Chapter Six

1

Everything Ivan said not only stunned the baron and his wife, but also left all the surrounding nobles feeling puzzled.

Baron Longa glanced at Ivan, confirming that the young man was not joking, and asked, "I'm sorry to be blunt, but I still can't figure out what Mr. Audrey Hyde sent me as a gift?"

"It's tea, tea brought from the East through Italei. Originally, my uncle prepared a set of silverware, enough to entertain six guests, but just as he was leaving, a shipment arrived, and the most valuable item in the shipment was these beverages from the East. To express his apologies for not being able to come in person, he asked me to bring one piece as a gift. Due to the rush of time, he couldn't cut the tea brick into small pieces and gild them. You know, these treasures from the East, if not gilded or lacquered, will quickly absorb moisture, just like youth and beauty, precious things are always so easily lost." Ivan explained.

The people around suddenly realized that it was tea, and not just any tea, but an untouched, large tea brick, which was extremely precious. These large tea bricks are usually cut into one-inch cubes, tightly wrapped in gold foil, and sold to wealthy households.

It was rare for such large tea bricks to be given as gifts, it was truly an extremely expensive gift.

The baron and his wife were equally surprised, they had not expected that this "unremarkable gift" would be so valuable, Mr. Audrey Hyde, whom they had recently befriended, was indeed a generous person.

Baron Longa vaguely remembered Viscount Kewei Elei Egret Hyde, as a bankrupt noble from a foreign country who had once been active in the diplomatic world. At that time, he had served as a private secretary under the former Minister of Finance, Count Bardumont. The reason he remembered this person was solely because Viscount Kewei Elei Egret Hyde was one of the rare fugitive nobles who had been ennobled by the king.

Generally, nobles who fled from other countries were considered commoners in Francois, their noble status was not recognized. However, occasionally some fugitive nobles were ennobled for their special merits.

They could only be treated as commoner nobles, without the right to hereditary titles.

But because they originally had noble blood, they were treated as exceptions and could enjoy hereditary status, but they had to pay a large sum of taxes to the king.

Nobles with this kind of status in Francois were truly rare.

That's why Baron Longa remembered Viscount Kewei Elei Egret Hyde.

As for Mr. Audrey Hyde, Baron Longa had only recently met him, although they got along well. He remembered him as a charming and knowledgeable person, someone who suited his taste. He had not expected him to be so generous.

The baron felt somewhat puzzled and puzzled, was this really just to express apologies for not being able to attend the ball in person? Then this lavish gift was truly too valuable.

If there were any other intentions, he had nothing, his only most precious wealth was a gentle and considerate wife and a beautiful and charming daughter.

But looking at the young man he had sent, he was really too young, there should be no such possibility.

Although somewhat puzzled, the baron wanted to show appreciation for Mr. Audrey Hyde's valuable gift. He pulled Ivan aside and said, "Oh, your uncle is truly generous, you must convey my gratitude for me. Your uncle is a great man, Ivan! Can I call you Ivan? Is your uncle the most learned person I have ever met? Oh, undoubtedly, he must be a master scholar, only such a title can be worthy of his vast knowledge and talent.

"By the way, Ivan, you must tell me how to preserve these precious beverages from the East. Since the war between Italei and Torr, these beverages have become increasingly scarce. I don't want to waste your uncle's thoughtful gift."

"It's nothing," Ivan modestly replied. He knew he had successfully captured the attention of everyone, including Baron Longa, and now was a good opportunity to solidify that impression. Although he didn't like tea himself, Ivan was an expert in this area, from cutting tea bricks, sealing them, grinding and using them, brewing, filtering tea leaves, to mixing honey and milk in the right proportions.

After saying this, Ivan suddenly remembered a conversation he had heard Mr. Hyde talk about tea. He repeated it verbatim, "There has always been a saying that drinking tea can slow down aging, but unfortunately, there is no strong evidence. King Francois V was a tea lover, but it is well known that a dagger ended his young life at the age of thirty. However, tea can relieve fatigue, and for those who lack sleep, tea can rescue them from the clutches of sleep demons.

"In my opinion, tea seems to have a natural affinity with mint. A few drops of mint in a pot of tea make it perfect. Tea also aids digestion. Mixing tea with milk and adding some nuts, my grandfather likes juniper berries, while I prefer walnuts, is the best drink after a meal."

