Grand Duke Wyatt Stuart

"And actually, I have a favor to ask. I hope you don't mind." Wyatt looked at Oli when he heard it.

"Go on. What is it? Asked anything you want, come on, we are business partners now so, don't reserve yourself." Wyatt answered.

"Besides on trading, we came here to get a dwarf slave. Do you have a connection to a slave trader? Is it possible to get one?" Oli.

"Dwarf slave huh? A rare slave likes the dark elf and elf. A dwarf is known for its craftsmanship and a being who can do anything. Weapons, armors, infrastructure because of that, they are one of the most sought and, if there is a dwarf slave available in the market, many would fight just to get it." Wyatt stood up, and, get the wine placed on the top of the cabinet, pour some in his two gold chalices, gave the other to Oli, and, sat down to continue talking.

"You guys are lucky. Later at night, there will be a slave auction that would happen in the largest slave house here in Moson. The main attraction will a dwarf slave. I don't have any extra details but, all I know is the dwarf slave is a woman. I don't know how they get that dwarf. And for your question, it is possible to get that dwarf? It is. That's is if you have a thousand's of platinum coins in your pocket." Wyatt said before sipping in his gold cup.

"A thousand's huh?" Oli said while looking at the chalice he was holding. "Tell me, my friend. What do think about your chalice?" Oli asked.

"My chalice? It's beautiful, shiny, an--." Wyatt didn't finish what he was going to say when Oli got the box and put it on the top of the table. "That's a unique box, I would say."

Oli just smirked and, opened the box and slowly got one of the wine cups and put it on the table. Oli then gets the bottle of wine and pours some of it into the wine cup. When Wyatt saw that, his eyes became widen. That cup Oli gets in the box is much more beautiful and majestic in appearance than in his golden cup.

That cup is very suited for Royalties and Imperial families. That crystal clear transparent wine cup that can see through the contents of the wine cup. Even if Wyatt is not a craftsman, he was very sure that the cup is a work of a true master craftsman because of how sophisticated the wine cup was.

One of Wyatt's characteristics was that he loved to flaunt his status in life and wealth. So, if he ever gets the wine cup from Oli, his social standing will increase even more. And as a merchant, he can sell it at a higher price, and, it would sell no matter what the cost was.

"Now, how about my glass cup? What do you think about my glass cup? Huh?" Oli asks Wyatt.

"Glass cup, you said? Where the heck did get these fine wine cups, huh? I think this is the most beautiful chalice I've ever seen in my whole life. First, the spice. Now, this. What the heck will be the next? What do you want now, huh?" Wyatt ask

"You know what I want. This box of glass cups is exchanged, for to dwarf slave you are talking about. If you don't know, I have my plan in my head for the village." Oli while looking at the six wine cups in the box.

"Deal but I want the other box. If you don't know, horses are one most sought-right now because of the war, as, for the carriage, the materials and the labor cost are too costly even for me. So, I want another box of the cups, then we have a deal." Wyatt said to Oli while pointing to the other box of wine cups.

When Zion heard it, he wanted to interrupt because Oli was being robbed in the broad light but Zion decided not. Everywhere you look, Oli's goods are far more expensive than what Oli wanted, especially the spice. Since Wyatt knows Oli has no experience in trading, he used that advantage to get Oli's goods at a low price. At the end of the day, Zion going to give Oli some realization, and, this will serve as Oli's first-hand experience.

"Deal but, I want the seeds, livestock, horses, and carriage ready at the end of the day. We plan to depart as soon as we get the dwarf. As for the other glass cup, I will give it to you when we are about to depart." Oli said then, he signals Viron to get the other box carefully.

"I see you do not fully trust me, huh? Good, that's good. I will arrange your lodgings for the time being so that you can rest for a while as, for the trade you want, they can be arranged later in the afternoon so that you can, just pick them up and depart quickly. So, we have a deal then?" Wyatt said and stood up and extended his arm to shake his hand.

"We have a deal." Oli also stood up and took Wyatt's hand.

"While we're at it, can I borrow Zion for a moment? We haven't seen each other for years now, so.." Wyatt said while shaking Oli's hand. Oli just looked at Zion if he agreed with what Wyatt wanted. Zion just nodded his head for confirmation. With that, Oli and his group except Zion leave the room to rest for a while.

***

When Oli and his group left, Wyatt and Zion began talking to each other.

"How long was it? Twenty years?" Wyatt said to pick up the wine glass to inspect it.

"Thirty years." Zion said in a stern expression and voice.

"So, it's been thirty years since the Siege Of Swaths between our Empire and the Credia Empire." Wyatt paused and looked at Zion while still holding the glass of wine in his hand. "And after that, I just received the news that you and your family kicked out of the Holy Land because you question the Supreme Pontiff decision's regarding the Vedrain Country and its allies to become a slave country." Wyatt said while shaking his head in disapproval. "Well, at least, you and your family only exile and not killed. I think that's enough."

