Donovan hummed lightly.

In the midst of soft footsteps, Mark retreated and walked out of the room, courteously closing the door behind him.

One minute later.

The door was gently pushed open, and a man in his fifties or sixties walked in.

He carried a wooden box by his side, with a faint herbal scent wafting around.

"Master, it's time to apply the medicine."

Donovan didn't speak, merely hummed faintly.

Then, he allowed the estate doctor to begin his work.

As the estate doctor lifted the clothes on Donovan's back.

A clearly visible rotting wound that reached deep to the bone could be seen.

A strong, putrid smell filled the air, causing even the estate doctor to frown.

Seeming to sense the estate doctor's hesitance in applying the medicine, Donovan calmly asked: "Has it become more serious?"

The estate doctor replied, "Yes, it's more serious, Master..."

Donovan seemed indifferent.

He changed the topic, "Old chap, Mark came by again just now."

Berry casually asked, "Marquis still cares about you."

Uh... uh uh... uh uh uh...

Strange sounds emanated from Donovan's mouth.

It was his laughter.

Several seconds later.

Donovan exhaled warmth, as if those laughs had drained all his strength.

He spoke, "Yes, he cares about me... but he cares more about power."

"He's starting to make a move on Yuna Carolin."

"Doesn't he know that Yuna Carolin is the daughter of the prince who was stripped of the 'Spear of the Empire' title?"

"How does he dare? He even wants to dabble in imperial authority?"

Speaking of this.

Donovan couldn't care less about the medicine being applied on his back, his body moved as he stared directly at Berry.

His words were full of laughter, "Old chap, my son wants to become the Emperor of the Empire!"

"Even the position I dare not think about, my good son is already showing ambition... and now he's starting to plan."

"What do you say, is this good or bad?"

Berry remained silent.

Donovan Ducas, as the marquis of the Karedi Empire, was the emperor's childhood playmate.

Even so, Donovan's words were already an affront to the emperor's majesty.

But as a mere doctor, how could he dare to opine?

He had treated Donovan's injuries for many years, but he was very clear about what topics should be discussed and what should be ignored.

...

Mark was walking with strides in the Marquis's Castle.

Just after turning a corner in the corridor, a middle-aged man stepped forward to greet him.

The middle-aged man directly came in front of Mark and bowed, "Marquis, a follower from your vassal wants to meet you."

Mark's originally joyful expression instantly turned gloomy.

"Follower?"

The middle-aged man confirmed, "Yes, Marquis, he says he's Mori..."

Mark coldly declared, "Let him get out!"

The middle-aged man's face showed surprise and hesitated, "Marquis, but he said..."

Mark's voice rose angrily, "Raul, can you not hear, or do you not understand what I say?"

"If not for the fact that your father served Marquis Ducas all his life, do you think you qualify to stay in the Marquis's Castle?"

The middle-aged man Raul's heart was terrified, he hurriedly fell to the ground, continuously kowtowing, "Marquis, please forgive me."

Mark snorted coldly and left.

Would a mere follower deserve to see the marquis?

What a joke?

Confirming that the marquis had gone far, Raul then cautiously got up, stepping back towards the side door of the castle.

Outside the castle's side door.

Ford was waiting anxiously with several followers.

They had already been in Bordeaux City for two days.

As followers of the Manor Lord, they had no qualifications to see the marquis.

Fortunately, within those two days, they found the steward's son Raul.

Moments later.

The side door opened.

Ten guards rushed out before Ford and his companions with shocked expressions.

Behind the guards was Raul.

His words were filled with malice, "Drive them out! If they resist, execute them on the spot!"

"Yes!"

Listening to Raul's orders, Ford hurriedly shouted, "Master Raul, didn't you say you'd help me? How did it become like this?"

Bell didn't say anything.

Ford still refused to give up, "Master Raul, didn't you take ten gold from our Master Aiden..."

Bell's expression changed, scolding, "Nonsense, slap him fifty times, then kick him out of Bordeaux City!"

Amidst the terrified gazes of some residents, a series of painful wails echoed.

...

Indeed.

Alan Brown had a warehouse in Kakasong City that could store grain.

In just a few days.

He once again transported full loads of barley back to Lynn's territory.

Twelve four-horse-drawn carriages, each capable of carrying six thousand pounds of goods.

This time, Alan brought sixty thousand pounds of grain to Lynn.

However, this time, it wasn't Lynn who received him.

It was George in charge of the transactions!

Looking at the young man in front of him, Alan was somewhat surprised, "So from now on, you're the one responsible for Master Lynn's transactions?"

George smiled calmly, "Just call me George, I'm just following orders, I was a merchant like you before."

The implication is clear.

He had Master Lynn, the Lord, appoint him.

At the same time, he was also a merchant in the past and knew the ins and outs of the merchant industry.

