Plump, juicy meat!
As for the Counts... Heh, if they knew anything about politics, they wouldn't let their domains expand too much.
Baron Sura smiled and said, "Once the Empire's armies arrive from all corners, everything will be fine!"
Boman the Knight came to Henry's side, pointed at the incessantly eating Bain, and said, "Is that your Attendant?"
Henry nodded with a hint of resignation. "Yes. He was a beggar I found on the street right after I started at the academy. I felt sorry for him, so I took him on as my Attendant.
Once he started eating regularly, he even had a growth spurt. When I first met him, he was a full head shorter than me. His Riding Skill, Riding Spear, and Swordsmanship are all coming along nicely, too. He's a competent Attendant."
Boman chuckled and asked, "Well, you might want to keep an eye on him. He's eating... a bit too much right now."
Henry offered his thanks, then walked over and gave Bain a kick.
"Stop eating! Are you trying to burst? Wipe your mouth! Are you going to eat the plate, too?!"
Bain quickly wiped his mouth and said, "My lord, you should eat too! The barbecue here is really different from the Royal Capital's. It tastes amazing."
Henry tentatively tried the roasted duck. He had to admit, the skin was roasted perfectly.
At that moment, a gorgeously dressed lady walked onto the stage, her beauty capturing the attention of the entire hall.
The lady smiled at the crowd and said, "On behalf of Count John, I welcome you all. Let the ball begin!"
As expected, this banquet wasn't just a gathering to welcome Henry. For most of the minor nobles, it was an excellent opportunity to make connections.
Henry didn't look at the noblewomen, but at the merchants who were bowing and scraping...
Although the status of merchants had risen significantly, it was still limited. To expand their businesses, they often needed the support of local nobles.
And he needed a large amount of capital right now, because he had to complete a mission from his panel!
The Overlord Panel's mission required Henry to have a population of at least three hundred people when he rebuilt his domain, but Henry had no intention of settling for that.
'I'll use the opportunity of this pioneering war not just to gain more land and titles to become a Count, but to at least strive for Viscount, with Baron as a bare minimum!'
'And these merchants are the first group of people I need to leverage...'
Henry's eyes, full of mirth, were fixed on the merchants before him. A faint smile played on his lips, and he gently swirled the wine glass in his hand, exuding confidence and ease as he spoke with them.
When these merchants learned that Henry was the top graduate of his class from the Royal Capital Knight Academy this year, they couldn't help but marvel inwardly. 'These nobles from the Royal Capital Knight Academy are just so elegant.'
[Social Charm Skill: ① Approachable, ③ Homosexual Affinity Triggered...]
[Social Trading Skill: ② Fair Trade Triggered...]
"I had originally planned to buy some slaves and grain from you, hire a few teams of construction workers, and purchase plenty of weapons and armor to build up my domain after arriving here. I just didn't expect something like this to happen..."
Henry methodically guided the conversation, and the merchants began to listen with rapt attention, their eyes glinting with greed.
"However, once the Pioneer Bill is enacted, we might be able to strike more deals. I will definitely seize more territory and titles. Perhaps I'll be promoted to Baron by then? Or even a Viscount? Hahaha."
The merchants repeatedly raised their glasses in toasts, as if they could already see the beautiful blueprint Henry was laying out for them.
Some of the veteran merchants, who had fought for years in the world of commerce, felt something was off. The terms Henry was describing were a classic swindle—getting something for nothing, with no guarantee whatsoever.
But faced with this young, eloquent, elegant, and utterly charming young Knight, they felt that even just befriending him would be a good thing.
As their conversation deepened, Henry gradually revealed a few of his plans and needs.
The merchants all expressed their interest. Glasses clinked, and a preliminary agreement to cooperate was gradually reached amidst the lively chatter.
However, these merchants hadn't been completely swept away by Henry's promises.
The cunning and shrewdness of nobles were no less than that of merchants; they had to remain vigilant.
Henry cleared his throat, had a banquet server refill his glass with extravagant wine, and said to the merchants, "Your trust in me is astounding. You all possess the virtues of kindness, honesty, fairness, and honor. You are almost like nobles yourselves, completely different from those merchants in the Royal Capital who'd eat a man alive and not even spit out the bones.
Gentlemen, I, Henry Bro, am honored to know you."
Those merchants who had reached a preliminary agreement with Henry now viewed him even more favorably. A young noble willing to show them respect, even if he was only a Knight.
The gap between a Knight and a commoner was like a high mountain, difficult to cross.
One of them, a grocer, toasted Henry and asked tentatively, "Sir Henry, I am indeed willing to provide you with bulk goods like grain, meat, and wine, but would you be able to provide a down payment?"
Upon hearing this, Henry burst into a booming laugh. He glanced around at the small merchants who had agreed to cooperate with him and said, "Why, we can have it notarized at the Imperial office in the city tomorrow!"
As soon as he said this, the merchants' lingering worries vanished completely, and the atmosphere grew even more lively.
As for the major merchants, their eyes darted back and forth, their minds racing with a thousand schemes a second.
'A Baron's Domain, or even a Viscount's Domain, built from scratch? If we provided this Henry with political contributions now, perhaps...'