"I must say, Ivan, you are as learned as your uncle!" the baron exclaimed.

"You flatter me," Ivan thought to himself, pleased that he had at least succeeded halfway.

"Your uncle is busy, so he sent you. It seems it's because of your knowledge, isn't it?" the baron asked.

"Oh, it's not like that. Besides my grandfather and me, my uncle has no other relatives." Ivan said, now according to the plan, he needed to gain sympathy.

"Why?" the baron was very surprised.

"A few years ago, there was a plague in Southport, you should know about it," Ivan said.

"That was truly a disaster," the baron said with emotion.

"That plague took away most of my family," Ivan said heavily, not lying, his parents had indeed left him due to that disaster.

"I'm sorry to bring back sad memories," the baron said, feeling ashamed for not knowing about the regrettable past of his good friend Audrey.

"Everything has passed," Ivan said indifferently.

"Is your uncle managing everything now?" the baron asked.

"Yes, since that disaster, my grandfather collapsed all at once. When he was young, he was a man who spent his days in a carriage, traveling between different countries every day. Before that disaster, he proudly called himself the finest sailor in the entire Southern Ocean."

"Yes, I have long heard of the reputation of Viscount Kewei Elei Egret Hyde," the baron said sincerely. Indeed, to have heard of a viscount was quite remarkable.

"But now, for three whole years, I haven't seen him step out of the house. Most of the affairs at home are managed by my uncle. I help oversee the properties in Lai'er and Southport," Ivan said.

"At such a young age, you are also involved in managing the family's business?" The baron was clearly very surprised by everything Ivan had said.

"It's nothing special, just calculating the inflow and outflow of goods, calculating monthly profits, at most estimating possible expenses and business risks. Originally, all the family affairs were managed by my grandfather, father, and two uncles together. Now everything is on my uncle's shoulders alone. If I don't help him, how can he cope?" Ivan explained.

"Calculating profits, using the Trowmiller surplus calculation method? That requires quite a mastery of arithmetic," the baron seemed somewhat skeptical, as the work he did in the past involved calculating the treasury surplus, which gave him a headache every day.

Ivan had already anticipated that the baron would react this way. Audrey had clearly mentioned in the information she provided that this baron had previously held a public office, and accounting was the only livelihood he excelled at.

Fortunately, this was also the area where Ivan excelled the most. He had always hoped to become an accountant in the future, so he had diligently studied arithmetic. After Audrey became his teacher, he had almost mastered all the advanced accounting knowledge from her.

Therefore, Ivan confidently continued, "We never use the Trowmiller surplus calculation method because it's not precise enough. You see, this method has a fatal weakness—it only considers clear expenses, income, and losses, but it cannot accurately account for delayed expenses. For example, some goods that were supposed to be delivered by the end of this month may not arrive as smoothly as expected. As you know, perfection doesn't exist in this world. Even when the gods created the world, they failed countless times, creating those terrible species. Mistakes are always present, so the Trowmiller's books will never balance.

"In Southport, no one uses the Trowmiller method. Some use the Mysbell accounting method, or the Leto calculation method, but I prefer the Dulette calculation method. You must know that Mr. Dulette was already honored by our respected king as a master scholar for his contributions to accounting. He was even on the verge of being ennobled as a common noble."

"Yes, the Trowmiller calculation method is quite outdated," the baron said somewhat wistfully, realizing that even the one thing he could have been proud of was now gone. "By the way, what are your plans for the future? Will you inherit the family business?" the baron asked.

"Yes, I hope to become a sailor like my grandfather," Ivan said, revealing his true innermost wish.

"Have you ever thought about taking public office? You are very intelligent and have a bright future ahead of you," the baron inquired.

Ivan had not expected the baron to bring up these topics, so he had to carefully choose his answers. His mind raced, collecting the political knowledge he had heard before.

Fortunately, whether in Southport or with Audrey, he had heard and seen a lot. While what he heard in Southport was mostly hearsay, it was unique insights from well-traveled individuals from different perspectives. The political knowledge taught by Audrey was more systematic, with each point supported by clear evidence.

