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“We… become owners?”

“That’s right.”

In response to Ethan’s answer, Marakan cautiously said,

“But we…”

“Marakan, aren’t you the best when it comes to attribute enhancement?”

“…I have that confidence.”

“Scarlet, aren’t you the best when it comes to dyeing magic?”

After a moment’s thought, Scarlet nodded vigorously.

“Yes, I don’t think there’s a mage on the continent more proficient in color and dyeing magic than me.”

They all similarly answered with confidence.

“Then we have our answer. You should become the owners of Ethan’s workshop. As workshop owners, all authority will be returned to you.”

“We… become owners? Owners leading a workshop…?”

They all had bewildered expressions.

But soon, they nodded with determined looks in their eyes.

“So that’s it. That’s why you were expecting this from us.”

The mages understood Ethan’s intention.

He wasn’t satisfied with the current scale.

From the perspective of individual mages, it was an incredible result, but from Ethan’s standard, this was just the first step.

And he wants to take the next step with them.

“We won’t waste the opportunity you’ve given us.”

“Leave the workshop to us!”

The mages made their resolution.

***

“Alright, let’s do it that way.”

“You’ve made a good choice, Count Huntar.”

Count Whiskers and Count Huntar shook hands.

The negotiations were quite long, but the result was successful.

Currently, the Whiskers territory was absorbing all the floating population that should have spread to surrounding territories.

As a result, the surrounding territories were each experiencing difficulties.

While smaller territories could be incorporated into the Whiskers territory through Count Whiskers and the Steward’s skills, it was difficult to do so with larger territories.

Especially the Huntar territory.

The Huntar territory was a territory that until recently was of higher rank than the Whiskers territory. Therefore, absorbing it like other small territories was impossible.

That’s why Count Whiskers proposed a deal.

What they were worried about now was the continuously decreasing income of the territory.

So they agreed to distribute a certain profit on the condition of opening a branch of the Lightweight workshop within the territory.

‘Since attribute enhancement and dyeing magic can only be done in Whiskers territory.’

“You must have been in a hurry. To give up all the lands you had.”

“It’s natural. Although Count Huntar didn’t openly try to swallow us, he was prepared to absorb the territory at any time if we fell.”

Therefore, Count Huntar had already purchased several lands near the Whiskers territory.

Through this deal, Count Whiskers acquired all those lands.

Thanks to this, they could further increase the scale of the territory.

Moreover, it became advantageous to proceed with what Count Huntar had been preparing.

“Ultimately, he was planning to open a road on that land to connect with Count Huntar’s territory.”

That was Count Huntar’s ultimate goal.

But the situation has completely changed.

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The positions of the two territories have completely reversed, so Count Huntar’s long-standing plan has become a stepping stone for the development of Count Whiskers’ territory.

“Our territory will be connected to Count Huntar’s territory. Then, before long, Count Huntar’s territory will come under our Whiskers.”

“But if that happens, there will surely be checks from the surroundings.”

There were two Great Lords around the Whiskers territory.

Count Yurahan, who boasts enormous wealth.

And Marquis Dren, a member of the Twelve Families.

“Even if we set aside Dren as they’re already above us, if we absorb the Huntar territory, we’ll become a scale no less than the Yurahan territory. There will surely be checks.”

“That’s right, so we need to prepare in advance. Let’s talk as soon as we get back to the territory. About how to persuade Count Yurahan.”

After returning to the territory, the two were greeted by a welcome face.

“Ethan!”

“It’s been a while, Father, Steward.”

“When did you arrive? Hahaha! You’ve come just as we’ve had some good news.”

The steward smiled brightly and talked about this achievement.

“Then the scale of the territory will be as large as the Yurahan territory. Count Yurahan won’t just sit back and watch.”

Count Whiskers nodded seriously at Ethan’s words.

Until now, they had grown very smoothly without any particular checks, but now it was different.

The Great Lords with vested interests wouldn’t simply give up their positions.

Meanwhile, the steward was amazed at Ethan who immediately grasped the situation.

“Yes, that’s right. From then on, it will be quite difficult. They’re not an easy opponent. As a family that has maintained its past traditions and power until now, they won’t just sit back and watch as a competitor like us emerges.”

