Chapter 93: The Northern Frontier Crisis

Bruno chose the Hanging Garden at the foot of Armis Mountain as the meeting place with Cario.

Since its construction, the Hanging Garden had never fully served its intended purpose. Though breathtakingly magnificent, it remained unappreciated.

With the warming season and rising temperatures, Bruno gradually shifted his activities to the Hanging Garden.

Many buds were beginning to bloom, making the scenery increasingly delightful.

Unlike the cold and rigid atmosphere of the lord's castle, the environment here was far more comfortable.

And as a noble, one should naturally prioritize comfort above all else!

The Hanging Garden was more than just a garden. It housed study rooms, bedrooms, banquet halls, and other facilities essentially a luxurious villa nestled in the mountains.

Coupled with the surrounding streams and waterfalls, the view was a picturesque landscape of mountains and waters.

When Cario arrived, led by the escorting soldiers, his eyes could not hide his astonishment at the sight before him.

This was the first time the Hanging Garden was fully revealed to an outsider, leaving Cario utterly stunned.

Previously, he had only heard of the grand construction of the Hanging Garden in Idar Territory, rumored to consume vast amounts of manpower, materials, and funds. But he had never imagined that a borderland earldom could, in such a short time, construct a marvel of this scale.

Yes a marvel!

In Cario's eyes, this Hanging Garden was nothing short of a miracle.

Passing through several archways and ascending a spiral staircase, the salt merchant from the western part of the empire finally met Earl Bruno Stuart again on the third level of the Hanging Garden after months apart.

"Honorable Earl…" Cario greeted.

"If you're here to buy sea salt, sugar, or similar goods, just talk to Old Ford. There's no need to come all the way to me," Bruno said lazily.

When Bruno received word that Cario wished to visit, he had been fishing by the Hanging Garden's stream with a homemade fishing rod, indulging in a brief taste of retirement life in this world.

Though entertainment was scarce in this world, with paper now available, he could have played cards for amusement.

However, ever since he arrived in this world, Bruno's luck in cards had been abysmal. Regardless of his opponents, he hadn't won a single game, frustrating him to the point of wanting to flip the table and leave.

Perhaps his luck had been drained by transmigrating and obtaining a system?

"Earl, I wish to become the sole agent of Idar's sea salt," Cario suddenly declared with determination.

"Oh?" Bruno finally straightened up, scrutinizing him with interest.

Although Idar was relatively remote, even before the Idar Highway was completed, Cario was not the only salt merchant procuring and reselling salt from Idar.

At least three other merchants transported Idar's salt to various parts of the empire.

"You think you can handle that much salt alone? Even if you could, aren't you afraid of getting robbed along the way?" Bruno smirked.

Cario hesitated for a moment before steeling himself. "That's why… I hope to purchase on credit I'll repay you with interest after selling the salt."

"On credit?" Bruno's eyes widened.

This guy really dares to dream!

"I'm willing to pay a premium!" Cario quickly added. "For the next six months, I'll buy Idar's sea salt at 20% above the current price."

Bruno shook his head. "Do you even know how much salt Idar produces each quarter? Even if I agreed, where would you sell it? The salt trade is a massive industry, with each noble and merchant having their fixed supply chains. If you try to force your way in, you could be robbed along with your goods!"

Bruno stared at Cario as if looking at a fool. He had once thought Cario was shrewd, but now the merchant was making an absurd request.

Hearing Bruno's skepticism, Cario clenched his teeth, as if making a crucial decision, and finally revealed, "Earl… I've heard that war is about to break out in the empire's northern frontier."

"What?" Bruno's expression changed instantly.

The northern frontier bordered the Odin Empire meaning if war broke out there, the Odin Empire was preparing to invade Norman Empire!

How could a mere salt merchant like Cario know such a thing?

Seeing Bruno's reaction, Cario continued, "I originally planned to use my life's savings to buy land and a low-ranking title from a noble in the Regency Council. But just as I handed over my money, that noble was thrown into prison."

"While leaving St. Lawrence, I discovered that his arrest wasn't because of selling me a title it was because he had colluded with the Odin Empire, planning to help them seize Winterhold Fortress from within!"

"Although that noble has been imprisoned, the Odin Empire has nearly completed its military preparations. Their ruler is ambitious, so war will likely break out soon!"

"And if Winterhold Fortress falls to the Odin army…"

"Then the Odin army can march southwest, invading the empire's richest western plains which happen to be one of the Norman Empire's key salt-producing regions," Bruno completed his sentence, his tone grave.

"Exactly!" Cario confirmed.

"And you want to stockpile Idar's sea salt now, so that when the empire's inland salt supply is disrupted, you can sell it for an enormous profit?"

"Yes."

"But…" Bruno suddenly narrowed his eyes and glared at Cario. "If your prediction is wrong and no war happens, then the empire's salt supply will remain stable."

"In that case, you can run away, but I'll be left holding the loss!"

"If you're right, you profit. If you're wrong, I pay the price. Cario, do you take me for a fool?!"