Zion took a deep breath and looked at Wyatt with a solemn expression. "I'm sure you don't want me to talk just because of those. Tell me, what do you need?"

"I'm just wanna know where your acting Chairman gets all of this goods? To be honest, this what he called spice and wine glass can change the whole Continent upside down. Especially this spice. If this is reach the ears of Kingdoms, the Credia Empire, and the Holy Land, they will invade your Country regardless of whether there's a justification or not. Especially the Holy Land, as you know, the current King of your Country is their puppet. So, they can easily invade and raid your village. And the worst-case scenario is that it will lead to an all-out war between the Holy Land and Credia Empire just to get a hold with this spice. I just hope that my stupid younger brother doesn't join that war."

"I don't know where he got the spice and wine glass and, even if I know, I wouldn't tell you, I don't have a right with that. That's why I didn't say anything, even if the spice and glass wine is much more expensive than the seeds, livestock, horses, carriage, and dwarf slave that the young master wanted. When I first tasted the food with spice, I'm sure that one day, it will induce war between Kingdoms and Empires." When Wyatt heard what Zion said, he just chuckled cause all Zion said was true. The spice is far more expensive than what Oli can imagine.

"If the other Kingdoms, Holy Land and, Credit Empire know that the spice and, a wine glass can only get through Literra Empire, the only one they can do is to negotiate and, build a diplomatic relationship between you and them. As far as I know, even if you are a great Admiral and General, your expertise is in negotiation and trading. So, with that, you can stabilize your relationship in the other Kingdoms and we dodged the possible invasion or attack in our village." Zion added.

"Bullshit! Stabilize my ass! You just pass the burden upon me!" Wyatt said while carefully putting down the wine glass. When Zion heard it, he chuckled.

"Lastly, they will hesitate and, their balls will go back in their socket if they know that the Literra Empire had the monopoly of spice. I think only Credia Empire will try to invade your Empire. That's why I specifically choose and lead the way through your shop. I know the thinking of young master and, I was right. He chooses the most extravagant and wealthy-looking shop, which is yours."

"Sigh. You didn't change at all. You are still one step ahead of everything but, on a serious note, I received a report in one of my spies currently working on the Confederation." Wyatt said in a serious expression.

"Sigh. I know. The Confederation is planning on raiding again. The Holy Land didn't expect that the High Orcs will make their move and, because of that, the Confederation who was winning the war against the Fallen with the help of the Sacred Order will be pushed back to their territory and the Fallen Kingdom will regain their territory which is in the hands of the Confederation for now." Zion said in a troubled expression. "I can't save all the people living in the Vedrain Country but, at least, my family and the people living in the Leefside can avoid the raiding to prevent them from being a slave." Zion.

"I want to help you, Zion but my hands are full at the moment. I can't spare troops for you to command because the Century between my Empire and Credit Empire is brewing. I don't know when it will erupt. All I can do right now is to give you armaments." Wyatt.

"The young master didn't like fighting and war. At the current moment, the only one who can fight in the village is me and, my sons, so the armaments you will give, can't be used in the current situation." Zion. "The young master is focused on the internal affair of the village at the moment."

"Hahaha, the village without even a Militia is destined to be doomed. Anyway, your young master, where is he come from? The goods he brought here are quite advanced to make here in the Continent. I believed that even the Dwarves can't make this what he called glass wine." Wyatt while looking at the box of the wine glass.

"Elder Alfred found the young master near in the Innisgue Forest. All I know is the young master came from a far away Country or Kingdom. The young master doesn't talk much about where he came from." Zion.

"Perhaps, in the unexplored land? In the sun who never rise, the Dark Continent?" Wyatt.

Zion took a deep breath before answering Wyatt. "At the moment, yes. That's all I can think of where he came from. As you know, we never explored the Dark Continent, so we don't know what's in there. Regardless, based on my instinct and observation, he means no harm to the people of the Leefside village. All he wants is the prosperity of the village that's why he came here." Zion said while remembering when Oli helped his daughter Mia cure his high fever.

"I think that's all Zion. You can rest now while I wrap up all Oli wanted. I will call you and Oli when we depart to the auction house. You can rest now. I know you are tired in the long journey." Wyatt.

Zion was about to leave the room when he remembered something. "I hope this trade won't reach the ears of the Empress and the Imperial Taizi. You know your brother's character very well."

"Yeah. I know. We can rest assured, my friend." Wyatt in a sad expression.

With that, Wyatt was left alone while contemplating plans to improve the Empire he once ruled.