The Brown Clan, who have traversed the Sea of Vortex for nearly a century, have made a name for themselves across the Garonia Continent.
They profit immensely among the empires due to their familiarity with the sea and their complete nautical charts.
The patriarch, Chad Brown, rose to power by selling slaves, earning the nickname 'Sea Black Snake'!
The tradition for succeeding the business in the Brown Clan is…
To give the younger generation a sum of seed capital, allowing them to venture across the continent and conduct business.
At the age of twenty, whoever can establish their enterprise and earn the most gold pounds.
That person becomes the clan's successor.
But, if an accident occurs during the venture, or they encounter difficulties…
Just like Grayson now.
There are two choices if they want the Brown Clan to step in and assist.
One, give up competing for the position of Brown Clan's patriarch.
Two, relinquish all personal assets and start over!
Unwilling to give up, Grayson resolutely chose the second option.
Grayson aims for a comeback!
Right now, the only one who can help him is Lynn in front of him.
Looking at Lynn's handsome face, Grayson felt somewhat fortunate.
Grateful that he didn't lower the purchase price of rock salt and fine salt before.
The goods delivered to Master Lynn were not lacking in weight, and the quality was fairly decent.
As for being slightly off… no one can achieve absolute precision!
Lynn spoke calmly, "Your friend, is his name Grayson?"
Grayson appeared a bit bewildered.
"Master Lynn, what are you talking about?"
Lynn said, "Should I recount your story based on what you told me?"
Grayson did not refuse.
Lynn began, "In order to quickly cash out the fine salt you had, you came to my village to purchase goods again… disregarding merchant guild rules by selling fine salt directly in Kakasong City."
"The price I offered you is seven pence per pound; you could easily sell it for eight or nine pence."
"With such an effortless resale, you could profit thirty gold pounds from nearly four thousand pounds of fine salt!"
"However, you didn't anticipate that the church in Kakasong City strictly regulated salt prices, leading to your capture and imprisonment by church officials."
"To prevent me from suspecting you, you fabricated a friend, is that right?"
Listening to Lynn's almost perfect reasoning, Grayson was somewhat surprised.
He admitted that he had underestimated Lynn.
Grayson even felt that lying in front of Lynn was like being an inexperienced recruit.
Lynn continued, "However, there are two points I admire about you."
Grayson asked, "What are they?"
Lynn spoke eloquently, "First, you would rather use the clan's power than reveal my involvement."
"Second, your confidence in your judgment! You were confident that upon coming to my territory, I would choose to help you."
If Grayson had revealed Lynn's involvement,
The person sitting in front of him now wouldn't just be Grayson.
Grayson's brow instantly raised, "Master Lynn, you mean to say..."
Lynn calmly said, "I will lend you twenty gold pounds, three thousand pounds of fine salt, and a carriage to transport the salt!"
Grayson's eyes almost lit up.
But in the next second.
The light in his eyes dimmed, his turning eyes full of cunning and calmness.
He knew there was no free lunch in this world!
Especially in front of Master Lynn.
Grayson tentatively asked, "What do I need to give in return?"
Lynn reclined in his chair, "You need to give your loyalty!"
Grayson was taken aback, then shook his head, "Mr. Lynn, you might be disappointed."
"The Brown Clan has clear rules that no member shall pledge allegiance to any outsider, otherwise the member will be expelled and the bloodline recovered!"
Lynn shook his head, "I don't need your allegiance, I just need you, once you become the patriarch of the Brown Clan, to extend a helping hand in my time of crisis just as I'm helping you now!"
Grayson found it hard to believe, "That's... that simple? And how can you be so sure, Master Lynn, that I will become the patriarch of the Brown Clan?"
Lynn smiled faintly, not answering Grayson.
Grayson quickly pondered in his mind.
After a short while.
He understood Lynn's intentions.
Investment!
Master Lynn had made a long-term investment in him.
An investment in the future.
Twenty gold pounds, plus three thousand pounds of fine salt and a carriage, altogether equals one hundred gold pounds.
For Master Lynn, who owns a salt mine, it's a drop in the ocean.
But for him currently penniless, it's a godsend!
He desperately needed this money and goods.
If he could become the patriarch of the Brown Clan because of it, Lynn would be the biggest winner!
Of course, he wouldn't lose either.
Thinking of this.
Grayson stood up and bowed deeply to Lynn, "Thank you, Master Lynn. I, Grayson Brown, will be your most loyal business partner."
Lynn remained seated, nodding calmly.
As the villagers loaded the bags of fine salt onto the carriage.
Grayson hurriedly departed.
Not even minding the dimming evening sky.
According to Grayson's words…
"By my grandfather's name, I'm going to make money now!"
…
Grayson's arrival was merely a small interlude.
The summer plowing continued.
Across large expanses of farmland, ridges were left behind as if they had been plowed by a nine-toothed rake.
Those were traces left after planting peas.
Three thousand acres of land were divided among three hundred farmers, who completed planting in half a month without bad weather.
By then, the summer plowing would just about be over.
Timing was perfect.
The village was entrusted to Kuisi for management on his behalf.
In the early morning of the next day.
Lynn, accompanied by Red and ten guards, left the village.
This time, he intended to explore further into the territory.
While exploring, Lynn planned to search for some herbs.
He wanted to start grinding for [medicine] skill experience.
Lynn had thought carefully.
Items that can be manually grinded out are too wasteful to enhance skill levels with [Energy Stones].
Using them to increase personal attributes is the optimal choice.
[Collection Experience +1]
[Sage Acquired *1]
[Collection Experience +1]
[Plantain Acquired *1]
…
The experience points increased slowly, bit by bit.
Lynn was not discouraged.
His gaze swept over, gathering all the herbs that could be used as medicine and placing them in the basket behind him.
It was already mid-June, with temperatures gradually rising.
On the wilderness.
Weeds and herbs grew wildly, bursting with abundant life energy.
This made it easier for Lynn to collect herbs.
Behind Lynn.
Red and the others were full of confusion.
They couldn't quite understand their master Lynn now.
However.
They were well aware that Master Lynn's actions were always correct.
Looking at the two baskets of variously colored herbs hung on the horses, Lynn nodded with satisfaction.
Once back at the village, after washing and processing these herbs, they could be made into various potions.
Sweeping his gaze, he realized he was in a low hill area.
Rolling uninterruptedly to the distant horizon.
Lynn had been wandering these low hills with Red and the others for five days.
Not finding any veins!
Lynn shook his head, "Pack up and prepare to go back."
Red responded and organized the guards to start packing.
At that moment.
A text window appeared in front of Lynn.
"Ore Vein Detector: 200 meters southeast, medium-sized open-pit coal mine."
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