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However, the woman still acted coyly and coquettishly.

Clink.

It wasn’t until Ron tossed her a few silver coins that the woman stopped pestering him. She smiled cheekily as she got dressed and left the room.

Ron rubbed his slightly aching head and put on his nightgown. He went over to the floor-to-ceiling window of his bedroom and yanked the large curtain open.

The sun was shining brightly outside. It was another beautiful morning.

Unfortunately, Ron’s mood could not be described as beautiful.

He had been appointed as the City Lord of Alfalfa City by Queen Isa for almost half a year. Ron’s previous zeal had been extinguished by the cold harsh reality.

Initially, he thought this was an opportunity to rejuvenate the Lute clan, but now it seemed that this place was nothing more than a massive pitfall.

That pitfall had already swallowed almost all of Ron’s enthusiasm and hopes, and maybe it would continue to devour the glory and heritage of the Lute Clan.

In the past, even when the Lute Clan was stripped of its nobility by Queen Isa for participating in the Savoy family’s rebellion, Ron would never have touched those despicable commoner women.

But now, Ron had given up completely.

Even if it meant the noble bloodline of the Lute Clan would diffuse into those lowly commoner households, it was better than final cessation.

Thud, thud.

The room door was lightly knocked upon twice, and Ron responded softly.

Then, an older maid walked in, holding a ceremonial dress for nobles, and started to dress Ron.

The maid’s actions were somewhat rough, and Ron’s brow was creased throughout, but he didn’t utter a word.

Given the present situation of the Lute Clan, they could no longer afford to employ young, beautiful, and skilled maids. Ron was worried that if he drove away the maid in front of him, he would probably have no one to help him get dressed in the future.

While Ron was enduring the maid’s clumsiness, the room door was knocked upon once more.

Then, his son Jason walked in with large strides, reporting:

“Father, last night a caravan from the North Territory entered Alfalfa City.”

“A caravan? From the North Territory?”

“Yes.”

Ron frowned, finding it hard to believe that a caravan would dare to come to Alfalfa City.

Considering that Alfalfa City, a “Chaos City” positioned between the North Territory, East Territory, and the Half-Elf Kingdom, was always a paradise for criminals.

Therefore, although its geographical position was very advantageous for cross-border trade, any rational merchant would not choose this route.

Could it be some newbie merchant who was ignorant about the situation in Alfalfa City and thus recklessly entered?

“Which merchant group are they from? How many people do they have?”

“The caravan didn’t fly any banners, so I don’t know which merchant group they belong to. However, their caravan isn’t large, only about ten or so people, and they were accompanied by an obscure bunch of mercenaries, making their total number less than a hundred.”

They do seem like newbies.

Ron thought to himself. With such a small group, they dared to engage in cross-border trade. Even if they didn’t pass through Alfalfa City, they would probably run into bandit groups along the chaotic border.

“Alright, don’t bother them,” Ron waved his hand nonchalantly, already considering this caravan as good as dead.

Jason hesitated for a moment, then reminded: “Father, do you remember the recent intelligence from the North Territory we received?”

“What intelligence?”

“About Count Angler’s newly established overseas trade company in the North Territory. According to Duke St. Hilde’s decree, now only this company can conduct external trade in the North Territory.”

Only after hearing this did Ron realize the implications.

So, this is a smuggling caravan!

No wonder they don’t hail their flag, and they intend to pass through Alfalfa City.

Only in this chaotic city could they evade the inspection of the North Territory border patrol and carry out their foreign trade surreptitiously.

Seeing the change in his father’s expression, Jason suggested, “Father, we should send people to control this caravan, find out who’s manipulating them from the shadows, and then bring them to Silver Moon City. Queen Isa and Count Angler surely will be satisfied. The support you’ve always sought might be within our grasp.”

Upon hearing his son’s suggestion, Ron didn’t seem tempted, instead, his brows furrowed.

After some thought, he slowly opened his mouth and asked, “Do you think the capture of a small smuggling caravan would garner the support of Queen Isa or Count Angler?”

Jason was left speechless.

He also understood the awkward situation of Alfalfa City, and knew that neither Count Angler nor Queen Isa would send their army into the city to help the Lute Clan under the current circumstances.

A small smuggling caravan obviously won’t change the bigger picture.

“But trying it wouldn’t hurt, right…” Jason reluctantly said.

Ron shook his head, a slyness flashed in his eyes as he said, “No, we shouldn’t capture this caravan. On the contrary, we should allow them to pass through Alfalfa City, even provide them with a little convenience.”

“Why?” Jason clearly couldn’t follow his father’s line of thought, and he was momentarily stunned.

“Even if you catch a small smuggling caravan, what use is it? Queen Isa and Count Angler might casually reward you with something insignificant, but they certainly won’t send their army to Alfalfa City.

What if Alfalfa City becomes a ‘haven for smuggling’ between North Territory and the outside world?”

Jason’s eyes lit up, he finally caught on and immediately said, “Then Count Angler certainly wouldn’t sit idly by!”

“Exactly.” Ron nodded with a knowing smile, “The North Territory foreign trade company involves great interests. If these smuggling caravans gather in Alfalfa City, continuously undermining this company and damaging the dignity of the St. Hilde family, hehe, by then, can Count Angler still ignore Alfalfa City?”

Jason also became excited, seeming to envision the prosperity that Alfalfa City could achieve upon becoming this “haven for smuggling.” Yet soon after, he uneasily asked:

“But Father, if we turn a blind eye as the smuggling caravan moves unimpeded through Alfalfa City, won’t Lute Clan be blamed by Count Angler?”

“What else can we do?” Ron shrugged as he chuckled. “Although I’m officially the lord of Alfalfa City, everyone knows who really rules this city. If Count Angler blames us, we have reasons to shirk responsibility.”

Jason nodded in agreement, “Alright, father. I will send men to keep an eye on this caravan to ensure no one messes with them.”

Ron stopped his son, sneered and asked, “If the Alfalfa Brotherhood really wants to do something to the caravan, can you protect them?”

Jason was left rooted to the spot.

He was loath to admit it, but the current order of Alfalfa City was indeed controlled by the Alfalfa Brotherhood. The Lute Clan, the “official power”, couldn’t handle the situation.

“Then… what should we do?” Jason asked in frustration.

“We don’t need to do anything.” Ron said nonchalantly. Upon seeing his son’s confusion, he asked, “Where do you think this caravan is headed?”

Moving from the North Territory, they were only headed to the Half-Elf Kingdom or the Eastern Territory. Jason caught onto his father’s meaning right away and immediately said:

“They should be headed to the Eastern Territory!”

“Exactly.” Ron nodded, smiling, “Therefore, the caravan, if not stupid, must have reached some sort of agreement with the Eastern Territory. As they dare to pass through Alfalfa City, it indicates the Alfalfa Brotherhood should’ve received advanced notice and might just take a toll from them rather than truly harming them…”

Knock, Knock, Knock.

Just then, the door to the room was knocked again.

Ron responded, and then the sheriff walked in and reported:

“Sir, a merchant came to report a case.”

Ron’s heart skipped a beat, and he quickly asked, “Was it from the caravan that entered the city last night?”

“Yes.”

“What case did they report?”

“They said that something important was stolen from the caravan last night!”