Spring came eventually leaving behind the cold winter as the snow melted and the weather became pleasant. As the winter was over, the season of merchants came as the resting period ended. The roads became cleared for travel and the merchants began leaving with their caravans for trading places to places.
The quietness of winter was over and the streets once again began bustling with activity with people going out to spend their time.
Since this was the case, the trading of soap that was held back due to winter once again resumed in full force as carriage after carriage left carrying crates filled with soaps, chess boards, and other entertaining board games that Ethan had invented.
This didn't mean that there was absolutely no trade in the winter the winter's low supply had created pent-up anticipation among the nobles who had heard about this miraculous soap that made one's skin smooth and rejuvenated.
Thanks to Aisha and her sending letters and organizing ladies' parties, the noblewomen in the neighboring regions wanted this miracle that made women in their fifties to look like she was in their thirties.
Ethan was sure that once the supply met the demand in the spring, the nobles would jump to buy the soap no matter how ridiculous its price was.
Ethan knew high society very well, he was aware that one wouldn't be a member of high society if one couldn't ever maintain a lavish lifestyle. This was what made them different from the commoners, they wore quality clothes, ate delicacies, lived in mansions, and owned horses. If that alone wasn't enough, they regularly organized banquets and balls to flaunt their power and influence subtly. The social stage of high society was filled with bitter yet polite competition and rivalries and the stakes of this competition were honor and dignity.
Ethan was confident that the soap as well as some other luxurious products he had in mind would become a social norm in high society. Something that would determine if one was worthy to be accepted in high society or not.
This was precisely Ethan's goal. To create a conglomerate that would be the mark of prestige and luxury in itself.
But to fulfill his dream, first, he needed to remove the parasites infesting the Duchy that were blocking the trade routes. Ethan was adamant about doing this for a reason which was that he knew about the prophecy that foretold chaos would begin once the Apostle is Chosen.
Since he was the Apostle and the Temple of The Apostle was in his grasp, Ethan figured that something unexpected might happen.
He didn't know what it would be or how it would influence the world and that was the precise reason why Ethan wanted to keep everything in order. So that at least the Duchy of Whitesburg would not fall into the chaos of any unexpected events.
For this reason, Ethan had ordered an expedition force to be prepared in secret as well as gather intel on the enemy.
Today the agents had finally returned after scouting and intel gathering, at the same time, all the logistics and other preparations were also ready by the army.
In the castle's office, only a few of the White Family's and Ethan's trusted people were gathered, people such as Armford, Commander Wolfe, Aisha, Albert and Ronan, Aria, and the Duchy's main officials.
They were all sitting on the couches in the office while Ethan sat on Albaer's chair as a Duke regent. His subordinates such as Ronan and Aria were on his left and Albert was standing on his right. Wearing his usual black outfit and his long hair grazing over his shoulders, this created a majestic scene of a prince and his council.
As everyone patiently waited, the door suddenly opened and three men wearing tight black outfits entered the two knights on the door and then closed the door instantly.
The three men wore masks, covering their faces as only their eyes could be seen by everyone. Seeing Ethan, all three bowed deeply with a salute and said, "Young Master!"
Ethan turned his head sideways looking at Albert with a doubtful expression. Albert also bowed and began explaining to Ethan, "Young master, these three are the heads of our secret forces. The one on the right has the codename Whiteowl, he is in charge of all our spies and scouts. The one on the left is Viper, he is the chief of our elite warriors who are awakened, and the one in the middle is the one called Gale—he is the brain of our secret forces who coordinates and oversees the operations."
Hearing this, Ethan's eyes brightened. He looked at the three men bowing in front of him and said calmly, "I see, it's good to meet you three. Let us not waste more time. Give me a report."
Gale, Vipor, and Whiteowl all raised their heads and looked at Ethan with intimidating gazes. Ethan stared back unflinchingly while having a look that said as if he was either bored or disappointed at the same time. However, his eyes were clear and firm.
A moment passed in this strange stare down which everyone else thought was completely insignificant. Then suddenly, Gale bowed and spoke as he brought out a folded paper from his pocket and handed it to Ethan, "We have the information of every bandit group working in and near the Duchy, however, we don't have too many details as they are a very cautious bunch. We now know that there are many small and big bandit groups operating on the edges of the trade routes, they have secret hideouts and they only appear when there are no risks. We also have information on the patterns in which they raid merchant caravans or villages… Everything has been briefed on this."
Ethan grabbed the pepper and began unfolding it. The paper that was previously the size of an adult's palm turned out to be several folds larger on which all the vital and very brief information was written down.
After reading the report, Ethan folded it and handed it to Albert, and said, "This is good intel, but I was expecting more. Such as the persons in the bandit groups, leaders, the enemy's exact strengths, their weaknesses…"
Gale's gaze went down with shame as he muttered, "Forgive us, we couldn't infiltrate them without raising alarms. They are reluctant to add new people in their midst, and even if they do, they do so with complete confidence. Unfortunately, this is all we could find."
Ethan sighed and said, "This should be plenty, there is no need to apologize. Are you certain that there hasn't been any sort of leak?"
"Certainly, only the people present in this room know about what we have been doing," Whiteowl said.
Ethan thought for a few moments in silence leaning back in his chair and then suddenly his eyes glinted with a cunning light.
Suddenly, he smirked craftily and said, "Listen up, I have a plan… So the first thing we do….."
As Ethan began telling his idea in great detail and consideration, everyone's eyes brightened as they looked at him with admiration. Especially, the way the three men in black looked at him completely changed.
After Ethan finished telling his intricate plan, Gale said, "This could certainly work… But it is risky."
Ethan laughed and said, "Life itself is a risk. It doesn't matter. I don't want to spend my precious time getting entangled and playing cat and mouse with those scums. This is the only way."
Hearing this, everyone nodded. Only Aisha wore a very concerned face. Finally, she couldn't control herself and said, "Ethan, your father will be proud. However, you must take care of yourself first."
Ethan looked at Aisha with a gentle gaze and said, "I definitely do not wish to die. Do not worry, now I can also do swordsmanship to some degree. These are merely some bandits who don't know the difference between heaven and earth. They can do nothing to me!"
Aisha nodded with a bitter smile and stood up. She then looked at Ethan for a few seconds and then turned back to leave.
After Aisha left, Ethan began giving out instructions to the officials of the Duchy as well as Albert and Naenna telling them what they were to do in his absence.
For instance, Ethan finally revealed his plan for the slum area in Adenberd. It was an extremely ambitious project and since Ethan anticipated that he would be out for a while, he didn't want to leave any gaps. So he carefully revealed the step-by-step process of the slum's rejuvenation to Albert, telling him what he is to do when Ethan is gone.
Ethan also instructed Armford to handle the administration of the Duchy under Aisha, laying out everything that was important to be addressed, such as the city's safety, emergencies, the white family's export trades, etc.
Finally, Ethan gave Naenna a small piece of paper on which the formula to make the soap's miracle blend was stated along with very specific instructions on the expansion of the Company and its growth. Basically, he had prepared everything that was necessary for the Company in his absence.
Naenna, who was touched seeing that Ethan trusted so much in her abilities and had faith in her dream, became emotional as she held back her tears and vowed to do everything she could for the company.
Then the meeting concluded and everyone once again got to work, preparing for Ethan's plan.