Amid the festive atmosphere, Henry and the merchants continued to discuss the details of their partnership. They agreed to sign the formal contracts at the Imperial Office the next day, after which they would begin preparing supplies and personnel.
The moment the Pioneer Bill was enacted, the trading would commence!
In this partnership, both sides felt they were the smarter party. But perhaps... a partnership where both sides profited was the best kind, wasn't it?
This negotiation was a great success. In short, Henry was a master of understanding people...
Baron Sura and Baron Nurulan noticed the waves of cheering from the crowd. Seeing Henry at the center of it all, like the moon surrounded by stars, they both felt a flicker of contempt.
"That young Knight is debasing himself, actually hobnobbing with those merchants."
"Look at the other Knights. They're all dancing with the noblewomen of the Count's court... Haha, and look there, Knight Laine is quite a good dancer!"
Sura still preferred the scimitar and the bow, the thrill of galloping his warhorse across the steppes. That was despite the fact that his forces had just been utterly routed by an army of Centaurs and other Half-Beastmen.
Baron Nurulan didn't reply. He just resentfully gulped down the wine in his cup, glaring at Henry with ill intent.
'Damn it, why is everyone from the Royal Capital like this!'
Baron Nurulan looked down on Boman and Fass, and he harbored the same inexplicable hostility toward Henry.
'Oh, you're all so great. Everyone just loves you!'
'Nurulan once admired a woman from the grasslands, but she ended up starting a family with Boman! And the reason? Apparently, Boman had more grace, and his conversation was more captivating...'
'Damn it all! Why?! I'm the Baron! A man of the grasslands is supposed to be bold and unrestrained! *Sob*...'
'And that Fass! He's always showing off his prowess at the Odoche Tournament organized by Count John. Every time, the Warrior I sponsor is defeated by either Fass or Boman!'
'Damn you, you bunch of outsiders from the Royal Capital! You're shameless! *Sob*, you Knights are ganging up on a poor Baron like me, *sob*...'
No one could refuse a young, strong, polite, and graceful Knight—especially an honor graduate from the Royal Capital Knight Academy. The only exception, it seemed, was Baron Nurulan.
Count John stroked his meticulously styled beard, watching Henry with admiration.
The other Knights were busy with romantic dalliances with the ladies, but Henry was focused on developing his territory. 'A man like that,' he thought, 'is worth keeping an eye on.'
The banquet lasted until evening. Only after Count John departed did the guests begin to disperse in an orderly fashion.
Boman walked over to Henry with a mischievous grin. "Henry, that idiot Fass just got rejected by a lady! Hahaha, you can't imagine the look on his face! It was priceless!"
Henry gave an exasperated sigh and asked, "Boman, why are you and Knight Fass always at each other's throats? Is there some bad blood between you?"
Boman's smile faded, and he explained seriously, "Actually, there's no conflict between us at all. On the contrary, we've always been good friends."
'Good friends? What kind of good friends... Oh, right. I guess only good friends can "insult" each other like that without actually drawing their swords.'
"It sounds like you two have quite a history."
Boman gave Henry a light punch on the arm. "Hey! Henry! What's with that look? Fass and I are your seniors, you know!"
Henry asked in surprise, "Oh? Knight Fass graduated from the Academy too?"
"That's right. He and I were in the same year. We both come from Poros, a Free City near the Royal Capital."
Free Cities were prosperous lands under the direct jurisdiction of the royal family. Every Free City was the wealthiest place in its region.
"That punk could never beat me, not even when we were kids. Ever since we got to the academy, he's been trying to prove he's better. But obviously, I'm the one who comes out on top, hahaha!"
Henry understood. 'So they're childhood rivals.'
"See you tomorrow, Henry. Fass and I have plans to go hunting in the afternoon. Want to join? I hear wild boars have been spotted in a place outside the city."
"Sounds good. It's been a while since I've gotten to stretch my legs!"
Bain was waiting for Henry outside the banquet hall. Henry teased him, "You're looking flushed. Ate your fill?"
"I'm stuffed. I feel like I could lift a carriage and run a lap with it right now."
Henry chuckled and shook his head. Bain always had a flair for exaggeration, but in all honesty, the man's strength was truly immense. Henry had even wondered before if Bain was a transmigrator with some kind of cheat ability.
Back in his room, he scrubbed his teeth with tooth powder. It was good to be young—he fell asleep the moment he collapsed onto the bed.
[Cooperation with more merchants established. EXP +33]
[Your Charm has been recognized by the merchants of the Odoche region. EXP +27]
.........
Early the next morning, Henry got up and dragged Bain out to begin their physical training—a habit he had formed back at the Academy.
Exercise could be addictive. The pleasure of awakening the strength in every muscle was indescribable.
As Henry and Bain stepped out of their quarters, they ran into Boman and Fass, who were also out for their own physical training.
"Oho! Look who it is! If it isn't Knight Henry, the top student of his year at the Academy!" Boman's exaggerated tone was ridiculous. Fass turned his head away, ignoring him.
Henry smiled and shook his head. 'It was a blessing,' he thought, 'to have friends from his younger days by his side in a remote borderland like this.'
"Knight Boman, Knight Fass. Good morning."
Fass smiled and nodded. "Good morning. Don't forget about the hunt this afternoon."
Boman clapped Fass on the shoulder and laughed. "Let's see who bags more game today! We'll see if you've improved at all!"
Henry paid little mind to the pair's bickering, instead leading Bain to a quiet spot to begin their training.
His schedule for the day was packed. In the morning, he had to get the contracts notarized at the Imperial Office. In the afternoon, he would go hunting with Boman and Fass. And in the evening, he planned to check out the "local color" of Odoche.
'Busy. Everyone's busy. It's good to be busy.'