This was both a self-introduction and a warning to Alan.

His words were amiable and approachable, indeed suitable for a steward-merchant of a territory.

Alan nodded and said, "Then I look forward to your guidance in the future, Master George?"

"You know how difficult business is these days..."

After all sixty thousand pounds of barley had been transported down.

George, following the price agreed in the previous transaction by Master Lynn, exchanged it for fine salt.

He then arranged for the villagers to load the fine salt onto Alan's carriage.

The time for a transaction was neither long nor short—

If it were Lynn conducting the trade, it would take at least one or two hours.

Listening to Alan's barrage of complaints, George smiled slightly without interrupting him.

After a while, Alan finally stopped.

George unhurriedly said, "Mr. Alan, I understand everything you've said."

"If all your grain is transported over and sold, you can also transport other goods over."

"I remember Master Lynn mentioned that he plans to develop animal husbandry... If someone can help him transport a large number of livestock and poultry, he should be willing to purchase them at a price higher than the market..."

Listening to George's words, Alan's chubby, round face subtly lifted his brows.

However, a look of worry appeared on Alan's face, "Poultry, huh? I can give it a try to see if I can find some!"

George nodded, "Then I must trouble you, Mr. Alan."

"If you really can't find any, it doesn't matter. Mr. Grayson and other merchants should have ways..."

Alan's smile remained unchanged, "Of course."

After chatting with Alan for a while longer and once bags of fine salt were loaded onto the carriage.

George watched as Alan left.

Now, all he had to do was have these merchants transport everything Lynn needed according to his requirements.

In this process, there was inevitably a mental game with them.

However.

This kind of strategic evaluation was something these merchants transporting goods needed to undertake.

George only needed to convert the goods they brought over into fine salt.

And the transaction would be complete.

Watching as Alan's caravan, under the escort of Rose's soldiers, gradually faded into the distance.

George retracted his gaze and quickly walked towards the brick production site just outside the village.

As expected.

George found the figure of Master Lynn among the crowd.

Striding forward, coming to Master Lynn's vicinity, George respectfully called, "Master Lynn, Mr. Alan has left, and he brought you sixty thousand pounds of grain."

Busy with brick production, Lynn didn't lift his head and said, "Well done."

"You don't need to report to me after every completed transaction in the future. I will find you when necessary."

"Just boldly proceed with your work, there is plenty of fine salt!"

With the Resource Management panel at his disposal, he was aware of the resources on hand, what was lacking, the rate of increase, and the rate of consumption.

He could see clearly at a glance.

This was also why Lynn was confident in letting George handle things.

George hesitated to speak but finally expressed his gratitude, "Yes, Master Lynn."

George withdrew and left.

Lynn continued his involvement in brick production.

Until the afternoon.

A line of text appeared in Lynn's eyes.

[Your Production has leveled up to Level 2, unlocking: Real-time Projection]

[Reward received: Skill Duplication Book ×1]

Seeing the text prompts before him, Lynn's eyes showed a hint of joy.

After so many days of effort, the Production skill finally leveled up to Level 2.

Another Skill Duplication Book, Lynn was quite satisfied.

If he wished, he could now learn two skills!

His gaze shifted, looking towards the unlocked function.

[Real-time Projection]: Projects all characters in the territory in real-time onto the Holographic Map.

Seeing the function description, Lynn was slightly taken aback.

Real-time Projection?

Without any hesitation, Lynn activated the Holographic Map feature.

Sure enough.

On the map, various figures began to appear on it.

His visual perspective seemed to be suspended dozens of meters above the territory, with everything below clear and visible.

Such as the current brick-making site.

Lynn could clearly see Red holding the handle of a scimitar with his right hand, surveilling the surroundings vigilantly.

Moreover, as long as it was within the territory's range.

A mere thought, and he could arrive instantly!

Lynn's vision was momentarily covered by a faint gray mist, and in the next instant, as the mist dispersed, he could clearly see the scene of Guy leading the villagers in construction.

With another thought, the view shifted to the mountain forest pass.

On the city walls, twenty soldiers were vigilantly standing guard.

Below the walls, Rose was leading a hundred and eighty soldiers in training.

On the limestone road in the forest, Alan's caravan was seen bustling along...

Lynn attempted to reach outside the city walls but found it impossible.

Only places he had been would appear in his view, allowing him to see buildings, villagers, and more under his perspective.

Places he had not been remained a mystery.

...

After briefly scanning critical areas within the territory to ensure there were no abnormalities.

Lynn nodded in satisfaction.

He had unlocked the Holographic Map feature long ago.

But it could only serve as a map within the territory.

Now, with the addition of the Real-time Projection feature.

Even if he stayed indoors, he could oversee all movements within the territory.

This function, akin to the vein detection, counted as a supplement to the Holographic Map's features.

Nevertheless, it was very useful!

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