After thinking for a while, Ivan said, "Originally, my grandfather did hope that I could serve His Majesty the King for the greater good. His three sons have indeed made a name for themselves in the business world. However, Viscount Kewei Elei Egret Hyde's reputation has gradually faded from the political circles, which has left my grandfather somewhat regretful.

"He originally hoped that I would continue his legacy in this area, but the disaster made my grandfather's hopes increasingly dim. Family business is fundamental after all, and while glory can shine for generations, family business affects future generations.

"As long as the descendants of the Hyde family in the south of Francois have strong power and extensive connections, and more importantly, the title of viscount, uplifting the Hyde family's reputation is something that will eventually happen, not necessarily to be completed in one or two generations. That's my idea.

"Moreover, now is not the best time to expand the family's reputation. The ministers around His Majesty the King are all eager and ambitious. Surviving under any one of them is a dangerous and difficult task. Instead of stepping into such a precarious situation now, it's better to stand aside and observe. When the right time comes, joining one side would be more appropriate. Furthermore, throughout history, there are many examples of those who share hardships and triumphs together. After achieving victory, it's not common to suspect those who contributed. "

This speech was not something a young teenager like Ivan could normally say, so it inevitably surprised Baron Longa, who looked carefully at the fifteen or sixteen-year-old boy.

In fact, Ivan's words not only shocked Baron Longa but also astonished all the other nobles present. Initially, they were just amazed by the wealth Ivan possessed. Although many almost certainly believed that Ivan's grandfather, Viscount Kewei Elei Egret Hyde, was boasting about his wealth, this was a common face of nouveau riche.

These fallen nobles always looked down on the nouveau riche.

However, when Ivan talked about tea, his eloquent words, unique insights, and scholarly demeanor somewhat dispelled the disdain in the hearts of these fallen nobles. Nevertheless, they still believed that it was the nature of a merchant that drove Ivan's knowledge about the goods they sold.

By the time Ivan enthusiastically discussed accounting with the baron, the nobles present had already begun to see Ivan as a genius young businessman. Perhaps these merchant families could rise so quickly in such a short time for a reason. Just one such talented youth was so impressive; if a family could have one or two such individuals over a few generations, accumulating vast wealth over decades was imaginable.

It wasn't until Ivan spoke about his somewhat incomprehensible political insights that everyone realized that this was not knowledge a young boy should possess. What did it mean to be able to articulate such thoughts?

Was he taught all this at home?

But looking at his confident expression, it didn't seem like it.

A child who merely parroted information wouldn't have this demeanor.

Moreover, how did Viscount Kewei Elei Egret Hyde know that Baron Longa would inquire about these matters?

If all of this was the youth's own insight, what a genius he was!

What kind of family could educate such a youth?

Most people had no impression of Viscount Kewei Elei Egret Hyde. Only from the exchange between the baron and the youth did they learn that this old man was once a brilliant diplomat.

Was this diplomat grooming a successor?

From the conversation just now, it was evident that this youth indeed possessed all the qualities to become an outstanding diplomat—confidence, courage, demeanor, and knowledge.

In comparison, his own reserved son couldn't hold a candle to the heir groomed by that diplomat.

The only fortunate thing now was that the youth was obviously two or three years younger than the baron's daughter. In terms of marriage, it was generally considered inappropriate for the girl to be older than the boy.

Otherwise, it was feared that his son would have no hope of competing with this half-grown child.

The nobles were uneasy, and the atmosphere had become tense and oppressive. Baron Longa did not want his rare grand ball to turn out this way.

Although the baron greatly admired this wealthy and knowledgeable young genius and wanted to have a good chat with him to perhaps discover more amazing things about him, the best course of action now was clearly to slightly ignore the youth.

Thinking this, the baron gently said, "Ivan, you must be tired from your long journey. You are welcome to use the small lounge upstairs anytime. The ball will last quite a while."

"Thank you for your kind invitation. I do need a brief rest to regain my energy, as my grandfather has always advised me," Ivan said, bowing. He fully understood the baron's intention behind these words.

He didn't want the noble youths present to inexplicably treat him as a rival. Taking advantage of this opportune moment to leave the sight of the crowd might be a good choice.

Guided by a servant, Ivan made his way to the small lounge upstairs.