“Yes, if that happens, it will be difficult to maintain the current growth rate, Ethan.”

“That’s why I stayed, Father.”

“Huh? What do you mean? Don’t tell me you’ve thought of a way?”

“Yes.”

Ethan said with a grin.

“It’s a simple method. We make an offer they can’t refuse.”

***

Yurahan territory.

This was the place ruled by Count Yurahan, who had shown his claws when Ethan had just started the Lightweight workshop business.

“It’s been a long time, Count Yurahan.”

“It has indeed been a long time. My, my, you’ve completely changed, Young Master Ethan!”

Count Yurahan greeted Ethan warmly.

“Thank you for the compliment, Count.”

“To have raised the Whiskers territory so greatly in such a short time! The count’s contribution must have been great, but your business acumen was extraordinary! Lightweight workshop, followed by attribute enhancement and dyeing magic! It couldn’t have been easy, how do you manage your business so well! Hahaha-!”

Count Yurahan was maintaining a perfect poker face.

But inside, he was bitter.

Ethan knew Count Yurahan’s inner thoughts very well.

‘It can’t be helped. Like the Huntar territory, Count Yurahan’s territory is also having its floating population absorbed by our territory.’

The taxes that should have come in were likely reduced by half, or even more.

If that happens, a vicious cycle continues.

‘Count Yurahan hopes to establish a good relationship with the Marquis Dren family. But in this state, the Marquis Dren family wouldn’t even glance at them.’

Establishing a good relationship with the Marquis Dren family, and further becoming a member of the Twelve Families or a family equivalent to that.

That was Count Yurahan’s ambition.

‘Then we just need to touch that ambition.’

We just need to turn his ambition into hope.

Because Ethan holds the string of that hope.

“Count Yurahan, you must be having a headache because of our territory, right?”

When Ethan spoke directly, Count Yurahan’s expression slightly hardened.

It was quite awkward to answer.

It would hurt his pride to say that taxes had decreased because of the Whiskers territory, but it was obvious if he said no.

“That’s why I came.”

Ethan said with a broad smile.

Count Yurahan couldn’t help but frown at that smile.

The Whiskers territory has been growing rapidly recently, unprecedented in history. The main player is Ethan Whiskers, right in front of him.

It’s not just a flash in the pan. Ethan’s business continues to grow to the point of completely overturning the landscape of this region.

In a little time, its size will be similar to the Yurahan territory.

When that happens, the two territories will naturally be in a competitive structure.

Count Yurahan wanted to solidify his position as the leader of this region and rise even higher.

From Count Yurahan’s perspective, a fight with the rapidly chasing Count Whiskers territory was inevitable.

Yet he comes directly, speaks bluntly, and smiles?

Count Yurahan felt cold sweat on his back for a moment.

‘What on earth is he thinking?’

As he felt from their first meeting, Ethan was truly an unpredictable person.

While Count Yurahan was thinking complexly in front of him, Ethan was looking at the situation simply.

Ethan’s business is soaring like a sailboat in a favorable wind.

However, in the process, it’s indirectly affecting the revenues of surrounding territories.

While Count Whiskers has been resolving issues with other territories well, the problem with Count Yurahan isn’t something that can be easily resolved.

But Ethan never intended to create such a situation in the first place.

‘It’s foolish to have a head-on confrontation with Count Yurahan. No, fighting unnecessarily with anyone isn’t profitable.’

He knows from experience.

Swallowing everything without fighting is much more profitable than fighting and seizing.

Of course, even if they fought with the Count Yurahan family, the Whiskers territory wouldn’t lose.

‘Of course we’d win. But winning through fighting gains too little.’

Count Yurahan is not someone who will easily give up everything. If there’s little to gain even in victory, there’s no need to fight.

‘I know that potential well.’

The Count Yurahan family is one that remains intact even at the end of MePan.

‘It’s a characteristic of families that maintain long traditions.’

That’s why Ethan intended to pull Count Yurahan to their side.

Not creating enemies is the wisest play, but if a neutral force shows signs of turning into an enemy, it’s better to draw them in as allies.

