<h4>Chapter 161</h4>
"I must have been rude."
Chanton Sussew spoke in a rather slow tone.
But there was no word of apology.
He knew it was rude, but he didn’t regret it.
"...Come in."
Gahan said, pointing to the sofa in the office.
"Thank you."
Sitting face to face with Chanton Sussew, Gahan suddenly realized that his office felt narrow.
It was not really like that.
It was just that the ordinary office capture therge size and presence of Chanton Sussew.
Chanton Sussew, who looked around Gahan’s office with curious eyes, told Gahan.
"I thought at least youe to greet me once as Lord of Sussew. It’s hard to see your face, Lord Gahan Lombardy."
Chanton Sussew was now berating Gahan for not greeting him first.
Cheshire was awarded to Gahan and became independent, no longer a part of the Sussew, but it was still a territory surrounded by Sussewnd.
"Of course, I understand that you’ll be very busy working with Cheshire estates and Gahan Clothing Store that is spread across the continent."
"...Thank you."
"It’s only when you’re less busy, isn’t it?"
Chanton Sussew’s lips drew a smile, but Gahan only became more ufortable.
That was the atmosphere of Lord Sussew himself as an individual, but above all, the fact that he was the person of the Empress made Gahan nervous.
Nowadays, the Empress introduced Chanton Sussew everywhere she went.
As if there should be no one in the Empire who did not know that the Lord of the West was a close aide to the Empress.
To be honest, Chanton Sussew was a very reluctant person to Gahan.
Sure enough.
The Lord of Sussew asked.
“I heard that a port is opening in Cheshire. Is that correct?”
For a moment, Gahan resisted the urge to say no.
The Port of Cheshire was so precious.
And Gahan’s instincts were saying Chanton Sussew was the one who would threaten it.
"That’s right."
Inevitably, Gahan’s words stretched out.
"Then Cheshire Port would be the starting point for ind supplies to move along the river."
Lord of Sussew was already grasping everything.
"...That’s right."
Gahan answered one beat slower.
Then Chanton Sussew said, lifting one eyebrow.
"But why do I know that now?"
"I don’t know what you’re talking about..."
"If ind supplies are to reach the Cheshire port, they must all pass through thend of West Sussew."
Rattle.
Gahan paused with the sound of his heart sinking.
The Cheshire port is surrounded by thend of West Sussew.
<h4>In other words, it was up to him, the owner of Sussew, to decide whether the goods could go into Cheshire.</h4>
It was a pretty nice threat.
Hos green eyes, gradually turning into hostility, asked, looking directly at Chanton Sussew.
"In what sense should I ept that?"
"What do you think it means?"
Chanton Sussew said, looking for a moment at Gahan, who did not say anything with a stubborn face.
"It looks like you’ve worked hard with the investment from the Pellet Corporation."
It was an awful dry yet slow tone.
Chanton Sussew leaned forward, resting his knees with his elbow.
Arge shadow moved along with him.
"One word from me could turn it out to be a bubble."
There was silence in Gahan’s office.
On top of the tight tension, Chanton Sussew slipped in his energy.
The overwhelming feeling ofmanding hundreds of Imperial Knights overwhelm Gahan.
Under the same circumstances, as Viese Lombardy, Gahan’s older brother, make him could not breathe properly.
Later, he even hups in surprise.
Joy shed through Chanton Sussew’s eyes recalling that time.
However.
"What do you want?"
Gahan Lombardy asked without hostility.
"...Ha."
The one who was surprised was Canton Sussew.
He took his energy out again and stared at Gahan.
Looking at theplexion, it doesn’t mean that he wasn’t affected.
The enmity in bright green eyes has never abated at all.
"How can you be sure that there’s something I want?"
"Otherwise, you didn’t have toe and take the trouble to break my spirit, but you could have locked up the gate of Sussew so that the goods wouldn’te in after the Port was opened. That could do a bigger disservice to Cheshire."
Gahan said calmly.
"So stop being childish and tell me. What do you want?"
"...Sometimes rumors are true."
Gahan slightly frowned at the word ’rumor’."
"I don’t know what that ’rumor’ is, but please tell me your terms quickly. I have a ce to go."
"Ah, did it say that today is the birthday of the Lord of Lombardy? He doesn’t hold banquets or ept gifts every year, he only gathers family members and vassals and spends them simply. Then you better hurry."
Chanton Sussew nodded.
And he said, looking straight at Gahan.
"Priority to allow Sussew’s ship to enter the Cheshire port at any time. How?"
Gahan was a little surprised.
Of course, he thought he would charge a toll to pass through Sussew’snd.
There is only one reason why priority is required.
