A lounge in a luxury hotel.

The hotel arranged by Thomas, my trusted merchant, was a historic luxury establishment.

It's utterly wasteful, but this is precisely how a corrupt lord should spend money.

I sat on the sofa, crossed my legs, and observed the two individuals I was meeting through Thomas's introduction.

Elliott, dressed in a suit with his blond hair parted in a 7:3 ratio, was the young master—the chairman—of the Clave Trading Company.

He appeared to be in his early twenties, and was indeed still young.

He wore a constant smile.

"Thank you for meeting with me today."

Seated next to him was Patrice, an executive from the Newlands Trading Company.

She had red hair and green eyes.

Her suit, which emphasized her chest, made me wonder if she was aiming for seduction.

"It is a great honor to meet such a famous Count—no, Lord Liam, who will surely become a Duke someday."

This beautiful woman was flattering me with a sweet, alluring voice, but I'm not good with women like her.

—It reminds me of my ex-wife from my previous life.

Flashy women are apparently not my type.

Looking at Thomas, he seemed quite flustered.

"Lord Liam, they have something they urgently wish to discuss with you today. It's about—your trusted merchant."

Major merchants and an executive from the capital planet had come to ask to become my trusted merchants.

Their scale is larger than Thomas's company, so they seem like they could be useful in various ways.

"My trusted merchant, you say?"

"Yes. Please allow Clave Trading Company to assist you. Clave Trading Company is also a merchant for the Empire, and a business with tradition and history. We will surely be of service to you."

As Elliott said this with a smile, Patrice next to him also chimed in.

"While it's true that Clave Trading Company is one of the top in the capital, our Newlands Trading Company does business throughout the Empire. We are widely supported by lords, and I believe Newlands Trading Company will be of great help to you, Lord Liam."

I love people who try to curry favor with me.

However—there's always a catch to a good deal.

And I have no intention of trusting people who just say they want to help me.

"My trusted merchant is Thomas. Do you understand what it means to try and interfere with that?"

Thomas was fidgeting nervously.

—You, be more composed.

Elliott tried to persuade me with gestures.

"Of course. We have no intention of driving out the Henfrey Trading Company. We simply wish for you to consider using Clave Trading Company as well."

Patrice seemed to feel the same.

Both of them spoke to me with smiles, discussing the future.

They were telling me what they would do if we partnered with them—but it was too convenient for me.

"—So? What is your objective?"

When I asked, Elliott and Patrice responded with their plastered smiles.

"Objective? I am a merchant, after all. Naturally, I am thinking about profit."

"Newlands Trading Company highly values the rapidly rising Banfield family."

I've seen that kind of plastered smile many times before.

It's my ex-wife's smile.

I still haven't forgotten the face of the woman who deceived me.

"Stop that plastered smile."

As I said that, Elliott's expression vanished.

"—There were rumors of you being a benevolent and wise ruler, but it seems there are things one can only understand by meeting you in person."

Patrice was smiling, but it was a different kind of smile than before.

She seemed quite amused, but I sensed a hint of desperation.

"Is that your true nature? However, I must say, I find it rather appealing."

"Is that so? So? What do you want from me?"

As their demeanor changed, Thomas explained to me.

"Lord Liam, what they are seeking is the Banfield family's military strength."

"That's a reasonable request. However, I can't believe major trading companies are relying on me."

Many merchants want to do business using the Banfield family's name.

But these people must already have nobles they rely on.

Otherwise, they wouldn't have become major trading companies.

Clave Trading Company, for instance, is a merchant for the Empire.

They shouldn't need the Banfield family's name.

Elliott clasped his hands in front of his mouth.

"I only recently took over as chairman. I often clash with my executives."

It seems his company has gotten too close to a certain noble.

While it's true that pirates are nobles, if they pay well, they are customers. But the world isn't just about that.

If pirates gain too much influence, it will cause problems for business.

Elliott disliked this and decided to lend his support to Liam, who was directly confronting the Barkley family.

I had heard he was too serious, so I was worried, but surprisingly—he was a very interesting person.

"I thought you were in a similar situation to me. Aren't many of your executives close with the Barkley family?"

"There's no point in doing the same thing. If everyone else is betting on the Barkley family, I'll just get closer to the Banfield family."

Patrice, on the other hand, simply wants to use Liam to rise within her company.

She had originally intended to manipulate him with her words, but it seems her plans went awry.

"But it looks like it will be more fun than I expected. I like that he's not just a goody-two-shoes."

Many nobles prioritize their own profits, but Liam doesn't trust such relationships.

"—You absolutely must win, Count."

As Elliott said this, Patrice nodded.

"Of course. We'll be in trouble if you don't win."

Liam's training caused a clear problem with supplies.

The ones affected were—the delinquent soldiers.

"Damn it! Banfield is acting so high and mighty!"

Nobles who had been idling away their time on patrol fleets, as well as soldiers in the regular fleet who had been enjoying the spoils, were filled with anger.

"Exactly. The amount of alcohol we're supplied has decreased."

"How dare they not prepare even a single bottle of high-quality liquor for us nobles!"

"And the fleets! My fleet was reduced in number with some flimsy excuse!"

It was all Liam of Banfield's fault.

Their opinions were unified.

The guide was watching their reactions.

He sat on a chair, swinging his legs, and applauded.

"It's good to see you're making enemies. Now, let's put these guys to work."

As he snapped his fingers, black smoke began to drift from the guide's body.

The nobles in the room inhaled the black smoke that filled the room, but they didn't seem to mind.

Then, one of them spoke.

"—There are rumors that the Barkley family will settle things with the Banfield family."

Upon hearing this, the assembled soldiers became interested.

"Is that true?"

"Many soldiers are being approached. How about here? —As Imperial nobles, won't you lend your support to the Barkley family to restore the military to its proper state? They'll likely offer a mountain of rewards right now."

The soldiers grinned.

The guide, who was preparing those who would side with the Barkley family within the military, had once again increased Liam's enemies.

"There's still not enough preparation. We can't afford to be careless if we want to defeat that Liam."

They had been complacent until now.

They would no longer underestimate Liam.

The guide stood up, adjusted his hat, and left the room.

However, a faint light in the shape of a dog, which had been watching the guide from the corner of the room, quietly followed him.

Brian: "( ; ω ; ) It's tough. Lord Liam didn't even consult me about increasing his trusted merchants—it's tough. Well, I won't oppose it, but..."