That’s why Ethan hid everything with a smile.

“So you came? What does that mean, Lord Ethan?”

“Count Yurahan’s territory boasts a long tradition. It has long been the center of this region. Even when monster invasions occurred, even when wars broke out. Now, exchanges between territories have decreased, but at that time, wasn’t it the Count Yurahan family that took the lead as the center? I still think the lord who rules the Yurahan territory is the leader of this region.”

Even when Count Huntar, Count Whiskers, and several other families in this region united, the Yurahan family was always the leader.

“The Marquis Dren family isn’t our orthodox, is it? They’re a rolling stone.”

Count Yurahan’s eyebrows twitched at Ethan’s words.

He felt as if the phrase ‘our orthodox’ grouped the Count Yurahan family with other families.

“Since when did they come to represent this region? Wasn’t it originally Yurahan?”

“…Didn’t you come to talk about business?”

“Yes, this is an extension of that, Count Yurahan.”

Count Whiskers and the steward, who were present, couldn’t help but admire Ethan’s bold rhetoric.

It was an extremely sensitive topic.

But as he led the conversation to the topic the count himself was most concerned about, Count Yurahan couldn’t hastily get angry.

Of course, Ethan’s reputation for successfully running various businesses had an influence, but more than that, the stage Ethan had set was quite excellent.

“Yes, as you say. But that’s all in the past. The Marquis Dren family is a member of the Twelve Families.”

“But you don’t want to bow your waist, do you?”

Count Yurahan frowned deeply at Ethan’s words. He was thinking of bowing. He was planning to endure the current humiliation somehow and build up strength.

That’s why Ethan’s words felt even more like a dagger. There’s nothing as shameful as having one’s humiliation exposed by others.

“I’ll make it so you don’t have to bow.”

“What?”

“I’ve come to propose an alliance, Count Yurahan.”

Ethan extended his hand. In that moment, Count Yurahan’s heart raced.

“The goal of our Whiskers isn’t simply to grow big. Of course, we’re not close, but at least when our region was attacked, we fought together as one. So let’s go together.”

“Together…?”

“Yes, together.”

Count Yurahan’s eyes kept shaking at the words flowing smoothly.

“Let’s grow together, Count Yurahan. We form an alliance between ourselves to oppose the Marquis Dren family.”

“…I’ll think about it.”

It wasn’t an issue that could be answered right away.

***

Count Yurahan was inwardly sighing with relief.

When he first met Ethan Whiskers, he said he was going to work with the David Merchant Guild.

He had a feeling then.

“He really was working with the David Merchant Guild.”

As his bad premonition came true exactly, he also thought he did well not to meddle carelessly.

“A way to grow without bowing to the Marquis Dren family…”

Ethan proposed a united alliance. Of course, he knows this united alliance isn’t just out of goodwill.

“He’s trying to buy time. If we form an alliance, we’ll have to just watch them grow out of duty. Eventually, Whiskers will become bigger than us, and when that time comes, they’ll talk about the alliance again. Maybe…”

The steward of the Count Yurahan family frowned.

“The Marquis Dren family and the Count Whiskers family might pressure us simultaneously.”

But somehow, Count Yurahan’s intuition was whispering that he should accept this alliance.

After closing his eyes for a moment and falling into contemplation, Count Yurahan opened his eyes and decided.

“I trust my intuition. Just like when I first met him.”

***

“I wonder if he’ll accept.”

Count Whiskers and his steward, who had returned to the territory, put their heads together and talked.

“Count Yurahan is a wise person. He will have grasped what we meant by proposing an alliance. There’s a high possibility he won’t accept.”

“I think so too. But… it’s undoubtedly an attractive proposal.”

“It was an excellent proposal. Young Master Ethan continues to grow. It’s almost frightening.”

The count smiled contentedly.

“He takes after me.”

The steward narrowed his eyes and looked at the count.

“Speak with your hand on your conscience.”

“He does take after me somewhat.”

Knock knock-.

“I have a report.”

“Come in.”

The subordinate who entered immediately handed a parchment to the count.

“It’s a letter from Count Yurahan.”

The count, who immediately opened and read it, grinned.

“It’s an alliance contract.”

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