The theater performance ended smoothly tonight.
Ronald bid farewell to the two investigators and then returned to the boarding house alone.
Today’s interaction with the Countess went rather well.
Beyond making contact and a preliminary acquaintance, she also clearly expressed her favor towards Ronald.
Meanwhile, because of attention to detail,
Ronald did not reveal any particularly sensitive information.
From any angle, the commission from Harveys had a very favorable beginning.
He carefully reviewed today’s encounters.
After confirming there were no omissions, Ronald finally lay down in bed and fell asleep.
Considering Harveys had just finished a performance tonight, she probably wouldn’t have the energy to create any fuss at his place...
The next morning, Ronald, full of spirit, hurried to the Merchant Association.
Although regrettable, the Ginkgo Leaf Business Alliance didn’t adhere to a five- or six-day workweek, but rather a rotating shift system adjusted according to position.
As a ’consultant’ who was specially invited,
Ronald was required to report to the Merchant Association seven days a week.
Of course, to take a leave, he just needed to speak up in advance or afterwards, and as long as it didn’t exceed ten days a month, there would be no consequences.
Compared to ordinary employees, this treatment was already exceedingly generous.
All the more so for Ronald.
The information and books at the Merchant Association were what he needed.
The very nature of going to work was actually the process of Ronald gathering knowledge and information; he was undoubtedly the beneficiary.
Therefore, rather than idling at home,
Ronald didn’t mind spending his time at the Merchant Association.
Especially since he could enjoy the daily, specially provided, and quite tasty employee meal.
Thus, at four o’clock sharp in the afternoon of the weekend,
Ronald’s assistant, Karin, knocked on his office door.
The professionally dressed girl, holding documents in her arms, began with the first thing Ronald had in mind:
"Mr. Ronald, have you received an invitation?"
"From Countess Letitia?"
Suddenly faced with this query, Ronald was momentarily stunned.
But considering the intelligence-gathering capabilities of the Ginkgo Leaf Business Alliance, he quickly displayed an understanding demeanor:
"You’re asking about this, Karin. Is there an issue?"
The female assistant nodded without hesitation, then pulled a prepared document from her files and spread it on Ronald’s desk.
Leaning forward proactively to stand beside Ronald, Karin pressed her finger on the document in front of them.
Then she explained with a serious tone,
"Yes, it’s for work."
"The arrival of the Countess presents a great opportunity for the Merchant Association to expand its business."
"Although the Merchant Association has arranged for professional merchants to contact Letitia, if someone like you, who has been proactively invited by her, could assist, the related activities would undoubtedly proceed more smoothly."
"This is the rough plan we have devised."
"Before dinner, I’ll bring over a map of Nicos, and we can discuss the specifics that need attention."
Following Karin’s explanation, Ronald glanced over this ’work document’ of his.
Geographically, Nicos is an independent nation situated to the southeast of Great Reid.
Although located on the same continent of Latroja, due to geographical factors, the majority of trade activities between the two are maritime trade.
If someone from Great Reid wished to enter Nicos by land,
Taking the fastest route, they would first have to trek to Berenwich to take a train into Entrod, then bypass the vast Yizi Forest, continue southwards, and at last arrive at Nicos.
On the contrary, if one chooses the maritime path.
Then embarking on a ship from any southern coastal city of Gried and heading southeastward would get them there.
In such instances, sea trade between the two nations could be considered the most intimate form of exchange.
This time, the "Ginkgo Leaf Business Alliance" has set its sights on the management issues of several cities in Nikos, hoping to overcome some of the constraints imposed by the "Bay Commerce Guild."
This was squarely within Ronald’s scope of work, and he found it difficult to refuse.
After jotting down the content of the document in front of him, he then asked again:
"Besides these, is there anything else to be aware of?"
Ronald’s female assistant unusually hesitated.
Her gaze wandered back and forth over the desk for a few seconds before Karen stammeringly spoke:
"If I must... if I must say something..."
"You might want to pay attention to our guild’s people."
Hearing this from his assistant, Ronald immediately realized that there might be some trouble.
"Could you elaborate?"
Karen continued to respond:
"It’s Mr. Harvey from the guild."
"Although he has been entrusted with negotiating with the countess, he is a strong-willed businessman who dislikes others interfering with his work, and you are likely to encounter some unfriendly incidents."
Ronald scratched his head.
"Is it really okay for the guild to send someone with his temperament to meet the countess?"
Hearing this question, Karen replied with a wry smile:
"Mr. Harvey is very confident in his own masculine charm."
"And history has shown that there’s indeed no need to doubt that."
Who is as handsome as Governor Xu of the north city?
With Karen’s explanation, this thought suddenly popped into Ronald’s mind.
He swiftly banished it from his thoughts.
Ronald then nodded in understanding:
"Alright, I’ll keep that in mind."
"If Mr. Harvey really shows hostility towards me, I won’t take it to heart."
Seeing Ronald’s very serious tone in his reply,
Karen’s expression immediately relaxed:
"Thank you for your concern."
"But since this is the guild’s arrangement, it’s not easy to change."
"If there’s any change in this matter, I’ll inform you in time."
After finishing, Karen left the office as usual.
Once the female assistant’s figure disappeared from the door, Ronald’s expression instantly fell.
He collapsed listlessly on his desk.
Ronald’s fingers aimlessly scrawled on the paper:
"So one by one, does it mean that I, a book holder, actually have to ’compete in charm’ with other men?"
Drawing a salary from the "Ginkgo Leaf Business Alliance," as a modern man with a strong sense of contract, he obviously understood the necessity of work and had no objections to this task’s appearance.
But as soon as he thought of the countess’s demeanor when she saw him last night...
Ronald couldn’t help but shiver.
Instinct told him that at the countess’s dance party tomorrow night, an invitation he had received,
"Trouble is inevitable..."