"The lord is just there. But we've had a problem lately."
"A problem? Don't tell me it's a gold mine?"
"Yeah, that's the problem. The lord doesn't want the rumors to spread, so he's started to crack down on the people in the territory, but the rumors will spread anyway."
"I suppose so. The fact that gold was found there... And it used to be the most famous gold mining area on the continent."
It was not yet time for the war with the dwarves.
The Gold Vein War was an event that took place after the Crown War.
That's when Lucia, who was looking around with her bright eyes, spoke to Rockefeller.
"Rockefeller oppa! This place is really big! There are so many people too. I want to live here as you wish!"
Lucia seemed to be completely captivated by the city of Lyon, not having heard the conversation between the two.
It was natural for Lucia to react this way, having come from a small territory on the outskirts of the empire to a city that had grown significantly in terms of commerce.
Then Joshua grumbled.
"How am I supposed to handle this if you want to live here too?"
"Joshua always nags! I like it here better. There are more people, and the city is bigger. From now on, I want to live with Rockefeller oppa."
At Lucia's words, Rockefeller smiled.
"It would be good for Lucia too. Lucia will eventually get married, and she can't just stay in a rural area, can she?"
"Sigh... She's leaving me behind. I've been changing her diapers since she was little."
"That was Leo oppa!"
For the sake of the youngest left alone in his hometown, Rockefeller said.
"Just bear with it a little longer. I have to take care of things over there once I finish my work here."
Rockefeller put his hand on Joshua's shoulder.
"Take good care of it until then. It's not even the lord's land, it's our own. The gold that comes from there belongs to us too."
"Don't worry. I was just saying."
"You never know, we might have to switch places later, so just bear with it even if it's boring until then."
"I got it. Don't worry too much about the territory. Even if it's not me, the lord seems to be doing a decent job."
* * *
After the guild meeting, Rockefeller returned to the guild headquarters with his siblings and introduced them to Ricardo, who was guarding the store.
"These are my siblings. Their names are Joshua and Lucia."
As soon as Rockefeller's words fell, Joshua and Lucia greeted Ricardo.
"We've heard a lot about you through letters. I'm Joshua Rothsmedici."
"Hello. I'm Lucia Rothsmedici."
Ricardo was momentarily taken aback by the sudden appearance of the siblings, but soon hid his expression and opened his mouth to introduce himself.
"I'm Thomas Martel. Feel free to call me Thomas."
Rockefeller had not informed his siblings about Ricardo's true identity.
In case the siblings made a mistake, it would cause a headache.
"Now I have to go see Leo oppa."
"I'll go with you. Is Leo doing well?"
At Joshua's question, Rockefeller just smiled and nodded.
The meaning was to omit a detailed explanation.
"Then Lucia and I will go see Leo together."
"Don't forget about dinner tonight. I've prepared it with care."
"Got it!"
When the siblings left, Rockefeller sighed and looked for Ricardo.
"I've been so busy meeting my siblings for the first time in a while. By the way, how's the request I made last time? I'm talking about the Ismail family."
"I barely managed to contact them. They sent a message saying they would visit soon. Here it is."
"You've done a lot. But how did you contact them? It's not an easy place to get in touch with."
At that question, Ricardo dodged the issue appropriately.
"They contacted me when I put out an advertisement."
"Is that so? Hmmm... They have a lot of ears, too. They don't seem to care how we're moving."
At that, Ricardo fell into thought for a moment.
'Do I have to discard one of the two in the end?'
The family's source of money?
Or the revival of the family?
Ricardo, who had to choose one of the two, had already made that decision.
'At this point, I think I'm half crazy. Betting on a place with no possibility.'
"Since we've made contact, all you have to do is wait. They won't just sit still. They say they have a lot of ears to listen, after all."
Then, Rockefeller informed Ricardo about the content of the meeting.
"Still, we can't postpone the schedule. We've decided to go head-to-head with the Black Label Union starting today."
Ricardo, who slightly narrowed his eyes, listened to Rockefeller's next words.
"We'll soon be moving to the Black Label side to open a bank business there. It's a war."
It was a great gamble.
To do business openly in the heart of enemy territory.
And that was even before meeting with the Ismail side.
"Don't you care about the Ismail side at all?"
At that question, Rockefeller replied with confidence.
"Isn't the result already determined?"
"But you can't rule out the possibility that they might come out differently, can you? Predicting them... is arrogant."
Rockefeller then laughed deeply.
"Didn't I say I have a good intuition? That intuition tells me that the Ismail side will probably stay still. You can ignore it, it's just my feeling. As you said, they might come out differently. But I trust my instincts."
"......"
Rockefeller continued his words to the silent Ricardo.
"Soon, we will need to open a store in the Black Label, so please go to the Black Label first and find an empty store for me."
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