“Catheryne knows you’re from the ‘merchant association’; that’s why she let you develop here.”
“However, she has also seen that… after more than 60 years, you haven’t received any support from the ‘merchant association’. So…”
Lathel frowned and glanced at Miconia, seeing her expression gradually become more annoyed.
He secretly smiled in his heart, feeling that the fish had begun to take the bait, so he continued.
“Catheryne realised that too. Anyway, looking at the situation here, even a fool can understand your situation.”
“You…” Miconia gritted her teeth and said: “This place is just a little messy.”
“A bit messy… You said it wrong.” Lathel shook her head and said: “What is the most important thing for a business?”
“Money!”
“Wrong!” Lathel immediately said: “It’s about the safety of the buyer and seller and the success rate of the transaction.”
“But look at this place… It’s full of crime, tax evasion, and countless other problems.”
“A person can buy something precious, but I’m afraid they won’t be able to use it because… criminals will kill them.”
“Secondly, you don’t have enough funds to maintain and renovate this place, so catheryne has thousands of reasons to destroy this place.”
“For example… If I were her, I would let a group of criminals enter this place, then use the excuse of purifying criminals to destroy this place, including you.”
“Or… we can lock as many criminals into this place as possible. When the number of criminals in this place becomes too large, your auction centre will definitely be destroyed by those criminals.”
“Whatever the case may be, you won’t be able to hold this place for long.”
Hearing that, Miconia frowned. She didn’t feel angry anymore; instead, she rubbed her chin, seriously thinking about what Lathel had just said.
Lathel was not in a hurry; he took sips of tea and enjoyed it while waiting for Miconia’s decision.
Not long after, Miconia sighed and said: “Good! I acknowledge that what you said is true. So… what does that have to do with you wanting to cooperate with me?”
“Of course…” Lathel placed the cup of tea in her hand on the table and said softly: “I can give you an opportunity that you will never think of.”
“I will help you develop this place.”
Hearing that, Miconia was immediately startled; an extremely unbelievable feeling appeared in her heart. However, she thought that the young man sitting in front of her could do it.
She didn’t understand why such thoughts appeared in her heart.
However, she is also not the type of person who will do whatever she thinks or do things based on her emotions.
Since she has controlled this place for 60 years, it proves that she is not an ordinary woman.
“However…” Lathel continued: “Of course I also have a condition.”
“What do you mean…”
“My conditions are simple: surrender to the Karol Empire and become part of the Empire’s territory.”
“Nonsense, bullshit!” Miconia shouted: “Lathel, I thought you were actually talking about cooperating with me, but I was wrong. Did the Empire send you here?”
Lathel shrugged and said: “Whether you believe me or not is your choice. This is my sole intention.”
“Then… give me a reason.” Miconia frowned and asked: “Why do I have to become part of Karol?”
“It’s very simple… Karol protects you so you can develop with peace of mind. Your strong growth will also help Karol’s economy develop.” Lathel said, smiling.
“Thus, both you and the Empire have achieved the goal you wanted.”
“Oh! Do you think this empire is better than the ‘Merchant Association’?” Miconia smiled disdainfully: “Perhaps you don’t know how powerful and huge the ‘Merchant Association’ is.”
Lathel shook his head: “Yes, I don’t know how powerful they were.”
“So…”
“However…” Lathel continued, interrupting Miconia’s words: “I know one thing… water at a distance cannot put out a fire nearby.”
“No matter how huge and powerful they are, their effective range is limited.”
“If they really cared about you and wanted to help you develop, this place wouldn’t be so shabby.”
“Or…” Suddenly, Lathel glanced at Miconia, startling her: “You and them have some conflict, making you not want to accept help from them.”
“Am I right, Miconia?”
“You…” Miconia gritted her teeth, not knowing how to answer. However, everything Lathel said was correct.
Lathel sighed: “Good! I’m not asking you to decide right now. Think about what I just said; this is your only chance.”
After Lathel finished speaking, he stood up and left. Akna also followed behind him. However, when he reached the door of the room, he stopped and turned to look at Miconia.
“I don’t want to wait too long. In two days, you must give me the final answer; otherwise… I will use this opportunity… to turn it into your disaster.”
Lathel turned and left the room.
As soon as the door closed, Miconia breathed a sigh of relief.
This was the first time she felt such terrible pressure coming from a man.
Lathel’s last words and his eyes made her feel fear and anxiety.
