had been inwardly nervous, imdiately relaxed.
With the Crimson Mage Tower’s rise, he had clearly felt his status in Li De’s eyes falling rapidly.
He could even sense that if he didn’t make so new move, the Golden Wheat rchant Guild might eventually beco a dispensable asset.
That made Laurent anxious, he didn’t want to see that happen.
Though the Guild’s scale had grown more than tenfold compared to before, to him, Li De’s favor was more important than anything else.
He hadn’t forgotten who had granted him everything he now possessed.
Li De, as his patron, had beco a powerful figure in Green City. Naturally, Laurent’s own status had risen with the tide.
Things that had once required imnse sacrifice could now be resolved simply by invoking the na of the Crimson Mage Tower.
As a smart man, Laurent knew exactly what he needed. Without Li De, everything he now owned was no more than a mirage.
Wealth without power to protect it would only draw the greedy gaze of others, it was nothing but a cri waiting to happen.
That’s why these past few months, he had focused both on rapidly expanding the Golden Wheat rchant Guild and finding a way to regain Li De’s attention, hoping for a renewed place in his inner circle.
He had watched every step of the Crimson Mage Tower’s growth and had personally witnessed Li De’s rise to power in Green City.
He refused to fall behind, not when he was still doing better than he ever had in his previous life.
But he knew that for even greater success, he needed Li De to favor him again.
Unfortunately, Li De had been absent from the Crimson Mage Tower for a while, and though Laurent had requested an audience several tis, he hadn’t seen him in person.
Today, he had finally seized the opportunity.
“Lord Li De, the Golden Wheat rchant Guild’s current main trade items include cotton, fabrics, wool, grain, ores, and weapons.
Last month, the Guild’s net profit totaled 950 Gold Pucks, and this month we expect to exceed 1,000 Gold Pucks.”
A trace of pride rose in Laurent’s eyes. Even if he had relied on the strength of the Crimson Mage Tower, to have grown a rchant guild from a re thirty or forty people to its current scale in just over half a year was an accomplishnt worthy of pride.
“With your protection, Lord Li De, the Golden Wheat rchant Guild has grown rapidly these past few months. We now have over 500 mbers.
We’ve also established our own network of contacts, with traces of our influence spreading across all the major southern cities. In fact, we’ve already opened branches in ten cities, and by the Month of Deep Winter, we expect that number to reach fifteen.”
At first, Li De didn’t think much of it. But as Laurent’s report went on, a glimr of surprise appeared in his eyes.
He hadn’t expected that in such a short ti, Laurent would develop the Golden Wheat rchant Guild to this level. Although the Crimson Mage Tower’s backing played a major role, it wasn’t a trivial feat.
He gave Laurent, now noticeably more rotund, a deep look. This was the first subordinate he had chosen after arriving in Green City, and his talent in business was still quite reliable.
He wasn’t as gifted or brimming with potential as Vina, but he was still useful.
Li De didn’t particularly care about the profit. A net inco of over 1,000 Gold Pucks was enough to make other mage towers green with envy, but for soone who owned a Magic Factory, that was less than a day’s profit.
What he truly valued was the fact that Laurent had established branches in ten different cities in just a few months.
His own influence was currently imnse, but limited to Green City. Once outside, there was a clear power vacuum.
The Golden Wheat rchant Guild might just be a business, but its ability to expand outward was sothing he had to take seriously.
In the future, it could serve as a springboard, allowing the Crimson Mage Tower’s Magic Scrolls to conquer foreign markets instead of being limited to collaborations with local Green City nobles.
“Very good, Laurent. I’ve never misjudged you. Having you manage the Golden Wheat rchant Guild was a wise decision.
In the future, I hope to see the guild’s banner flying in every southern city with a population of over 100,000.”
Li De’s words made Laurent feel overjoyed. While technically an instruction, it was more importantly an affirmation.
His months of hard work had not been in vain.
He responded with unrestrained energy and determination.
“Lord Li De, I swear to the Goddess, even if it costs my life, I will carry out your will!!”
Li De nodded in satisfaction. Whether in Dawn City or the Crimson Mage Tower, he still lacked sufficient manpower. What he especially needed was top-tier combat power or senior-level managers with strategic vision.
So he no longer relied on Laurent as heavily as he once did, but that didn’t erase the loyalty and bond they shared.
After all, Laurent was his first personally-recruited subordinate.
And now that the Golden Wheat rchant Guild was doing well, Li De was not going to be stingy with opportunities.
“If you need any support, you may apply directly to Vina, or co to .
I want the Golden Wheat rchant Guild to grow more independent, rather than always leaning on the Crimson Mage Tower, especially when expanding to new branches.
Of course, all this depends on the guild continuing to grow. You’ll need to handle the actual operations yourself.”
Li De gave Laurent a clear hint, and the old fox instantly understood the deeper aning. He nodded quickly.
“Yes, Lord Li De. I will see the Golden Wheat rchant Guild’s banner spread across the entire south.”
“Very good. So, what brings you to this ti?”
At Li De’s question, an excited expression suddenly appeared on Laurent’s face.
And then he said sothing that made Li De’s heart skip a beat.
“Lord Li De… we may have the opportunity to obtain a complete mithril vein.”
Li De’s pupils shrank sharply. Mithril? And a complete mithril vein??
As one of the most precious magical tals in Glory, mithril’s rarity and value were enough to make anyone lose their mind.
A complete mithril vein could drive even an adult dragon mad.
Armor and shields infused with mithril beca far more durable and could gain dozens of tis greater magic resistance. Weapons containing mithril beca sharper and stronger.
Etching Magic Arrays with mithril on mage robes enhanced ditation efficiency and boosted mana regeneration. Mithril could even be used for enchanting equipnt and drawing Forbidden Spell-grade Magic Scrolls.
A tiny piece of mithril could multiply the quality of a weapon several tis over. It was a crucial material in forging high-level weapons and advanced magical gear.
It was an extrely rare and versatile magical tal. Even a small piece could draw countless greedy eyes.
And now Laurent was saying he might have the chance to acquire a complete mithril vein??
Did he have any idea how rare that was?
Was this man scared senseless by an undead or had his brain been eaten by a demon?
Li De almost reached out to check Laurent’s forehead to see if he had a fever.
This was outrageous.
A complete mithril vein could easily spark a full-scale war between two nations.
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