Chapter 117: Negotiation and a Surprise Visitor

Lia looked at Mathis and replied calmly.

It was only natural that a City Lord governing a major border trade hub would notice her existence and seek to profit from it.

She raised her eyes to look at Mathis.

“What is his purpose for wanting to see me?”

“His Excellency the Count did not say explicitly, but he mentioned the magical materials trade in Leo City and your great achievements in elementology.”

Mathis answered respectfully, enunciating every word with extreme clarity.

“He believes your theories will completely transform the landscape of the entire industry.”

Lia nodded, having already made a judgment in her mind.

“Tell the butler of the City Lord’s manor that I have time tomorrow afternoon.”

Her voice remained devoid of any ripples.

“The location will be here.”

“Yes, Your Excellency.”

Mathis took his leave.

He watched as Lia turned her attention back to those complicated accounts; her focus made it seem as if the conversation they just had was merely a trivial matter.

He did not dare to disturb her further and bowed as he exited the study.

***

The following afternoon, the butler of the Farrien estate arrived with a nervous expression to report that Count Valerius’s carriage had already stopped outside the gates.

Lia was currently in the study, explaining the method of recording general ledgers to the newly recruited accountants.

Upon hearing the report, she simply said, “Review on your own,” before standing up and walking toward the drawing room.

A moment later, a middle-aged man dressed in well-fitted noble casual wear walked in, led by the butler.

He wore no flashy ornaments to display his status; his stride was steady, and his gaze was sharp.

After entering the room, his eyes fell directly upon Lia, carrying an undisguised sense of scrutiny.

This was the City Lord of Leo City, Count Valerius.

“Miss Lia.”

The Count bowed slightly, performing an impeccable noble etiquette; both his words and posture were extremely elegant.

“Your Excellency,” Lia returned the gesture.

“Please, have a seat.”

The two sat in the primary seats of the drawing room; the servants withdrew quietly after serving hot tea.

Count Valerius did not engage in meaningless small talk; he got straight to the point.

“I have read your papers.”

“Every single one.”

His gaze held a sense of admiration.

“Whether it was On the Periodic Laws of Elements or the Basic Principles of Calculus, I have studied them all carefully.”

“To be frank, I cannot fully understand most of the content.”

“But that is not important.”

The Count’s tone was steady and powerful.

“What matters is that I can see the value contained within them.”

“It is a value sufficient to subvert the existing order.”

Lia picked up her teacup, her fingertips touching the warm ceramic wall as she listened quietly.

“Leo City prospers because of the trade in magical materials.”

The Count continued, his voice carrying an air of authority.

“But this prosperity is fragile. We are merely reselling the yields of the mountains and forests; we have created nothing new. The merchant guilds and families here are content with maintaining the status quo; they fear change.”

He turned his gaze toward the window, seemingly looking down upon the entirety of Leo City.

“But I am different.”

“I welcome change, especially change that can bring greater profit.”

“And you, Miss Lia—you are change itself.”

The Count turned his gaze back to Lia’s face, his eyes burning bright.

“I have heard what you have been doing these past few days. A brand-new accounting method, a thorough audit of the family assets.

You are rebuilding the Farrien family in a way I have never seen before. This makes me even more certain that my judgment was correct.”

“I have come today to propose a partnership to you, and to the reborn Farrien family you represent.”

Hearing this, Lia gently set the teacup back on the table.

A crisp, soft sound caused the air in the drawing room to freeze for a moment.

“Please proceed, Your Excellency.”

“I hope the Valerius family can reach a long-term strategic agreement with the Farrien family.”

“The contents of the agreement are simple. From this day forward, for ten years, all magical material trade conducted by the Farrien family within Leo City will be exempt from all commercial taxes.”

Standing not far away, the butler’s breath hitched, and his body tensed uncontrollably.

A ten-year exemption from commercial taxes!

To any merchant guild, this represented an unimaginable amount of profit.

“Furthermore, the City Lord’s guards will be responsible for the security of all Farrien family warehouses and shops.”

“Any malicious business actions directed at the Farrien family will be viewed as a challenge to the City Lord’s office.”

This was no longer a simple business partnership; this was blatant political asylum.

Lia’s expression did not change in the slightest.

“And the conditions?”

“There are three conditions.”

The Count held up three fingers, his posture composed.

“First, the alchemy and enchantment workshops under the jurisdiction of the City Lord’s office shall have priority purchasing rights for all Farrien family goods. Naturally, the price will be settled according to market rates.”

“Second, if you research or discover any new materials or formulas with commercial value based on your theories, the City Lord’s office hopes to be the first partner.”

“Third,” the Count’s expression turned solemn, “this agreement is signed with you, Miss Lia Farrien. All the preferential treatment enjoyed by the Farrien family is predicated on you being the head of the family affairs.

If you choose to no longer manage family matters, the agreement terminates automatically.”

He laid all his chips on the table, waiting for her answer.

Lia looked at him and remained silent for a moment.

This agreement was extremely beneficial to her.

The tax exemption solved the potential funding issues the family currently faced, while the protection of the City Lord’s office would save her from many unnecessary troubles, allowing her to focus on the family’s planning.

And all she needed to give in return were “priority” and “priority partnership rights.”

The Count was very clever; he did not demand an exclusive monopoly because he knew that would stifle the development of a commercial family.

What he wanted was to be the first to reap the benefits.

“I also have a few conditions,” Lia spoke.

“Please, speak,” the Count’s eyes flashed with a hint of approval.

“The protection range of the City Lord’s guards must extend fifty miles out along the trade routes. My caravans require a safe transportation environment.”

“That can be done.”

The Count agreed without hesitation.

For the City Lord’s office, this was merely expanding the patrol range of the guards; it was no big deal.

The duty range of the city defense patrols could easily cover that area.

“The final determination of the price for priority purchasing rights must be decided by a committee composed of both our parties, rather than being unilaterally priced by the City Lord’s office.”

“A very reasonable request.”

The Count nodded.

“I agree.”

“Finally, I require a seat on the Leo City Commerce Council.”

Lia stated her final demand.

“A seat with full voting rights.”

“The Council has one supplementary slot every year.”

The Count made his decision quickly. “This year’s slot can be reserved for the Farrien family.”

Lia rose from her seat and extended her hand.

“Then, Your Excellency, we have a deal.”

Count Valerius also stood up and shook her hand.

Lia’s hand was small, but her grip was steady.

“A pleasure doing business with you, Miss Lia. I look forward to a more prosperous Leo City.”

The Count did not stay long; once the agreement was reached, he took his leave decisively.

When the butler returned to the drawing room after seeing the Count off, he felt as if his legs were still weak.

He looked at the slender figure standing in the center of the hall, his eyes filled with awe.

This young Eldest Miss had used only two days to bring a family on the verge of chaos to a height his uncle Rowden wouldn’t have dared to dream of.

Lia returned to the study.

The accountants had been waiting for a long time; when they saw her enter, they all stopped their work and looked at her with reverent eyes.

Lia returned to her seat, picked up her pen, and let her gaze fall back onto the new account books.

The agreement with the Count had cleared the greatest external obstacle; now she needed to completely reshape this decaying commercial family from within.

“We shall continue.”

Lia’s voice rang out, and the rustling sound of pens scratching on paper emerged once again in the study.

Just as Lia was about to continue her lecture, the butler entered with a panicked expression.

“Lord Lia, there is a Great Mage calling himself Klein outside who wishes to see you.”

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