"What is it, Young Master Arthur?" Anna asked, her curiosity piqued.
Upon hearing her question, Arthur smiled and replied, "I have a desire to personally teach you and entrust you with an important task. What are your thoughts on that?"
Anna's eyes widened in disbelief, and she pressed her lips together as she inquired, "You want to teach me? What exactly do you want me to learn, Young Master Arthur? And what task are you referring to?"
She struggled to comprehend the significance of Arthur's words, still seeking clarification.
Arthur came to the realization that he might have acted too hastily, but he understood that this was the only way to ensure the smooth progress of his plan.
Despite being the heir to Duke Asvold's mansion and holding high status, he was well aware that this power was inherently fragile.
David orchestrated Arthur's strength and influence, allowing him to clandestinely manipulate events from the shadows.
Simultaneously, David crafted an elaborate plan to launch an assault on the Imperial Capital during the rebellion phase, with the ultimate goal of overthrowing the future Emperor Alex.
This strategy would grant David control over 80% of Balka's territory, positioning Arthur as a mere puppet under his command.
Arthur recognized that his personal strength alone was insufficient to confront David directly, compelling him to rely on his intellect and cunning to ensure his survival.
Failure to do so could result in his untimely demise, thwarting his chance to encounter the protagonist, Abel.
David, consumed by his lust for power and control over the Balka Empire, had lost all sense of compassion for his fellow humans.
Arthur gazed intently at Anna and inquired, "Anna, if I were to offer you the position of my left-hand companion in the future, would you accept?"
Caught off guard by Arthur's sudden question, Anna nodded without a moment's hesitation and replied, "Absolutely! If it is your wish, young master Arthur, I would be honored to serve as your left hand."
Her resolute response took Arthur by surprise, leaving him pleasantly astonished.
Arthur's delight was evident as he gave a subtle nod in response to Anna's unwavering affirmation.
After a brief moment, Arthur posed the question once more, his tone earnest: "Are you absolutely certain about your answer?"
Anna met his gaze with a resolute expression, her seriousness matching his own, as she nodded firmly once again.
A gentle smile graced Arthur's lips as he proceeded, "Even if it means going against your own father?"
Anna's countenance instantly froze, her body stiffening with tension.
"What do you mean, Young Master Arthur?" Anna queried, her confusion palpable.
Arthur took a deep breath, gathering his thoughts, and began to explain.
"In light of the escalating tension at the border," Arthur said with a calm demeanor, "are you aware of the current situation?"
Anna nodded with conviction, affirming, "Yes, I am well aware!"
"I have received reports from my subordinates regarding Duke Asvold's presence at the border, along with Lord Roy Valha from the distinguished Valha family," she added, her tone brimming with seriousness.
Being the daughter of the Weis family, Anna had established her own intelligence network, which informed her of the heightened tension at the border.
Arthur leisurely took a sip of his drink and stated, "That is correct. With the Lord Duke's absence at the border, I have assumed the responsibility of overseeing the affairs of the Duke's power."
"However, this is not the primary reason I wish to discuss this with you, Anna," Arthur continued, capturing Anna's growing curiosity.
Curious herself, Anna inquired, "Then, what is it that you wanted to explain, young master Arthur?"
A sense of anticipation tinged Anna's thoughts as she anticipated that Arthur's next words would be astonishing.
True to her intuition, Arthur's following statement left her utterly incredulous.
"Within a few days, the two Empires will be engaging in war!" he declared.
Startled, Anna abruptly rose from her seat, exclaiming, "What! That can't be!"
Yet, after a brief moment of silence, a realization dawned on Anna, prompting her to take a deep breath and regain her composure.
Without hesitation, Anna resumed her inquiry, her voice laced with disbelief: "Young master Arthur, can what you're saying truly be trusted?"
She found it difficult to accept his words, as the possibility of such a scenario seemed highly improbable.
Like everyone else, Anna held the belief that the likelihood of war was exceedingly low, given the existence of the armistice agreement that had been in place for a considerable time.
Anna's intelligence network, though resourceful, lacked the extensive reach required to obtain such sensitive information.
The intricate details of the impending war were indeed privy only to a small number of individuals with elevated status, specifically the leaders of influential, high-ranking Luvic nobles scattered throughout the different regions of the Balka Empire.
These individuals held significant sway and were entrusted with sensitive information pertaining to the conflict.
Arthur, however, had discerned the signs of an impending conflict from the escalating tension at the border, a development that should have been depicted in the novel itself for quite some time.
In accordance with the original plot, the war was anticipated to commence several months or even years after Vivian's demise.
However, the established plot had crumbled, rendering it unreliable and unpredictable.
Due to these circumstances, Arthur harbored a sense of apprehension, suspecting that Abel may have already arrived without his knowledge.
His suspicion was based on the fact that he had meticulously monitored all the cities in the southern region, diligently searching for teenage boys who matched Abel's distinctive traits.
