"Finally, they’ve left."
At the port, watching the fleet belonging to the Royal Guard depart.
In a gentleman’s attire, the brown-haired youth named Lund Charles looked relaxed for once.
After all, if the Alchemy Master trusted by the King truly discovered their factory’s business, it might have bad repercussions.
"Father, we’ve already stopped work for several days, and many orders are still incomplete."
"What do you think about the factory?"
Lund asked, the brown-haired middle-aged man in a silk robe withdrew his gaze from the sea and nodded lightly.
"Then continue, try to complete it as early as possible."
Lund nodded, but soon Duke Charles spoke again.
"How is the investigation in Tuler going?"
"It’s already started, Father." Lund respectfully replied, "During that period, there were over thirty fleets docked at the port, but because Master Adler was also here, I haven’t sent too many people out these days."
"I’ll order to dispatch more people later."
With a gentle nod, Duke Charles turned to walk towards the carriage.
A cold gleam flashed in his deep eyes.
He was very curious to know who dared to oppose the Charles family.
The carriage continued moving along the smooth road, the sound of horse hooves rising melodiously.
This was an open carriage, with an outdoor seat that could only sit two or three people.
"Sir, are you also a captain?"
On the road, Trin drove the carriage while curiously asking.
Chen Feng shook his head, the other nodded with a sound of acknowledgment.
The two fell silent, and Chen Feng glanced at both sides of the street.
Shabbily dressed drifters knelt by the roadside begging, and occasionally horse manure could be spotted unswept.
Amid this, sounds of coughing entered his ears, and Chen Feng couldn’t help but look towards the distant factory.
Black chimneys rose straight into the sky, he pondered for a moment, then asked.
"Has this Sack Factory been shut down?"
"It was shut down last Monday, seems there were some issues with the production equipment."
Trin hurriedly explained, Chen Feng realized that another ten days had passed in this world.
"A lot of people are complaining, after all, with the factory shut down, everyone has no income."
"Our family has been affected too, because with the shutdown, workers don’t dirty their clothes anymore...."
Trin instinctively talked about his family situation, and Chen Feng then learned that he had a mother and a sister.
His father had been disabled in an early injury, bedridden.
To conveniently care for him, his mother usually stayed home helping others wash clothes.
Chen Feng remained silent, no wonder that at such a young age, he was out making money to support the family.
"We’ve arrived, sir!"
Trin suddenly shouted, and the row houses in the garden district came into view.
Curious passersby looked on, and Lei Long happened to be in the garden of the row villa, spotting him immediately and quickly approached.
He wore a thick gray sweater, his scraggly beard was unusually well-groomed, as if he was at home accompanying his daughter, Little Ant.
Chen Feng nodded and stepped down from the carriage, then signaled to Trin with his eyes.
"Sir, I don’t want money!"
Trin sensed the signal, bid Lei Long an admired farewell, and quickly turned to climb the carriage, attempting to drive away.
"You boy, why are you running!"
Lei Long pretended to be displeased, stepping forward and pulling him.
At the same time, a dozen copper coins and a hidden silver coin were stuffed into his mended jacket pocket.
"Lord Lei Long, I..." Trin’s face flushed, trying to break free and take out the coins in his pocket.
But before he could react, Lei Long suddenly slapped the black horse’s rump, startling it away.
"Hahaha, Trin boy, you look so pitiful driving the carriage!"
Loud laughter resonated, drawing amused smiles from some passersby nearby, who didn’t pay much attention.
Chen Feng saw Lei Long’s intention.
A dozen copper coins were fine, but a silver coin was enough to sustain a normal life for a family of three here for a month.
The other party obviously didn’t want anyone to see it and become tempted to act irrationally.
"Haha, sir, I previously checked up on this boy Trin."
"He’s really having a hard time, please don’t laugh at me."
Lei Long explained, and Chen Feng nodded, naturally saying no more.
Afterwards, the two walked through the iron gate into the row house garden area.
The flowers inside were well-tended, and evidently, there were additional clusters of small white flowers.
Curl-haired Little Ant was originally napping on a recliner under a blanket but now woke up.
The uncertain shout brightened a bit, she lifted the blanket, and ran over amid the maid’s exclamation.
Chen Feng smiled and patted her head.
"Uncle, those little flowers are all smiling, as if they know you like them very much."
Little Ant giggled and pointed at the cluster of small white flowers, swaying in the breeze.
The innocence of a child, Chen Feng smiled and nodded.
Amid the child’s laughter, he and Lei Long entered the house and went to the study.
Coffee was brought in by the maid, and the door was closed.
Lei Long curiously asked, "Sir, how long do you plan to stay in Banli Port this time?"
Having disappeared twice without a word, he assumed Chen Feng was exploring nearby or busy with other important matters.
"About six or seven days."
Chen Feng casually said, taking a sip of coffee.
It was somewhat bitter, not quite to his taste.
"This time I came to find you, mainly to know, how’s the Mermaid issue?"
He put down the coffee, seeing Lei Long faintly frown.
"We’ve already got some clues, sir, I heard people say, someone saw a mermaid at the port escaping from a fleet."