Even though Miconia wasn’t afraid of him, her intuition still raised alarm signals. She wondered if Lathel could actually do what he just said.
Could he really bring her a terrible disaster if she does not cooperate with him?
That’s not just a threat; it’s an affirmation.
Miconia sat on the sofa, frowned, and asked the old housekeeper: “What do you think?”
“Sorry, master. I think Duke Lathel is right.” The old butler said: “We have no way back anymore.”
“You also know that recently the number of criminals in our area has increased strangely.”
“It’s as if all the criminals came to this place to take refuge. That means someone manipulated this.”
“If we continue to let things get out of our control, I’m afraid that in less than 3 years, this place will…”
Even though the old butler didn’t finish speaking, Miconia knew what he was going to say next.
“So what should we do? Cooperate with him? Miconia sighed and asked: “But…”
“Master… This is not just about cooperation. Do you feel that… Lathel seems to have changed a lot since the first time we met?”
Hearing what the old butler said, Miconia nodded in agreement: “I also realise that. What do you mean…”
“That’s right. It seems like the first time he met you, he just pretended to be stupid to see what your attitude was like.” The old butler continued.
“If your attitude is neutral, he may choose you as someone he can trust and cooperate with.”
“But on the contrary, just like Duke Lathel said, If your attitude completely excludes him, he will definitely bring disaster to us.”
Miconia sighed: “Maybe… you’re right. We need to cooperate with him. But… being under the Empire’s control… if the ‘Merchant Association’ finds out about this, I will definitely be kicked out of the association.”
“Master…” The old butler spoke up: “If you are kicked out of the ‘Merchant Association’ then you still have another support, the Karol Empire and Duke Lathel.”
“Duke Lathel is right; distant water cannot put out a nearby fire. The ‘Merchant Association’ is huge, but it’s impossible for them to care about all the members within the association.”
“That’s why… Unless you announce it, it will take them a very long time to realise it.”
“For the past sixty years, they have ignored you, not caring whether you are alive or dead. They also don’t care whether business here is going well or not.”
“Master, think about it… If they don’t help us, then why do we need them?”
Miconia heard the old butler speak and felt it was extremely reasonable. In her eyes at this moment, there appeared a little light of hope, along with steadfastness and greed.
…
Outside, Lathel didn’t want to continue walking in this smelly and crime-filled place.
He took Akna into the carriage and returned to the castle. In the carriage, Akna asked confusedly: “Master, why do you want to cooperate with Miconia?” She is a member of the ‘Dorrack Mainland Merchant Association’, she definitely wouldn’t want to be under the Empire’s management.”
Lathel heard that and smiled: “Akna, sometimes what we see may not be the truth. She is currently under enormous pressure.”
“As you can see, the number of criminals in that place has increased significantly, as if the Queen had brought all the criminals in this Empire and put them there.”
“That caused the amount of crime within the Empire to plummet and made the territory of the Auction Centre even more chaotic.”
“But…” Akna continued asking: “What are you cooperating with her for?”
“Of course it’s to make money.” Lathel replied with a smile.
“Master Ryne can also help you do that.”
Lathel shook her head: “I don’t want to bother her. Besides… I’m a man; I don’t want to always have to ask for help from women.”
“Besides, Ryne has also helped me a lot; I don’t want to bother her.”
“When this plan is successful, we just need to let the Auction Centre do business with Ryne. Thus, Ryne’s business will grow stronger and stronger.”
“Young master, it seems… you care very much about your master.” Akna tilted her head and said.
“Of course. I feel like she is my mother. Ack! I… I’m not flattering her, I’m just expressing my true feelings.”
Akna shook her head: “No! That’s what Master Ryne also expected. I think… master would definitely be happy if Young Master said that.”
Lathel sighed upon hearing that. In fact, he did so for another purpose.
In addition to making money to feed his harem, he wants to weaken the support surrounding the male protagonist.
He, Alec, and Harris are now enemies. But Miconia is a female protagonist.
Based on the details of Alec bringing Rolen to Miconia’s place for auction, he can be 80% certain that Miconia is Alec’s woman.
That’s why he wants to cooperate with Miconia and solve all her problems before the male protagonist helps her.
Thus, it will be difficult for the male protagonist to approach Miconia, and she will also have no reason to help the male protagonist.
It can be said that his plan is like an arrow that hits both targets.