Yet, thus far, he had made no progress.
Either Abel had yet to arrive or he had managed to elude detection.
"Of course not, Anna. There is no reason for me to deceive you about something of this magnitude," Arthur assured her, casting a brief glance in her direction and speaking with a casual tone.
Anna's lips tightened in a mix of perplexity and disbelief.
She understood that Arthur would not fabricate such information, yet she struggled to fully accept the weight of the news.
The repercussions of war were far-reaching and irreparable, leaving Anna with a sense of unease and trepidation.
Indeed, the Weis family, being a merchant family, would undoubtedly face severe challenges during times of war.
The disruption of trade routes and the likelihood of escalating prices would greatly impact their operations.
The repercussions of the war would extend far beyond the Weis family alone, affecting the entire Empire.
Stabilizing prices in such circumstances would prove immensely challenging, inevitably leading to a significant increase in poverty and hunger throughout the population.
Anna's contemplation was abruptly interrupted as she shifted her focus back to Arthur, her expression now serious and attentive, eager to hear his response.
"Then, young Master Arthur, how can we address the impending war?" Anna's voice was laden with concern, echoing the sentiment of the profound impact it would have on the populace and merchant community. Arthur empathized with her apprehension.
With a thoughtful gaze, Arthur clasped his arms across his chest and leaned back against the chair's backrest, contemplating the weighty question at hand.
"Indeed, I have considered various precautions to minimize the impact of the impending war, which is precisely why I have sought your assistance, Anna," Arthur said with a casual tone.
Anna nodded attentively, continuing to listen intently to his words.
"As for preventing it, that responsibility falls upon you, Anna." Arthur looked directly at her and conveyed
Perplexed, Anna tilted her head in confusion, seeking clarification. "Me?"
Arthur nodded affirmatively and replied, "Yes, indeed! It is you who hold the key to the solution I intend to execute."
Anna's confusion persisted, rendering her silent as she sought clarity from Arthur.
She wanted to ensure she fully understood his intentions.
"As you are the linchpin of my plan, I wish to impart more advanced business strategies to expedite your growth," Arthur explained nonchalantly.
"Wait, what do you mean by teaching more advanced business? Are you suggesting that the current way of doing business isn't satisfactory?" Anna's discontent surfaced as business was considered the essence of the Weis family.
Although Anna harbored no resentment towards Arthur or anyone else, her merchant bloodline simply couldn't accept the situation.
Without hesitation, Arthur nodded and declared, "Indeed! The current business practices are extremely outdated, and I am determined to revolutionize everything."
"You, Anna, are the key to that transformation."
Arthur's statement was direct and devoid of any sympathy for Anna.
Having mastered advanced business techniques in his previous world, Arthur believed that people in this world were still conducting business in an antiquated manner.
The common practice involved using gold or other valuable items as currency, which often did not align with the actual value of the goods being traded.
Traders had the ability to manipulate prices at their own discretion, resulting in the absence of a standardized pricing system for the goods being sold.
This was a problem that Arthur encountered during his time in this world.
Among the numerous plans he had devised, one involved a comprehensive transformation of the buying and selling system across the South, including the establishment of a prominent central bank.
Introducing paper currency was also part of his strategy to reform the existing system.
From a merchant's perspective, war is typically viewed as having a detrimental effect on the economy.
However, Arthur saw the war as an opportunity to dismantle the prevailing trading system throughout the entire southern region and introduce a new one.
He believed that by doing so, the saturated economy could be revitalized sooner, consequently expediting the overall economic recovery in the aftermath of the war.
Recognizing that he couldn't accomplish his goals alone, Arthur sought the assistance of someone as exceptionally talented as Anna.
So he could train her and provide support behind the scenes.
Upon hearing Arthur's direct statement, Anna bowed her head and tightly clenched her fists, her lips pressed together.
If anyone else had made such a remark, she might have harbored thoughts of hostility toward them.
However, the one who uttered those words was Arthur, the young lord of the southern region and the person she both admired and loved.
Could she possibly act against Arthur in such a manner?
Upon sensing Anna's reaction, Arthur let out a sigh and said, "Anna, please understand that I don't mean to belittle the Weis family."
"However, if we don't reform the current trading system, the impact of the war will inevitably disrupt the entire southern region."
"It's highly likely that we will all face difficulties in the near future, but I genuinely believe that I can bring about change."
"How? That's what I need your support for." Arthur gently appealed to her.
Anna remained silent, yet she couldn't deny the truth in Arthur's words.
Arthur's own accomplishments as a leader demonstrated that the teenage boy before her was not someone to be underestimated.
After a deep breath, Anna gazed at Arthur with a resolute expression.
"Then I will trust and follow your plan!" she declared.
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Note: Why Left Hand? Because Arthur's right hand is Runa's~
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