The son of the God-Emperor in Warhammer Fantasy

Old World, Bretonnia, Earldom of Glamorgan.

In the bustling town, Ryan was walking through the streets of Jean Town with his wife Sulia and steward Carstenberger.

"My lord, your territory now has nearly ninety thousand people. I've temporarily stopped accepting more people due to limited resources. With the war over, the number of fugitive slaves and displaced serfs from the north has greatly reduced. Duke Raun, as the kingdom's regent, has decided to lower taxes to encourage serfs to return to their lands. This has reduced the influx of northern serfs." Carstenberger explained to Ryan.

"Duke Raun's governance is indeed excellent. It's no surprise that he supports the Lady's oracle to promote three serfs to knights annually." Ryan, dressed in his earl's attire, held Sulia's small hand as they walked along the cobblestone streets.

Since the dwarves arrived in the town, construction had become their work. Dwarven craftsmanship ensured beauty and utility, and with the right blueprints, there was nothing they couldn't build.

The beautiful Sulia wore a white lace blouse and a black pleated skirt, covered with a light brown fur coat from the Bretonnian court. Her long legs in black stockings ended in suede high-heeled boots. With her golden hair flowing down to her waist, Sulia teased Ryan, "Ryan, your territory has so much. Besides the usual camps, stables, pastures, and farms, you have the Wood Elf observation post, Dwarven tavern and settlement, Dwarven smithy and armory, the large livestock farm, the Lady's tower, and Veronica's wizard tower..."

"All landmarks, haha." Ryan chuckled. "Additionally, there's Alfred's Chapel of Justice and Theresa's wizard tower under construction."

"My lord and lady, apart from these, a new building is also in the planning stages. I plan to expand the market. The current market can't meet the trade demand. We need more stalls and shops." Carstenberger, still sporting a bald head and round sunglasses, followed them, hands behind his back. "Besides, we need new windmills and granaries, which will cost another five hundred gold crowns."

"How much do we have in the treasury?" Ryan asked quietly.

"A lot, my lord. Even after deducting the town expansion budget, we still have over fifty-five thousand gold crowns in the treasury." Carstenberger said confidently, a bit smug. "Last year's total tax revenue was five thousand gold crowns, more than enough."

"But we can't spend recklessly... Oh, I plan to expand the earl's castle. Find our Dwarven friends to handle the project. They can coordinate the manpower and work arrangements." Ryan instructed Carstenberger.

"Understood." Carstenberger nodded.

"Carstenberger, don't overextend yourself. If there's too much work, say so. We can send more help." Sulia's smile was like blooming flowers. The knightess encouraged Carstenberger warmly. "You've been a great help to Ryan since he came here. We need your strength, and taking care of yourself is the best reward for us."

"Thank you for your concern, Lady Sulia! But I'm fine." Carstenberger felt a warmth in his chest from Sulia's words, quickly bowing his head in humility and gratitude. "I'll do my best to carry out the earl's orders. It's my duty and responsibility."

Carstenberger was very satisfied with Ryan and Sulia's marriage. A graduate of Winford Academy with a strong Winford Duchy influence, he saw his lady's union with Ryan as a perfect match, genuinely happy for her current happiness.

Ryan nodded silently. Sulia easily won hearts with her words, while he used his status as the Lady's chosen champion and his heroic aura to command respect. Though their methods differed, both were effective. As long as they played their roles well, ensuring loyalty shouldn't be difficult. This was Bretonnia, not the Empire, where tales of disappearing maintenance fees and supplies were rare.

The couple continued along the snowy road, approaching the tall, four-story wooden building of Oliver's Trading Company. At the end of January, the trading company was less busy, as neither Wood Elves nor humans liked to trade in this season, and even the Dwarves preferred staying inside by the fire with their ale.

The cold wind chilled the guard at the entrance, making his nose run. Thinking no one would come in this weather, he slacked off, sitting down and leaning his halberd against the wall, yawning and cursing the weather. "So cold, when will spring come?"

Since the Imperial merchant Oliver rose in Bretonnia through Ryan's connections, he had become a wealthy merchant, holding exclusive rights to Wood Elf goods and half of Veronica's wizard tower's magic potions. He earned substantial profits, and the Grand Duke of Marienburg, Schultz, had opened many doors for him.

As Ryan and Emperor Karl Franz signed trade and defense pacts with Elector Count Boris Todbringer, many luxury goods from Reikland and furs, timber, and livestock from Middenland appeared here.

Oliver's status and influence soared. Recently, he pulled off a major feat—helping the Duchies of Carcassonne and Brionne pay their "fixed war tax" to the king. During a sea storm, he diverted the funds overland to Couronne, cleverly holding the money for two months to place large orders with Marienburg before delivering it.

The guard, ready to warm up inside, saw a group approaching the company.

Good guards are observant. Recognizing the visitors, he ran inside. "Falk, Mr. Falk! The earl is here!"

Falk, Oliver's former bodyguard and now head of security, was having fish soup with several guards in the ground floor hall. Hearing the call, he lazily asked, "Who's here?"

Oliver's status had risen, and Falk felt important in Bretonnia, his temper growing along with it.

"The earl! Lord Makado is here!" The guard quickly replied.

