1022 Chapter 570: Returning to Solan City [2/2]
“You must convince my father to bring me with you on your return to the territory. I want to go to the underground world to take a look.”
She could talk to herself for a day even if he ignored this young lady.
Such a vast commotion outside had already alarmed the people in the manor.
A large group of people swarmed over after Richard entered.
Vale was in the center of the crowd. He saw the familiar figure and immediately quickened his pace.
He approached quickly, cupped his chest, and bowed with joy.
“Good day, Lord Richard!”
“Good day, Your Highness Christy.”
Richard looked at the young man in charge of the Violet Merchant Association Chamber of Commerce and felt sparingly emotional.
He was worried Vale couldn’t perform his task well when he first sent him over.
However, in the past half a year, the Violet Merchant Association had developed steadily under his hands. They had often could make up for the losses in Twilight City.
He had perfectly fulfilled Richard’s initial expectations of establishing the Violet Merchant Association.
“Vale, you’ve worked hard during this period. Your contributions are vital to the territory.
“Twilight City will never forget your sacrifice.”
Richard took out a crystal from the system space.
He handed it to the other party.
Vale subconsciously took it and said in surprise.
“Lord, this is?”
“A reward for you.”
“The strengthening crystal can upgrade a skill to Beyond A-rank.”
“This, this is too valuable, Lord.”
“Your contribution is more valuable.”
“Make good use of it. The Violet Merchant Association Chamber of Commerce will have to bear even heavier responsibilities in the future.”
Vale’s eyes reddened as he looked at Richard’s solemn gaze.
Not only did he save her from the desert, but he also gave her unlimited trust.
He was a commoner on the verge of death after he fell into trouble. He progressed to a business leader in charge of a chamber of commerce. He could talk to the high nobles on equal terms.
This feeling was difficult for outsiders to understand.
Christy’s eyes lit up.
She hugged his arm tightly.
“There’s such a treasure? Lord Richard…”
He revealed the cautious look of a child so eager to see a toy but did not dare to speak to his parents.
Richard didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.
He pried the man’s hand away and pulled it. He tapped his shoulder.
Another strengthening crystal appeared in his hand with a wave.
In the last large-scale instance dungeon, he had obtained a total of three at the final settlement.
He gave one to the one-armed blacksmith Sam, but he never gave away the two he had.
He unhesitatingly handed it to Vale.
Christy looked at Richard, then at the strengthening crystal in his hand.
His heart trembled.
The voice became weaker.
“R-really?”
Richard laughed.
“You’re a great hero, so I naturally have to reward you. You’re my backer in Solan City.”
Christy stared at Richard for a long time. There was no falsehood in his eyes, and the smile on his face became genuinely bright.
“I can’t accept it. Lord Richard, it’s more important to you.”
He finished speaking and felt his hand wrapped in warmth. Then, Richard forcefully stuffed a cold and hard piece into his palm.
“I’ll give it to you. Why are you talking so much nonsense?”
Richard tapped the young man’s face again. He walked briskly into the room afterward.
“Vale, get the chef to prepare breakfast. We’ve traveled all night and haven’t eaten yet…”
Vale looked at Richard’s back. Christy subconsciously turned to look at Vale.
He saw the crystal in each other’s hands and felt inexplicably shy.
Christy took a deep breath to calm herself down.
At this moment, she somewhat understood why Vale was loyal to Richard.
That was the first time she had heard of a treasure that could raise a skill Beyond A-rank.
She didn’t even need to think to know how precious this was. But Richard gave it to him just like that.
He touched the crystal and felt inexplicably satisfied.
He took a deep breath. A sharp glint flashed across his eyes.
The young lady’s innocence faded away at this moment.
“Lord Richard, don’t worry. No matter how the empire’s echelons view you, Solan City will stand firmly with you.
“I, Christy Solan, the descendant of a legend and the sole heir of Solan City, said this.
“No war could break me, and no blood like a river could startle me!
“Solan City would never abandon its friends.”
They had a comfortable breakfast. Richard leaned back on the soft elven chair and listened to Vril’s report.
Christy knew they had something to discuss. She didn’t say much and went to the guest room to catch up on her sleep.
She still had to wait for him to make arrangements. That extraordinary female warrior was probably still reporting to Grand Duke Solan.
The Grand Duke Solan invited them again. It was time for them to meet.
Duke Solan would attend as the Castellan of Solan City and the Grand Duke of the Holy Church Empire.
Conversely, Richard spoke to him as the lord of Twilight City and the master of Ell.
This meeting would determine the relationship between the two parties. And it might even affect the Holy Church Empire and Twilight City’s future.
Unknowingly, Richard had already gained the strength that even Solan City and the Holy Church Empire had to take seriously.
In the previous invitations, Grand Duke Solan had only regarded Richard as a lord who had a good relationship with his daughter and had good potential.
The relationship between the two sides was different, although it had only been a few months.
However, Richard didn’t discuss this with Vale. He was more concerned about the Violet Merchant Association Chamber of Commerce’s arrangements, the intelligence network.
Vale was quite serious about this topic.
“The construction of the intelligence network has already begun.
“I bought several slaves with talent in this area. They have all come in handy after training.”
“We have more than 300 people under our direct jurisdiction. There are 20 intelligence organizations we have bribed with money. We summarized the information, and we can still obtain a lot of useful information, although the quality of the information provided is not high.”
Richard nodded.
“What’s the situation with the prince sent by the Holy Church Empire this time?”
Vale’s expression was a little strange.
“That prince…It might be more complicated than we thought.”
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