"Do you intend to build your own ship?"
"If it’s used frequently, it’s not like we can’t make it."
So, what are the things that Sussew is trying to bring to the East?
Gahan, who was thinking for a moment, said.
"...You intend to take the grain of Sussew to the East and sell it. And that’s in personally."
Chanton Sussew replied with a shrug.
"Did Lord Lombardy know that the grain of Sussew is sold at the lowest price in the Empire?"
"We understand that the production volume is high and the price is low."
"Right, and I can’t wait to see what the farmers West Sussew have produced with their blood and sweat being sold at bargain prices."
Chanton Sussew’s voice was chilling.
Then Gahan asked.
"So you joined hands with Angenas in the West? To easily target the West, where there is always ack of food?"
Lord of Sussew smiled and replied.
"I won’t deny it. Over the past few months, the people of the West have be ustomed to the rtively inexpensive provisions of our West Sussew."
"And you’re thinking of going to advance to the East through water trade that starting in Cheshire."
"Because of you opening up a new market called East, Lord Gahan Lombardy."
Chanton Sussew, it’s not normal.
Gahan swallowed dry saliva from the tension inside.
He underestimated him just because he was the ’Former Imperial Knight Commander’.
He’s the one who used to grab the sword.
But when he met him in person, he was like a bear.
He’s big and slow, so he looks dull at first nce, but he’s actually very sharp and has a strong instinct.
"So, ept my offer, Lord Lombardy. Don’t just let me stand in your way."
He won’t disturb him if he just listens to what he asks.
It was a sweet temptation not to turn him into an enemy.
Gahan, staring at Chanton Sussew for a moment, nodded and rose from his seat.
And he said, asking for a handshake.
"I’ll do that. A detailed description of the berth charge will be sent to the mansion as soon as possible."
Chanton Sussew, who was holding Gahan’s hand satisfactorily, stopped.
"...berth fee?"
"Then did you try to get a ship for free? Don’t worry. Sussew is our neighbor, so we’ll make it much cheaper."
Chanton Sussew’s sharp eyes red at Gahan.
But Gahan did not shy away.
Chanton Sussew and his father Lk Lombardy were simr.
He should not be weak against this kind of strong man.
He has to put his head up a little bit and face it.
That’s the way to survive.
Fortunately, Chanton Sussew, who sees Gahan, spreadughter around his eyes.
And said.
"Lord of Cheshire says so, and I must believe it. All right, I’ll wait for your call."
Chanton Sussew has left the office.
Left alone, Gahan copsed on the sofa.
"Whoa..."
His heart thumped and a tired sigh came out.
He seemed to have managed to protect the Cheshire port from predators.
Then he remembered the words that came and went during the conversation.
"And I can’t wait to see what the farmers West Sussew have produced with their blood and sweat being sold at bargain prices."
He had a lot on his mind.
"...Isn’t he such a bad person?"
Gahan, who was washing his face dry, muttered sickly.3
* * *
The Lord of Lombardy’s birthday can’t really pass quietly, though it’s a small dinner.
The Eleanor Hall, a huge banquet hall of Lombardy’s mansion, was filled with only direct family and Vassal family.
Now it was time for people to walk around freely and talk after dinner.
Next to Lk, the owners of the vassal family, and Shann and Viese sat around to talk about one thing or another.
"As the North stabilizes, the price of the mineral..."
"At this time, Lombardy should also invest a little more in Western real estate..."
Lk twirled the ss, listening to the conversation in and out of one ear.
There is a limit to procrastination.
Now the time was approaching to point out a sessor.
Lk looked intently at the vacancy of Shann, Viese, and Gahan.
Shann will, of course, be a great householder.
There is no problem under Imperialw as she protected Lombardy’s mansion and the twins received Lombardy’s name.
If she had not repeatedly said, ’I have no intention of bing the next Lombardy householder’, Shann would have been a perfect sessor.
And Viese.
"If you look at it, you’ll see it."
The Western tourism business of Angenas is on the verge of stepping up.
As Viese said, whether the business will seed or not depends on the future.
Lk’s gaze finally reached Gahan’s vacancy.
He didn’t think this day woulde, but it was Gahan, the youngest, that Lk’s heart is most swayed these days.
He knew his intelligence from the time he grew up, but he ran a Gahan Clothing Store and proved himself that his head was not just a disy.
He also showed his boldness as a Lord when he recently built a port on the Cheshire estate.
But the biggest reason was not Gahan’s intelligence, nor his experience as a Lord.
That’s right.
"Grandfather."
A bright and cheerful voice awakened Lk’s thoughts.
"Happy birthday, grandpa!"
It was his granddaughter, Florentia.