"Quick, quick, quick!" Falk nearly dropped his bowl, rushing to greet the earl with a fawning smile. "Lord Ryan! Lady Sulia! What brings you here?"

Ryan and Sulia, with Carstenberger following, entered the hall.

"Cold weather, Falk, you sure know how to enjoy it, staying warm with fish soup." Ryan smiled, finding Falk's name odd. "Where's Oliver?"

"The chairman is upstairs, checking accounts. Shall I take you up?" Falk bent low.

Ryan declined, shaking his head and indicating they would go up themselves.

Ascending the wooden stairs, Oliver was already at the landing to greet them. "Lord Ryan! Lady Sulia! Mr. Carstenberger! Very, very welcome to my company. Why didn't you tell me you were coming?"

"A surprise visit, to see what you're up to, Mr. Oliver." Ryan, holding Sulia's hand, smiled at the merchant.

"Please, sit!" A thinner Oliver greeted them. Realizing his previous obesity was unhealthy, he had worked hard to lose weight, aided by expensive diet pills from Veronica's Dawn Wizard Tower.

Ryan and Sulia sat on the luxurious leather sofa, Carstenberger standing behind them. As steward, he was used to standing long hours, but Ryan motioned him to sit as well.

Oliver served three cups of hot coffee, imported from the southern kingdom of Tilea, a costly commodity. "Lord Ryan, such a cold day to visit the company?"

"It's cold, so I thought I'd look around." Ryan sipped his coffee black, enjoying the original bitter taste and roasted aroma.

"Chairman Oliver has always been our friend. We're just visiting an old friend, like a friendly greeting, nothing formal." Sulia's words made the merchant feel warm and relaxed.

"Without the earl, there'd be no Oliver Trading Company." Oliver nodded repeatedly. His trading network now spanned Bretonnia, the Empire, Tilea, and Estalia, with good trade relations with the Dwarves of the Grey Mountains and the Wood Elves of Athel Loren, all thanks to Ryan.

"Have you heard about Helmgart?" Ryan cut to the chase after some pleasantries.

"I have. News from Axe Bite Pass says Duke Fulcard of Montfort defeated the Skaven attacking Montfort Castle, but the destruction of Helmgart is undeniable. Rebuilding the city will take a year, during which trade through Axe Bite Pass is halted." Oliver handed Ryan a newly received letter. "My lord, this just arrived."

Ryan read the letter, confirming that trade through Axe Bite Pass would pause for at least a year, delaying Helmgart's reconstruction.

Duke Fulcard, having a poor relationship with Ryan but good ties with the Empire, had not only defeated the Skaven but also sent knights to assist the Imperial army in cleaning up and offered craftsmen for Helmgart's reconstruction.

Despite historical border skirmishes and small wars, Bretonnia and the Empire chose to support each other against common enemies.

Ryan noted that Fulcard's concern wasn't purely chivalric or about human unity. The toll revenue from Axe Bite Pass was a major source of his duchy's income. Without it, he'd struggle financially for over a year, making him keen to restore the trade route quickly.

"How much does the Axe Bite Pass trade route affect our trade?" Ryan asked.

"Not much, my lord. Last year, Oliver Trading Company's total trade was about fifty-four thousand gold crowns. After deducting costs and transportation, the profit was around six thousand gold crowns." Oliver took out a ledger. "Our main trade is by sea, escorted by Duke of Bordeleaux's fleet to Marienburg. Trade through Axe Bite Pass is less than nine thousand gold crowns."

Ryan reviewed the ledger, finding

 the totals and accounts clear and accurate. Oliver was thorough in his work.

"I remember Wood Elf goods are highly profitable." Ryan joked, returning the ledger.

"True, but the output is low, and some products like timber and grain we sell at relatively lower prices." Oliver explained. "Hot-selling items, but small scale."

Ryan nodded. Wood Elf caravans came every two to three weeks with only a few carts of goods. Small trades continued, but his territory could absorb them.

"Dwarven weapons, tools, and equipment are very popular, but these can't be sold to the Empire or Marienburg due to their own Dwarven supplies. So Dwarven goods are mainly popular within Bretonnia." Oliver continued, analyzing various goods and their market demands. Wood Elf potions were the best-sellers, followed by several high-end wines from Sulia's family in Winford, then many magical potions produced by the Fay Enchantress Morgiana and Veronica's Dawn Wizard Tower.

Ryan handed Oliver a parchment. "This is a new batch of magical minerals and materials needed by Veronica's Dawn Wizard Tower. You need to source these from the Empire."

"Understood." Oliver took the parchment. Getting these magical minerals and materials from the Empire required special channels. Fortunately, Ryan had an agreement with Emperor Karl. Otherwise, Oliver would be tearing his hair out over this.

Veronica didn't care about the complexities, demanding what she wanted. If not delivered, the Garland Witch would report to Ryan, giving Oliver many headaches.

"Oh, by the way, my lord, the Ungol Horse Archer Regiment from Kislev has left Erengrad, resupplying at Marienburg, and plans to land at Bordeleaux, bypassing Lyonesse. Besides a few hundred tribesmen, they also brought several big bears for a traveling show in Bretonnia." Oliver continued with another update.

"The leader of this regiment is an Ungol chieftain named Mikoyan Ivanovich Govorov, nicknamed 'Terrible Ivan,' also called 'Big Ivan.'"

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